Transcription downloaded from https://yetanothersermon.host/_/shoreline/sermons/91795/matthew-2816-20/. Disclaimer: this is an automatically generated machine transcription - there may be small errors or mistranscriptions. Please refer to the original audio if you are in any doubt. [0:00] Hear now the final words of Matthew's account of the good news of Jesus Christ. [0:11] ! Matthew 28, beginning in verse 16.! And Jesus came and said to them, All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me. [0:41] Go, therefore, and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, teaching them to observe all that I have commanded you, and behold, I am with you always to the end of the age. [1:00] Let's pray. Our Father in heaven, we thank you that you have shown us your Son. [1:15] Lord, please help us to heed the words of his command here today. And please help us to stand on the bedrock of his words. [1:34] That his is all authority. And that he will be with us. We pray this in the name that is above all names. [1:47] Christ Jesus, our Lord. Amen. On January 7th, 2018, we began a sermon series on the book of the genealogy of Jesus Christ, the Son of David, the Son of Abraham. [2:15] We concluded that day with some words from the ancient preacher John Chrysostom, from his introductory sermon on the book of Matthew. [2:31] As he looked forward into this chronicle of Christ's life, he said this. Here stands the trophy of the cross, glorious and conspicuous. [2:45] The spoils won by Christ, the firstfruits of our nature, the treasures of our King. All these, I say, we shall, out of the gospel of Matthew, know perfectly. [2:56] We shall see where death is set forth, crucified. Where sin is hanged up. [3:08] Where the many and wondrous offerings from this war, from this battle. Consider what a thing it is to hear how God from heaven leaped down onto the earth and even into the grave itself. [3:23] And what is marvelous? We will see death destroyed. By death. [3:35] And curse extinguished. By curse. And the dominion of the devil put down by those very things whereby he did once prevail. [3:49] Let us therefore rouse ourselves thoroughly. For lo, I see the gates opening to us. Let us enter in with trembling. [4:04] That's how we entered into Matthew's gospel. Two and a half years ago. And have we not seen all those treasures? [4:15] laid forth before us. Has not Christ himself been set forth before us? [4:26] Have we not seen his victory? Have we not seen the fulfillment of what God has promised? To David. [4:38] To Abraham. Have we not seen death set forth crucified? And the enemy disarmed by his own weapon? [4:56] For two and a half years we have walked with Christ. As we've called this series, right? Walking with Christ. In the gospel of Matthew. And friends, leading this congregation through that journey has been a tremendous privilege to me. [5:14] I know Jesus better. And I love him more. As I have seen him loving me. I know our congregation better. [5:26] I love you more. It is awesome. To. To see God's people eat up his word. [5:40] And that's what I've seen, right? For two and a half years. If this has bored you, you've done a great job hiding it. Right? Matthew has captured our attention. [5:52] Part of that is that the gospel has, this gospel book covers so much and so broadly, right? So many different genres. And as we've gone through this book, it's almost been as if we've had different sermon series. [6:08] Because the topic and the genre has changed. The Sermon on the Mount was a series on holiness. And obedience. Chapter 10 was a series on mission. Chapter 24 was a series on eschatology. [6:22] But more than just shifting topics. And variety in that sense. You have shown a real hunger for God's word. [6:34] And I can't tell you what a blessing that is to a pastor. And perhaps what stands out most in that regard was chapter 23. The woes to the hypocrites. [6:49] When we came to that and spent three weeks, a mini-series, so to speak, right? In hypocrisy. We didn't look out there somewhere else. [7:00] Right? And look at the hypocrites out there. No, for three straight weeks, we let Jesus pick out the specks and sometimes the logs in our eyes. The hypocrites hear. [7:13] And unblinking, unflinching. You listened to Christ's words and ate it up. Friends, Christ said that his sheep hear his voice. [7:27] Know his voice. And I've got to say, Sherylaine, you know your Redeemer's voice. And that is what's most important. [7:44] Christ himself. We've not grown bored of Matthew's gospel. Over two and a half years. [7:55] Because Jesus is fantastically interesting. The most compelling person ever to live. He teaches like one with authority. [8:08] And yet says, I am gentle and lowly of heart. He lays low the powerful and lifts up the broken. He commends the winds and the waves. [8:21] And devotes his attention to children. He casts out the forces of Satan with a word. On his way to a greater victory. [8:35] Setting forth death. Crucified. And at every turn he has surprised us. How many times have we seen Jesus enter a situation. [8:49] And on seeing his words. And his actions. Asked ourselves. Is that what you'd expect? He has surprised us at every turn. [9:02] And so from the lowest. Most humble birth. To now this moment. Where the risen Christ. Who has defeated every enemy. [9:14] Says all