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MEMORY VERSE: “Go ye therefore, 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 all things whatsoever I have commanded you: and, lo, I am with you alway, even unto the end of the world. Amen” (Matthew 28:19, 20).

Suggested Reading: Testimonies for the Church, vol. 6, pp. 124, 125, 294–298.

“The gospel commission is the great missionary charter of Christ’s kingdom. The disciples were to work earnestly for souls, giving to all the invitation of mercy. They were not to wait for the people to come to them; they were to go to the people with their message.”—The Acts of the Apostles, p. 28.

1. MEETING IN GALILEE Sun, Dec 7

a. Responding to Christ’s invitation, where did the disciples go?

Matthew 28:10, 16: 10 Then Jesus said to them, “Do not be afraid; go and tell my brothers to go to Galilee, and there they will see me. ” 16 Now the eleven disciples went to Galilee, to the mountain to which Jesus had directed them.

How many were at this meeting?

1 Corinthians 15:6: 6 Then he appeared to more than five hundred brothers at one time, most of whom are still alive, though some have fallen asleep.

“The commission had been given to the twelve when Christ met with them in the upper chamber; but it was now to be given to a larger number. At the meeting on a mountain in Galilee, all the believers who could be called together were assembled. . . .

“At the time appointed, about five hundred believers were collected in little knots on the mountainside, eager to learn all that could be learned from those who had seen Christ since His resurrection. From group to group the disciples passed, telling all they had seen and heard of Jesus, and reasoning from the Scriptures as He had done with them. Thomas recounted the story of his unbelief, and told how his doubts had been swept away. Suddenly Jesus stood among them. No one could tell whence or how He came. Many who were present had never before seen Him; but in His hands and feet they beheld the marks of the crucifixion; His countenance was as the face of God, and when they saw Him, they worshiped Him.”—The Desire of Ages, pp. 818, 819.

2. A COMMAND THAT BRINGS JOY Mon, Dec 8

a. What command is to have great impact?

Matthew 28:19, 20 (first part): 19 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, 20 teaching them to observe all that I have commanded you. And behold, I am with you always, to the end of the age. ”

“The disciples had worshiped [Jesus] before He spoke, but His words, falling from lips that had been closed in death, thrilled them with peculiar power. He was now the risen Saviour.”—The Desire of Ages, p. 819.

“Standing but a step from His heavenly throne, Christ gave the commission to His disciples. ‘All power is given unto Me in heaven and in earth,’ He said. ‘Go ye therefore, and teach all nations.’ ‘Go ye into all the world, and preach the gospel to every creature.’ Mark 16:15. Again and again the words were repeated, that the disciples might grasp their significance. Upon all the inhabitants of the earth, high and low, rich and poor, was the light of heaven to shine in clear, strong rays. The disciples were to be colaborers with their Redeemer in the work of saving the world.”—Ibid., p. 818.

b. What assurance is included in Christ’s command?

Mark 16:16: Whoever believes and is baptized will be saved, but whoever does not believe will be condemned.

“Christ’s words on the mountainside were the announcement that His sacrifice in behalf of man was full and complete. The conditions of the atonement had been fulfilled; the work for which He came to this world had been accomplished. He was on His way to the throne of God, to be honored by angels, principalities, and powers. He had entered upon His mediatorial work. Clothed with boundless authority, He gave His commission to the disciples.”—Ibid., p. 819.

c. With what words did the apostle Peter confirm this basic truth, and what was the result?

Acts 4:12: And there is salvation in no one else, for there is no other name under heaven given among men by which we must be saved. ”

“Jesus Christ, the wisdom and power of God, was the theme of every discourse. His name—the only name given under heaven whereby men can be saved—was by them exalted. As they proclaimed the completeness of Christ, the risen Saviour, their words moved hearts, and men and women were won to the gospel. Multitudes who had reviled the Saviour’s name and despised His power now confessed themselves disciples of the Crucified.”—The Acts of the Apostles, p. 594.

3. “ALL POWER IS GIVEN UNTO ME” Tue, Dec 9

a. What do the words of Christ, “All power is given unto me” mean?

Matthew 28:18: And Jesus came and said to them, “All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me.

“That power is not diminished by the lapse of years, nor exhausted by the ceaseless activity of His overflowing grace. To all who believe on Him He is still a living Saviour.”—The Desire of Ages, p. 319.

“When we are securely anchored in Christ, we have a power that no human being can take from us. Why is this? Because we are partakers of the divine nature, having escaped the corruption that is in the world through lust, partakers of the nature of Him who came to this earth clothed with the habiliments of humanity, that He might stand at the head of the human race and develop a character that was without spot or stain of sin.

“Why are many of us so weak and inefficient? It is because we look to self, studying our own temperaments and wondering how we can make a place for ourselves, our individuality, and our peculiarities, in the place of studying Christ and His character.”—Testimonies for the Church, vol. 9, p. 187.

b. How do we receive strength from Christ?

Philippians 4:13: I can do all things through him who strengthens me.

