Armour's Answers – Is the Great Commission Applicable to Every Christian?
Is the Great Commission Applicable to Every Christian?
In light of the fact that many, and perhaps most, Christians do not seem to be actively involved in sharing the good news of salvation with non-believers and helping them to become disciples of Jesus Christ, the question is: What is the responsibility of each Christian to follow the teaching of what is generally referred to as The Great Commission?
Since the instruction that Jesus Christ gave in the preceding biblical passage was spoken just to His eleven Apostles, some people may be uncertain as to whether or not The Great Commission is applicable to every Christian or just to the Apostles to whom Christ spoke those words.
In addressing this matter, it should be noted that, in the same passage, Christ told His Apostles to teach those who would become new disciples to observe (or practice) “all things that I have commanded you.” In other words, all the commands (or instructions) that Christ gave to the Apostles are applicable to every Christian disciple.
John Gill’s Exposition of the Bible explains that “Since God has made reconciliation by Christ, and the ministry of it is committed to us, we are ambassadors for him. . . .” According to Strong’s Concordance, the Greek word that is translated as ambassador refers to a person who acts as a representative. And, Webster’s Dictionary defines the term ambassador as “a special representative;” “an official agent with a special mission” [emphasis added].
This verse does not impose an obligation to bring forward a learned proof and logical defense of revelation. But . . . believers . . . must be buoyed up by some strong “hope”; men of the world, having no such hope themselves, are moved by curiosity to ask the secret of this hope; the believer must be ready to give an . . . account “how this hope arose in him, what it contains, and on what it rests [Steiger].
We have the same Spirit as Christ. This Spirit brings us into perfect union with the Father as we are obedient, faithful, and yielding to God. Christ says that the purpose for our oneness with him and his Father is “to let the world know that you sent me and have loved them even as you have loved me” (John 17:23). God’s single-minded purpose is to redeem a lost world. We have been redeemed, and now we are joining God in his mission to reclaim souls. Everything we become, through the power of Christ working in us, is for the purpose of reaching the lost around us. We are not being refined just to be holy but to be used by God to reach lost souls. We are not to reach unity simply to enjoy one another’s presence in fellowship and worship but so the world may believe Christ was sent by the love of God to redeem them for eternity.
As we grow more mature spiritually, we will be motivated to continue participating in spreading the gospel.
Our participation in spreading the gospel directly and through supporting others will help us prepare for that day of judgment when we will be called to give an account of how we have used our God-given opportunities.
A Christian does not need to have the gift of evangelism to be able to share the gospel with others. Every Christian who is willing to be Christ’s disciple (i.e., every Christian who wants to follow Christ’s teachings) should also be willing to serve as an ambassador for Christ, to help fulfill The Great Commission. Furthermore, every Christian who truly loves God and their fellow human beings will not only be willing to share the gospel with other people, but will desire to do so. While some Christians will share the gospel more proactively than others, all Christians can share their personal testimony when they have an opportunity to share with someone how to have eternal salvation.