18 And Jesus came and spoke to them, saying, "All authority has been given to Me in heaven and on earth. 19 "Go therefore and make disciples of all the nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, 20 "teaching them to observe all things that I have commanded you; and lo, I am with you always, even to the end of the age." Amen.

Introduction: We come to this last lesson on Discipleship, not because I have exhausted the subject, but because I feel that I have covered the basic principles of what it means to be a disciple of Christ.  We have looked at the call to be Christ's disciple; the price that it costs to follow Christ as His disciple; we have looked at how God's Word and prayer plays an important part in the disciples grow and walk.  Now we come to our final lesson tonight, that speaks about the disciple's vision, their purpose and mission in life.  You might say, this is where the disciple's knowledge and spiritual rubber, hits the road of application – the disciple's commission.

I. Our Authority (v.18).
1. Is based upon Jesus Christ's authority that was given to Him by His Father.

A. The entire Gospel of Matthew stresses the authority of Jesus Christ (BEC).

1) There was authority to His teaching (Matt. 7:29).

2) He exercised authority in healing (Matt. 8:1-13).

3) He exercised authority in forgiving sins (Matt. 9:6).

4) He had authority over Satan, and He delegated that authority to His Apostles (Matt. 10:1).

B. Now at the close of the Gospel, Matthew made it clear that Jesus has ALL authority (BEC).

1) Jesus isn't merely claiming to have power or might (dunamis), such as a great conqueror might claim, but "authority," ("exousia") as something which is His by right, conferred upon Him by One who has the right to bestow it (SL).

- Revelation 2:27, "'He shall rule them with a rod of iron; They shall be dashed to pieces like the potter's vessels' – as I also have received from My Father;"

2) Prior to Christ's resurrection, God restricted Jesus' authority because of His role as the Suffering Servant (SL).

A) Following His resurrection God broadened the sphere in which Jesus exercised authority.

B) He became the One through whom God now mediates all authority.

- Philippians 2:5-11, "Let this mind be in you which was also in Christ Jesus, who, being in the form of God, did not consider it robbery to be equal with God, but made Himself of no reputation, taking the form of a bondservant, and coming in the likeness of men. And being found in appearance as a man, He humbled Himself and became obedient to the point of death, even the death of the cross. Therefore God also has highly exalted Him and given Him the name which is above every name, that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, of those in heaven, and of those on earth, and of those under the earth, and that every tongue should confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father."

3) It is in Christ's power that the Great Commission can be carried out (McGee).

2. Is based upon our submission to Christ's absolute sovereignty.

A. Since Jesus Christ today has all authority, we may obey Him without fear (BEC).

1) No matter where He leads us, no matter what circumstances we face, He is in control.

2) By His death and resurrection, Jesus defeated all enemies and won for Himself all authority.

B. Submission to Christ's authority isn't a disciples' option but is his supreme obligation.

Likewise, as Christ's disciple you are His representative, carrying His credentials which gives us the authority and means to be His disciple and to make new ones; 2 Corinthians 5:20, "Now then, we are ambassadors for Christ, as though God were pleading through us: we implore you on Christ's behalf, be reconciled to God." Like the mail carrier we have even a greater power behind us, that will go into action when called upon to help us to safely deliver what we have been commissioned to deliver for the Lord.  The only thing required of us, to be obey and to follow Him – Christ has taken care of all the rest.

Transition: Not only have we been given the authority to make disciples, but Christ now gives us our "vision statement" on how we are to go about it. . .

II. Our Commission (vv.19-20a).
1. Primary command – making disciples.

A. In the Greek text there is one imperative verb given in these verses, "make disciples," which is modified by three participles, "going," "baptizing," and "teaching" (SL).

1) "matheteuo," make a disciple of someone, instruct, cause someone to become a follower.

2) The term "disciples" was the most popular name for the early believers (BEC).

A) Being a disciple meant more than being a convert or a church member.

B) A disciple attached himself to a teacher, identified with him, learned from him, and lived with him.

(1) He learned, not simply by listening, but also by doing.

(2) We applied this same principle in the Air Force, it was called "On the Job Training" (often referred to a "OJT").

B. Christianity is and has always been a missionary faith (BEC).

1) The very nature of God demands this, for God is love and God is not willing that any should perish.

A) 2 Peter 3:9, "The Lord is not slack concerning His promise, as some count slackness, but is longsuffering toward us, not willing that any should perish but that all should come to repentance."

