## Study of the Book of Acts - Part 27

Acts 29:1

Of course there is no such chapter and no such verse! The point is this…even though the book of Acts ends, the campaign continues. We, as NT believers, are to take up the responsibility of reaching the uttermost with the Gospel message.

We often refer to the 'great commission' as if it was one single Scripture. It is one command but it is given in five separate scripture locations. In each of the references the message is essentially the same, but there is a different emphasis placed upon each one of them.

I. In Matthew the emphasis is on Procedure

(Matthew 28:19-20) Go ye therefore, and teach all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost: 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.

II. The Commission Was Given to the Local Church.

A. Primary purpose of the Local Church is evangelism.

B. The scope of evangelism is emphasized by the phrase 'teach all nations'.

C. The emphasis on procedure.

1. Go…

2. Teach…

3. Baptize…

4. Teaching to observe all things…

(Ephesians 4:11-12) And he gave some, apostles; and some, prophets; and some, evangelists; and some, pastors and teachers; For the perfecting of the saints, for the work of the ministry, for the edifying of the body of Christ:

(Acts 20:20) And how I kept back nothing that was profitable unto you, but have shewed you, and have taught you publickly, and from house to house,

(2 Timothy 2:2) And the things that thou hast heard of me among many witnesses, the same commit thou to faithful men, who shall be able to teach others also.

III. In Mark and Luke the emphasis is on the Gospel

(Mark 16:15) And he said unto them, Go ye into all the world, and preach the gospel to every creature.

A. To every creature or every individual.

B. What are we to preach?

1. Not social issues.

2. Not politics.

3. But the Gospel!

(1 Corinthians 15:1) Moreover, brethren, I declare unto you the gospel which I preached unto you, which also ye have received, and wherein ye stand;

(1 Corinthians 15:3-4) For I delivered unto you first of all that which I also received, how that Christ died for our sins according to the scriptures; And that he was buried, and that he rose again the third day according to the scriptures:

C. This is the message that God wants every creature to hear!

(Luke 24:46-47) And said unto them, Thus it is written, and thus it behoved Christ to suffer, and to rise from the dead the third day: And that repentance and remission of sins should be preached in his name among all nations, beginning at Jerusalem.

1. Repentance and Remission.

2. Not one without the other.

3. Remission = Forgiveness of sin

4. Repentance = Turning from sin

IV. In John's Gospel the emphasis is upon the pattern.

(John 20:21) Then said Jesus to them again, Peace be unto you: as my Father hath sent me, even so send I you.

A. "As my Father hath sent me".

(Luke 19:10) "For the Son of man is come to seek and to save that which was lost."

B. "Even so send I you."

1. Jesus said, 'I am sending you to do the same things and for the same reason that my Father sent Me.'

2. The Great Commission according to John simply by-passes laws, procedures, technicalities and speaks directly to the believer's heart.

3. Do we accept personal responsibility for reaching the lost?

4. Are we personally involved in reaching them today?

V. In the book of Acts the emphasis is on the Power

(Acts 1:8) But ye shall receive power, after that the Holy Ghost is come upon you: and ye shall be witnesses unto me both in Jerusalem, and in all Judaea, and in Samaria, and unto the uttermost part of the earth.

A. The Promise: "But ye shall receive power, after that the Holy Ghost is come upon you"

1. Jesus said, "All power is given unto me in heaven and in earth" Mt. 28:18

2. Jesus had received power from God to do His will on earth.

3. Jesus said, 'As the father sent me, so send I you'

4. The Promise of power is needed today.

B. The Purpose of the Power: "Ye shall be witnesses unto me"

1. What does it mean to witness?

a. Witness = one who bears witness by his death.

b. We bear witness by our death to the flesh.

c. A martyr also bore witness by his life in refusing to renounce the name of Christ.

2. Charismatics place the emphasis of the Holy Ghost power upon themselves which is contrary to Scripture.

C. The Place: "Both in Jerusalem, and in all Judea, and in Samaria, and unto the uttermost part of the earth"

1. Once again we are reminded of the scope of the commission.

2. We must be witnesses to the entire world.

3. We cannot be content with one area or with one group of people.

(Proverbs 29:18a) Where there is no vision, the people perish: