THE LORD'S INSTRUCTIONS FOR THE CHURCH AGE!
Matthew 28:18-20 - And Jesus came and spoke unto them (His disciples), saying, All power (authority) is given unto Me in heaven and in earth. Therefore, go 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 (obey) all things whatsoever I have commanded you: and, lo, I am with you always, even unto the end of the world (age).*** Amen.
Note the order of things:
* - "Teach" - Since baptism follows salvation (Acts 2:37-38, 41; 8:12, 35-38; 16:30-34; etc.), and faith in the Gospel is the power of God that saves (Rom. 1:16-17), the disciples were to proclaim the Gospel (Mk. 16:15; Acts 16:10;1 Cor. 15:3-4).
** - "Baptizing" - Baptism is a public statement of the new believer's faith in Jesus Christ. It fulfills Paul's teachings (Rom. 10:9-13; Phil. 2:11).
*** - "Teaching" - Following baptism, the new believers, "babes in Christ" (1 Cor. 3:1-2; 1 Pet. 2:2) are to be fed (discipled by) the Word of God.
**** - "World" - The Greek word is aion which speaks of a specific period of time; in this cases, the dispensation of the Church Age.
Luke 24:45-48 - Then Jesus opened their understanding, that they might understand the Scriptures, and said unto them, Thus it is written, and thus it behooved the Christ to suffer, and to rise from the dead the third day:* and that repentance** and remission of sins*** should be preached in His name among all nations, beginning at Jerusalem. And you are witnesses of these things.
Note His instructions:
* - "To suffer and to rise from the dead the third day" is the Gospel they were to proclaim (1 Cor. 15:3-4).
** - "Repentance" means to have a change of one's thinking; it is the automatic result of truly believing the Gospel and being saved from the guilt of one's sins (Acts 2:37; 8:35-39; 16:30; etc.).
*** - "Remission of sins" means the forgiveness of sins; being pardoned; from the Greek words which mean to have been "passed over." Jesus is the believer's "Passover Lamb" (Jn. 1:29, 36; 1 Cor. 5:7; etc.).
Acts 1:4, 8 - And (Jesus) being assembled together with them, commanded them that they should not depart from Jerusalem, but wait for the promise of the Father, which, He said, you have heard of Me. - - - But you shall receive power, after that the Holy Ghost is come upon you: and you shall be witnesses unto Me both in Jerusalem, and in all Judaea,* and in Samaria,** and unto the uttermost part of the earth.***
Note the spread of the Gospel message, and that Peter would be present with the admission of each new group into the Church (Mt. 16:18-19):
* - "Jerusalem and in all Judaea" - Peter preached to the Jews (Acts 2:5, 14).
** - "Samaria" - Peter confirmed the Samaritans were saved (Acts 8:14-17).
*** - Uttermost part of the earth" - Peter reluctantly accepted the Gentiles (Acts 10:1-48).
Ephesians 4:11-16 - And He (Jesus) gave some, apostles; and some, prophets; and some, evangelists; and some, pastors and teachers; for the perfecting* of the saints, for the work of the ministry, for the edifying** of the body of Christ: until we all come in the unity of the faith, and of the knowledge of the Son of God, unto a perfect* man, unto the measure of the stature of the fullness of Christ: that we henceforth be no more children, tossed to and fro, and carried about with every wind of doctrine, by the sleight of men, and cunning craftiness, whereby they lie in wait to deceive; but speaking the truth in love, may grow up into Him in all things, Who is the head, even Christ: from Whom the whole body*** fitly joined together and compacted by that which every joint supplies, according to the effectual working in the measure of every part, make increase of the body unto the edifying** of itself in love.
Note that the Lord has provided His children with a "textbook" (The Bible), and instructors to provide us with all we need to live a life pleasing to Him:
* - "Perfect" means mature, complete, hungry for "meat" instead of being "bottle fed" (1 Cor. 3:2; Heb. 5:12-13; 1 Pet. 2:2; etc.).
** - "Edifying" can mean two things, both related to growth: building up a believer in the faith, and increasing the number of believers. Here, it appears to be both.
*** - "Body" is a term used in Scripture to mean the community of believers in Christ (Rom. 12:4-8; 1 Cor. 12:1-31; Col. 1:12-18; etc.).
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