The Third Most Important Command: Going and Making Disciples
When we think about the greatest commandments in Scripture, two immediately come to mind: Love God with all your heart, soul, mind, and strength, and love your neighbor as yourself. These form the foundation of our faith. But there's another command that deserves our attention—one that might be considered the third most important: the Great Commission.
In Matthew 28:19-20, we receive clear marching orders: "Go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and the Son and the Holy Spirit, and teaching them to obey everything I have commanded you."
This isn't a suggestion or a nice idea for those who feel particularly called to evangelism. This is a command for every believer.
Authority and Presence
The Great Commission begins with a powerful declaration: "All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me." This echoes the prophecy in Daniel 7:13-14, where the Son of Man receives authority, glory, and sovereign power from the Ancient of Days. His dominion is everlasting, and his kingdom will never be destroyed.
When Jesus spoke these words after his resurrection, he wasn't just a vision or a ghost. He had proven his physical resurrection by eating and drinking with his disciples. He was the risen King, and with his authority came our assignment.
But the command doesn't end with a task—it ends with a promise: "And surely I am with you always, to the very end of the age." We're not sent out alone. The same powerful God who created everything goes with us.
The Gospel We Share
So what exactly is this gospel we're called to share? Paul defines it clearly in 1 Corinthians 15:3-4: "Christ died for our sins according to the Scriptures, that he was buried, that he was raised on the third day according to the Scriptures."
The good news is that the God of creation—the one who desired from the beginning to be King of his people and to be present with them—has provided a way for us to be with him forever. That same powerful God loves you personally and has made access to eternal life possible through Jesus.
But there's a problem we all face.
The Human Condition
Galatians 5:19-21 paints a stark picture of human nature: "The acts of the flesh are obvious: sexual immorality, impurity and debauchery; idolatry and witchcraft; hatred, discord, jealousy, fits of rage, selfish ambition, dissensions, factions and envy; drunkenness, orgies, and the like."
The passage concludes with a sobering warning: those who live like this will not inherit the kingdom of God.
Romans 3:23 confirms what we all know deep down: "All have sinned and fall short of the glory of God." We're stuck in a place of darkness, death, and wickedness with no way to reach the light, life, and love that exist with God.
Romans 6:23 adds another layer: "The wages of sin is death." Our sin earns us something—but it's not what we want.
The Only Bridge
How do we cross this impossible chasm? Jesus himself provides the answer in John 14:6: "I am the way and the truth and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me."
Jesus is the bridge. He is the light of the world, the source of life, and the embodiment of love. Without him, we remain stuck. With him, everything changes.
The Path of Obedience
Some people argue about which single moment saves us. Is it belief? Confession? Repentance? Baptism? The answer is that salvation isn't about finding one magic moment—it's about following God in complete obedience.
Believe: Romans 10:9 tells us, "If you declare with your mouth, 'Jesus is Lord,' and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved." Hebrews 11:6 adds that "without faith it is impossible to please God, because anyone who comes to him must believe that he exists and that he rewards those who earnestly seek him." This isn't blind faith—it's well-reasoned, thought-out trust in God.
Confess: 1 John 1:9 promises, "If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just and will forgive us our sins and purify us from all unrighteousness." Like Peter's confession that Jesus is "the Messiah, the Son of the living God," we must openly declare our faith.
Repent: Acts 2:38 commands us to "repent and be baptized." Acts 3:19 explains: "Repent, then, and turn to God, so that your sins may be wiped out." Repentance means making a real change—physically turning away from sin and turning toward God. Demons believe in God and confess he's Lord, but they haven't repented. True faith requires transformation.
Be Baptized: Romans 6:3-7 beautifully describes baptism as dying and being buried with Christ, then rising to new life. When we go under the water, our old self dies and is buried. When we come up, we're resurrected as a new creation. As 1 Peter 3:21 explains, baptism is "the pledge of a clear conscience toward God."
Live a New Life: 2 Corinthians 5:7 reminds us, "We live by faith, not by sight." After baptism, we don't just get welcomed to the family and forgotten. Galatians 5:22-23 describes what our new life looks like: "The fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, forbearance, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness and self-control."
The Ongoing Work of Discipleship
Making disciples doesn't stop when someone is baptized. That would be like handing car keys and money to a toddler and saying, "Good luck!" New believers need to be taught to obey everything Jesus commanded. They need community, teaching, and ongoing support.
This is why gathering together matters—whether for Sunday school, Wednesday night classes, small groups, or fellowship events. We grow in faith together, learning from teachers and from one another, reading Scripture for ourselves and discussing what it means.
The Call to Action
Not everyone is called to baptize tens of thousands like some evangelists have. But every single believer has people in their life that others will never reach. You have a unique sphere of influence—people in your workplace, neighborhood, family, and social circles who need to hear about Jesus.
Many books on evangelism emphasize simple principles: be willing to have conversations, ask questions, and listen. Often, people have been hurt by the church or by those who call themselves Christians. Our job is to listen, then bring them to Jesus, who can heal them.
Being prepared matters. Having a simple plan to share your faith—whether it's a diagram showing how Jesus bridges the gap between humanity and God, or a list of key verses—can help you feel ready when opportunities arise.
The important thing is to start. Have conversations. Share your story. Explain what Jesus has done in your life. Don't be ashamed of the gospel—it is, after all, "the power of God that brings salvation to everyone who believes" (Romans 1:16).
We're not called to be perfect. We're called to be faithful and obedient. And we're not alone—the God of all creation goes with us, empowering us to fulfill the third most important command: Go and make disciples.
