Introduction:  The Great Commission is when Jesus commissioned the apostles to preach the gospel to the world (Matt. 28: 18-20, Mk. 16: 15, 16, Lk. 24: 47, 48). The Great Commission was the beginning of an organized effort to have the gospel preached to the populated world in the shortest amount of time (Acts 1: 8). In fact, in just twenty-six years the world had heard the Jerusalem gospel (Rom. 10: 18).

I. Preaching is vital and involves both salvation and condemnation

  A. Jesus said, "…Go ye into all the world, and preach the gospel to every creature" (Mk. 16: 15). The gospel is God’s power unto salvation (Rom. 1: 16).

  B. Jesus said, "…He that believeth and is baptized shall be saved (salvation, dm), but he that believeth not shall be damned" (condemnation, dm, vs. 16).

II. All nations taught, baptism in name of the Godhead, and repentance and remission of sin was to begin in Jerusalem

  A. Unlike the Jewish system, every creature and all nations were the target of the Great Commission (Mk. 16: 15, Matt. 28: 19).

  B. The apostles were to baptize into the name of the Father,…Son,…and Holy Spirit" (Matt. 28: 19).

   a. The "into" indicated the relationship begun as a result of baptism.

  C. Remission of sin, as never before experienced, began in Jerusalem (Heb. 10: 1-4, Lk. 24: 47, Acts 2).

III. The apostles were to make disciples by baptizing them

  A. "…make disciples of all the nations," Jesus said, "baptizing them…" (Matt. 28: 19, ASV).

   a. The Pulpit Commentary observes: "The present participle denotes the mode of initiation into discipleship. Make them disciples by baptizing them."