Hebrews 12:1, 2: 1 Therefore, since we are surrounded by so great a cloud of witnesses, let us also lay aside every weight, and sin which clings so closely, and let us run with endurance the race that is set before us, 2 looking to Jesus, the founder and perfecter of our faith, who for the joy that was set before him endured the cross, despising the shame, and is seated at the right hand of the throne of God.

“The word of God, received into the soul, molds the thoughts, and enters into the development of character.

“By looking constantly to Jesus with the eye of faith, we shall be strengthened. God will make the most precious revelations to His hungering, thirsting people. They will find that Christ is a personal Saviour. As they feed upon His word, they find that it is spirit and life. The word destroys the natural, earthly nature, and imparts a new life in Christ Jesus. The Holy Spirit comes to the soul as a Comforter. By the transforming agency of His grace, the image of God is reproduced in the disciple; he becomes a new creature. Love takes the place of hatred, and the heart receives the divine similitude. This is what it means to live ‘by every word that proceedeth out of the mouth of God.’ This is eating the Bread that comes down from heaven.”—The Desire of Ages, p. 391.

4. GOING FORTH Wed, Dec 10

a. What is implied in the words, “Go” and “teach”?

Matthew 28:19 (first part): 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,

“We are called upon to lift our eyes to the ‘regions beyond.’ Christ tears away the wall of partition, the dividing prejudice of nationality, and teaches a love for all the human family. He lifts men from the narrow circle which their selfishness prescribes; He abolishes all territorial lines and artificial distinctions of society. He makes no difference between neighbors and strangers, friends and enemies. He teaches us to look upon every needy soul as our brother, and the world as our field.”—The Desire of Ages, p. 823.

b. What promise did Jesus attach to the missionary commission—and what does this mean for us?

Matthew 28:20 (last part): teaching them to observe all that I have commanded you. And behold, I am with you always, to the end of the age. ”

“It is in doing Christ’s work that the church has the promise of His presence.”—Ibid., p. 825.

“He made full provision for the prosecution of the work, and took upon Himself the responsibility for its success. So long as they obeyed His word, and worked in connection with Him, they could not fail. Go to all nations, He bade them. Go to the farthest part of the habitable globe, but know that My presence will be there. Labor in faith and confidence, for the time will never come when I will forsake you.

“The Saviour’s commission to the disciples included all the believers. It includes all believers in Christ to the end of time. It is a fatal mistake to suppose that the work of saving souls depends alone on the ordained minister. All to whom the heavenly inspiration has come are put in trust with the gospel. All who receive the life of Christ are ordained to work for the salvation of their fellow men. For this work the church was established, and all who take upon themselves its sacred vows are thereby pledged to be coworkers with Christ.”—Ibid., p. 822.

“Are you colaborers with Christ? Can you not for His sake endure suffering, sacrifice, and trial? There is opportunity for doing good to the souls of the youth and the erring. If you see one whose words or attitude shows that he is separated from God, do not blame him. It is not your work to condemn him, but come close to his side to give him help.”—Testimonies for the Church, vol. 6, p. 125.

5. SHARING THE GOSPEL Thu, Dec 11

a. What is the Bible definition of the gospel?

Romans 1:16, 17: 16 For I am not ashamed of the gospel, for it is the power of God for salvation to everyone who believes, to the Jew first and also to the Greek. 17 For in it the righteousness of God is revealed from faith for faith, as it is written, “The righteous shall live by faith. ”

“Pardon and justification are one and the same thing. Through faith, the believer passes from the position of a rebel, a child of sin and Satan, to the position of a loyal subject of Christ Jesus, not because of an inherent goodness, but because Christ receives him as His child by adoption. The sinner receives the forgiveness of his sins, because these sins are borne by his Substitute and Surety. The Lord speaks to His heavenly Father, saying: ‘This is My child. I reprieve him from the condemnation of death, giving him My life insurance policy—eternal life—because I have taken his place and have suffered for his sins. He is even My beloved son.’ Thus man, pardoned, and clothed with the beautiful garments of Christ’s righteousness, stands faultless before God.

“The sinner may err, but he is not cast off without mercy. His only hope, however, is repentance toward God and faith in the Lord Jesus Christ.”—Reflecting Christ, p. 74.

b. Why did the apostle Paul consider himself a debtor?

Romans 1:14, 15: 14 I am under obligation both to Greeks and to barbarians, both to the wise and to the foolish. 15 So I am eager to preach the gospel to you also who are in Rome.

“In what sense was Paul debtor both to the Jew and to the Greek? To him had been given the commission, as it is given to every disciple of Christ. [Matthew 28:19, 20 quoted.] In accepting Christ, Paul accepted this commission. He realized that upon him rested the obligation of laboring for all classes of men—for Jew and Gentile, learned and unlearned, for those occupying high positions and for those in the most lowly walks of life.”—The SDA Bible Commentary [E. G. White Comments], vol. 6, p. 1067.

PERSONAL REVIEW QUESTIONS Fri, Dec 12

1. What commission has my Lord given specifically to me, in my sphere?

2. Why have I not yet received Christ’s power in its true fullness?

3. What challenge and assurance is the Lord extending to me today?

4. What does the name of Christ mean to His followers?

5. What does it mean to “look to Christ”?