THE REACH OF THE GOSPEL

SCRIPTURE PASSAGE

Matthew 28:18–20 KJV 1900

18 And Jesus came and spake unto them, saying, All power is given unto me in heaven and in earth. 19 Go ye therefore, and teach all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost: 20 Teaching them to observe all things whatsoever I have commanded you: and, lo, I am with you alway, even unto the end of the world. Amen.

PURPOSE STATEMENT

INTRODUCTION

I’d like for you to take the Word of God with me, please, and turn to Matthew 28:18-20.

HOOK

In the early to mid-1900s, Coke summarized their vision statement in one simple sentence, “A Coke in the hands of every person, everywhere.” With that simple statement, a movement was launched. Coca-Cola leadership believed:

If someone wants a Coke, distance should never be the barrier

Distribution matters as much as production

Local bottling + global identity = worldwide reach

Consistency of product, message, and presence is essential

By World War II, this vision led them to:

Build bottling plants wherever U.S. troops were stationed

Ensure Coke tasted the same everywhere, and

Treat the world as the market, not a future possibility

While the idea was revolutionary for the time, it was not new for our Savior has given us a similar charge. Look at it with me in Matthew 28:18-20,

Matthew 28:18–20 KJV 1900

18 And Jesus came and spake unto them, saying, All power is given unto me in heaven and in earth. 19 Go ye therefore, and teach all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost: 20 Teaching them to observe all things whatsoever I have commanded you: and, lo, I am with you alway, even unto the end of the world. Amen.

Coca-Cola Asked: “How do we get this product to everyone who might want it?”Jesus Commands: Matthew 28:19, “Go ye therefore, and teach all nations…”

The reach of the Gospel is only limited by our lack of taking the vision God gave and making it our personal vision statement as a Christ. Let’s look at these three simple verses, and understand the vision of Christ to reach the world with the Gospel.

I. THE GOSPEL’S REACH RESTS ON CHRIST’S POWER | VS. 18

Notice first of all, the Gospel’s reach rests on Christ’s power. Look at it again,

Matthew 28:18 KJV 1900

18 …All power is given unto me in heaven and in earth.

DEFINITION: The word power from the Greek (exousia) means authority or rule over. The word carries the idea os someone having the right to give orders and make decisions on behalf of others.

Before Jesus gets into the command of the Great Commission, He reveals the authority for this command rests on Him. God says it so powerfully in Philippians 2:8-11,

Philippians 2:8–11 KJV 1900

8 And being found in fashion as a man, he humbled himself, and became obedient unto death, even the death of the cross. 9 Wherefore God also hath highly exalted him, and given him a name which is above every name: 10 That at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, of things in heaven, and things in earth, and things under the earth; 11 And that every tongue should confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father.

A. CHRIST’S AUTHORITY IS ABSOLUTE

My friends, Christ’s power is absolute. There is no area of this world that His authority is off limits. In parable form in Luke 19, Jesus spoke of the kingdom of heaven, and how as a nobleman, he is going into a far country to purchase for Himself a kingdom and one day will return. When Jesus died on the cross, His blood was the payment required at the hand of God to redeem mankind from the curse of sin. Through His resurrection He proved His sacrifice was sufficient and accepted, and one day, He will return and restore all things unto Himself.

B. CHRIST’S REIGN IS ABSOLUTE

The reach of the Gospel is not guaranteed in our own strength, but by Christ’s reign. All authority, all power, in given unto Him in heaven and in earth. His reign is absolute.

II. THE GOSPEL’S REACH REQUIRES INTENTIONAL PURPOSE | VS. 19A

And so in His absolute power, He gives us a command for the reach of the Gospel which requires intentional purpose. Look at first 19 secondly,

Matthew 28:19 KJV 1900

19 Go ye therefore, and teach all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost:

A. THE COMMAND IS ACTIVE, NOT PASSIVE

Our Savior was not passive as He ministered on the earth and He is not passive today. He ever lives to make intercession for us. He is ever- active, and expects us to be active as well.

The command He has given us, that is “to teach,” is active and not passive. Notice the tense of the verb. The first verb go, is imperative as well, but it is connected to the primary verb teach, and cannot be separated. In other words, we have one command, to teach, or to make disciples. We do this by going, baptizing and instructing.

B. THE SCOPE IS GLOBAL, NOT SELECTIVE

But also make note the command is global, not selective. He says we are to teach all nations.

DEFINITION: The word nations from the Greek () means people groups from various ethnicities.

It not necessarily a nation like that of borders, but of the people that make up the nation. Like Coca-Cola desiring to reach everyone, Jesus has given the command to reach everyone. He is the King of all people.

One day there will be a scene in heaven that unfolds before our eyes, in the which we will see our Savior, the Lamb slain, step forth to claim the scroll from the throne of God the Father, and we shall sing with a mighty host,

Revelation 5:9 KJV 1900

9 …Thou art worthy to take the book, and to open the seals thereof: for thou wast slain, and hast redeemed us to God by thy blood out of every kindred, and tongue, and people, and nation;

And while we this ought to bring a shout to our lips and a skip in our step, it ought to make us also look at our lives and ask ourselves, “Am I actively obeying the command Christ has given to actively go and make disciples?”

III. THE GOSPEL’S REACH INVOLVES CONTINUAL PROCESS | VV. 19B-20A

And as we go, don’t lose sight of the progression of the command. The command, or the mission, itself is singular, we are to make disciples, but the means is continual. Notice that the reach of the Gospel involves a continual process.

