Principle:
Evangelism, Discipleship, the Trinity and the Deity of Jesus Christ.
Commentary:
Matthew 28:19-20 is a text that every Christian must memorize and understand. This text is called the Great Commission.
First, this text tells every believer two things they must do. Second, this text tells every believer two very important things about God which will assist him in his obedience.
First, every believer must evangelize. God did not redeem sinners to enjoy this material world without guilt, but redeemed sinners so that they could testify of God’s saving grace. One of the born-again believer’s main tasks on earth is to preach the gospel to other sinners so that others can be saved.
Second, every believer must be involved in discipleship. Discipleship is that involvement whereby one believer teaches, reproves, corrects and trains another believer by means of the Word of God (2 Timothy 3:16) so that both increasingly observe ‘all that Jesus has commanded us.’
The first motivation for the believer’s evangelism and discipleship is that these two Christian activities are for the glory of God. When one preaches the gospel to an unbeliever so that the unbeliever repents and is saved, the new convert is baptized in the name (singular) of the Father, the Son and the Holy Spirit. Notice that 3 Persons share one Name. This text teaches that God is a Trinity: One divine essence eternally existing in 3 distinct Persons.
Another spiritual motivation for the believer’s evangelism and discipleship is that such activities are guided and empowered by the resurrected LORD Jesus Christ. The risen Christ Himself promises every believer: “I AM with you always, even to the end of the age.” The end of the Age refers to Jesus’ 2nd Coming.