ospel commission is the great missionary charter of
Christ’s kingdom. The disciples were to work earnestly for
souls, giving to all the invitation of mercy. They were not to
wait for the people to come to them; they were to go to the
people with their message.
The disciples were to carry their work forward in Christ’s
name. Their every word and act was to fasten attention on
His name, as possessing that vital power by which sinners
may be saved. Their faith was to center in Him who is the
source of mercy and power. In His name they were to present
their petitions to the Father, and they would receive answer.
They were to baptize in the name of the Father, the Son, and
the Holy Spirit. Christ’s name was to be their watchword,
their badge of distinction, their bond of union, the authority
for their course of action, and the source of their success.
Nothing was to be recognized in His kingdom that did not
bear His name and superscription.
When Christ said to the disciples, Go forth in My name
to gather into the church all who believe, He plainly set
before them the necessity of maintaining simplicity. The less
ostentation and show, the greater would be their influence for
good. The disciples were to speak with the same simplicity
with which Christ had spoken. They were to
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impress upon their hearers the lessons He had taught them.
Christ did not tell His disciples that their work would
be easy. He showed them the vast confederacy of evil
arrayed against them. They would have to fight “against
principalities, against powers, against the rulers of the
darkness of this world, against spiritual wickedness in high
places.” Ephesians 6:12. But they would not be left to fight
alone. He assured them that He would be with them; and that
if they would go forth in faith, they should move under the
shield of Omnipotence. He bade them be brave and strong;
for One mightier than angels would be in their ranks—the
General of the armies of heaven. He made full provision
for the prosecution of their work and took upon Himself the
responsibility of its success. So long as they obeyed His
word, and worked in connection with Him, they could not
fail. Go to all nations, He bade them. Go to the farthest part
of the habitable globe and be assured that My presence will
be with you even there. Labor in faith and confidence; for
the time will never come when I will forsake you. I will be
with you always, helping you to perform your duty, guiding,
comforting, sanctifying, sustaining you, giving you success
in speaking words that shall draw the attention of others to
heaven.
Christ’s sacrifice in behalf of man was full and complete.
The condition of the atonement had been fulfilled. The work
for which He had come to this world had been accomplished.
He had won the kingdom. He had wrested it from Satan and
had become heir of all things. He was on His way
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to the throne of God, to be honored by the heavenly host.
Clothed with boundless authority, He gave His disciples
their commission, “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.” Matthew 28:19, 20.
Just before leaving His disciples, Christ once more
plainly stated the nature of His kingdom. He recalled to their
remembrance things He had previously told them regarding
it. He declared that it was not His purpose to establish in this
world a temporal kingdom. He was not appointed to reign as
an earthly monarch on David’s throne. When the disciples
asked Him, “Lord, wilt Thou at this time restore again the
kingdom to Israel?” He answered, “It is not for you to know
the times or the seasons, which the Father hath put in His
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own power.” Acts 1:6, 7. It was not n