authority in heaven and on earth. Has been given to me. We have walked with our Lord and our Savior. Through this gospel of men. And I hope you know him better. [9:29] I hope you know better his love for you. I hope that your heart is inclined towards him. And that you trust him more. [9:41] And as we hear these final words of Matthew's gospel. They are indeed the last words of the gospel. But this is. Self-evidently. By no means a conclusion. [9:55] Right? It's a beginning. Because. By the very. Content of his words here. It's clear. [10:06] It's clear that this story. Is not over. As I prepared to preach this passage. It. [10:17] Was very. Immediately. Evident to me. That this passage is not like. Most passages of scripture. A few weeks ago. [10:27] When we saw how the temple curtain. Was torn. At the death of Christ. We talked about biblical theology. How there are some. Themes that run. Through the Bible. From beginning to end. That hold up the framework. [10:40] Of redemptive history. This passage doesn't have one of those. This passage has at least. Four of those. At least. [10:52] Four major themes. Strands. That tie the whole. Scripture together. Are woven together here. In just a few sentences. And propel. [11:03] The fledgling church. Into global mission. Until the end. Of the age. This passage. Is fantastically. [11:16] Rich. And deep. It is a linchpin. One of the major. Milestones. And turning points. And redemptive history. And it is. Well. It's just a little too much. [11:27] For one sermon. So here. Lord willing. Is the path forward. Today. [11:38] We are looking at this passage. What is often called. The great commission. It will be a good and true look. I hope. But we know. [11:49] That it is not a complete. Look. At this passage. The next week. We are asking you. Our church family. All of you. If you are so willing. [12:01] To share. To encourage. Our church family. By sharing. How the Lord has used. The book of Matthew. In your life. These last two and a half years. As we have walked. [12:12] Alongside Christ. Then for. Four weeks. We'll consider. Four chapters. The prophet Ezekiel. One of the prophets. Of the exile. Before we enter. [12:23] Into the next. Major series. The book of Acts. Where we will look. At the very. Mission. That Jesus. Sends. His disciples on. In today's passage. And I'm not sure. [12:35] When. But we'll be back. Here. For a sermon. Series. In this passage. When we will. [12:46] Mine. Its depths. And consider. The multitude. Of implications. That it presents. To us. And so friends. We'll be back. It's not on the calendar. Yet. But so long as the Lord. [12:58] Does not conclude. This age. We'll be back. So let's. Look. And just get a taste. [13:10] Of this great commission. Before we. Walk. Into seeing it. In the book of Acts. Play out. In the early church. And before we return to it. [13:22] I don't know when. But I'm excited. To do that. Like I said. This. This missionary command. Of Christ. Is what we often call. [13:32] The great commission. What is it about? It is about this. Make. Disciples. Of all. To do that. [13:42] To do that. To do that. To do that. To do that. To do that. [13:52] that we must also baptize. And to do that we must also teach them to obey everything that Christ has taught us. [14:08] Before we do that we need to hear Christ say verse 18 all authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me. [14:21] We obey this command to make disciples of all nations because the one who gives it has all authority in heaven and on earth. [14:34] We obey this command every one of us because well he doesn't make exceptions. This is the mission of the church. Charles Spurgeon once said and I'll prep you here I think he overstates his case just a bit. [14:50] He said every Christian is either a missionary or an imposter. And again I think he has just slightly overstated that case. [15:07] A bit for rhetorical effect. But it is a good effect. It ought to jar us. It is probably best to put it this way. [15:19] Every Christian is either a missionary or disobedient rather than to say an imposter. But if we don't work towards the spread of the gospel of Jesus Christ the good news the best news for the glory of God and the good of all people well then we are disobedient towards God and unloving towards our neighbors. [15:52] Because if we believe that the gospel of Jesus Christ is real that Jesus is true that he is actually risen from the dead that as he said that our biggest problem is our guilt before a holy God that the outer darkness he preached about is real and that the only way to forgiveness and life is through Christ crucified buried and raised and that he has commanded us to spread this news to the world so that every man woman and child may find life in his name and we don't share Christ's authority does not only lend weight to this command we don't simply look to his authority and say okay we must obey because he has authority certainly it does demand our obedience but also he has all authority in heaven and on earth and so no matter where we go on this earth and no matter what spiritual forces oppose his church [17:34] Christ reigns there no matter where we go don Carson put it this way he said precisely because our sovereign Lord Jesus has all authority his commission is ensured of his power and the degree of success and triumph