Go Preach

by Micky Galloway

After the resurrection of Jesus, He commissioned His apostles, “Go ye into all the world, and preach the gospel to the whole creation. He that believeth and is baptized shall be saved; but he that disbelieveth shall be condemned” (Mark 16:15-16). Matthew’s account tells us, “Go ye therefore, and make disciples of all the nations, baptizing them into the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit: teaching them to observe all things whatsoever I commanded you: and lo, I am with you always, even unto the end of the world” (Matthew 28:19-20). Luke’s account records, “… and that repentance and remission of sins should be preached in his name unto all the nations, beginning from Jerusalem” (Luke 24:47). In Acts 1:8, just before His ascension, Jesus said to the apostles, “ye shall be my witnesses both in Jerusalem, and in all Judaea and Samaria, and unto the uttermost part of the earth.”

As witnesses of the death, burial, and resurrection of Christ, the apostles could not but tell of the things they had seen and heard (Acts 4:20). The gospel, the good news of salvation through Christ, was the message to be preached to every man, woman, boy, and girl; every intelligent being. Disciples are not made by the doctrines of men (cf. Matthew 15:8-9). The “social gospel” only converts to recreational and social activities. The “denominational gospel” results in the “Papacy” and the “faith only gospel” and will not justify (James 2:24). All of these along with the “latter-day gospel” are called “another gospel” because they are not the gospel Paul preached. Those who preach anything different are “accursed” (Galatians 1:6-9). It is the purpose of this article to examine the spreading of the gospel of Christ “unto the utter most part of the earth.”

Go preach in Jerusalem and Judea. In Jerusalem, the apostle Peter addressed the Jews, “Ye men of Judaea, and all ye that dwell at Jerusalem, be this known unto you, and give ear unto my words …” (Acts 2:14). “And there arose on that day a great persecution against the church which was in Jerusalem; and they were all scattered abroad throughout the regions of Judaea …” (Acts 8:1). In Acts 5:28 the leaders of the nation of Israel, accused the apostles, “ye have filled Jerusalem with your teaching, and intend to bring this man’s blood upon us.” The results of the gospel being preached in Jerusalem became evident, “Now when they heard (this,) they were pricked in their heart, and said unto Peter and the rest of the apostles, Brethren, what shall we do? And Peter (said) unto them, Repent ye, and be baptized every one of you in the name of Jesus Christ unto the remission of your sins; and ye shall receive the gift of the Holy Spirit. For to you is the promise, and to your children, and to all that are afar off, (even) as many as the Lord our God shall call unto him. And with many other words he testified, and exhorted them, saying, Save yourselves from this crooked generation. They then that received his word were baptized: and there were added (unto them) in that day about three thousand souls” (Acts 2:37-41). Acts 6:7 tells us, “And the word of God increased; and the number of the disciples multiplied in Jerusalem exceedingly; and a great company of the priests were obedient to the faith” (Acts 6:7).These results were in proportion to the response of the apostles to the command to “go preach.”

Go preach in Samaria. In Acts 8:1 we learn, “And there arose on that day a great persecution against the church which was in Jerusalem; and they were all scattered abroad throughout the regions of Judaea and Samaria, except the apostles.” Acts 8:4 tells us, “They therefore that were scattered abroad, went about preaching the word …” Further, “Philip went down to the city of Samaria, and proclaimed unto them the Christ. And the multitudes gave heed with one accord unto the things that were spoken by Philip, when they heard, and saw the signs which he did. For (from) many of those that had unclean spirits, they came out, crying with a loud voice: and many that were palsied, and that were lame, were healed. And there was much joy in that city” (Acts 8:5-8). Philip preached to them, “good tidings concerning the kingdom of God and the name of Jesus Christ.” The results of preaching the gospel among the Samaritans is seen in that “they were baptized, both men and women” (Acts 8:12). Again, these results were in proportion to the response of the disciples to the command to “go preach.”

Go preach to the whole creation. The gospel was preached among the Gentiles (nations) for the first time in recorded history in Acts 10-11 with the conversion of Cornelius and his household. Cornelius had sent to Joppa to bring Peter to Caesarea that he might preach the gospel. In Acts 10:23-33 Cornelius had made great preparation, calling together his kinsmen and his near friends. When Peter arrived, Cornelius said, “Now therefore we are all here present in the sight of God, to hear all things that have been commanded thee of the Lord” (Acts 10:33). Evidence of the success of Peter’s preaching is seen in that he commanded them to be baptized (Acts 10:48). The apostle Paul began his first of three preaching journeys, being sent out by the good church in Antioch of Syria to preach among the Gentiles (Acts 13:1). He was known as the apostle to the Gentiles (cf. Acts 22:21). The success of the gospel is seen in such passages as Acts 18:8 where in Corinth many “hearing, believed, and were baptized.” Such results were always in proportion to the disciples’ response to the command to “go preach.”

Paul affirmed, “For seeing that in the wisdom of God the world through its wisdom knew not God, it was God’s good pleasure through the foolishness of the preaching to save them that believe” (I Corinthians 1:21). Romans 1:16 says, “For I am not ashamed of the gospel: for it is the power of God unto salvation to every one that believeth; to the Jew first, and also to the Greek.” The gospel only makes Christians only, wherever it is preached. Let us see the horrible, eternal consequences of sin and the urgency of the good news of salvation in Christ. Let us preach it with excitement and enthusiasm to all who will hear.