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. (Matt 28:18-20)The whole Bible is the Word of God, but this is specifically words of Jesus Christ -- the Son of God. That's authority. That's the ultimate authority. So it is a little disturbing that we are so cavalier about doing it. (I say "we" because I haven't succeeded at it either.)
He doesn't say to go make converts. He says to go make disciples. A disciple is a pupil, a follower. He wasn't looking for converts; He was looking for people who would follow Him. He explains, in fact, what that means. It includes baptism, the figurative immersion into Christ that is signified by water immersion. We are to identify with Christ through the work of the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit. We are to identify with His death and with His new life. This is no mere convert. This is something new. We are no longer slaves to sin (Rom 6:2-7). New life. But He's not done there. He tells us to teach these disciples. Make sure they get a good catechism, a nice Sunday School, maybe a book study or something like it. No, if anything, those kinds of things might constitute a starting point, but He calls for something signficantly more comprehensive. "Teach them," He says, "to observe all that I commanded you." Not some. Not just the doctrine. Not just the "feed the poor" kinds of things. All. And not just know. Obey. The Greek word means to watch, to hold fast, to keep, to serve.
This is not an easy task. It is difficult enough that He had to remind His disciples that He would be there to empower and encourage and, yes, to push them to it. But we've proved a stubborn lot. We're satisfied if a few good people go off to Africa and tell them about Jesus. We're not really up to it. We're not Evangelists, after all. Besides, we haven't been taught to identify with Christ in death and life or to carefully observe and follow everything He has said, so why should we do that to others? I would hope, given His introductory statement -- "All authority has been given to Me in heaven and on earth." -- that my question answers itself. Why? Because He said so. Because He has the authority to demand it and followers of Christ ought to be happy to follow Christ. Because we know He is with us. So, just ask yourself. How are you doing following all that He has commanded? Can we just start right there?
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