he bestows all right so friends Christ's authority demands of us that we obey and share the good news and his authority guarantees also that his word will accomplish exactly what he decrees and so when Jesus says all authority has been given to me in heaven and on earth it demands of his people obedience and it steals our spines knowing that the one who empowers us and the one who commands us is also the one who has all authority and all power and so we go into the missionary task in obedience and in confidence and so what does that task look like what does it entail well first we go to all nations and we baptize disciples and then we teach them to obey all that [19:21] Christ has commanded first we go to the nations it is not sufficient for us to be content to have a nice church ourselves for us that is not sufficient how unloving would it be for us to think solely about ourselves and our worship and our contentment in Christ and not to think of those who do not yet have the final source of joy the world over and so there are only two ways to do this to reach the nations that is either to support global missions or to be global missionaries support can look like prayer and friends [20:35] I must ask you when was the last time you prayed this convicts me how often do you pray how often do I pray that the gospel missionaries across the globe that the Lord would work powerfully in them that he would grant them success and fruitfulness in their mission that they would not grow weary and that they would be bold in their proclamation of the gospel how often do you pray for that how often do we pray for that friends it's convicted me this week and I hope it convicts you and I hope that this week you might be much in prayer for those who are preaching the gospel to those who have never heard it before supporting missions also looks like giving [21:37] I'm excited that shoreline in the last year or two now have increased our missions giving from 10 to 15% of our budget if there are if you would like to contribute more to the gospel ministry worldwide talk to me I know how to get you plugged into various missions organizations where 100% of your giving can be supplied to missionaries across the globe for the spreading of the gospel so that those who do not know Christ and have not had access to the words of scripture might find Christ and might find life forever another way to support global missions is to support global missionaries as they return home for furloughs! [22:36] If you would like to get involved in support care for missionaries again get in contact with me or any other elders here at Trine and we will help you get plugged into that and serve them so that the church supports and builds and helps those who are called to the global task and friends that's the flip side because we don't simply support but we might also you might also be called to that task you might be called to walk into an airport and you might be called to take this glorious gospel message to the nations to spend your life preaching [23:39] Christ where he is not yet now what a glorious calling that might be and friends if that is where the Lord is pointing you first I'd ask that you tell us so that we could be praying for you and so that we could be supporting you in that task so we can help you grow to the point where you're ready so that we can support you this church supports one missionary we'd love to support two our denomination through which we support with the cooperative program giving sends missionaries to the international mission board one of the largest missionaries agencies in the world we'd love to get you plugged in through that so you can either support missionaries or be a missionary there's no alternative there's no sitting on the sidelines let us not be a church that sits on the sidelines and before you go either as someone who is a support to missionaries or as someone who is preparing for missions globally you must be making disciples here either in preparation for your own ministry or friends doing the [25:11] Great Commission right where we are we must be a people in obedience to our Lord in the confidence of his authority who shares the gospel we must evangelize it is not an option not to and so friends I'd ask you to commit to simply what did Leah say earlier what did she say about obedience and how it shapes our hearts and how through faithful obedience God changes our hearts and equips us and develops us and grows us and matures us I would like to ask of you to commit to do just one thing extra this week to advance the gospel to proclaim to someone new or to build into someone who is already the disciple would you commit to that that which you don't practice you won't ever grow in and this disciple making task parents let me commend to you that this task is for you as well especially sometimes you feel like you're super busy as parents to all nations [26:40] Jesus says here right that means that this commission is expansive geographically and sociologically but he also says to the end of the age which means that this is an expansive command through time as well through the next generation so you might be discipling the next generation of missionaries and disciple makers you are in fact like a one pastor put it these children are the future in our midst the future of the church in our midst we