Chapter OneTHE NEGLECTED COMMISSION
Each knowledgeably convicted person who regards restoration as the valid means for
establishing Christ's church and promoting Christian life has a specific understanding of The
Great Commission. That person acknowledges that Jesus' commission given to His apostles
shortly after His resurrection continues to reflect God's objective in today's world.
In the words of Matthew:
In the words of Mark:
Jehovah is the missionary God whose earthly goal is to be the God of all nations.
After centuries of preparation, in an act of incomprehensible love, God sent His Son into the
world as true flesh and blood to be His sacrificial lamb. In crucifixion, Jesus shed His sinless
blood to pay the price of redemption for the sins of all mankind. The redemptive power of that
blood made atonement for all the sins forgiven by God prior to Jesus' sacrificial death,<3> and
made atonement for all sins God would forgive thereafter. There was sufficient power in Jesus'
blood offering to atone for every sin committed from the rebellion of Adam and Eve until the
last moment of this earth's existence.
For love of the world, Jesus came.<4> For the salvation of the world, Jesus died.<5> By
divine plan and intent, the gospel is God's good news for the world.<6> One of the two
primary responsibilities of God's family is to share Jesus with the world. Christians as the
church are God's earthly, spiritual kingdom; as spiritual citizens they are God's own possession.
One of their primary responsibilities is to inform the world of its Savior.
Seeking to evangelize the world is not an optional Christian responsibility. Having been
commanded by Jesus Himself, evangelism is one of the two charter responsibilities of the
church. For too long it has been the neglected commission.
All authority hath been given unto me in heaven and on earth. Go ye 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...<1>
Go ye into all the world, and preach the gospel to the whole creation. He that believeth
and is baptized shall be saved; but he that disbelieveth shall be condemned.<2>
Chapter One