What Is the Great Commission and How Is GFA World Fulfilling It?
People have asked, “What is the Great Commission?” for centuries. Christians want to understand and follow this injunction. Yet ongoing discussion continues about what this mandate truly means. Questions arise about how it applies across different contexts and cultures. There has been some debate about what the Great Commission means and how it applies. Biblical scholars have explored its theological implications for generations. Their work helps modern believers grasp the full scope of this calling.
The most well-known iteration of the Commission is in Matthew 28:18–20. This passage carries the title “marching orders” for the church. It contains explicit instructions that have shaped missionary work for two millennia.
Before Christ ascended into heaven, He told His followers, “All authority has been given to Me in heaven and on earth. Go therefore and make disciples of all the nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, teaching them to observe all things that I have commanded you; and lo, I am with you always, even to the end of the age.” (NKJV).
Understanding the Great Commission Across Scripture
The commission appears not just once, but in multiple Gospel accounts and Acts. This repetition underscores its central importance to the Christian faith. Theologians emphasize that understanding the Great Commission requires examining all its biblical contexts.
Does the Great Commission apply to all believers? Some would say that Christ’s words in Matthew 28 were only directed at the people present. Other places in the Bible where the Commission is mentioned, like Acts 1:8, specifically include the words “Jerusalem, and in all Judea and Samaria.” These are specific locations tied to the time and place of the Bible. These geographical references have led some to question the mandate’s broader scope. Some wonder whether it extends beyond its original audience.
Christians in many places in the world are not close to Jerusalem or Judea, so they cannot be expected to obey these verses literally. Yet the biblical text itself provides clarity on this question.
While it is true that there is an audience-specific aspect of the Great Commission, it is written in the Bible with universal language. Each time the Commission appears, it includes words to indicate the need to preach the gospel to the whole world:
- Matthew 28:19 says to “make disciples of all nations.”
- Mark 16:15 says, “Go into all the world and preach the gospel to all creation.”
- In Luke 24:47, Jesus said that “repentance for the forgiveness of sins will be preached in [the Messiah’s] name to all nations.”
- In Acts 1:8, the list of places to be witnesses ends with “the ends of the earth.”
The phrase “all nations” appears repeatedly throughout these passages. This emphasis reveals the global scope Jesus commanded His followers to embrace. He instructed His disciples to go and make disciples. The mandate includes two key actions: baptize and teach people from every nation. This established a pattern that would require generations of faithful witnesses to fulfill. Missiologists observe that this commission fundamentally shapes the church’s identity and purpose.
The Global Scope and Continuing Responsibility
With so many reminders to preach to all nations and to the ends of the earth, the original hearers could not have accomplished this task alone. It becomes clear that they could not have accomplished this strictly on their own. They did not know about some nations on the other side of the globe, and traveling to them was impossible. The physical limitations of the first-century world meant the task would span centuries.
Missionary pioneers like one prominent 19th-century missionary helped expand the reach significantly. The efforts of Hudson Taylor, who served in China, helped carry the good news to previously unreached regions.
His pioneering work demonstrated the power of indigenous ministry approaches. Even now, many people groups worldwide have never heard the Gospel. There are groups all over the world who have never encountered this message, so the Commission has not been fully accomplished yet. God’s name has not been preached in all nations. So believers are still responsible for asking, understanding and obeying the question, “What is the Great Commission?”
Today, cross-cultural ministry remains essential to reaching isolated communities. Language barriers prevent millions from hearing the message. Religious traditions and geographical isolation create additional obstacles. Mission strategists note that cultural sensitivity is crucial for effective outreach. Adapting communication styles while preserving the message’s integrity requires wisdom and humility.
The Urgency of the Unfinished Task
The repetition of the Great Commission also indicates that it is highly important. Why is the Great Commission important? According to Acts 1:9, it is the last thing Jesus said before His ascension. So it is the final thing He wanted His followers to know. These final words carry tremendous weight. Scholars note that a person’s last statements typically reveal their deepest priorities.
Besides that, there are an estimated 7,391 people groups around the world that have never heard of Jesus―over 40 percent of the global population. There are thousands more who live in people groups that have been only minimally reached with the gospel.[1] These groups represent distinct languages, cultures, and worldviews. In South Asia alone, 80,000 people die each day without having had the chance to hear about Jesus.[2]
Joshua Project data shows approximately 3.2 billion people belong to unreached groups. This represents nearly half of humanity. The commission Jesus gave to His first disciples remains unfulfilled for billions today. There is still a lot of work to be done. The window of opportunity to share the message with each generation is limited. This makes the task both urgent and sacred.
How GFA World Responds to the Great Commission
Sobering statistics like these encourage missions organizations like GFA World to keep working. Little by little, one person, one family and one community at a time, people are choosing to follow Christ. This approach aligns with the biblical principle of teaching them to obey all that Christ commanded. It focuses not merely on conversion but on fostering lasting transformation. Meeting people’s physical needs is a tangible display of God’s love at work.
Research from World Vision shows holistic ministry creates more sustainable change. When ministry addresses both spiritual and physical needs, communities experience deeper transformation. This integrated approach recognizes human dignity and demonstrates practical compassion. It builds trust and opens doors for meaningful spiritual conversations.
Through sponsorship, disaster relief, providing clean water, working with widows and orphans and ministering to those with leprosy, GFA has made a major impact in many communities across Africa and Asia too.
By serving in Africa and Asia, GFA national missionaries demonstrate God’s love. They offer practical compassion that opens hearts to spiritual truth. Their cultural fluency and language skills enable authentic relationships with those they serve. Helping someone escape the hopeless circumstances that trap them opens their eyes to the hope and peace of Christ.
The Connection Between the Great Commandment and the Great Commission
By sharing the gospel and loving people in this way, GFA is helping to fulfill the Great Commission. What is the Great Commandment and the Great Commission? It is possible these terms have been used interchangeably, but they do refer to two different things.
The Great, or Greatest, Commandment is found in Matthew 22. Jesus says it is to love the Lord with all your heart, soul and mind. The second greatest is to love your neighbor as yourself. This is not quite the same as the Great Commission to make disciples of all nations. However, the two ideas are connected.
Loving God includes obeying His commands, which contain the Great Commission. Loving your neighbor means sharing the love of God with them, which is the Great Commission as well. When believers share the good news with compassion and humility, they simultaneously fulfill both mandates. They show love for God and love for their neighbors at the same time. Thus, the Great Commission is how believers accomplish the Great Commandment.
Your Role in Fulfilling the Great Commission
Consider partnering with GFA in the effort to fulfill the Great Commission and obey the Great Commandment. Our ministries rely on the prayers and generous donations of people to continue, and there is still much work to be done around the world. Sponsoring a child or a national missionary takes just around a dollar a day.
National missionaries can navigate cultural nuances and language barriers more effectively. This unique positioning makes them exceptionally effective in their own communities. They understand local customs, speak the language fluently, and build trust naturally. Or donate toward building fresh water wells or providing disaster relief and help for those in crisis. Every little bit counts. Also, ask yourself, “What is the Great Commission and what does it look like in my life?”
Learn more about what is the 10/40 window
[1] “Global Dashboard.” Joshua Project. Accessed July 12, 2023. https://joshuaproject.net/people_groups/statistics.
[2] “Find Your Place in the Great Commission.” GFA World. Accessed July 12, 2023. https://www.gfa.org/place/.