go to all the nations and we baptize you may have heard this joke stereotypical baptist preacher I have three points about today's passage and one point about believers baptism week by week [27:45] I'm going to hold off on discussing baptism at great length except to say that baptism is a visual presentation of the gospel that is what it proclaims it proclaims that through faith the Holy Spirit has united someone to Christ in his death and in his burial and in his resurrection it is a proclamation of the gospel by which the church declares that someone has been raised with Christ and it is a glorious celebration we do this by teaching them to obey all that Christ has commanded us notice what he doesn't say he does not say teach them all that [28:48] I have commanded you as if Christianity were a list of facts and figures he says teach them to obey all that I have commanded you friends Christianity is not just a philosophy it is not simply a series of doctrines it is not less than those but if the Bible is true if this God is real if the Christ whom we have encountered in the book of Matthew is real you can't come to him and be in his presence without the force of his glory changing you changing everything a disciple is someone whose life has been transformed by Jesus Christ and there isn't another category here right plain normal uninspired [29:52] Christianity for most people and then discipleship for the elite something like that you're either a disciple or you have no place with Christ because when he comes into your life you are changed he calls it new birth for a reason so what do we teach to obey this is all that I have commanded you well it's a pretty big task isn't it it took us two and a half years to hear everything he said in Matthew but not only that what did he say in Matthew fine he said until heaven and earth pass away not an iota not a dot will pass from the law until all is accomplished which means friends the whole of scripture is what we are required to teach disciples so friends we have our work cut out for us here in this church with the disciples that we are making as a congregation and in the support of global missions it is not enough to announce [31:14] Christ and then move on as we'll see in the book of Acts as we look at the missionary task of the early church it looks like church planting because you can't make disciples and teach them to obey all that Christ has commanded without the work of the church everywhere that the gospel is proclaimed so friends we have our work cut out for us but we have help because the final words of the book of Matthew are it's best it's very best we have spent two and a half years seeing the glory the wonder of Christ and his person who he is he is the good news that there is a God like this that is the good news there is a God who would do this for us and what does he say [32:22] I am with you always to the end of the age and I want to I want to say this this I will be with you is both the power and the purpose of God's mission it is the power Christ with us empowers us and it is the purpose because the point of the mission is to bring people to God not into our club not into our preferences or our culture no it is to bring people to this God that's the point so I will be with you is both the power and the purpose of the gospel [33:35] J.C. Ryle put it like this he said it is impossible to conceive of words more comforting strengthening cheering and sanctifying than these the disciples were not to think that they were deserted their master would forever be with them and so friends this these last words of the gospel of Matthew I will be with you they are an end in themselves the purpose of God's mission has always been to draw a people to himself that they might find in him all satisfying glory that they might rejoice and worship in him and that they might be his own [34:36] God has been saying over and over through the ages they shall be my people and I will be their God and that's just what mission is announcing to the world the Lord wants you for his own and he has made a way conquering the separation of sin and the finality of death overcoming the curse and open the way to himself the curtain is torn the grave is empty the gates of heaven flung open wide to all who would repent and believe so that you might be God's treasured possession and so that he might be yours I will be with you is the power for our mission and I will be with you is the purpose that you might have what is greatest [35:53] God himself and that the world might have him too let's pray Lord for two and a half years we have walked with Christ in the book of Matthew thank you Lord for the opportunity to know and love our Savior better we thank you father that because of what he has said we know that we continue to walk with him forever will you bolster our hearts to set to stand firm on that fact and will you by the love with which he has loved us excite in our hearts a passion for evangelization of the world right where we are even in our homes to our families and Lord for the task of global missions will you even today inspire us to send missionary from our midst to the nations for your glory trusting [37:48] Lord that you who have all authority in heaven and on earth are with us even to the end of the age we pray this trusting in Christ amen to the Thank you.