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At the close of the Gospels we meet with the Commissions, the Lord appointing His
representatives, and giving them their orders, before His departure. These commissions
are found in each Gospel.
(1) "All power is given unto Me in heaven and in earth. Go ye therefore, and make
disciples of 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 always, even till the consummation of the age"
(Matt. 28: 18-20).
This commission belongs especially to the kingdom, and is addressed to all nations.
The words "gospel" and "preach" are not employed. However, with the setting aside of
Israel at Acts 28: this proclamation awaits the time of the end, and the presence of
the Lord is assured to those who make the proclamation "all the days until the sunteleia
of the age".
(2) "Go ye into all the world, and preach the gospel to every creature. He that
believeth and is baptized shall be saved; but he that believeth not shall be damned. And
these signs shall follow them that believe . . . . . they went forth, and preached every
where, the Lord working with them, and confirming the word with signs following"
(Mark 16: 15-20).
This commission we are assured was fulfilled. The miraculous signs did follow.
They persist throughout the Acts of the Apostles to the last chapter, being found in full
operation in the churches of Corinth and Rome, while reference to them is found in
Galatians, and Hebrews.
(3) "Repentance and remission of sins should be preached in His name among all
nations, beginning at Jerusalem. And ye are witnesses of these things. And, behold, I
send the promise of My Father upon you; but tarry ye in the city of Jerusalem, until ye be
endued with power from on high" (Luke 24: 47-49).
This commission is repeated in Acts 1:, and is partly fulfilled in the Acts of the
Apostles. It is Pentecostal in character and scope.
(4) "When the Comforter is come, Whom I will send unto you from the Father, even
the Spirit of truth, which proceedeth from the Father, He shall testify of Me. And ye also
shall bear witness, because ye have been with Me from the beginning" (John 15: 26, 27).
Matthias fulfilled the condition here specified, and was numbered with the Apostles
(Acts 1: 22-26). Pentecost fulfilled the promise of the Comforter, but John's Gospel has a
place in the purpose of grace that occupies the period from the destruction of Israel's city
to the second coming, during which the highways and byways are searched, and the
wedding of the King's son furnished with guests.
One other commission awaits investigation, that given to Paul, the Apostle of the
Gentiles, but he was not called until, once again, rejection cast its shadow over the scene
and the failure of Israel to repent, even after the second invitation, was evident.