Teach All Nations

Matthew 28:19-20

When we look at the Great Commission we can say we are reaching some of the world for Christ but not nearly as many as we should be reaching. We see many of our people in Harlan County that seem never to hear the Lord wants to save them.

We also baptize several people but not nearly as many as we should. My focus today is on the last part of verse 20 Teach them to observe whatsoever things I have commanded you and then He says I am with you to the end. What in your opinion do we need to be teaching? Deuteronomy 6:4-5  Hear O Israel;  the Lord our God is one Lord; and thou shall love the Lord thy God with all thine heart, with all thy  soul, and with all thy might.

The Old Testament taught us to teach our children. Deuteronomy 4:9 Only take heed to thy self, and keep thy soul diligently, lest thy forget the things thy eyes have seen, and lest they depart from thy heart all the days of thy life; but teach them thy sons, and thy son's sons.

The Psalmist in Ps. 119:11  reminds us; thy word have I hid  in my heart,   that I  might not sin against thee. In the early days it was expected for a teacher to know what the Scriptures said. In John 3: 1-8 Jesus was talking to a man by the name of Nicodemus. Nicodemus was a well educated man in the affairs of the world. He was a teacher and leader of his day. Jesus told him that he must be born again in order to see or enter  the Kingdom of God. He begin to ask how could a man enter into his mothers womb and be born again.

Our Lord Jesus pointed out to him that there are two births, there is the birth of the flesh and there is the birth of the Spirit. Then Jesus said something that no doubt startled Nicodemus. Are you a teacher of Israel and don't know these things. The Israelis had the Old Testament, however it did not appear that they all studied it as they should have. The book of Ezekiel chapter 36 verse 26 tells us; A new heart also will I give you, and a new spirit will I put within you; and I will take away the stony heart out of your flesh.And I will give you an heart of flesh. I will put my spirit within you  and cause you to walk in my statutes, and ye shall keep my judgements and do them.   John 14:17 Jesus said the Spirit will dwell in you.

Friends, no school or training facility would hire a teacher that does not know the subjects you need for them to be teaching. You examine their credentials and there must be a continuing education program for each teacher. If this is required for the world of education and the business world surely we need to expect the  teachers of God's holy word to be knowledgeable.

It is clearly stated in 1st Timothy 3:2  As one of his qualifications a Bishop should be apt (able) to teach.

We as Bible teachers should know our subjects we are teaching and we should be able to tell others what the Bible says abut being saved.

What does the Bible say about being saved. We all need to know the plan of salvation  commonly known as the Roman road. Romans 3:23 all have sinned, Romans 6:23 the wages of sin is death but the gift of God is eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord.

Romans 10:9-13 tells us; That if thy shall confess with thy mouth the Lord Jesus and believe in thy heart that God has raised him from the dead thou shall be saved. For with the heart man believes unto righteousness and with the mouth  confession is made unto salvation.

For the Scripture says, whosoever believes on Him shall not be ashamed. For there is no difference between the Jew and the Greek, for the same Lord over all is rich unto all that call upon Him. For whosoever shall call upon the name of the Lord shall be saved.

The Bible teaches Eternal salvation, Jesus said, My sheep hear my voice, and I know them they follow me. I give them eternal life and they shall never perish, neither shall any man pluck them out of my hand. My Father which gave them me, is greater than all: and no man is able to  pluck them out of my  Fathers hand. 

The beautiful feet found in Romans 10:15 alludes to the beauty of seeing the messenger of God brining the good news of Salvation to all who will receive it.