Misunderstanding The Great Commission

While the Great Commission is a familiar concept to many Christians, its full depth is often not completely understood.  To truly grasp its significance, we must recognize its origins and profound implications.   When Jesus gave these instructions before his ascension, he was not introducing a new idea, but rather amplifying the ancient promise God made to Abraham in Genesis 12 verses one to three.  God promised to bless Abraham and make him a blessing to all nations, or more accurately, to all ethnic groups.  This foundational theme of God’s mission to bless every people group is woven throughout the entire tapestry of Scripture.  We are blessed with a divine purpose to actively participate in God’s grand redemptive plan.  This plan aims to bring all the nations, which were scattered in Genesis 11, back together.  This reconciliation is not only to God but also to each other, culminating in the vision described in Revelation 7, where every tribe and tongue worships together. 

So, what does it truly mean for “all peoples to be blessed through you”?  It means we are called to actively establish the Kingdom of God within every single people group on earth.  Blessing others and establishing God’s Kingdom extends far beyond merely saving individual souls.  It encompasses a holistic restoration of everything that was lost due to the fall.  This includes actively pushing back against the devastating effects of hunger, disease and death, bringing healing and wholeness to communities.

If we are diligently working to address injustice and put things right within our local communities, this is undoubtedly a vital part of the Great Commission’s work.  However, this work remains incomplete if we neglect to address spiritual needs and bring the spiritually lost into a right relationship with Christ.  Both aspects are crucial.  Conversely, if our sole focus is on saving souls without also addressing injustice, we fall short of truly becoming disciples who obey all of Christ’s comprehensive commands.

To fully grasp the final overarching component of the Great Commission, we must understand its ultimate purpose, to bring God ultimate glory.  God receives ultimate glory when he brings all the tribes and nations back together in genuine oneness, a unity that transcends all earthly divisions.  It’s not merely enough for every tribe and nation to be present around the throne worshiping the Lamb, nor is it enough that hunger, disease and death have been destroyed.  God truly brings Himself glory by bringing all the different ethnic groups and cultures together in profound unity, reflecting His diverse and beautiful creation.  Jesus himself prayed for this unity in John 17 verse 21, stating that this profound oneness among believers would serve as a powerful witness to the world.  This unity demonstrates that it is Christ working within us, actively bringing about this incredible oneness.  Our multiethnic unity is not merely a strategic tool to reach the lost.  Instead, our unity is an integral part of the ultimate outcome that God himself is relentlessly pursuing, a beautiful tapestry of reconciled humanity.