"The Great Commission" Exposed

Luke 24: 
[47] And that repentance and remission of sins should be preached in his name among all nations, beginning at Jerusalem.
[48] And ye are witnesses of these things.
[49] And, behold, I send the promise of my Father upon you: but tarry ye in the city of Jerusalem, until ye be endued with power from on high.
[50] And he led them out as far as to Bethany, and he lifted up his hands, and blessed them.
[51] And it came to pass, while he blessed them, he was parted from them, and carried up into heaven.
[52] And they worshipped him, and returned to Jerusalem with great joy:
[53] And were continually in the temple, praising and blessing God. Amen.

Mark 16:
[15] And he said unto them, Go ye into all the world, and preach the gospel to every creature.
[16] He that believeth and is baptized shall be saved; but he that believeth not shall be damned.
[17] And these signs shall follow them that believe; In my name shall they cast out devils; they shall speak with new tongues;
[18] 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.
[19] So then after the Lord had spoken unto them, he was received up into heaven, and sat on the right hand of God.
[20] And they went forth, and preached everywhere, the Lord working with them, and confirming the word with signs following. Amen.

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.

The Charismatics, Baptists, and "church of christ" (Campbellites) teach that Mark 16:15-20 is the "great commission". They teach that these passages record God's purpose for the Body of Christ (Church) today. However, none of them actually follow these last words of Christ to the 11 apostles. 

The Charismatics....

• They do not begin their ministry at Jerusalem. (Luke 24:47, 24:49, 24:52, Acts 1:4, 1:8)

• They do not teach "whatsoever" Christ commanded such as selling all earthly possessions (Matt. 6:19-34, 8:20, 10:8-10, 13:44-46, 19:16-24, Mark 6:7-9, 10:17-23, Luke 3:8-11, 9:1-4, 12:15-34, Acts 2:44-45, 3:1-6, 4:32-37, 5:1-11) give any of your possessions to those who ask (Matt. 5:42, Luke 6:30), turn the other cheek when someone hits you (Matt. 5:39, Luke 6:29), when someone steals your coat give them your cloak also (Matt. 5:40, Luke 6:29), keep the Law of Moses (Matt. 5:17-20, 8:1-4, 23:1-3, 24:20, Mark 1:44).

• They do not really speak with new tongues (actual languages). (Mark 16:17)

• They do not take up serpents. (Mark 16:18)

• They do not drink any deadly thing. (Mark 16:18)

• When they lay hands on the sick, they do not recover. (Mark 16:18)

The Baptists...  

• They do not preach belief and water baptism for salvation. (Mark 16:16)

• They do not begin their ministry at Jerusalem. (Luke 24:47, 24:49, 24:52, Acts 1:4, 1:8)

• They do not teach "whatsoever" Christ commanded such as selling all earthly possessions (Matt. 6:19-34, 8:20, 10:8-10, 13:44-46, 19:16-24, Mark 6:7-9, 10:17-23, Luke 3:8-11, 9:1-4, 12:15-34, Acts 2:44-45, 3:1-6, 4:32-37, 5:1-11) give any of your possessions to those who ask (Matt. 5:42, Luke 6:30), turn the other cheek when someone hits you (Matt. 5:39, Luke 6:29), when someone steals your coat give them your cloak also (Matt. 5:40, Luke 6:29), keep the Law of Moses (Matt. 5:17-20, 8:1-4, 23:1-3, 24:20, Mark 1:44).

• They do not really speak with new tongues (actual languages). (Mark 16:17)

• They do not take up serpents. (Mark 16:18)

• They do not drink any deadly thing. (Mark 16:18)

• When they lay hands on the sick, they do not recover. (Mark 16:18)

The "church of christ" Campbellites...

• They do not begin their ministry at Jerusalem. (Luke 24:47, 24:49, 24:52, Acts 1:4, 1:8)

• They do not teach "whatsoever" Christ commanded such as selling all earthly possessions (Matt. 6:19-34, 8:20, 10:8-10, 13:44-46, 19:16-24, Mark 6:7-9, 10:17-23, Luke 3:8-11, 9:1-4, 12:15-34, Acts 2:44-45, 3:1-6, 4:32-37, 5:1-11) give any of your possessions to those who ask (Matt. 5:42, Luke 6:30), turn the other cheek when someone hits you (Matt. 5:39, Luke 6:29), when someone steals your coat give them your cloak also (Matt. 5:40, Luke 6:29), keep the Law of Moses (Matt. 5:17-20, 8:1-4, 23:1-3, 24:20, Mark 1:44).

