The Great Commission!

We should go to them, not have them come to us.

Jim

by James E. Crigger

   Our “On the street” question this month was “What does The Great Commission mean? It seems to be understood that it means to ”go unto all the world and preach the gospel” of Jesus Christ.
   We who are of an older generation understand the importance of “witnessing”. However, witnessing seems to be a thing of the past. We seem afraid to knock on ones’ door and talk with someone, let alone to ask them if they are saved. Even salvation doesn’t seem to have the same importance it once did.
   I remember when, if you didn’t have the “conviction” from the Holy Spirit, then you may not be ready to receive salvation.
   It concerns me that we rely on what we call “The Sinner’s Prayer” and think that by simply repeating a few words that a person is "saved".

It takes more than words. You have to realize that you are WRONG and a SINNER who needs forgiveness from the Lord for your sins. We are told “if you believe”. The Devil not only believes in Jesus, the Devil knows Him and tempted Jesus the same way he tempts us. So belief does not bring salvation or the Devil would be saved because he “believes”.

We are told that we cannot work for salvation. This is true! But, we must work for The Lord after we receive His Salvation. If you’re not doing anything, then you may be like the man with the talent who just left it where it was. He was chastised and his talent taken away because he never did anything. James 2:18 - 20: Yea, a man may say, Thou hast faith, and I have works: show me thy faith without thy works, and I will show thee my faith by my works. 19Thou believest that there is one God; thou doest well: the devils also believe, and tremble. 20But wilt thou know, O vain man, that faith without works is dead?

What are we doing for God. Are we fulfilling “The Great Commission”? Perhaps not. A sinner is not likely to come to your church, even for a concert. Yet, we have these programs and projects to “bring them in”. I’m not saying this is wrong, I’m saying that it is not as productive as it should be.

We have revivals. Are you aware that a revival is meant to “renew” your faith and your committment to Christ. It is not meant to bring the sinner in to hear a message on salvation. Revival is meant to inspire the Christian, to renew him, to cause him to regain that fire he or she once had. In The Book of The Revelation 2:5 it reads: “Remember therefore from whence thou art fallen, and repent, and do the first works; or else I will come unto thee quickly, and will remove thy candlestick out of his place, except thou repent”.

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