Basing their actions on Matthew 28:19–20, many Christians and churches today are busy making disciples. While that may be implied from the passage, it doesn't say "make disciples" in the King James Bible. Jesus told the disciples to go, teach, baptize, and teach again.
Matthew 28:19–20
The idea conveyed here is to first be busy about the Father's business (go). Then tell people about God our Creator, our fallen condition, and about Jesus Christ—the Gospel (teach).
When someone has responded to the Gospel in saving faith, they're to be baptized (baptize). After a person is baptized, that brother or sister is to be built up in the faith (teaching them).
A person who has met the Savior will be ready to tell others about Christ. They'll witness to others about their personal encounter with the Lord Jesus Christ.
Andrew is an example of this in John 1:40–42. Though his faith was not yet mature, he instinctively wanted to bring his brother, Peter, to see Jesus Christ.
Acts 1:8
Shortly before His ascension, Jesus told the disciples:
... ye shall receive power, after that the Holy Ghost is come upon you: and ye shall be witnesses unto me both in Jerusalem, and in all Judaea, and in Samaria, and unto the uttermost part of the earth (Acts 1:8).
Eager Christians often see this as a second command to go and make disciples. But is that really what the Lord was saying here?
What did Jesus Say in Acts 1:8?
In Matthew, Jesus said, go. It was an imperative statement; an order that His disciples proceed forth and teach others the Gospel.
In Acts however, there's no imperative. There's only a declarative statement: "ye shall be witnesses." When examining the language of "shall be," the Greek word, esomai, we can see that it can mean, shall come to pass, but it is not an imperative statement.
The word witness comes from the Greek word, martus, a legal term that infers testifying in court (e.g. giving his testimony) or non-legal term for retelling a personal encounter (e.g. sharing his experience).
John bore witness about what he'd heard, seen, and touched during his experience with Jesus Christ (1 John 1:1–3). He declared Christ with the readers of 1 John.
Peter wrote similar words when he expressed his eye-witness account of what he'd seen and heard during his time with Jesus Christ (2 Peter 1:6).
Paul witnessed of his encounter with Jesus on the road to Damascus (Acts 22:6–9 and 26:12–15).
Command or Forthtelling?
The words Jesus spoke in Acts 1:8 have often been interpreted as a command to witness to the uttermost part of the earth, but that is not what we see here.
It appears that the Lord was forthtelling and foretelling—telling the disciples what would come to pass: they shall be witnesses (i.e. the word of God for the present: forthtelling), and as witnesses, they would flow from where they were then, to the uttermost part of the earth (i.e. the future: foretelling).
Do we have it backwards?
As Christians, we may have it all wrong. Could it be that we place more importance on Matthew 28:19–20 than Acts 1:8? From what we read in Scripture, it appears Acts 1:8 is the foundation for Matthew 28:19–20.
Perhaps one reason some people dislike Christians, or perhaps many unbelievers reject God and His Son Jesus Christ is that for so long, Christians have been overbearing and failing to demonstrate Christlike attitudes and behaviors—failing to live the Christian life which we speak of.
Could it be that we haven't nurtured our own relationships with the Lord and haven't shown simple sincerity in our witness to others? Don't people look for sincerity from an evangelist?
But if you look at how the Lord conducted Himself, he wasn't overbearing and He absolutely exhibited righteousness. He walked and talked the Gospel. He shared His relationship with the Father, and now He asks believers to share our relationship with Him, with others—ye shall be my witnesses.
Be ready to answer.
Peter wrote to persecuted Christians that they were to be ready:
But sanctify the Lord God in your hearts: and be ready always to give an answer to every man that asketh you a reason of the hope that is in you with meekness and fear (1 Peter 3:15).
Why were they to be ready to answer? Because as they lived their Christian lives before those who may have despised them, they'd draw some to them who would ask about their steadfast faith and continued good behavior (cf. 1 Peter 3:8–14).
These verses in 1 Peter 3 are not a mandate to debate unbelievers, but a command to be ready to answer questions about our real and living faith (cf. James 2:18).
In Revelation 2:4, the Lord rebuked the Church of Ephesus because they had lost their first love.
In John 17:3, the Lord, praying to the Father, spoke of knowing the Father and the Son as eternal life.
The Lord is interested in relationships.
Clearly, the Lord is interested in relationships with His people. He is referred to as our heavenly Father (e.g. Luke 11:2) and in an intimate way as Abba Father (e.g. Galatians 4:6). Believers are called sons (e.g. Romans 8:14) and that God deals with us as sons (Hebrews 12:7). He said to His people Israel that He walks among them and would be their God, and they His people (Leviticus 26:12, Deuteronomy 23:14).
Christians today are so caught up in making disciples that they neglect their relationships with the Lord (Revelation 2:4). Focus on ministry and soul-winning take the priority over fellowship, prayer, and personal times spent with the Lord.
God's word teaches us that . . .
We're to let our light shine that others may see it and glorify God (Matthew 5:16). What light do unbelievers see in us? It starts at home, then neighbors, then work, then branches out to the world (i.e. Jerusalem, Judaea, Samaria, and the uttermost parts of the earth).
We're to live peaceful lives (1 Thessalonians 4:11–12, Romans 12:18, Hebrews 12:14). How peaceful are our lives? Are we the rowdy ones on the block? Does our church make the most noise on Sundays? Are the soul-winners aggressive?
We're not to let evil be spoken of about us—nothing evil to say of us (Titus 2:8, 1 Peter 3:9,16; 2 Corinthians 8:21, 1 Thessalonians 5:15). How well do we fall into this description? What is our testimony to the world?
We're to love God first (Matthew 22:37, Luke 10:27). Do unbelievers see the love we have for God? Not a touchy-feely love, but a love that seeks to follow God.
Do people see these things in our lives, do they see only Bible-thumpers, hear harsh words, and get gospel tracts shoved in their faces?
Do they hear the believer's testimony of what Jesus Christ has done for him or only mechanical Bible quotes?
Do people see genuine Christianity and want to know more about it? Before the Lord renewed me in the faith, I wanted to be a Christian because I could see there was something pure and good in them. Do others say that about us?
Soul-winning in Church?
These days, preachers and churches feel obligation to preach the Gospel in church services. But is that what we're supposed to be doing in church?
According to Ephesians 4 (4:11–15) and 1 Corinthians 14 (14:3–5,12,26) that's not what we're supposed to be doing. Believers are to be taught doctrine and God is to be praised in His church. If unsaved people come in, they'll see this and know that they're different, and as Paul says, will fall down and glorify God (1 Corinthians 14:24–25).
What were the early disciples doing when they were gathered?
They were . . .
- Continuing daily with one accord.
- Breaking bread from house to house.
- Enjoying fellowship.
- Praising God.
- Having favor with God and man (Acts 2:45–47).
And the result was . . . the Lord added to them such as would be saved (Acts 2:47).
Final Thoughts
There must be something different about Christians. People are drawn to the light and will ask about it. We should be using words of grace seasoned with salt (Colossians 4:6)—no need to quote chapter and verse. We can just have speech sprinkled with the word of God.
In the end, there should be a balance between Matthew 28:19–20 (teaching) and Acts 1:8 (witnessing).
To know more about reviving your relationship with Jesus Christ or beginning one, purchase your copy of Where Is the Beauty That We May Desire Him: A Devotional on Isaiah 53 (e-book) on Google Books, Amazon Kindle, or paperback. Your purchases help keep this ministry going.
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Written by Jerry Smith
Image source: www.LumoProject.com on FreeBibleimages.org
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