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Compromise is defined as: agreement attained by mutual concession. Pocket Oxford dictionary. Now if we look at the definition we note that:

1. There has to be two, or more than two parties

2. Who wish to arrive at an agreement

3. Which is acceptable to all parties concerned, and

4. Requires all, or some of the parties to concede some ground.

Let us be aware that if only one party gives ground, and the other party refuses to give ground, compromise may no longer be the word which describes the transaction. It could be capitulation, or perhaps confrontation

We will confine our observations to groups of christians wishing to combine in some project. Let us say "the preaching of the gospel". Then we would expect to find that the two separate groups would map out their activities.

If the groups were unknown to each other agreement would have to be reached as to what was to be preached, and many other aspect of the project. Naturally, no agreement, no project. Therefore if they are to go ahead they have to agree to a plan.

Immediately differences of doctrine were encountered the parties would have to make a decision. Firstly should the project go ahead or should it be abandoned. If it is to go ahead then the differences in doctrine have to be brought out and discussed, and a compromise agreed to.

Let us suppose one party did not believe in baptism by immersion, or New Testament assembly principles, then the project can only go ahead if one party is prepared to give ground. In the writer's experience, in projects of this kind, it is always the truth which suffers, error rarely does.

Over the last 40 or 50 years the assemblies of God's people have suffered terribly from members giving way to error. Whether it be baptism, New Testament truth, or moral values that are conceded, this kind of compromise is evil. In the pursuit of false unity the weak or sinful believer is prepared to forego truth. Let us see what this means.

"all power is given unto me in heaven and in earth. Go ye therefore, and teach all nations, baptising them in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost: Teaching them to observe all things whatsoever I have commanded you: and. lo, I am with you alway, even unto the end of the world."

This passage is often described as the great commission, and so it is. It is very important and demands a close study.

This is one of the most important statements made by the Lord to His disciples in the New Testament. Although this commission is not referred to again in the New Testament it is strictly adhered to by the Apostles. Christians failure to do so does not negate its authority nor the divine principle.

It is the only occasion where He makes a statement to His disciples with such a powerful prefix.

all power (exousia) the power of rule or government

is given unto me (didomai) given or granted

in heaven (ouranos) can mean the aerial, sidereal, and the eternal dwelling place of God. In the context it must mean all three.

and in earth. Our sphere of activity

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Jesus came to His disciples after His resurrection in an entirely new way. He has passed through death, has glorified God in an infinite way, and is about to speak to them from a resurrection position. He commences and tells them that He has been granted the absolute right, authority, and power to rule. In the context of this verse He speaks with an authority which MUST BE OBEYED.

It is a terrible reflection on christians generally that they seem to think that the scriptural commands and commissions are optional, and may or may not be obeyed, it all depends on how one feels. This is not the case, but we will notice the Lord forces no one to obey Him. He does not force any one to serve Him, nor does He accept service unless its motivation springs from the disciple's love for Him. Service according to the letter without the Spirit is also offensive. The sphere, and power of His authority is all embracing, infinite in its scope. This emphasis demands implicit obedience.

Therefore (oun) now

go ye (poreuomai) to go on ones way

and teach (matheteuo) to make disciples

all nations (ethnos) nation or people

baptising them (baptizo) to dip or completely immerse

in (eis) motion towards or directing the mind to the point to be reached

the name of the, (onoma) the name of a thing, or "for all that a name implies, of authority,

character, rank, majesty, power excellence, etc., of everything that the name

covers", W E Vine. Dictionary of N.T. words

Father Son and Holy Ghost the triune Godhead.

The sense now is: because I have absolute and total authority I am sending you to carry out my commands.. You are to go and make disciples of all nations, not just teach. You are to make them my obedient followers under my discipline and command. You are to baptise them to the name of the triune God. It is of paramount importance to recognise that the Lord speaks from a position of absolute power. There is not a force that existed, exists, or will exist that is superior to His. Well is He to be recognised as Lord (despotes) the possessor of supreme authority.

