I Must Be Mentally Ill! : Spanking

I realize that the title of this article may sound offensive, and please let me state in the onset that I have absolutely no intentions of speaking in a belittling way or making light of that which is serious. Rather, I am addressing a recent study published within the journal Pediatrics and upheld by the American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP). Several weeks ago, researchers examined data from more than 34,000 adults and found that spanking children as a form of discipline increased the risk of developing mental health issues as adults. In addition, their studies declared the association between corporal punishment and mood disorders, including depression and anxiety, along with personality disorders and alcohol and drug abuse. As a matter of fact, they estimated in this article that childhood physical punishment (slapping, shoving, grabbing and hitting) attributes to as much as seven percent (7%) of adult mental illness [as I am sure you may predict, I will address this in a moment]. The study went on to state that spanking as a form of discipline increases the risk of, among other things, major depression by forty-one percent (41%), alcohol and drug abuse by fifty-nine percent (59%) and mania (?) by ninety-three percent (93%). While the analysis tried to exclude individuals who reported severe maltreatment, such as physical abuse, sexual abuse, emotional abuse, physical neglect, emotional neglect and such like, the author of the study (Tracie Afifi, PhD, of the University of Manitoba in Winnipeg, Canada) explained, “We are not talking about just a tap on the bum. We were looking at people who used physical punishment as a regular means to discipline their children.” She concluded, “It definitely points to the direction that physical punishment should not be used on children of any age,” which complies with the conclusion of researchers and the stance of the AAP: “It is important for pediatricians and other healthcare providers who work with children and parents to be aware of the link between physical punishment and mental disorders.”

As I alluded, this is nothing new, and it only supports past efforts of those who supposedly are experts, for past studies have linked spanking toddlers to increased aggression in older children. Such may go back decades to the infamous counsel of Dr. Benjamin Spock. Nevertheless, if persistent studies continue to proclaim that spanking as a form of discipline leads to mental illness, then the only conclusion from which I may draw is that I must be mentally ill! I state that proudly as not only one who received necessary spankings from my godly parents, but also in that I administered such when necessary to my three children.

It is extremely sad that such highlights a larger problem today—more and more “experts” are taking positions that are opposite of that which divine wisdom instructs. Rather than becoming godlier as a nation, we are becoming more godless, and these reports only further influence those that lead to a greater digression from God. One of the major problems we face is a lack of respect for authority, and such begins in the home!

No matter what studies in journals as Pediatrics declare, the word of God still emphatically teaches, “He that spareth his rod hateth his son: but he that loveth him chasteneth him betimes” (Prov. 13:24). Inspired wisdom still proclaims, “Foolishness is bound in the heart of a child; but the rod of correction shall drive it far from him” (Prov. 22:15). Divine truth still resounds, “Withhold not correction from the child: for if thou beatest him with the rod, he shall not die. Thou shalt beat him with the rod, and shalt deliver his soul from hell” (Prov. 23:13-14). Divine counsel still teaches, “The rod and reproof give wisdom: but a child left to himself bringeth his mother to shame” (Prov. 29:15). Therefore, are you going to listen to those who profess themselves to be wise, or are you going to listen to God?

Naturally, our hearts pour forth in righteous anger to those who truly mistreat their children and in sympathy to those who are recipients of such. I am thankful that the researchers at least attempted to delineate between literal child abuse and spanking, but the conclusion they drew does not align with what God has already declared for the home. Thus, if they continue to propagate such declarations, then I must proudly declare, “I am mentally ill!”

Posted in Sam Willcut | Tagged , , , | Comments Off on I Must Be Mentally Ill! : Spanking

How Would You Spend It?

We have probably all done it… wondered what we would do with all that money if the
good folks from Publisher’s Clearing House showed up at our front door with television
cameras, balloons, and one of those oversized cardboard checks. Yesterday I heard
that they were going to give away $5000 a week forever. You get $5000 per week till
you die and then you get to pass the award on to someone else.

