GC - 01-Go ye therefore, and make disciples of all the nations
1. Go ye therefore, and make disciples of all the nations The several elements of this commission are all summarily comprehended in the three following specifications:
The Apostles were commanded to make disciples of all the nations.
To baptize them into the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit.
To teach them all things that Christ had Himself commanded.
Let us, then, briefly consider each of these in order.
"Go ye therefore, and make disciples of all the nations."
There is but one word in this clause that requires any explanation. The word matheteuo in the first clause, is very different from the word didasko, to teach, in the third clause. The former is from mathetes, a disciple, or a learner; and this, again, comes from the word manthano, to learn. Matheteuo, then, simply means to be a disciple; or when it is used transitively, as in this case, it means to make disciples, or learners.
Several things, then, are clearly taught or implied in this part of the Commission. For instance, it is implied:
I. That Christ had died for all the nations, or rather, if you please, for all the individual persons of whom the nations are composed; for the wildest and most barbarous of all the tribes of Asia, Africa, America, and Oceanica, as well as for the more polished and refined Jews, Greeks, and Romans. For otherwise he would never have instructed His Apostles to go and make disciples of them. He knew of course, perfectly well, that it was only through the rich merits of His own precious blood that any man could be saved. And, had He not therefore by the grace of God tasted death for every man, He would never have said to His Apostles, "Go and make disciples of all the nations." In that event, He might as well have said to them, go and make disciples of the fallen angels. But this would of course have been but folly and madness. Christ would not have so tantalized His servants.
II. We learn also from this that it is the will of Christ that all should be saved. If He died for all, and then commissioned His Apostles to go and make disciples of all who were capable of becoming disciples, surely this ought to satisfy every reason-able man that it is not the will of Christ that any should perish, but that all should be brought to the knowledge of the truth.
If, therefore, any are still without this knowledge—without God and without hope in the world— we may rest assured that it is not owing to the will of Christ, but in spite of it, that they are in this condition. The gracious invitation of our blessed Redeemer to all the nations is still, "Ho, every one that thirsteth, come ye to the waters; and he that has no money-come ye, buy and eat: yea, come buy wine and milk without money and without price" (Isaiah 15:1).
III. It is further evident, from these premises, that the Apostles had an agency in making disciples. For, otherwise, Christ would certainly not have said to them, "Go and make disciples of all the nations." But how did they make disciples? By what means and through what instrumentalities did they convert the learned and the unlearned, the rich and the poor, the bond and the free of all nations, into disciples of Christ? Had the inspired testimony closed with the narratives of Matthew, Mark, Luke, and John, it might have been very difficult for us now to answer this question satisfactorily. Men of ardent imaginations might allege many ways and means of accomplishing this end. True, indeed, we might in this case reach a probable result by reasoning from analogy; by showing how men are wont to make disciples to other schools of religion and philosophy. But this would, of course, be very unsatisfactory to all classes. And, therefore, Christ has taken care that a plain and faithful narrative of the evangelical labors of His Apostles should be recorded for our benefit and our instruction, so that, in prosecuting this work, we may follow in the foot-steps of the Apostles, even as they also followed the teachings and promptings of the Holy Spirit. This narrative is given to us by Luke, in the Acts of the Apostles, with sufficient fullness for all practical purposes. Let us now, therefore, open this INSPIRED DIRECTORY, and see what the holy Apostles and Prophets did in executing and fulfilling this part of their commission.