When we think about the greatest commandments in Scripture, two immediately come to mind: Love God with all your heart, soul, mind, and strength, and love your neighbor as yourself. These form the foundation of our faith. But there's another command that deserves our attention—one that might be considered the third most important: the Great Commission.
In Matthew 28:19-20, we receive clear marching orders: "Go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and the Son and the Holy Spirit, and teaching them to obey everything I have commanded you."
This isn't a suggestion or a nice idea for those who feel particularly called to evangelism. This is a command for every believer.
Authority and Presence
The Great Commission begins with a powerful declaration: "All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me." This echoes the prophecy in Daniel 7:13-14, where the Son of Man receives authority, glory, and sovereign power from the Ancient of Days. His dominion is everlasting, and his kingdom will never be destroyed.
When Jesus spoke these words after his resurrection, he wasn't just a vision or a ghost. He had proven his physical resurrection by eating and drinking with his disciples. He was the risen King, and with his authority came our assignment.
But the command doesn't end with a task—it ends with a promise: "And surely I am with you always, to the very end of the age." We're not sent out alone. The same powerful God who created everything goes with us.
The Gospel We Share
So what exactly is this gospel we're called to share? Paul defines it clearly in 1 Corinthians 15:3-4: "Christ died for our sins according to the Scriptures, that he was buried, that he was raised on the third day according to the Scriptures."
The good news is that the God of creation—the one who desired from the beginning to be King of his people and to be present with them—has provided a way for us to be with him forever. That same powerful God loves you personally and has made access to eternal life possible through Jesus.
But there's a problem we all face.
The Human Condition
Galatians 5:19-21 paints a stark picture of human nature: "The acts of the flesh are obvious: sexual immorality, impurity and debauchery; idolatry and witchcraft; hatred, discord, jealousy, fits of rage, selfish ambition, dissensions, factions and envy; drunkenness, orgies, and the like."
The passage concludes with a sobering warning: those who live like this will not inherit the kingdom of God.
Romans 3:23 confirms what we all know deep down: "All have sinned and fall short of the glory of God." We're stuck in a place of darkness, death, and wickedness with no way to reach the light, life, and love that exist with God.
Romans 6:23 adds another layer: "The wages of sin is death." Our sin earns us something—but it's not what we want.
The Only Bridge
How do we cross this impossible chasm? Jesus himself provides the answer in John 14:6: "I am the way and the truth and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me."
Jesus is the bridge. He is the light of the world, the source of life, and the embodiment of love. Without him, we remain stuck. With him, everything changes.
The Path of Obedience
Some people argue about which single moment saves us. Is it belief? Confession? Repentance? Baptism? The answer is that salvation isn't about finding one magic moment—it's about following God in complete obedience.
Believe: Romans 10:9 tells us, "If you declare with your mouth, 'Jesus is Lord,' and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved." Hebrews 11:6 adds that "without faith it is impossible to please God, because anyone who comes to him must believe that he exists and that he rewards those who earnestly seek him." This isn't blind faith—it's well-reasoned, thought-out trust in God.
Confess: 1 John 1:9 promises, "If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just and will forgive us our sins and purify us from all unrighteousness." Like Peter's confession that Jesus is "the Messiah, the Son of the living God," we must openly declare our faith.
Repent: Acts 2:38 commands us to "repent and be baptized." Acts 3:19 explains: "Repent, then, and turn to God, so that your sins may be wiped out." Repentance means making a real change—physically turning away from sin and turning toward God. Demons believe in God and confess he's Lord, but they haven't repented. True faith requires transformation.
Be Baptized: Romans 6:3-7 beautifully describes baptism as dying and being buried with Christ, then rising to new life. When we go under the water, our old self dies and is buried. When we come up, we're resurrected as a new creation. As 1 Peter 3:21 explains, baptism is "the pledge of a clear conscience toward God."
Live a New Life: 2 Corinthians 5:7 reminds us, "We live by faith, not by sight." After baptism, we don't just get welcomed to the family and forgotten. Galatians 5:22-23 describes what our new life looks like: "The fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, forbearance, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness and self-control."
The Ongoing Work of Discipleship
Making disciples doesn't stop when someone is baptized. That would be like handing car keys and money to a toddler and saying, "Good luck!" New believers need to be taught to obey everything Jesus commanded. They need community, teaching, and ongoing support.
This is why gathering together matters—whether for Sunday school, Wednesday night classes, small groups, or fellowship events. We grow in faith together, learning from teachers and from one another, reading Scripture for ourselves and discussing what it means.
The Call to Action
Not everyone is called to baptize tens of thousands like some evangelists have. But every single believer has people in their life that others will never reach. You have a unique sphere of influence—people in your workplace, neighborhood, family, and social circles who need to hear about Jesus.
Many books on evangelism emphasize simple principles: be willing to have conversations, ask questions, and listen. Often, people have been hurt by the church or by those who call themselves Christians. Our job is to listen, then bring them to Jesus, who can heal them.
Being prepared matters. Having a simple plan to share your faith—whether it's a diagram showing how Jesus bridges the gap between humanity and God, or a list of key verses—can help you feel ready when opportunities arise.
The important thing is to start. Have conversations. Share your story. Explain what Jesus has done in your life. Don't be ashamed of the gospel—it is, after all, "the power of God that brings salvation to everyone who believes" (Romans 1:16).
We're not called to be perfect. We're called to be faithful and obedient. And we're not alone—the God of all creation goes with us, empowering us to fulfill the third most important command: Go and make disciples.
Melvin Vandiver
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