Friday, May 16, 2014

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Jesus' Instructions



          We have all heard of the Great Commission.  What we need to determine is what the scope of that commission is.  Salvation is a joint effort.  We are to tell people about the availability, the Holy Spirit convicts the people of their need and the Father supplies it through the sacrifices of His Son Jesus.  What did Jesus, in His own words, tell us that He wanted us to do?


1.  Matthew 28:19


King James Version (KJV)
Go ye therefore, and teach all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost:

New KJV
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,

1599 Geneva Bible
Go therefore, and teach all nations, baptizing them in the Name of the Father, and the Son, and the holy Ghost,[1]

Orthodox Jewish Bible, Mattityahu  28:19
Go, therefore, make talmidim for Rebbe, Melech HaMoshiach of all the nations, giving them a tevilah in a mikveh mayim in Hashem, in the Name of HaAv, and HaBen, and HaRuach Hakodesh,[2]

[My translation of the Orthodox Jewish verses.  Go, therefore, make disciples for our  teacher, King Messiah of all nations (meaning King of the world), giving them a full body immersion in a mikveh (a collection of water), in the name of the Father, the Son and the Holy Ghost.] 

        "In Christianity, the term disciple primarily refers to students of Jesus and is found in the New Testament only in the Gospels and Acts. The New Testament records many followers of Jesus during his ministry, but only some became disciples."[3]


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

New King James Version (NKJV)
 And He said to them, “Go into all the world and preach the gospel to every creature.

1599 Geneva Bible (GNV)
 [a]And he said unto them, Go ye into all the world, and preach the Gospel to [b]every creature. [4]
Footnotes:
  1. Mark 16:15 The Apostles are appointed, and their office is limited unto them, which is to preach that which they heard of him, and to minister the Sacraments, which Christ hath instituted, having besides power to do miracles.
  2. Mark 16:15 Not to the Jews only, nor in Judea only, but to all men, and everywhere: and so must all the Apostles do.

Orthodox Jewish Bible (OJB) Markos 16:15[5]

 And Rebbe, Melech HaMoshiach said to them, Go into kol haOlam (all the World), and proclaim the Besuras HaGeulah to all HaBriah (the Creation).


3. Acts 1:8


King James Version (KJV)
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.

New King James Version (NKJV)
But you shall receive power when the Holy Spirit has come upon you; and you shall be witnesses to Me in Jerusalem, and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the end of the earth.”

1599 Geneva Bible (GNV)
But ye shall receive power of the holy Ghost, when he shall come on you: and ye shall be witnesses unto me both in Jerusalem and in all Judea, and in Samaria, and unto the uttermost part of the earth.[6]

Orthodox Jewish Bible (OJB), Gevurot 1:

"But you will receive ko’ach when the Ruach Hakodesh has come upon you, and you all will be the Eidus (the Witness) of me, in Yerushalayim, and in all Yehudah, and Shomron and as far as ad ketzeh ha’aretz."[7]

World Religions[8] -

Religion                Number of followers

Christianity           2,200,000,000

Islam                     1.600,000,000

Hinduism              1,100,000,000

Buddhism                488,000,000

Shinto                      100,000,000

Sikhism                     28,000,000

Judaism                     14,000,000

All others                  49,000,000


          Atheists and agnostics account for about three percent of the world's population.


          As we can see, from the above statistics, there is yet a lot of work in evangelism to be done.  Our job is not to save them, it is to present the Gospel to them.


          As Christian soldiers, we can see we have marching orders.  Notice, we are instructed to go into all nations.  "Nations don't go to Heaven, people do."[9]  It is the people in all the nations we are to bring the "good news" to.  Being Born Again into Christianity is not a group event, it is a personal relationship with the Christ of God, the Melech HaMoshiach, the savior of the world, one soul at a time.[10] 

 

          Our additional duty is to help them grow, and mature, in their walk with the Lord.  They, and we, must study to show ourselves approved.  All scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness: That the man of God may be perfect, thoroughly furnished unto all good works.[11] All is to be done for the glory of God.[12]

          Now granted, Jesus did say that "these signs shall follow them that believe; In my name shall they cast out devils; they shall speak with new tongues; They shall take up serpents; and if they drink any deadly thing, it shall not hurt them; they shall lay hands on the sick, and they shall recover".[13]  His main emphasis, however, was to tell the world about the gift of salvation.




[2] http://www.biblegateway.com
[3] Wikipedia

[4] http://www.biblegateway.com

[8] Statistical information from Wikipedia
[9] David Jeremiah
[11] 2 Timothy 3:16-17

[12] Inspiration for this writing came from Pastor Mike Tyson, Bozeman, Montana
[13] Mark 16:17-18

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