Christ's Authority to Teach the Nations
Christ gives His disciples the authority to fulfill His commission, and we should spread the gospel, maintain God's position in life, and live a holy and pure life.
Erlo Stegen emphasizes Christ's authority to teach and make disciples of all nations, as outlined in Matthew 28:16-20. He highlights the transformative power of spreading the gospel, which fosters a deep love for the Lord and diminishes worldly attachments. Stegen encourages believers to uphold their God-given roles, particularly in marriage, and to pursue holiness as God is holy. He warns against preaching cultural traditions instead of the gospel, urging young people to honor their parents and live pure lives while fulfilling the Great Commission. The sermon concludes with a call to embrace the unique culture of the gospel and the joy found in purity and obedience to Christ's teachings.
Text
Mat 28:16-20 "Then the eleven disciples went to Galilee, to the mountain where Jesus had told them to go.
When they saw him, they worshiped him; but some doubted. Then Jesus came to them and
said, "All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me. Therefore go and make
disciples of all nations, ...and teaching them to obey everything I have commanded you.
And surely I am with you always, to the very end of the age."
The power is given to go and make disciples, teaching them to obey what Christ has taught his disciples. There is nothing as wonderful as spreading the gospel. Love for other things disappears if you have a love for the Lord and a love to spread the gospel. Robert and Zandile both have this love for the Lord and His gospel.
You should maintain the position God has given you in the way He prescribes in His word. There is much about how you are to live as a married person in the Bible. Many who were sharp become blunt after marriage.
God wants you to be holy as He is holy.
1Th 4:3-4 "It is God's will that you should be sanctified: that you should avoid sexual immorality; that
each of you should learn to control his own body in a way that is holy and honorable"
There is great joy in purity.
Preach the gospel not culture or traditions. Many young people go and make money in the cities but don't honour their parents. They give big flowery funerals but ignore them while they are alive. People say they don't want you to come with Christianity saying it is a western tradition but they adopt many other western things: clothing, ties, drink, smoke, even wooden coffins instead of cowhides. The gospel has a culture of its own.
Recently many young people in a service in Cape Town gave their lives to the Lord. It is possible to go to university and stay pure. Go into all the world and make disciples. Christ gives His disciples the authority to fulfil His commission.
Sermon Outline
- I. The Power of Christ's Authority
- A. The authority given to Jesus in heaven and on earth
- B. The command to make disciples of all nations
- C. Teaching them to obey everything Jesus has commanded
- II. The Importance of Spreading the Gospel
- A. Love for the Lord and the gospel is essential
- B. Spreading the gospel brings joy and fulfillment
- III. Maintaining God's Position in Life
- A. Staying in the position God has given you
- B. Living according to God's word
- IV. Holiness and Purity
- A. God's will is for us to be sanctified
- B. Avoiding sexual immorality and living a holy life
- V. Preaching the Gospel, Not Culture
- A. The gospel has its own culture and traditions
- B. Rejecting the gospel is rejecting God's will
Key Quotes
“Love for other things disappears if you have a love for the Lord and a love to spread the gospel.” — Erlo Stegen
“There is great joy in purity.” — Erlo Stegen
“Preach the gospel not culture or traditions.” — Erlo Stegen
Application Points
- We should spread the gospel and make disciples of all nations, teaching them to obey everything Jesus has commanded.
- We should maintain the position God has given us in life, staying in the position and living according to His word.
- We should strive to live a holy and pure life, avoiding sexual immorality and living a life that honors God.