So how would you spend it? Pay off all your debt, make home repairs and additions,
buy a new car, take a vacation, save for retirement, pay for college, and/or give to
charities.

Spiritually we have won the biggest jackpot mankind will ever know. 2 Peter 1:3 says,
“His divine power has given to us all things that pertain to life and godliness, through
the knowledge of Him who called us by glory and virtue, by which have been given to
us exceedingly great and precious promises, that through these you may be partakers
of the divine nature, having escaped the corruption that is in the world through lust.” We all know that, “God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son, that
whoever believes in Him should not perish but have everlasting life” (John 3:16). And
Paul wrote that, “God has not given us a spirit of fear, but of power and of love and of a
sound mind” (2 Timothy 1:7).

Do we ever stop and think about how we are spending this gift? We are eternal beings
and will live forever beyond this temporal life. Because of sin all mankind was headed
to the Devil’s abode when this life is over. But God in his infinite wisdom, mercy, and
love has offered a place of eternal rest in His own home.

Jesus asked, “What profit is it to a man if he gains the whole world, and loses his own
soul? Or what will a man give in exchange for his soul?” (Matthew 16:26). How are we
spending our salvation?

Consider these questions: What are we doing with the salvation Jesus has offered us
(Matthew 11:28-30; 1 Timothy 6:12)? What are we doing with the gospel message
entrusted to our care (2 Corinthians 4:7)?

Jesus said that judgment would be based upon how we spend what God has blessed
us with (Matthew 25). When we pass over to the other side of life what will we hear Him say? “Depart from Me, you cursed, into the everlasting fire prepared for the devil and his angels” (verse 41) or “Well done, good and faithful servant; you have been faithful over a few things, I will make you ruler over many things. Enter into the joy of your lord” (verse 23).

Spend wisely for your inheritance (1 Peter 1:4) is in heaven and so is your retirement!

Posted in Tim Dooley | Tagged , , , , | Comments Off on How Would You Spend It?

What Do You Know About Mormonism?

You may have an occasion to discuss the Mormon religion with some of your friends or with two young men who are canvassing the street where you live and looking for someone to teach. What do you know about this religion?

There never was a religious group called the Mormons prior to the nineteenth century. It was Joseph Smith who claimed to have found golden plates which had been buried by a man name Mormon. There is no evidence such a man ever lived, except in the book Joseph Smith published. The “fable” that is the basis of Mormonism is that on two occasions men left the Bible lands and sailed to America. The first group left from the tower of Babel where God confused the languages and according to one of the books, Ether, in the book of Mormon, came to America to the Promised Land. A second group came to America about the time of the Babylonian captivity of the Jews. This second group became much larger, and centuries later, Jesus came to America during the forty days he was on the earth after His resurrection and before His ascension. He established the church, complete with apostles. These events were all recorded, with one of the last records being made by Mormon, whose son buried the “other Bible” given in America in Palmyra, New York. In 1830, Joseph Smith got these writings and translated them, and they became the book of Mormon.

Joseph Smith created a following, and this was the beginning of Mormonism. The movement was persecuted, and Smith led his followers as they fled from New York to Kirkland, Ohio in 1831, with some of the group moving to Independence, Missouri. In 1837, Joseph and many others were driven from Ohio and went to Missouri. Two years later, because of persecution, Smith moved to Nauvoo, Illinois, where he was killed in 1844. Within two years, the new leader, Brigham Young, led the exodus of most of the Mormons to Utah.

Mormonism has a very evangelistic spirit and has spread into many nations. It is important to know the historical background of this movement before examining its teaching. It is remarkable how strange the religious beliefs are and how so many of them contradict what the Bible plainly says.

Posted in Dan Jenkins | Tagged , , , | Comments Off on What Do You Know About Mormonism?

Bible by Period

RIGHTLY DIVIDING THE BIBLE BY PERIOD

2 Timothy 2:15

1.         The Antediluvian Period — This covers from Creation to Noah’s Flood. Ante means before (i.e., the great flood).

2.         The Postdiluvian Period — This covers from Noah’s Flood to the call of Abraham (Genesis 12). Post means after or subsequent.

3.        The Patriarchal Period — This period covers from the call of Abraham to the descent into Egypt of Jacob’s family. Earlier patriarchs had lived but we know so much more about Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob these adorns the Bible from Genesis 12 to Genesis 50.

4.         The Egyptian Period — This covers the era from the descent into Egypt to the Exodus, approximately 200 – 215 years.

5.         The Period of Wandering — This period covers 40+ years. Two miraculous water crossings adorn this period; crossing the Read Sea at the beginning of this period and crossing the flood swollen waters of the Jordan River at the end under Joshua’s leadership.

6.         The Period of Conquest — This is the period from their crossing into Canaan until the appointment of the first Judge, Othniel. Canaan is conquered and parceled out among nine and one-half of the tribes at this time. Two and one-half tribes had already received their inheritance under Moses in Eastern Palestine.

7.         The Period of the Judges — This is a lengthy period and covers from Othniel’s appointment as first judge to the establishment of the kingdom under Saul. There were at least 15 judges – fourteen men and one woman judge, this era constitutes the dark ages in Israel’s history.

8.         The Period of the United Kingdom — This is the era that covers the three reigns of Saul, David, and Solomon. Each ruled for forty years, this period begins with Saul’s inauguration and ends with the division initiated by Solomon’s apostate and sad ruin.

9.         The Period of the Divided Kingdom — Covered here are the years of Judah (Southern Kingdom) and Israel (Northern Kingdom). This period lasted from 975 B.C. – 722 B.C. Each of the kingdoms had 19 kings. David’s line kept the Southern Kingdom except for Athaliah’s short reign. The Northern Kingdom had several dynasties, which ruled briefly then faded away.

10.       The Period of Judah Alone — This covers about 136 years from the fall of Samaria to the destruction of Jerusalem by the Assyrians in 586 B.C.

11.       The Period of the Captivity — This covers those years Judah spent in captivity in Babylon. This cured their idolatrous inclinations.

12.       The Period of the Restoration — This period covers from Cyrus’ decree that they could return to Canaan to Nehemiah’s rebuilding Jerusalem and the city walls and Malachi’s penning the final book of the Old Testament.

13.       Between the Testaments Period — This covers the 400 years from Nehemiah and Malachi to the announced births of John and Jesus. Many otherwise knowledgeable students of the Bible know but little of this period and yet knowledge of this era enhances a greater acquaintance with many New Testaments institutions and events. The editor has published a study guide to this era titled “THE FOUR HUNDRED SILENT YEARS.

14.       The Period of Jesus Incarnation — This period covers from His birth to His ascension. Approximately 33 years are involved. The Son of God and Son of Man met and merged in Him who is our Glorious Savior and Majestic and all-powerful King.

15.       The Period of the Lord’s Church — This covers from Pentecost until the end. This earth’s final age. There will not be another opportunity for mankind; this is the last dispensation of time. After this the judgment will occur.

Posted in Garreth L. Clair | Tagged , , , | Comments Off on Bible by Period

The Great Commission

Matthew 28:18-20
“And Jesus came and spake unto them, saying, All power is given unto me in heaven and in earth. 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.“

We see a parallel command from Jesus in Mark 16:15-17 where he commanded, “Go into all the world and preach the gospel to every creature. 16 He who believes and is baptized will be saved; but he who does not believe will be condemned.“

These two passages and Luke 24:46-47 combined make up what we today sometimes refer to as the ‘Great Commission’.  Matthew, Mark and Luke have this as the last recorded commandment Jesus gave prior to His ascension back to heaven.  There are a lot of things in the words of Jesus here that are significant to our lives as Christians.  Jesus had completed His earthly ministry, had been rejected by His own people.  He had been crucified and had arisen from the dead and had spent the last forty days or so appearing to those who were believers in Him and speaking to them of the things pertaining to the kingdom of God. 

Jesus was done teaching on the earth.  It was time now for Him to return to Heaven and rule over the coming kingdom of God which was due to be revealed in about 10 days.  The scriptures do not record any long parting speeches.  There is no record of any long and tearful goodbyes.  There is no evidence of any long discourses between Jesus and those whom He had been His constant companions for the past three years or so. 

There are many definitions of the word commission.  In this context, the word ‘commission’ means an authoritative order, charge, or direction.   Jesus finished up His earthly stay with directions regarding what His disciples were to do from that time forward in His absence from the physical realm.  He also gave them words of comfort which would serve to let them know that even  though he was not physically there, He would always be there with them in a way which would continue to sustain, uplift and comfort them until such time that He would return.  So for the remainder of this lesson, we are going to look at the ‘Great Commission’ of Jesus Christ and we will see that it is a relevant today as it was the day it was spoken by our Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ. 

The Great Commission, as the saints of all ages have consented to call it, constitutes the marching orders of the Lord’s church for that day and on until that great day of the Lord which marks the end of man’s walk on this earth.  It is unlikely that many passages of similar length are more filled with divine truth than are these final words of Jesus before He left this earth. The Great Commission contains within its words many distinctive doctrines of the faith that is in Christ Jesus. These words are exactly what one should have expected, and far more, from the lips of a supernatural, divine Savior, at point of His departure to the eternal world of the spirit, and uttering one last comprehensive face to face command to his disciples with an application for all generations to come.

1. Jesus said, “All power is given unto me in heaven…”  Power here is speaking of authority.

This supports the divinity of Christ. If these words had been spoken by a mere man or any other created being, they would be nonsense. Therefore in this statement Christ lays claim to His status as a member of the Godhead.  There is no way God, the Father is going to hand over all the authority in heaven to a mere man.  Jesus Christ was standing on the earth when He made that statement, but He was much more than just a man in order to make such a statement.   

Ten times in the Greek New Testament, Christ is actually called God (see John 1:1; 20:28; Acts 20:28; Romans 9:5; Philippians 2:6; Hebrews 1:8; Titus 2:13; 2 Peter 1:1; 1 John 5:20; Revelation 1:8; also Colossians 2:9 and John 14:9).  Let’s look at some of these. 

Acts 20:28
“Therefore take heed to yourselves and to all the flock, among which the Holy Spirit has made you overseers, to shepherd the church of God which He purchased with His own blood.”  We all know that it was Jesus Christ who shed His blood on Calvary thereby being the one who purchased the church with His own blood.  But here the inspired text referred to Him as God. 

Philippians 2:5-6
“Let this mind be in you which was also in Christ Jesus, 6 who, being in the form of God, did not consider it robbery to be equal with God,”  Before leaving Heaven and coming down here to earth, Jesus was in the form of God. 

Hebrews 1:8-9, This is God the Father doing the talking here, “But to the Son He says: “Your throne, O God, is forever and ever;
A scepter of righteousness is the scepter of Your kingdom.  You have loved righteousness and hated lawlessness; Therefore God, Your God, has anointed You With the oil of gladness more than Your companions.“

When God the Father calls His Son, Jesus Christ God in the inspired record, not once but twice, you can be assured that Jesus Christ is God.  These and all the rest of the scriptures which refer directly to Jesus Christ as God leave no doubt whatsoever that Jesus Christ was in fact one of the three members of the Godhead which are individually identified later on in the Great Commission. 

And as if this was not enough to convince one of the deity of Christ, let us consider the many passages in which Jesus Christ laid claim to attributes of deity, as for example when he said, “Before Abraham was, I am!” The thought with this statement is one of eternal existence without beginning or ending.   Christ is God come in the flesh. That is the central meaning and message of Christianity.  Anything less than this regarding Christ would be blasphemous.   I say this because there are those within the so called religious community who claim Jesus Christ as their savior, but deny His deity.  They claim among many things that Jesus Christ is a created being just like the angels and Satan.  Such a belief flies in the face of scripture and lessens the Glory of God in many ways not the least of which calls God a liar when He Himself referred to Jesus Christ as God.

2.  “All power is given unto me in heaven and in earth”  In earth.

The authority of Christ is supreme.  Ephesians 1:19-2:1, “and what is the exceeding greatness of His power toward us who believe, according to the working of His mighty power 20 which He worked in Christ when He raised Him from the dead and seated Him at His right hand in the heavenly places, 21 far above all principality and power and might and dominion, and every name that is named, not only in this age but also in that which is to come.  And He put all things under His feet, and gave Him to be head over all things to the church, 23 which is His body, the fullness of Him who fills all in all.”  Jesus is reigning supreme in heaven and on earth.  Jesus is a king, reigning right now in heaven over the church which is His spiritual kingdom. He will continue to reign until all his enemies have been put under foot, notwithstanding, the last enemy that shall be destroyed is death (1 Corinthians 15:24,25).

3.  “Go Ye“

The disciples were instructed to go.  That does not mean to set in services and wait for visitors to show up at the assemblies.  It means Go and carry the message to the lost.   Evangelism is the heartbeat of the church.  Without those to carry the gospel to the world, the church will fade from existence and souls who might have been saved will be lost. 

God gave man the responsibility of spreading the word.  It has been entrusted to us.  God has left this up to us.  This is an overwhelming responsibility when you think about it.  Jesus died and gave His life for the church, and then left it up to us to tell the world about it.  The congregation here in Granby is here because someone evangelized.  I am grateful for this congregation.  I want to see it continue to be a light in this community.  I would like for it to be here a hundred years from now.  But without evangelism, it will eventually cease to exist.  How do we make sure it’s here for others in the future?  We “Go Ye“.

4.  “Go ye therefore and make disciples”   The KJV reads, “Go ye therefore, and teach“

Teaching, as a prerequisite of discipleship, is evident as one of the basic principles of the faith.  Infants cannot be taught, and therefore, in the true view, they cannot become disciples until they are old enough to be taught. The Great Commission is clearly opposed to infant church membership.  Christians don’t just happen, they must be taught and taught correctly.  Christians are not born, they are “born again“.  Infants and small children are not lost, therefore they are not dead in sin.  Those who are not dead in their sin do not need to be reborn. 

5. “Of all the nations”

Here is the world-wide missionary program of the church. Here is the world-wide brotherhood of all nations and races in Christ. God made of “one” all the families of the earth (Acts 17:26), and that universal kinship and brotherhood appear in the Great Commission. No limitation or abridgment is permitted. All the nations … not merely all “the English-speaking nations” or “all the white nations,” but all the nations! 

Galatians 3:26-29, “For you are all sons of God through faith in Christ Jesus. 27 For as many of you as were baptized into Christ have put on Christ. 28 There is neither Jew nor Greek, there is neither slave nor free, there is neither male nor female; for you are all one in Christ Jesus. 29 And if you are Christ’s, then you are Abraham’s seed, and heirs according to the promise.“

All Christians, regardless of race or color are brethren in Christ.  There is no room in the heart of any faithful Christian for racial bigotry or prejudice. 

6. “Baptizing them“

Baptism is an essential step in the making of disciples.  Jesus chose to specifically mention it here.  It is understood that with the command to baptize others is the requirement to be baptized.  Mark’s account says in 16:16, “He who believes and is baptized will be saved“.  If nothing else appeared in all the Bible relative to the ordinance of baptism, Christ’s mention of it in this circumstance would have been more than sufficient to bind it upon all people for all time to come.

There is a great difference of opinion among the denominations as to the necessity and mode of baptism in the life of a believer.  The baptism of the Great Commission cuts through all this and clearly identifies the one baptism which is in effect today.  The baptism of the Great Commission is the one that can be submitted to and obeyed by the believer.  The baptism of the Great Commission is the one that can be administered to others by mankind.  Ephesians 4:5 says there is only one baptism.  That baptism can only be the baptism of the Great Commission and that is the one which is an immersion and resurrection in water. 

It was the mission of the early church to baptize believers, therefore that mission continues today.  Baptism is an essential and necessary step in the evangelizing process of the world.  Baptism is an essential and necessary step for becoming a Christian. 

7. “Baptizing them Into the name”

This means Baptized by the authority of and identified with.  Ephesians 3:14-16, “For this reason I bow my knees to the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, 15 from whom the whole family in heaven and earth is named”  All who have been baptized with the baptism of the Great Commission are identified with God as His children, as His special people.  Our association is no longer with the world and the things therein.  Our association is now with God and the things not of this world.

8. “Of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit“. Here is the doctrine of the Trinity. Although not stated in the Scriptures under that terminology, the doctrine of the Trinity is nevertheless a true one, and appears throughout both the Old and New Testaments. The pronouns for God in Genesis are plural, as in “Let us make man in our image” (Genesis 1:26).  In the New Testament, the doctrine of the Trinity appears in this passage, and at Christ’s baptism (Matthew 3:16) which reads, “When He had been baptized, Jesus came up immediately from the water; and behold, the heavens were opened to Him, and He saw the Spirit of God descending like a dove and alighting upon Him. 17 And suddenly a voice came from heaven, saying, “This is My beloved Son, in whom I am well pleased.”  In this context we have God the Son on earth having just been baptized.  We have God the Holy Spirit descending upon God the Son like a dove and we have God the Father speaking His approval from heaven.  Three separate persons, one nature, so united in purpose and direction that they are one. 

9. “Teaching them to observe all things”  The perpetual mission of the church as a teacher is implicit in these words. Here is the necessity for indoctrination and grounding all the disciples in the Savior’s teaching. Here is the divine authority for the Bible School, the house meeting, the mid-week service, the evangelistic campaign, and whatever else may be useful in carrying out the divine injunction to teach the baptized to observe all that Christ commanded. 

This is how baptized believers are grounded in the truth.  This is how babes in Christ are fed, nurtured and brought to maturity. Jesus did not stop with His instruction to baptize.  The responsibilities with discipleship are more far reaching than just making Christians.  The responsibility of the church does not stop there.   We are to follow up with teaching.  And what we are to teach is summed up by Jesus in words that are all inclusive of His whole life of teaching.  The instructions were to teach new Christians to observe everything:

10. “Whatsoever I have commanded you” … This establishes the identity of the true doctrine of Christ.  It is what Christ commanded, nothing else.  The most important identifying characteristic of genuine Christianity is that it is “of Christ.” The true faith was “first spoken” by him (Hebrews 2:3), and not by any other: Whatsoever was not first spoken by the Lord and confirmed by those who heard him can have no valid claim as a part of Christianity.  Not even the Holy Spirit came to reveal new truth to the apostles but to “bring all things to their remembrance” (John 14:26; 16:13). In practical fact, this limits true Christianity to what is taught in the New Testament, for that is the only book that contains the authenticated teachings of the Master. With the death of the last of the apostles who heard and confirmed to others what Jesus taught, the revelation of God’s true will for mankind was concluded. Many passages in the New Testament make that crystal clear. People are commanded not to go beyond what is written (1 Corinthians 4:6); the apostles gave all “things that pertain” to life and godliness (2 Peter 1:3); the true faith was “once for all” delivered to the saints (Jude 3), recorded by “inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness, that the man of God may be complete, thoroughly equipped for every good work” (2 Timothy 3:16-17).

