Commandment-Commission Confusion

The Great Commandment:  “Teacher, which is the greatest commandment in the Law?” Jesus replied: “‘Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind.’ This is the first and greatest commandment.  And the second is like it: ‘Love your neighbour as yourself.’  All the Law and the Prophets hang on these two commandments.” Matt 22:36-40

The Great Commission:  Then Jesus came to them and said, “All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me.  Therefore go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, and teaching them to obey everything I have commanded you. And surely I am with you always, to the very end of the age.” Matt 28: 18-20

We can never be the gospel to our friends. The gospel is good news, and the good news is concerning Jesus Christ. It’s an announcement that through the life death and resurrection of Jesus Christ we can now be reconciled to God. The Gospel of a declaration of what has been done, not an instruction as to what we must do. All we can do in regards to the gospel is believe. Throw aside the pretence that we can ever make ourselves acceptable to God and rest in the marvellous truth of God saving sinners through Christ paying for their sins on the cross of Golgotha. The Gospel is a recounting of that historical fact.

 I am not preaching the gospel; when I show kindness to my neighbour; when I set up a charity for the impoverished; when I lobby government to change abortion laws. None of this is the gospel. It’s the commandment and it’s right to do. When we love our neighbour as ourselves we are fulfilling the Great Commandment in regards to them. This is right, it’s good...it’s Christian. But I can’t substitute the law for the gospel. What I must do, the commandment, is law. By law no man is justified (Romans 3:20) but by a righteousness apart from the law through faith in Jesus Christ (Romans 3:22).

 So let us not confuse the two. We as Christians are compelled by love to obey the Great Commandment (John 14:15) but being kind and generous and the like will not save anyone if found alone. If we model a good life and encourage others to live likewise and tell them nothing of the Gospel, we are failing to undertake the Great Commission and we are enslaving them to Grace-drained Law. If we give them more law to fall short of, we increase their condemnation.

 Rarely was a falser word was recorded than those of St Francis of Assisi ‘Preach the gospel always, sometimes use words’ if it’s not with words it is not truly the gospel. (As one guy pointed out that’s like saying: give me your phone number; if necessary use digits)

 More accurately it could be said “Christians, Love your neighbour always, especially by telling them the Gospel (i.e. with words)’. My life is transformed by the gospel and I attempt to fulfil the great commission because of the gospel. But neither of these is the gospel itself.

Let me finish with Romans 10: 13-15

“Everyone who calls on the name of the Lord will be saved.”

 How, then, can they call on the one they have not believed in? And how can they believe in the one of whom they have not heard? And how can they hear without someone preaching to them? And how can they preach unless they are sent? As it is written, “How beautiful are the feet of those who bring good news!”

Social justice fulfils the great commandment, the preaching and teaching of the gospel fulfils the Great Commission. Let’s not fall into the trap of reducing Christianity to either one.

And remember as you take out the Gospel. How beautiful are your feet, and how good the news.