Matthew 28:19–20 KJV 1900

19 …teach all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost: 20 Teaching them to observe all things whatsoever I have commanded you:…

The words “baptizing” and “teaching” are present participles. In simple terms, participles answer the question: How is the main command accomplished?

In other words, they are not new command, but means, not goals. And there is one aspect which the onus on the convert, and one on the discipler. Lets break down those means of how we make disciples.

A. THE GOSPEL REQUIRES PUBLIC IDENTIFICATION

The first means is that of baptism. We are to reach people with the Gospel message, and then they are to get baptized. The reason Christ gave us this aspect of the commission is that following Him requires public identification. The Gospel is not something done in secret, but declared openly. Christ has not called us to be closet Christians, but active ambassadors.

If someone is going to follow Christ, then they are to be baptized openly and publically.

While baptism is not necessary for salvation, it is necessary to follow Jesus and be His disciple. Baptism is the outward declaration to the church that the individual being baptized is saved, and wants everyone to not only know they are following Jesus, but also speak life into them and hold them accountable to their decision.

B. THE GOSPEL REQUIRES LIFELONG INSTRUCTION

But it doesn’t stop at baptism. The second means has the onus of the command upon the discipler; which is that is continuing the discipleship process. Evangelism is the command, but it is not the end result. The end result is a life yielded to Christ which requires continual focus. No one ever arrives this side of eternity, which is why the Apostle PEter write in his closing remarks of 2 Peter,

2 Peter 3:18 KJV 1900

18 But grow in grace, and in the knowledge of our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ. To him be glory both now and for ever. Amen.

C. THE GOSPEL DEMANDS OBEDIENCE, NOT MERE HEAD KNOWLEDGE

And don’t miss this final truth. The continual teaching is not about head knowledge, but obedience. The Gospel demands obedience, not mere head knowledge. We are to teach people to observe all things. To observe is to follow and do.

The world does not need more Christians that can quote Scripture, the world needs more Christians that live Scripture in their daily lives and interactions.

Before we move on, stop and think with me, ask yourself, “Am I daily living out the Gospel, or am I simply learning more about the Gospel?” Am I actively making disciples as well? Am I a part of the Great Commission?”

Now listen, knowing about the Great Commission, knowing we are to evangelize, knowing we are to disciple others, is all fine and good, but if you stop there, then you are not obeying Christ. Your tithe check is nice, but not the goal. Your attendance at church is necessary but not the end game. A yielded, living sacrifice, which obeys all things that Christ commands is the only reasonable service we are to offer.

IV. THE GOSPEL’S REACH IS SUSTAINED BY CHRIST’S PRESENCE | VS. 20B

Now, if you are like me, you are going to look at that demands of Christ and think it is unattainable, and by yourself you are 100% correct. If we attempt to follow Christ’s command in our own strength we will fail, just as the disciples dod in the Garden the night of Christ’s trial.

This is why Christ did not leave us alone in this command. Let’s finish the verse,

Matthew 28:20 KJV 1900

20 Teaching them to observe all things whatsoever I have commanded you: and, lo, I am with you alway, even unto the end of the world. Amen.

The command starts with Christ’s authority, and ends with Christ’s presence. From beginning to end, He is with us. Every step of the journey, He is there not only beside, but leading the way. David said in Psalm 139:8,

Psalm 139:8 KJV 1900

8 If I ascend up into heaven, thou art there: If I make my bed in hell, behold, thou art there.

Paul so elequently declared in Romans 8:38-39,

Romans 8:38–39 KJV 1900

38 For I am persuaded, that neither death, nor life, nor angels, nor principalities, nor powers, nor things present, nor things to come, 39 Nor height, nor depth, nor any other creature, shall be able to separate us from the love of God, which is in Christ Jesus our Lord.

There is no place in which our God is not ever present with us.

A. CHRIST’S PRESENCE REMOVES FEAR

Knowing this accomplishes so much in our lives. Christ’s presence removes fear and worry. When you go forth and witness for Christ, when you remember He is there actively guiding you and bringing all things to your remembrance, you do not need to fear the outcome, for that is in His power and control as well.

B. CHRIST’S PRESENCE ENDURES THROUGH ALL GENERATIONS

And His presence will forever be with us. He is with us unto the end of the world. This is a reference to time and generations, not a physical location.

In the Old Testament, the ministry of the Holy Spirit was to come upon people for a specific ministry of function. We see this Samson, Saul, and others. But in the New Testament, the Holy Spirit does not rest upon us, but dwells within us. This is a major shift and a major blessing. He is ever-present and will be forever. You are sealed by Him unto the day of redemption.

And what’s amazing about Chris’s presence never leaving us, is that every new believer in Christ has the same promise and same Lord, so the ministry will continue until He steps out of eternity to cloud level and calls His bride home to be with Him.

CONCLUSION

If Coke could establish distribution plants on every continent, and get their product into the remotest of places, then we with the power and authority of our Lord, can do no less.

While Coke may bring crisp refreshment to your taste buds, it is nothing to be compared to the living water that Christ provides. Our Savior has given us the command to occupy until He returns and we do this not in our own strength but His.

The power rests upon Him, not us.

But it requires intentional purpose in our lives to actively pursue the vision.

And we are to never stop. You might not be as young as you once were, but as long as breathe is in your lungs, the command is your’s to follow. It’s not about the number we reach, but the faithfulness of each person.

And don’t forget, Christ is with us. His power rests upon us, and we go in His might.

Together we can accomplish the reach of the Gospel and go into all the world.