We will begin with the beginning of their labors, as these are found recorded in the second chapter of Acts. These ambassadors of Jesus were instructed to remain in Jerusalem until they were endowed with power from on high. This they were required to do but for a few days. For, on the day of the following Pentecost, when they were all assembled with one accord in one place, "suddenly there came a sound from heaven, as of a rushing mighty wind; and it filled all the house where they were sitting. And there appeared to them tongues as of fire, distributed among them; and it sat on each of them. And they were all filled with the Holy Spirit, and began to speak with other tongues, as the Spirit gave them utterance" (Acts 2:1-4). The necessary qualifications were therefore now all imparted; and these men were now fully prepared to begin the work of making disciples. An audience only was wanting; and this want was very soon supplied by the miracle which had been wrought. The news of this rapidly spread, as if on electric wires, all over Jerusalem. Vast multitudes of the citizens, and others who had come up to the yearly festival, crowded around the one hundred and twenty disciples, and were amazed as they heard these humble and unlearned men and women speaking, in at least sixteen or seventeen different languages, the wonderful works of God. But no one was yet converted. The people were simply filled with wonder; and most of them, it seems, were unable to give any explanation of the miracle. But some of them, filled with malice, scoffingly said, "These men are full of sweet wine." The time for action had now come. Peter arose with the eleven, and, having calmly and briefly exposed the absurdity of the allegation, he next proceeded to show that what they then witnessed was all in harmony with what one of their own prophets had said should come to pass:
"And it shall be in the last days, saith God,
That I will pour out of my Spirit on all flesh;
And your sons and your daughters shall prophesy,
And your young men shall see visions,
And your old men shall dream dreams;
And also on my servants and on my handmaids
I will pour out of my Spirit in those days,
And they shall prophesy;
And I will show wonders in heaven above,
And signs in the earth beneath,
Blood and fire and vapor of smoke.
The sun shall be turned into darkness,
And the moon into blood,
Before the great and notable day of the Lord shall come.
And it shall be that every one who shall call on the name of the Lord,
Shall be saved" (Joel 2:28-32). This was a most fortunate and appropriate introduction. It, in connection with the miracle that was wrought, seems to have had a very great influence in opening the ears and the hearts of the people, so as to incline them to give heed to the things which were spoken by Peter. But still no one was yet converted. Before this could be done, Jesus Himself must be held up to the people as "the chief among ten thousand, and as the one that is altogether lovely." And hence when Peter had gained the ears and the hearts of the people, he proceeded next to lay before them the facts of the Gospel, and especially the evidence of Christ’s resurrection. This he proved-
From the sixteenth Psalm, in which David, as the type and representative of Christ, says:
"I saw the Lord always before me;
Because he is on my right hand that I should not be moved.
For this my heart rejoiced and my tongue was glad;
Moreover, also, my flesh shall rest in hope:
Because thou wilt not leave my soul in Hades,
Nor wilt thou suffer thy HOLY ONE to see corruption.
Thou didst make known to me the ways of life;
Thou wilt make me full of joy with thy presence."
These words could not with any propriety be applied to David, as the Jews all very well knew. For he had long since died; had been buried in Jerusalem; and his flesh, like that of other men, had seen corruption. And hence there could be no doubt that in this prophecy he had reference to the Messiah as his great antitype.
He proved it by his own testimony and that of the other Apostles, as the chosen witnesses of Jesus. This they gave in a manner and under circumstances which were well calculated to produce conviction in every heart. There was no appearance of fiction nor of uncertainty in their narrative. They simply announced to the people what they had seen with their own eyes; what they had heard with their own ears; and what they were now ready and willing, if necessary, to seal with their own blood, for the glory of God and the salvation of the world. This testimony was full, clear, and convincing. It ought to have satisfied all who were then present, that God had raised from the dead that same Jesus Whom their rulers had recently crucified.
He proved his proposition also by a reference to the miracle that had just been wrought, and of which they them-selves were the witnesses. There were the miraculous influences and effects of the Holy Spirit evidently shed forth on the one hundred and twenty disciples. Of this fact there could be no mistake, for the people all heard them speaking, in languages which they had never learned, "the wonderful works of God." And what other explanation of this could be given, than that Jesus, having been exalted according to prophecy to the right hand of God, and having received from the Father the promise of the Holy Spirit, had now poured it out on His disciples? Evidently this was the only reasonable explanation that could be given of the marvelous phenomena, of which the multitude were themselves the eye and the ear witness. And hence Peter next added, in view of all the facts and arguments submitted:
"Therefore, let all the house of Israel know assuredly, that God hath made that same Jesus, whom ye crucified, both LORD and CHRIST." The evidence was complete, and the conclusion was logically irresistible. Many were now fully convinced of sin, and of righteousness, and of judgment. And, under the influence of this conviction, they now cried out in the presence of the Apostles: "Men and brethren, what shall we do?" Their hearts were now completely overcome by the love of God, and a deep sense of their own sinfulness. And they were, therefore, now willing, and even anxious, to sit at the feet of Jesus, and learn from Him and His Apostles what they should do to be saved. The lesson was very soon told, and as easily learned. There was then no doubt in the minds of the Apostles that God was willing and ready to save all who would believe on and obey the Lord Jesus. And hence Peter simply said to the inquiring multitude: "Repent and be baptized, every one of you, in the name of Jesus Christ, in order to the remission of sins, and ye shall receive the gift of the Holy Spirit. For the promise is to you, and to your children, and to all that are afar off, even as many as the Lord our God shall call. And with many other words did he testify and exhort, saying, Save yourselves from this perverse generation."