B) By the use of the term "missionary" I don't just mean sending out "missionaries" to do the work.

- Every disciple was a missionary; whether they were in their own community or sent out to the far reaches of the world.

2) When we read the Book of Acts, we see that the early church operated on the basis of the Lord's sovereign authority.

A) They ministered in His name.

B) They depended on His power and guidance.

C) They did not face a lost world on the basis of their own authority, but on the authority of Jesus Christ.

2. The process of making disciples (given in 3 participles that the imperatival force of a command behind them).

A. Going

1) "go. . .of all the nations."

A) "go," ("poreuomai" {por-yoo'-om-ahee}); to lead over, carry over, to pursue the journey on which one has entered, to continue on one's journey.

(1) The participle "going" is not just circumstantial, but it has some imperatival force.

(2) In other words, Jesus commanded His disciple to reach out to unreached people to make disciples, not just to make disciples among those with whom they happened to come in contact (SL).

B) Making disciples involves bringing people into relationship with Jesus as pupils to teacher (SL).

(1) It involves getting them to take His yoke of instruction upon themselves as authoritative (Matt.11:29), accepting His words as true, and submitting to His will as what is right.

(2)  A good disciple is one who listens, understands, and obeys Jesus' instructions (Matt.12:46-50).

(3) Disciples of Jesus must duplicate themselves in others.

2) The "all nations" isn't just talking about the nation of Israel, but the whole Gentile world.

A) "all," ("pas" {pas}); each, every, any, all, the whole.

B) "nations," ("ethnos" {eth'-nos}); nations, a people; when used with the plural and definite article of "ta" as here it designates non-Jews (i.e., Gentiles, foreigners).

C) Jesus' disciples should make disciples among all people without distinction (SL).

- To be a disciple of Christ, a Christian must be externally focused and recognize that all the world begins where their church parking lot ends.

B. Baptizing.

1) "baptizing," ("baptizo" {bap-tid'-zo}); to dip, to immerse, to submerge, to overwhelm.

- This is another participle that has some imperatival force.

2) The NT knows of no unbaptized believers (NIBC), and the Lord expected it to practiced by those who trusted in Him.

A) Many Christians today like to down play the importance of Baptism by quoting Paul in 1 Corinthians 1:17, "For Christ did not send me to baptize, but to preach the gospel, not with wisdom of words, lest the cross of Christ should be made of no effect."

- But they never seem to read 1 Corinthians 1:16 where Paul says, "Yes, I also baptized the household of Stephanas. Besides, I do not know whether I baptized any other."

B) In believer's baptism, Christians publicly identify themselves with the Triune Godhead (BBC).

(1) They acknowledge that God is their Father, that Jesus Christ is their Lord and Savior, and that the Holy Spirit is the One who indwells, empowers, and teaches them.

(2) The word, "name" in verse 19 is singular.

- One name or essence, yet three Persons -- Father, Son, and Holy Spirit.

C) The Lord tells us here that baptizing is to characterize making disciples (SL).

- It is a command to be followed by all true believers, and not an option that we can obey or disregard as we wish.

C. Teaching.

1) The Commission goes beyond evangelism it involves teaching followers everything Jesus commanded His disciples (BBC).

- "teaching," ("didasko" {did-as'-ko}); to teach, instruct, to hold discourse with others in order to instruct them, to explain or expound a thing.

2) It is not enough to simply make converts and let them fend for themselves, a disciple of Christ's teaches those who have accepted Christ as their Savior to also obey the commandments of Christ (BBC).

A) This is the "Inward" focus of the Christian, where we take those who have accepted Christ and disciple them.

B) The essence of discipleship is becoming like the Master, and this is brought about by systematic teaching of, and submission to, the Word.

This is the process that the disciples followed and have passed on to every believer whom became their disciple.  This should be the heart of every vision, for every Christian and every Church today.  This is God's "secret growth formula" for the growth of His church and his people.  It is also God's vitamins for a believer and church to remain healthy and vibrant.  The simple fact is, sinful man cannot come up with plan or program that will work better than what the Sinless Son of God has given us here.  Anything else will be a poor substitute, which in the end will only produce cheap imitations that will break when put to the test.  Maybe this is the reason why our church rolls contain more "dropouts" than we have "drop-ins" on any given Sunday?

Transition: The Lord closes with. . .

