The Bible, the Spirit of Prophecy, and the Church

Chapter 13—Objectives of the Church of Christ

The missionary charter Christ gave to His church is expressed in those memorable words recorded in Matthew’s Gospel: BSPC 181.1

“And Jesus came and spoke unto them, saying, All power is given unto me in heaven and in earth. Go you 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 always, even unto the end of the world. Amen.” Matthew 28:18-20. BSPC 181.2

This divine behest to carry the message of God’s redeeming grace to all the world was given at least three times after the Savior rose from the dead. The first recorded occasion was when the apostles were gathered together in the upper room, on the day that Jesus had been raised from the dead. There the Savior gave them the commission, “Go you into all the world, and preach the gospel to every creature.” Mark 16:15. This appears in another form and differently worded in John 20:19-23. BSPC 181.3

The second occasion appears to have been on the mountainside in Galilee: BSPC 181.4

“Then the eleven disciples went away into Galilee, into a mountain where Jesus had appointed them.... Go you therefore, and teach all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost.” Matthew 28:16-19. BSPC 181.5

On these appearances notice the following from The Desire of Ages: BSPC 181.6

“The commission had been given to the twelve when Christ met with them in the upper chamber; but it was now to be given to a larger number. At the meeting on a mountain in Galilee, all the believers who could be called together were assembled. Of this meeting Christ Himself, before His death, had designated the time and place... BSPC 181.7

“At the time appointed, about five hundred believers were collected in little knots on the mountain-side, eager to learn all that could be learned from those who had seen Christ since His resurrection.... BSPC 182.1

“This was the only interview that Jesus had with many of the believers after His resurrection. He came and spoke to them saying, ‘All power is given unto Me in heaven and in earth.’”—pages 818, 819. BSPC 182.2

The third occasion was on the Mount of Olives, when Jesus gave His parting message to His disciples. This we read in the book of Acts: BSPC 182.3

“You shall be witnesses unto me both in Jerusalem, and in all Judea, and in Samaria, and unto the uttermost part of the earth.” Acts 1:8. BSPC 182.4

How many times the Savior repeated the words of this commission we do not know; there is no doubt He reminded His disciples of their sacred responsibility on many occasions. We read in The Desire of Ages: BSPC 182.5

“‘Go you into all the world, and preach the gospel to every creature.’ Again and again the words were repeated, that the disciples might grasp their significance.”—page 818. BSPC 182.6

There was surely no misunderstanding the intent of the Master’s words. The gospel of divine grace, the only gospel to save sinners and prepare them for a place in the kingdom of God, is the only gospel of deliverance. There is no other. BSPC 182.7

“Neither is there salvation in any other: for there is none other name under heaven given among men, whereby we must be saved.” Acts 4:12. BSPC 182.8

This commission was given not only to the apostles but to the entire church of God. Of course, in the first instance referred to, the responsibility was laid upon the apostles of the church, but they were the representatives of the entire church in all the world. Not only upon them, but upon every believer, is that solemn responsibility laid, to tell, to witness, to live the glorious gospel, which alone can redeem men from the thralldom of iniquity. BSPC 182.9