"Then they that gladly received his word were baptized: and the same day there were added unto them about three thousand souls." So then ends the first lesson. What do we learn from it? Evidently
That, in making disciples, the Apostles first preached to the people Jesus Christ and Him crucified, submitting to them at the same time the evidence of His resurrection, ascension, and glorification.
That in this way faith was wrought in the hearts of their hearers, as Paul also testifies in Romans 10:17, where he says, "Faith cometh by hearing, and hearing by the word of God."
That to such as were moved by their faith to inquire what they should do to be saved, the Apostles simply replied: "Repent and be baptized, every one of you, in the name of the Lord Jesus Christ, in order to the remission of sins, and you shall receive the gift of the Holy Spirit."
A second lesson might be learned from Acts 3:1 -iv. 4; a third, from Acts 8:5-13; a fourth, from Acts 8:26-39; a fifth, from Acts 10 :; a sixth, from Acts 13:4-12; a seventh, from Acts 13:13-52; and many others also from subsequent chapters of this same inspired and infallible directory. But from all these we gather substantially the same facts, viz., that, in making disciples, the Apostles always-
Preached Jesus to the people, thereby producing in their hearts faith, hope, love, prayerfulness, and a deep sense of their own sinfulness and unworthiness.
That they everywhere submitted to the people as conditions of pardon-
Faith in the Lord Jesus Christ.
Repentance, or a thorough change of will and purpose.
A public confession of the Lord Jesus Christ, such as Peter made near Caesarea Philippi (Matthew 16:15-18).
Baptism, by the authority of Christ, into the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit.
That they baptized without delay those who received the word with joy and gladness.
And that they afterward continued to instruct them diligently in all things that Christ had commanded.
IV. This, then, is to be our directory in all our efforts to make disciples of all the nations. I say in all our efforts, for that this work is now committed to the Church under Christ, according to the laws and ordinances given by the Apostles, is evident from the following considerations:
It is clearly implied in the terms of this Commission. Our blessed Savior said to His Apostles: "Go ye therefore and make disciples of all the nations, baptizing them into the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit: teaching them to observe all things whatever I have commanded you: and lo, I am with you all the days, even to the end of the age." In this declaration of Christ, it is clearly implied that the obligation to make disciples would in some way and in some sense rest on the Apostles throughout the entire Christian age; and that, during this whole period, Christ would be ever present with them, to aid and to bless them in this work. But in what sense is this true? In what sense can it be true? The Apostles are now all dead. For nearly eighteen hundred years they have all slept with their fathers, so that personally they have long since ceased from their labors. But officially they still live in their writings, and, as law-givers and judges, they still sit on thrones, directing, instructing and edifying, every congregation of faithful disciples. They still work through the Church for the consummation and accomplishment of the work begun on Pentecost. To her they have committed the word of reconciliation, for the enlightenment and salvation of the world (1 Timothy 3:15; 2 Timothy 2:2; Revelation 22:17, etc.). He that now hears the Church, so long as she acts according to the inspired word, hears the Apostles, and he that hears the Apostles hears Christ (Luke 10:16). And hence it is that on the Church, as the divinely-appointed agent of the Apostles, acting with their advice and under their authority, now rests the responsibility of making disciples of all the nations.
This is still further evident from the labors of the Apostles and the history of primitive Church. The apostolic age was emphatically the missionary age of the Church. Then every new convert to Christ was a new element of strength to the missionary cause. Under the direction of the Apostles, the disciples went everywhere preaching the word, and assisting in every way that they could, to advance the kingdom of Christ on earth. This is so fully illustrated throughout the Acts of the Apostles, that a mere reference to this illustrative book is sufficient to convince every intelligent and thoughtful reader of the inspired ’Word, of its truthfulness. It was not the Apostles only, but also their coadjutors, acting with their advice and under their instructions, that turned the world upside down by preaching the Gospel to every creature under heaven, within the short period of about thirty years after the coronation of the Messiah (Colossians 1:23). What further proof, then, is necessary, in order to convince all who plead for the restoration of the primitive faith and practice, that "the Church, as the pillar and support of the truth," is now solemnly bound to make disciples of all the nations? Surely any further evidence on this subject would be wholly superfluous.