• They do not really speak with new tongues (actual languages). (Mark 16:17)

• They do not take up serpents. (Mark 16:18)

• They do not drink any deadly thing. (Mark 16:18)

• When they lay hands on the sick, they do not recover. (Mark 16:18)

These organizations do not really follow the "great commission" that they claim to uphold and practice. The Campbellites and Baptists explain away some of their "great commission" by saying that the serpents, healing, poison drinking, tongues, etc. ceased when the Bible was completed. They use 1 Corinthians 13:8-13 to try and prove this. While it is true that the supernatural giving of knowledge, tongues, and prophecy ceased with the completion of the Scriptures, that has NOTHING to do with the healing of the sick, taking up serpents, and drinking poison. If the Campbellites and Baptists are really commissioned by God by the words of Mark 16, then they should be able to perform the acts described there. But they cannot do them. If you threw a rattle snake into a Campbellite church in the middle of a service they would all run out screaming. There is no Charismatic, Baptist, or Campbellite in the world that can walk into a hospital and lay hands on the sick and make them recover instantly (as it happened in the Bible). 

The problem is not with the "commission" itself, but with the people claiming to follow it. First of all, the gospel being preached is not the "Gospel of the Grace of God" that was given to Paul (1 Cor. 15:1-4, Gal. 1:11-12, 2:1-9, Acts 20:24, Rom. 16:25). The gospel of Matthew 28:19-20 is the "Gospel of the Kingdom" of Matthew 24:14, And this gospel of the kingdom shall be preached in all the world for a witness unto all nations; and then shall the end come. This gospel did not contain the message that Christ died for our sins, was buried, and rose again (Matt. 16:21-23, Mark 9:31-32, Luke 9:44-45, Luke 18:31-34, John 20:6-10).   

I believe that the four gospels, Matthew-Mark-Luke-John, are records of Christ's earthly ministry to the Jews (John 1:11, 1:31, Rom. 15:8, Acts 10:36, Mark 7:26-29, Matt. 10:5-6, 15:21-27). The gospel preached during this time was not the gospel of the grace of God as found in 1 Corinthians 15:1-4, the 12 apostles did not know about that gospel (Matt. 16:21-23, Mark 9:31-32, Luke 9:44-45, Luke 18:31-34, John 20:6-10). The gospel preached by the Lord Jesus and the 12 apostles during this time and up until Acts chapter 15 was called "the gospel of the kingdom" (Matt. 4:23, 9:35, 24:14, Mark 1:14). The Gospel of the Kingdom included belief on Christ and good works.

The works required under the Gospel of the Kingdom were these:

• The Baptism of Repentance, which was repenting/confessing/baptism (Matt. 3:1-11, Mark 1:4-5, Luke 3:3, Acts 2:38, Mark 16:16).
• Selling all that you had (Matt. 6:19-34, 8:20, 10:8-10, 13:44-46, 19:16-24, Mark 6:7-9, 10:17-23, Luke 3:8-11, 9:1-4, 12:15-34, Acts 2:44-45, 3:1-6, 4:32-37, 5:1-11).
• Forgiving others of their sins against you (Matt. 6:12-15, 18:21-35, Mark 11:25-26, Luke 6:37, 11:4).
• Maintain good works (Matt. 5:20, 5:48, 16:27, 19:16-19, John 5:29). This included very seemingly "little" sins, such as not calling someone a fool (Matt. 5:22).  
• Doing works meet for repentance (Matt. 3:7-10, Luke 3:8-11).
• Love your enemies, bless them that curse you, do good to them that hate you,
  pray for them which despitefully use you, and persecute you. You must do this to be a child of God (Matt. 5:43-45).
• Bring forth fruit to abide in God's love or be cast into the fire (Matt. 7:15-20, John 15:1-10). 
• Do the will of God keeping His words (Matt. 7:21-27).
• Endure to the end of the Tribulation until Christ comes without denying the Lord (Matt. 10:22, 10:32-33, 24:13-14, Luke 12:8-9, Mark 13:13, Rev. 2:7, 2:11, 2:17, 2:26, 3:5, 3:12, 3:21, 21:7, Heb. 3:6-14, 4:1, 4:11, 6:4-8, 8:8-13, 10:16-17, 10:38-11:31).
• Do not take the Mark of the Beast (Rev. 13:15-18, 14:9-11). 
• Do not try and save your physical life by denying Christ in the midst of persecution, you will lose your soul if you do (Matt. 10:38-39, 16:25-26, Mark 8:35-36, Luke 9:24-25, 17:33).
• Do not blaspheme the Holy Ghost (Matt. 12:31-32, Mark 3:28-29, Luke 12:10, 1 John 5:16).
• Watch for Christ's Second Coming to the earth and be a faithful servant (Matt. 24:42-51, Mark 13:32-37, Luke 21:34-36).
• Do not hate your brethren (1 John 3:14-15).
• Take care of the Jews and believers in the Tribulation (Matt. 25:30-46).

