Working For the Lord

Matthew 28:19-20

Matthew 28:19–20 NASB95

“Go therefore and make disciples of all the nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and the Son and the Holy Spirit, teaching them to observe all that I commanded you; and lo, I am with you always, even to the end of the age.”

We will going to see the origin of the great commission in the light of Genesis 2 and 7. Two important men in the OT. Let’s answers how Jesus is consistent with His promise of going with us even to the end of age.

Genesis 1:26,27

Genesis 1:26–27 NASB95

Then God said, “Let Us make man in Our image, according to Our likeness; and let them rule over the fish of the sea and over the birds of the sky and over the cattle and over all the earth, and over every creeping thing that creeps on the earth.” God created man in His own image, in the image of God He created him; male and female He created them.

Genesis 2:8, 15, 19-20

Genesis 2:8 NASB95

The Lord God planted a garden toward the east, in Eden; and there He placed the man whom He had formed.

1. The work of Adam

Genesis 2:15 NASB95

Then the Lord God took the man and put him into the garden of Eden to cultivate it and keep it.

Genesis 2:19–20 (NASB95)

Out of the ground the Lord God formed every beast of the field and every bird of the sky, and brought them to the man to see what he would call them; and whatever the man called a living creature, that was its name. The man gave names to all the cattle, and to the birds of the sky, and to every beast of the field, but for Adam there was not found a helper suitable for him.

Theological Wordbook of the Old Testament (212 בּוֹא)

First, boʾ is found with reference to YHWH as one who comes to his people

Theological Wordbook of the Old Testament 212 בּוֹא

Secondly, “coming” (boʾ) is associated with the promise-fulfillment motif

Theological Wordbook of the Old Testament 212 בּוֹא

Thirdly, the word is used in connection with the coming “Messiah” who will bring salvation

Theological Wordbook of the Old Testament 212 בּוֹא

Finally, bôʾ is used with reference to the man who comes to the sanctuary in company with his community in order to pray and bring sacrifices

The work of Noah

Genesis 6:5–8 NASB95

Then the Lord saw that the wickedness of man was great on the earth, and that every intent of the thoughts of his heart was only evil continually. The Lord was sorry that He had made man on the earth, and He was grieved in His heart. The Lord said, “I will blot out man whom I have created from the face of the land, from man to animals to creeping things and to birds of the sky; for I am sorry that I have made them.” But Noah found favor in the eyes of the Lord.

Genesis 7:1 NASB95

Then the Lord said to Noah, “Enter the ark, you and all your household, for you alone I have seen to be righteous before Me in this time.

Genesis 7:6–9 NASB95

Now Noah was six hundred years old when the flood of water came upon the earth. Then Noah and his sons and his wife and his sons’ wives with him entered the ark because of the water of the flood. Of clean animals and animals that are not clean and birds and everything that creeps on the ground, there went into the ark to Noah by twos, male and female, as God had commanded Noah.

Ellen G. White, To us also the commission is given. We are bidden to go forth as Christ’s messengers, to teach, instruct, and persuade men and women, to urge upon their attention the word of life. And to us also the assurance of Christ’s abiding presence is given. Whatever the difficulties with which we may have to contend, whatever the trials we may have to endure, the gracious promise is always ours, “Lo, I am with you always, even unto the end of the world.”—Manuscript 24, 1903.

Ellen Gould White, Evangelism (Review and Herald Publishing Association, 1946), 15.