III. Our Promise (v.20b).
1. Of Christ's continuing presence.

A. Immanuel is still God with us (1:23; 18:20: SL).

1) The expression "to the end of the age" (Gr. pasas tes hemeras) literally means "the whole of every day."

2) Jesus promised to be with us every day, forever.

2. Of Christ's continuing enabling.

A. The Gospel of Matthew ends not with a command but with a promise.

B. Jesus will be with His disciples as they carry out His will.

1) This is Christ's great commitment to you and me (SL).

2) Jesus began each of the preceding major sections of Matthew's Gospel with ministry and concluded each with teaching (SL).

A) However in this one He concluded with a command that His disciples continue His ministry and teaching.

B) Thus the book closes with the sense that the ministry and teaching of Jesus are ongoing.

Invitation:
1. The task is still uncompleted.

A. What are we doing to carry out His last command?

1) The answer to this question is found in the answering this question, "if your church closed  tomorrow, or you moved away, what impact would it make upon your community or the people  that you know?"

2) Does the answer to this question scare you?

B. We have no excuse not to be a disciple of Christ, nor to follow His directions, because the Lord has given us the ability to do His work until He returns.

2. The real question we need to ask now, if we haven't been faithful to fulfilling the Lord's Commission, then what are you going to do about it?  How about your Church?

- 1 John 2:4-6, "He who says, 'I know Him,' and does not keep His commandments, is a liar, and the truth is not in him. But whoever keeps His word, truly the love of God is perfected in him. By this we know that we are in Him. He who says he abides in Him ought himself also to walk just as He walked."

BBC - Believer's Bible Commentary, William MacDonald, Thomas Nelson Publishers.
BEC - Warren W. Wiersbe, The Bible Exposition Commentaries.
McGee - Thru The Bible,  J. Vernon McGee.
NIBC - New Illustrated Bible Commentary, Radmacher, Allen & House, Thomas Nelson Inc.
SL - Expository notes, Dr. Thomas Constable (http://soniclight.com/).

V.17.
- "saw," ("eido" {i-do': v, part, aor, act, nom, masc, pl}); to see, to perceive with the eyes, look at.
- "worshiped," ("proskuneo" {pros-koo-neh'-o: v, ind, aor, act, 3per, pl}); to kiss the hand towards one, to fall upon
    the knees and touch the ground with the forehead as an expression of profound reverence, bow down to kiss someone's
    feet, used here of worship or veneration of a divine person.
- "doubted," ("distazo" {dis-tad'-zo: v, ind, aor, act, 3per, pl}); to doubt, waiver, be of two minds about something.

V.18.
- "all," ("pas" {pas: adj, nom, fem, sg}); all, full, supreme, greatest.
- "authority," ("exousia" {ex-oo-see'-ah: n, nom, fem, sg}); authority, right, power. (KJV = power)

-- Vincent: Better, authority.

-- Vincent: Lit., was given, by the divine decree.

V.20.
- "teaching," ("didasko" {did-as'-ko: v, part, (imper), pres, act, nom, masc, 2per, pl}); to teach, instruct, to hold discourse with
    others in order to instruct them, to explain or expound a thing.
- "observe," ("tereo" {tay-reh'-o: v, inf, pres, act}); keep in view, take note, watch over, to attend to carefully, to observe, obey.
- "all things," ("pas" {pas: adj, pron, acc, neut, pl}); each, every, any, all, the whole, everything.
- "commanded," ("entellomai" {en-tel'-lom-ahee: v, ind, aor, mid, dep, 1per, sg}); to order, command to be done, give orders to,
    commission, direct, enjoin.
- "lo," ("idou" {id-oo': particle sent}); behold, see, lo, used to get someone's attention.
- "I am," ("eimi" {i-mee': v, ind, pres, act, 1per, sg}); to be, denotes what exists, I am.
- "with," ("meta" {met-ah': prep, gen}); with, among, in the midst of.
- "always," ("pas hermera" {pas hay-mer'-ah: adj, acc, fem, pl; n, acc, fem, pl}); individually, all, each, everyone AND the day,
    from day to day, continually, every day.
- "even to," ("heos" {heh'-oce: prep, gen}); till, until. (KJV = even unto)
- "the end," ("sunteleia" {soon-tel'-i-ah: n, gen, fem, sg}); as the point of time marking the close of an age, end, conclusion,
    completion, consummation.
- "age," ("aion" {ahee-ohn': n, gen, masc, sg}); era, time, age, the age to come, (KJV = world)