This gospel was an offer of the earthly kingdom of Christ to Israel (Matt. 3:2, 4:17, 10:7, 11:14, 16:28, Mark 1:15). The emphasis is on the EARTHLY aspect, the Kingdom of God will come to the earth (Matt. 2:2, 5:35, 6:10, Luke 11:2, Acts 1:6-7, 3:19-26).  

Matthew 28, Mark 16, and Luke 21 do not contain a commission for believers in the Dispensation of Grace revealed to Paul (Eph. 3:1-9, 1 Tim. 1:16, Rom. 11:25, 15:15-16, 16:25). Paul's instructions from the Lord to the Gentiles contained an entirely different commission....

Did Paul "begin at Jerusalem"?

Galatians 1:
[11] But I certify you, brethren, that the gospel which was preached of me is not after man.
[12] For I neither received it of man, neither was I taught it, but by the revelation of Jesus Christ.
[13] For ye have heard of my conversation in time past in the Jews' religion, how that beyond measure I persecuted the church of God, and wasted it:
[14] And profited in the Jews' religion above many my equals in mine own nation, being more exceedingly zealous of the traditions of my fathers.
[15] But when it pleased God, who separated me from my mother's womb, and called me by his grace,
[16] To reveal his Son in me, that I might preach him among the heathen; immediately I conferred not with flesh and blood:
[17] Neither went I up to Jerusalem to them which were apostles before me; but I went into Arabia, and returned again unto Damascus.  

Was Paul sent to teach all nations baptizing them?

1 Corinthians 1:
[14] I thank God that I baptized none of you, but Crispus and Gaius;
[15] Lest any should say that I had baptized in mine own name.
[16] And I baptized also the household of Stephanas: besides, I know not whether I baptized any other.
[17] For Christ sent me not to baptize, but to preach the gospel: not with wisdom of words, lest the cross of Christ should be made of none effect.
[18] For the preaching of the cross is to them that perish foolishness; but unto us which are saved it is the power of God.  

Did Paul preach "he that believeth and is baptized shall be saved"?

Acts 13:38-39 Be it known unto you therefore, men and brethren, that through this man is preached unto you the forgiveness of sins: And by him all that believe are justified from all things, from which ye could not be justified by the law of Moses.

1 Corinthians 1:17 For Christ sent me not to baptize, but to preach the gospel: not with wisdom of words, lest the cross of Christ should be made of none effect.

Did Paul teach whatsoever Christ commanded in the Gospels?

He did not teach that you had to sell all (compare 2 Cor. 12:14, 2 Thes. 3:6-12, 1 Tim. 5:8 with Matt. 6:19-34, 8:20, 10:8-10, 13:44-46, 19:16-24, Mark 6:7-9, 10:17-23, Luke 3:8-11, 9:1-4, 12:15-34, Acts 2:44-45, 3:1-6, 4:32-37, 5:1-11).

He did not teach that you had to forgive others in order for God to forgive you (compare Acts 13:38-39, Eph. 4:32, Col. 2:13, 3:13 with Matt. 6:12-15, 18:21-35, Mark 11:25-26, Luke 6:37, 11:4).

He did not teach that we must keep the commandments to be saved (compare Romans 3-7, Galatians 2-5, and Colossians 2 with Matt. 5:17-20, 8:1-4, 23:1-3, 24:20, Mark 1:44). 

He taught that we would not see the Son of Perdition and Daniel's 70th Week (compare Rom. 5:9, 1 Thes. 1:10, 5:9, 2 Thes. 2:1-8 with Matthew 24, Mark 13, and Luke 21).

And on and on and on......

Nobody truly follows "the great commission" and they would be wrong for trying to keep it. God's dealings with man have changed, we are in a new dispensation. This is not to say we are not suppose to get the gospel to all nations, obviously we are (Col. 1:28, 1 Tim. 2:4, Rom. 16:26, 2 Cor. 5:14-6:2)....but we must get the right gospel to the nations the right way. (Note: Most religious organizations do not realize that Paul's gospel went to the whole world and every creature in his own life time--Col. 1:6, Col. 1:23, 2 Tim. 4:17, Tit. 2:11).

--Eli Caldwell