Again it is on this basis that the Lord gives His directive. A directive He knows full well will not be carried out except by those whose hearts are drawn to Him in love. Those whose hearts gladly bow before Him with the desire to return His love by being a willing and obedient servant. One whose desires are never put before those of his Lord.

Teaching them (didasko) to give instructions

to observe (tereo) keep, to give heed, as to keeping commandments

all (pas) everything

whatsoever (hosos) whatsoever

I have commanded you (entello) to charge with, or to command you

Continuing from His position of complete authority the Lord further charges His disciples to give instructions, to those who are being made followers under discipline, to observe all things whatsoever He commands. No options are given such as "only keep the commandments which you like, or take your fancy", they were to be taught to be obedient to all the Lord's commands. That is to the whole scripture.

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We must point out again that the obedience the Lord looks for is that which comes from a heart of love. The legalistic keeping of commandments is offensive to the Lord as is illustrated by His remarks to the lawyers, and Pharisees. Let us look at a note by W.E.VINE, "Pharisees were pious ones, were a society of men zealous for religion, who acted under the guidance of the scribes...In their zeal for the Law they almost deified it, and their attitude became merely external, formal, and mechanical. They laid stress, not upon the righteousness of the action, but on its formal correctness." A common phrase of modern pharisees is "this is the way we do it here", then give no explanation.

There are three things which the Lord commanded His disciples:

1. Go and make disciples

2. Baptising them in the name of the Father, Son, and Holy Ghost.

3. Teach them to observe all things I have commanded you.

We have noted that this command is given by the One with absolute power. It was given by the One who had just been crucified for us, the One who bore our sins in His own body on the tree. The One who loved us with an everlasting love which gives the commands a twofold grip on the heart. The Lord commanded it. Our heart should respond and obey in love.

This command is specific. There is no doubt about it, disciples are to be made. Let us understand that the passage in Mark 16 in no way changes or alters that in Mathew 28. Mark is narrower in scope, and is more personal to the eleven before Him. In Mark the eleven are told to preach the gospel, and then are told about signs following them. In general the signs following were personally related to the eleven there, and there seems to be no scriptural warrant for widening it to include all those who preach the gospel. Given that this is so, the eleven would understand that they were to preach the gospel as a forerunner, and those saved would be made disciples by being taught to be obedient to all commandments.

This was the essential second leg of the commission. Believers were to be baptised, and that by immersion. They were to be baptised in the name of the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit. In fact a closer study of the Acts, and epistles shows that the believers immediately recognised their responsibility to be baptised, and there is no record of a believer being asked to be baptised. They were baptised, they did not ask to be baptised. Not even in the record in Acts 19. When they heard they were baptised. Baptism is a step in obedience.

That command is clear enough. Believers were taught to observe all things commanded by the Lord. Not some, but all commandments were to be obeyed. That is clear and simple to understand, and to do other than this is disobedience or rebellion.

What a beautiful statement to the faithful in particular. "Lo I am with you even unto the end of the world (age)." To every christian the Lord says, "I will never leave thee nor forsake thee.", but the Lord is in fellowship with the obedient and not with the disobedient. So the most powerful Being in the whole universe is with us to the end of the days. Let it be fellowship with the Lord rather than be disciplined by Him.

Let us look at the compromise mentioned above. Suppose a christian asks you to participate in a gospel outreach, and he does not agree that baptism by immersion is necessary. What do you do?

The facts are clear. You have two choices

1. You either offend your brother and obey the Lord, or

2. not offend your good brother and not baptise the saved ones.

You may be persuaded not to offend because you may feel that to offend a brother is not a christian attitude. Is this true? Most emphatically not. You have a clear choice, you do not offend your brother who you can see, and you offend the Lord who you cannot see. Else you offend your brother and do not offend the Lord. All this is ludicrous, but unfortunately christians offend the Lord knowingly every day rather than offend a brother. Who died for you? who loves you with an everlasting love? the Lord or your brother? The situation is as simple as that. You will act according to your heart. If your heart is away from the Lord you will find it no problem to offend the lover of your soul. If you are in fellowship with the Lord you will lovingly correct your errant brother, and possibly win him. Let us cleave to the Lord with purpose of heart.

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