But, in all our efforts to convert the world, let us beware that we depart not from the example and instructions of the inspired Apostles. So long as they sit on twelve thrones judging the twelve tribes of Israel, so long will the laws which they have given to the Church be of binding obligation on all the followers of Christ. If, then, we would labor successfully in our efforts to turn many to righteousness, we must, like the Apostles, demonstrate to the people-
That Christ died for our sins according to the Scriptures.
That He was buried.
That He rose again the third day according to the Scriptures (1 Corinthians 15:1-4).
That He has been exalted to be a Prince and a Savior; and that He has become the author of eternal salvation to all them that obey Him (Hebrews 5:9).
And by this, I do not mean to say that the whole work of making disciples has now been committed to the Church. Certainly not. God has reserved to Himself much the greater part of the work, both in making disciples and in edifying the Church. So Paul clearly teaches in the third chapter of his first letter to the Corinthians. "Paul," he says, "may plant and Apollos may water: but it is God that giveth the increase." And, to show his comparative estimate of the Divine and the human elements in this evangelical work, he adds: "So, then, neither he that watereth; but God that giveth the increase." This testimony is clear and conclusive; and it is, moreover, in beautiful harmony with the promise of Christ, that He would be with the Apostles and all their faithful converts and co-workers, even to the end of the world. (See also John 15:5; 2 Corinthians 3:5; Php 2:12-13; Hebrews 2:4; Hebrews 13:20-21, etc.). But be it remembered "that God’s ways are not as our ways, nor are his thoughts as our thoughts." Such matters are too high for us. It is not, I think, assuming too much to say that we know none of God’s works or operations perfectly. We understand many of them in part, but only in part. We see, for instance, that He makes the herbs of the field grow, and bring forth fruits and flowers, by furnishing to them in various ways the necessary amount of heat, moisture, and electricity, together with their constituent elements of oxygen, carbon, hydrogen, etc. But is this all that He does? Who can tell? What botanist can define and describe for us all the springs and avenues of vegetable life? Or take, if you please, the animal economy. Is there any less mystery here? It is with very great pleasure and satisfaction that we trace the food taken into the stomach through the various processes of chymification, chylification, etc. But what physiologist has ever been able to explain satisfactorily the more recondite and ultimate processes of animal life?
And, as we ascend still higher in the scale of being, is it not further manifest that mysteries multiply? What living philosopher can now fully explain even the phenomena of his own spirit, not to speak of the infinitely more profound and mysterious operations of that Spirit that garnished the heavens, and that brought again from the dead the body of the Lord Jesus?
It seems to me that a being who does not know himself; who does not comprehend the essence of his own spirit, and who cannot perfectly explain even those ordinary operations by which it moves his body, and gives life, energy, and direction to all his members-such a being should, I think, be very cautious in his attempts to set limits to the power and the operations of Jehovah. If God has created the universe, He of course knows how to govern it; how to touch any spring or cord that may be necessary to produce any desired effect. And if all created means, providentially directed and applied, are not sufficient to accomplish the given end or purpose, He has in that event but to speak and it is done; but to command, and it stands fast.
We have therefore no controversy with any one touching the workings and operations of the Spirit of God in the regeneration of man: provided that he does not, by his false theories and vain speculations, contradict the word of God, or make void the means which God has Himself provided, in infinite wisdom and love, for the salvation of mankind. But this much we may and we do affirm:
That God is no respecter of persons (Acts 10:14; Romans 2:11, etc.). And therefore whatever He does for the salvation of one man, He is willing and anxious to do, under like conditions and circumstances, for the salvation of all men.
That the word of God is the good seed of the kingdom, by means of which the Holy Spirit begets a new life in the soul. This is proved by the following passages:
"I write not these things to shame you, but as my beloved sons I warn you. For though ye have many instructors in Christ, ye have not many fathers: for, in Christ Jesus, I have begotten you through the Gospel" (1 Corinthians 4:14-15). From this it is very evident that all the members of the Corinthian Church had been begotten by means of the Gospel. But the Holy Spirit is the author of the Gospel. And hence this passage serves to explain, at least in part, how it is that the Spirit begets a new life in the soul of every convert of Christ.
