Making Disciples of All Nations

Scripture Reading: (click link to download audio) Matthew 28:16-20

Making Disciples of All Nations

This central message of Scripture pertains to the central mission of the people of God, a mission that many Christians do not understand nor are they willing to fulfill. It seems obvious that some Christians think little about their mission in this world, except in regard to their own personal needs.

They attend services and meetings when it is convenient, take what they feel like taking, and have little concern for anything else. They are involved in the church only to the extent that it serves their own desires.

It escapes both their understanding and their concern that the Lord has given His church a supreme mission and that He calls every believer to be an instrument in fulfilling that mission.

If the average church member were surveyed concerning the primary purpose of the church, it is likely that many diverse answers would be given. But I think we would see a theme or a general pattern.

What about you? What do you think the primary mission of the Church is.

A large number would rank fellowship first, the opportunity to associate and interact with fellow Christians who share similar beliefs and values. They highly value the fact that the church provides activities and programs for the whole family and is a place where relationships are nurtured and shared and where inspiration is provided through good preaching and beautiful music.

Some Christians would consider sound biblical teaching to be the church’s principal function, explaining Scripture and strengthening believers in knowledge of and obedience to God’s revealed truth.

That emphasis would include helping believers discover and minister their spiritual gifts in various forms of leadership and service. Like fellowship, that too is a basic function of the church.

Some members would consider praise of God to be the supreme purpose of the church. They emphasize the church as a praising community that exalts the Lord in adoration and reverence. It is true, praise is clearly a central purpose of God’s people, just as it has always been and will always be a central activity of heaven, where both saints and angels will eternally sing praises to God.

All of those emphases are thoroughly biblical and should characterize every church. But neither separately nor together do they represent the central purpose and mission of the church in the world.
The supreme purpose and motive of every individual believer and every body of believers is to glorify God. We are to praise, honor, and glorify God in every aspect of our life.

The mission that flows out of our loving fellowship, our spiritual growth, and our praise is that of being God’s faithful and obedient instruments in His plan to redeem the world. That plan began in eternity past, before the foundation of the world.

The supreme way in which God chose to receive glory was through the redemption of sinful people, and it is through participation in that redemptive plan that believers themselves most glorify God. Through Christ, God was “reconciling the world to Himself, not counting their trespasses against them” (2 Cor. 5:19).

It has never been God’s will for any person “to perish but for all to come to repentance” (2 Pet 3:9). He “desires all men to be saved, and to come to the knowledge of the truth” (1 Tim 2:4).

God’s heart has always longed to bring sinful, rebellious men back to Himself, to give them new, righteous, and eternal life through His Son, Jesus Christ. He so greatly “loved the world, that He gave His only begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him should not perish, but have eternal life” (John 3:16).

Paul rejoiced that God’s “grace which is spreading to more and more people may cause the giving of thanks to abound to the glory of God” (2 Cor 4:15). The apostle told the Corinthian believers and all Christians: “Whatever you do, do all to the glory of God” (1 Cor 10:31). Every time an unbeliever is saved by God’s grace, God is glorified.

The great mission of the church is to love, learn, and live as to call men and women to Jesus Christ. As sinners we are forgiven and are transformed from death to life and from darkness to light, God is glorified through that gracious miracle. The glory of God is manifest in His loving provision to redeem lost men. He Himself paid the ultimate price to fulfill His glory.

Therefore, the believe who desires to glorify God, who wants to honor God’s supreme will and purpose, must share God’s love for the lost world and share in His mission to redeem the lost to Himself.

Christ came into the world that He loved and sought to win sinners to Himself for the Father’s glory. As Christ’s representatives, we are likewise sent into the world that He loves to bring the lost to Him and thereby bring glory and honor to God. Our mission is the same mission as that of the Father and of the Son.

While on earth, Jesus glorified the Father by accomplishing His mission of providing eternal life to those who trust in Him, by reconciling lost men to the God they had forsaken. Jesus’ supreme purpose on earth was “to seek and the save that which was lost” (Luke 19:10).

That is therefore also the supreme mission of Christ’s church. The work of the church is an extension of the work of Christ. “As Thou didst send Me into the world, I also have sent them into the world” (John 17:18).

There is only one reason the Lord allows His church to remain on earth: to seek and to save the lost, just as Christ’s only reason for coming to earth was to seek and to save the lost. Therefore, a believer who is not committed to winning the lost for Jesus Christ should reexamine his relationship to the Lord.

Fellowship, teaching, and praise are not the mission of the church but are rather the preparation of the church to fulfill its mission of winning the lost.

Christian fellowship, biblical preaching and teaching, and times of praise to God are good and godly, and in many ways carry their own rewards and blessings. But reaching the lost for Christ is much more difficult and demanding, and the results are often slow in coming and the rewards are sometimes long delayed.

The gospel is frequently resented by those to whom we witness, and sometimes faithful witnessing is ridiculed even by fellow believers. Yet above all others, that ministry can only be accomplished while we are on earth. We will have no opportunity in heaven to call the lost to the Savior.

We are to make ourselves available to God for Him to use to carry out the mission of the Church. This will involve submitting and obeying Him, so that His power may be displayed for His Glory.

Let us all make that our mission for this year. To bring people to Christ, so that God may be glorified through us.

Closing Prayer

Heavenly Father, we thank you for using us to carry our your will. We thank you for providing us with the strength and opportunities to minister to others. Help us to do that so you may be honored and glorified when sinners are drawn to you and repent of their lifestyle. AMEN.