Christ’s Famous Last Words

Is life on earth just the waiting room for eternity? The consensus of Scripture says “definitely not!” Jesus’ final instructions to His disciples were not intended to help them wait comfortably until the time of His return. Instead He challenged His
followers to continue His own mission—to take the Word to the world. Jesus’ final charge, found in Matthew 28:18–20, was … 

Personal as to its audience. “Then Jesus came to them and said.”  The near audience was Jesus’ disciples; the far audience is composed of those people who will become His disciples.

Universal in its authority. “All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me.” God the Father delegated all authority in heaven and on earth to His Son Jesus. Therefore when Jesus spoke, He spoke on behalf of God the Father.

International in its scope. “Therefore go and make disciples of all nations.” God’s heart beats for all the nations, and that heartbeat must become our heartbeat as well.
Confessional at its core. “baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit.” The truth of the gospel is grounded in the Trinitarian relationship of the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit. Through baptism believers testify to their faith in Jesus as God’s Son, through whose death and resurrection salvation has been provided for the world.

Transformational in its purpose. “and teaching them to obey everything I have commanded you.” The teachings of Jesus are the core means by which one is trained to be a follower of Christ. The goal of discipleship, far more than passing on information about the truths taught by Jesus, is to see lives transformed into Christlike character through obeying everything Jesus commanded.

Possible in its fulfillment. “And surely I am with you always, to the very end of the age.”  The accompanying presence of Jesus through the abiding presence of His Spirit assures us that we have been given everything necessary to complete His mission among the nations before the end of the age.

Christ’s mandate has been Dallas Seminary’s purpose since its founding. We seek to glorify God by equipping godly servant-leaders for the proclamation of His Word and the building up of the body of Christ worldwide. In other words we are training students to take the Word to the world.

About the Contributors

Mark L. Bailey

Dr. Bailey assumed the role of DTS Chancellor after serving for 19 years as the Seminary’s fifth President, and continues his role as Sr. Professor in the Bible Exposition department. In addition to his years at Dallas Theological Seminary, he has pastored various churches in Arizona and Texas. He was a seminar instructor for Walk Thru the Bible Ministries for twenty years and is in demand for Bible conferences and other preaching engagements all over the country and world. His overseas ministries have included Venezuela, Argentina, Hungary, and China. He is also a regular tour leader in Israel, Jordan, Egypt, Turkey, Greece, and Rome. His board service includes Bible Study Fellowship, Walk Thru the Bible Ministries, and Word of Life.