The Great Commission

compiled from the writings of Ellen G. White by Frank Klin

The value of the cross of Calvary can only be seen and estimated by men and women who
love God supremely and their neighbor as themselves. Just as far as we enter into the spirit of
Christ's ministry, so far shall we be able to fathom the depths of his love. If we are imbued with
his Spirit, we shall find greater and still greater incentives to love as he loved. We shall no longer
live for selfish purposes. The words of Paul will be true in us. "I live," he writes, "yet not I, but
Christ liveth in me: and the life which I now live in the flesh I live by the faith of the Son of God,
who loved me, and gave himself for me." The whole work of grace is one continual service of
love, of self-denying, self-sacrificing effort. "The Son of man came not to be ministered unto, but
to minister, and to give his life a ransom for many." And when Christ lives in us, we shall minister
to others for his sake. (1)

It was Christ's joy to help those in need of help, to seek the lost, to rescue the perishing, to lift
up the bowed down, to heal the sick, to speak words of sympathy and consolation to the
sorrowing and the distressed. The more fully we are imbued with his Spirit, the more earnestly we
shall work for those around us; and the more we do for others, the greater will be our love for the
work, and the greater our delight in following the Master. Our hearts will be filled with the love of
God; and with earnestness and convincing power we shall speak of the crucified Saviour. (2)

Good works do not purchase the love of God, but they reveal that we possess that love. By
our words and our works we reveal to the world, to angels, and to men whether we believe in
Christ as a personal Saviour. If we surrender our way and will to God, we shall not work for God's
love; we shall obey the commandments of God because it is right to do this. The disciple John
writes, "We love him, because he first loved us." The true spiritual life will be revealed in every
soul who is doing service for Christ. Those who are alive to Christ are imbued with his Spirit, and
they cannot help working in his vineyard. They work the works of God. Let every soul think
prayerfully, that he may act consistently. (3)

As a people, and as individuals, our success depends, not on numbers, on standing, nor on
intellectual attainments, but on walking and working with Christ. The more fully we are imbued
with his Spirit, the greater will be our love for the work, and the greater our delight in following in
the footsteps of the Master. Our hearts will be filled with the love of God; and with earnestness
and power we shall speak of the crucified Saviour. And as he is uplifted before the people, as
they behold his self-sacrifice, his goodness, his tender compassion, his humiliation, and his
suffering, their hearts will be melted and subdued, and they will be won to his cause. (4)

The Lord will have all who receive his grace, believe and trust him that justifieth the ungodly.
With implicit trust we are to stay upon God, and let the heart rest in him without a question as to
what is to be our measure of reward. The Saviour presents before us the scene of the last
judgment when the reward is given to those upon his right hand, and the sentence of
condemnation to those upon his left hand. The righteous are represented as wondering what they
have done for which they are to be so liberally rewarded. They had had the abiding presence of
Christ in their hearts; they had been imbued with his Spirit, and without conscious effort on their
part; they had been serving Christ in the person of his saints, and had thereby gained the sure
reward. But they had not had in view the reward they were to receive, and the expectation of it
had been no part of the motive that had actuated their service. What they did was done from love
to Christ and to their fellow-men, and Christ identifies himself with suffering humanity, and
accounts that all deeds done in sympathy and compassion and love to men, are done to him. (5)

The Saviour has given His precious life in order to establish a church capable of ministering to
the suffering, the sorrowful, and the tempted. A company of believers may be poor, uneducated,
and unknown; yet in Christ they may do a work in the home, in the community, and even in "the
regions beyond," whose results shall be as far-reaching as eternity. (6)

To Christ's followers today, no less than to the first disciples, these words are spoken:
"All power is given unto Me in heaven and in earth. Go ye therefore, and teach all nations." "Go
ye into all the world, and preach the gospel to every creature." Matthew 28:18, 19; Mark 16:15. (7)

And for us also is the promise of His presence, "Lo, I am with you alway, even unto the end of
the world." Matthew 28:20. (8)

Today no curious multitudes flock to the desert places to see and hear the Christ. His voice is
not heard in the busy streets. No cry sounds from the wayside, "Jesus of Nazareth passeth by."
Luke 18:37. Yet this word is true today. Christ walks unseen through our streets. With messages
of mercy He comes to our homes. With all who are seeking to minister in His name, He waits to
co-operate. He is in the midst of us, to heal and to bless, if we will receive Him. (9)

"Thus saith Jehovah, In an acceptable time have I answered thee, and in a day of salvation
have I helped thee; and I will preserve thee, and give thee for a covenant of the people, to raise
up the land, to make them inherit the desolate heritages; saying to them that are bound, Go forth;
to them that are in darkness, Show yourselves."

"How beautiful upon the mountains are the feet of him that
bringeth good tidings, that publisheth peace;
That bringeth good tidings of good, that publisheth salvation;
That saith unto Zion, Thy God reigneth!"
Isaiah 49:8, 9, A.R.V.; 52:7.

"Break forth into joy, sing together, ye waste places:. . .

For the Lord hath comforted His people. . . .
The Lord hath made bare His holy arm
In the eyes of all the nations;
And all the ends of the earth
Shall see the salvation of our God."
Verses 9, 10. (10)

1- Youth Instructor, December 23, 1897 par. 4

2- Review and Herald, January 27, 1903 par. 1
3- Youth Instructor, April 26, 1900 par. 3
4- Review and Herald, April 29, 1909 par. 16
5- Review and Herald, July 3, 1894 par. 5
6- Ministry of Healing, 1905, 106 par.4
7- Ibid, 106, par. 5-6
8- Ibid, 107, par. 1
9- Ibid, 107, par. 2
10- Ibid, 107, par. 3