In the light of this, how much of present-day religious practice and doctrine is useless?  Baptizing of babies, countless innovations in the worship, the doctrine of purgatory, penances, redemption of penances, and literally scores of other doctrines, devices, and presumptions of men, all which are identified as forming a part of Christianity, but it is not so. Christ taught none of those things.  They were not first spoken by him, and they were not revealed by the apostles.  We can look back and know who, when and where manmade innovations and practices were introduced into the church and brought into the the worship and practice of Christianity.  Jesus said on one occasion in Matthew 15:8-9, “These people draw near to Me with their mouth, And honor Me with their lips, But their heart is far from Me.  And in vain they worship Me, Teaching as doctrines the commandments of men.“

If something was not first spoken by Jesus and revealed by the apostles or other inspired writers, then it must be rejected.  It cannot be a part of the faith. 

11. “And lo, I am with you always”  This teaches the providence of God for His church. God has not wound up his universe, or his church, and left them to run of their own accord leaving them to their fate.  He “upholdeth all things by the word of his power” (Hebrews 1:3). Christ promised to be with his disciples always.  A concerned and loving God always watches over the members and activities of His people. 

Telling His disciples He would be with them always was also going to be a great comfort for them because He was about to ascend into Heaven and they needed to know that He was with them, even if they could not see Him.  Jesus was about to leave them behind on earth, but they needed to know they were not being abandoned.  The application for us today is the same.  Even though we cannot see Jesus Christ, we know from the Great Commission that He is with us.  He is with His church.  He is reigning His spiritual kingdom from the right hand side of God the Father and He is with us still and will be with us until the end of this age and beyond. 

12. “Even unto the end of the age.”   The King James translates this as the end of the world.  This is the doctrine of the final destruction of the entire material creation, specifically of the earth and all that is in it and the heavens, meaning everything not on the earth itself. The apostle Peter elaborated on this (2 Peter 3:1-13). This creation is destined to be burned up.  The means by which this will be accomplished is not certainly known. 

In the light of Christ’s word in the Great Commission, and in view of Peter’s words on the same subject, the end of this world is certain. “No man knoweth the day nor the hour” (Matthew 24:36). The conclusion that thoughtful men should derive from these considerations is well stated by Peter who said, “Wherefore, beloved, seeing that ye look for these things, give diligence that ye may be found in peace” (2 Peter 3:14).

Mark 13:32-37
“But of that day and hour no one knows, not even the angels in heaven, nor the Son, but only the Father. 33 Take heed, watch and pray; for you do not know when the time is. 34 It is like a man going to a far country, who left his house and gave authority to his servants, and to each his work, and commanded the doorkeeper to watch. 35 Watch therefore, for you do not know when the master of the house is coming — in the evening, at midnight, at the crowing of the rooster, or in the morning — 36 lest, coming suddenly, he find you sleeping. 37 And what I say to you, I say to all: Watch!”
NKJV

Going back and looking at the great commission as a whole, we see the commands:  Go, Make disciples, Baptize and Teach obedience.  Who are we supposed to baptize and teach?  All nations. 

Jesus was giving His disciples the farewell instructions of how to proceed with the spreading of the gospel and the growth of His kingdom.  His work on earth as a flesh and blood man was finished.  He was passing the responsibility of discipleship and the continuation of Christianity to mankind.  We are commanded to Go, Make disciples, Baptize and Teach obedience.  That is how mankind is converted to Christ.  That is how Christians are made.  That is how the church, the body of Christ, lives, thrives, grows and continues on this earth. 

We cannot add anything to this, we certainly cannot take anything away from it.  If mankind fails to ‘go’ as commanded, the church of the new testament will not continue.  If mankind fails to ‘make disciples’ as commanded, the church of the new testament will vanish from the face of the earth.  If mankind fails to ‘baptize’ as commanded, the church of the new testament will cease to exist.  If mankind fails to ‘teach obedience’ as commanded, the church of the new testament will be replaced by the churches of men. 

Posted in David Hersey | Tagged , , , | Comments Off on The Great Commission