I’d like to begin this article with a conclusion. If your church is not involved in the Great Commission, then it is missing its purpose.
What is the purpose of the church? Many churches are active in their local community, hold public events, and schedule fun things for their congregants to do. Those things are fine, but they are not the purpose of the church. When Jesus established his church, right from its inception, there was something he wanted it to accomplish. There was a purpose for its creation. And unless we are engaged in this purpose, then we are not functioning as a church as God intended. Jesus said of his church in Matthew 16:18, “I will build my church; and the gates of Hades will not overpower it.” Right off the bat, Jesus notes that his church is built for spiritual warfare. But what would the church engage in that would call for this kind of language?
Most Christians think that spiritual warfare is defensive. We are defending ourselves against Satan, who is trying to steal ground. In actuality, it’s the other way around. The world already belongs to Satan. “The whole world lies in the power of the evil one” (I John 5:19). Satan is not on the offense. He is on the defense. It is the church that is claiming new ground by bringing people to faith in Christ. We are stealing people away from the devil by bringing them to faith in Christ. So what is this thing that the church does, that the church was founded to do, that sets Satan on edge? What is the very purpose of the church? It is the Great Commission. Without the Great Commission, the church has no purpose. And this isn’t just a “spiritual” mission. It is much more.
Some people view the church and the Great Commission in spiritual terms only. They think that Jesus was only building a spiritual movement and that it has no bearing on the real world. But there is much more to the church, and especially the Great Commission. Look at what Jesus said.
“All authority has been given to Me in heaven and on earth. “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” (Matthew 28:18-20).
What most of us miss is that the Great Commission uses political language to advance its global spiritual mission. Notice the language used in the seven areas of authority in the Great Commission.
First, Jesus said, “All authority in heaven and on earth” had been given to him. He is the ruler of all nations, both heavenly and earthly. This is political language. Second, he said, “Make disciples.” In other words, we are to make citizens of this new kingdom. Third, we are to do this with “All nations.” We are making a new nation within nations. Fourth, we are to “Baptize them.” Essentially, by doing so, we are confirming or establishing their citizenship in this new nation. Fifth, we are to do so in the “Name of Father, Son, Holy Spirit,” which is to exercise his sovereign rulership over all. Sixth, we are to “Teach them to observe” all he commanded. This is his law. We are to follow his commands. Every ruler issues commands. Lastly, he says, “I am with you.” We carry his authority through his presence with us.
This structure of Matthew 28 should not surprise us. Matthew’s Gospel was written to portray Christ as the prophesied king. Therefore, the Great Commission is the natural outgrowth of Jesus’ divine lordship. When we take Christ to ourselves, we are doing more than simply accepting a Savior; we are submitting to him as king. And he rules with greater authority than any earthly government, constitution, president, ruler, or legislative body. He is creating a unique nation out of and within all nations. That is why, for some earthly rulers, acceptance of Christ is seen as political treason. We ascribe higher authority to Jesus than to any other authority. The world recognizes this. Notice these examples.
Remember Pharaoh’s response to Moses. “Who is the Lord that I should obey his voice?” (Exodus 5:2, NASB). Pharaoh recognized that Moses was issuing a command of higher authority than Pharaoh. That was treason. Jeremiah the prophet used this same language. The Lord said through him, “If they do not obey, I will utterly pluck up and destroy that nation” (Jeremiah 12:17, KJV). Paul even used this kind of language in Romans 1 when he mentioned that Jesus was of “David according to the flesh” (v.3, that’s kingship), to “bring about obedience of faith among the Gentiles” (v.5, obeying that kingship above other nations), and to do so from “Rome” (v.7, from the very heart of Caesar’s empire). In Daniel 2, Daniel revealed that all nations will be crushed by the kingdom of the Messiah.
From its very inception, the purpose of the church was to share the Gospel with the world. Jesus said, “all nations” in Matthew 28. If the purpose of the church, from its very inception, was the Great Commission, then it follows that that purpose is our purpose too. Even now, 2,000 years later, the purpose of the church has not changed. So let me leave you with four truths about the Great Commission and your church.
1.) The Great Commission is the purpose of the church.
Without the Great Commission, the church has no mandate, nothing that it strives for to impact the world. Church potlucks and holiday celebrations don’t cut it. If we’re not telling people about Jesus then we aren’t fulfilling our purpose.
2.) If you are part of the church, the Great Commission is your purpose.
You are part of the church. Thus, the church’s purpose is your purpose. If you do everything except engage in the Great Commission, then you are wasting your time.
3.) If your church is not involved in the Great Commission, then it is missing its purpose.
It’s why the church exists: to multiply itself throughout the world. Without the Great Commission, everything else is just made up and has no eternal merit.
4.) The reach is the world; therefore, the local church’s purpose is to reach the world.
The Great Commission is about the world. Local outreach is good, but let’s not forget the world. Reaching the world is the first purpose of the church. It’s in Jesus’ founding statements.
What is your church doing to reach the world for Christ? Has your church found its purpose?