"Of his own will begat he us with the word of truth, that we should be a kind of first-fruits of his creatures" (James 1:18). Here the Father is said to beget Christians by means of the word of truth. But He evidently does this by His Spirit: for, says Christ, "It is the Spirit that quickeneth" (John 6:63).
"Seeing ye have purified your souls in obeying the truth, through the Spirit, unto unfeigned love of the brethren, see that ye love one another with a pure heart fervently, being born again, not of corruptible seed, but of incorruptible, by the word of God, which liveth and abideth forever" (1 Peter 1:22-23). From this we learn that all the Christians of Pontus, Galatia, Cappadocia, Asia, and Bithynia, were begotten by the Holy Spirit through the word of truth. And surely what was true of these, and of the Corinthian brethren, and of all the Hebrew converts who were scattered abroad, is true also of all Christians at all times, and under all circumstances. (But see also Luke 8:4-15; John 6:44-45, etc.)
That there is not in all the Bible a single instance of any one’s being begotten or regenerated without the word of truth; nor is there given in the Holy Scriptures any evidence that an Apostle or Prophet ever prayed that any one might be baptized in the Holy Spirit in order to his conversion.
Why, then, should erring and fallible men attempt to be wise above that which is written? Why neutralize and set aside the power of the word of truth, as God’s own appointed means of conversion? Why not preach the word as did the Apostles and Prophets, and leave things that are not revealed to the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit? Why leave undone that part of the work which God has assigned to us, and engage in the discussion of those profound and recondite matters which He has reserved to Himself? What would you think of the farmer who would cease to plough and sow, and still hope to reap an abundant harvest, by simply investigating the mysterious processes of vegetable life, which lie far away beyond the reach of all human philosophy? Surely such a course of procedure would indicate on the part of any man a great want of practical wisdom. And yet this is just what a great many learned men have been long doing in their misguided zeal and efforts to reap a harvest of immortal souls. They have in a measure ceased to sow the good seed of the kingdom; and they have too often instructed inquiring souls to wait until the Spirit of God sees fit to renew them by its own direct operations. Thousands, it is to be feared, have followed their unauthorized instructions, who are to-day beyond the reach of hope and mercy. God said to them, Believe the Gospel and obey Christ in all things which He has commanded. But their teachers and religious guides said to them, Wait, wait, wait! They did wait, until at length hell became their portion.
It is time, therefore, that all such speculations should cease, and that all who preach the Gospel should preach it in its purity and simplicity, as did the Apostles of Christ. Let this be done by all, in the name of the Lord Jesus, and times of refreshing will again come from the presence of the Lord.
V. Finally, we may learn from these premises that there is imposed on every one who hears the Gospel a very high obligation to receive it and to obey it. For if Christ has by the grace of God tasted death for every man, and if He has sent the Holy Spirit to convince all of sin, and of righteousness, and of judgment, then surely it is not a light matter to neglect, or to treat with indifference the offers of pardon, and justification, and sanctification, and redemption through the infinite merits of His own atoning blood. The man who willfully does this, imperils his own salvation, and is in danger of eternal condemnation. "For Moses truly said unto the fathers, A Prophet shall the Lord your God raise up unto you of your brethren, like unto me; him shall ye hear in all things whatsoever he shall say unto you. And it shall come to pass that every soul who will not hear that Prophet, shall be destroyed from among the people" (Acts 3:22-23).
It is an awful thing, then, for a poor, helpless, perishing sinner to reject, even for a day or an hour, the overtures of Him who has all authority in heaven and on earth, and Who will certainly judge the living and the dead at His appearing and His kingdom, when He "shall come in flaming fire, taking vengeance on them that know not God, and that obey not the gospel; who shall be punished with an everlasting destruction from the presence of the Lord, and from the glory of His power, when He shall come to be glorified in His saints, and to be admired in all them that believe" (2 Thessalonians 1:7-10). Haste, then
"Haste, O sinner, to be wise;
Stay not for the morrow’s sun;
Wisdom warns thee from the skies,
All the paths of death to shun."