Thorne 8
IV. THE EVANGELISTIC MANDATE
"An evangelical is committed to the fulfillment of the Great Commission of Jesus Christ
which demands the proclamation of the Gospel to the whole world and the discipling of the
nations."
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There is undoubtedly a global aspect to the revelation of God in the Old Testament and the
nations are often addressed by writer and prophet alike. Nevertheless, Jonah perhaps tells us the
general attitude and effect of God's interest in the evangelistic enterprise during Old Testament
times. By definition, then, the evangelistic mandate is a New Testament command. The
commission was uttered by Jesus: "All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me.
Therefore go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of
the Son and of the Holy Spirit, and teaching them to obey everything I have commanded you.
And surely I am with you always, to the very end of the age."
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Peter began the process of
carrying out the mandate on the Day of Pentecost with these immortal words from the Old
Testament prophet: "And everyone who calls on the name of the Lord will be saved."
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Peter
continued and "With many other words he warned them; and he pleaded with them, `Save
yourselves from this corrupt generation.'"
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Of Paul, the Lord said "This man is my chosen
instrument to carry my name before the Gentiles and their kings and before the people of
Israel."
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Paul was then the man who explained the evangelistic mandate in the unmistakable
terms of personal commitment: "I am not ashamed of the gospel, because it is the power of God
for the salvation of everyone who believes: first for the Jew, then for the Gentile."
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The Scriptures are clear about the absolute necessity of the proclamation of the Gospel.
The Great Commission stands. The whole world is the theater of operation for that proclamation.