Mark 16:15-18

Mark 16:15-18

1. We ought to notice the parting commission which our Lord gives to His apostles.
2. We ought to notice the terms which our Lord tells us should be offered to all who hear the Gospel.
3. We ought to notice the gracious promises of special help which our Lord holds out in His parting words to His apostles.

"We are not justified in making any exception in the proclamation. We have no warrant for limiting the offer to the elect. We come short of the fullness of Christ's words, and take away from the breadth of His sayings, if we shrink from telling any one, "God is full of love to you, Christ is willing to save you." "Whoever will, let him take the water of life freely." (Rev. 22:17.)

"Except we feel our sins, and feeling them flee to Christ by faith, and lay hold on Him, we shall find at length we had better never have been born."

"Finally, let us never forget, that Christ's believing Church in the world is of itself a standing miracle. The conversion and perseverance in grace of every member of that Church, is a sign and wonder, as great as the raising of Lazarus from the dead."

Questions:

1. Is this command to proclaim the gospel freely to all evident in our lives? Do we see this as optional or as a command of love from our gracious Savior?

2. Have we only received baptism by water or the very thing that water baptism points to, namely, the baptism of the Holy Spirit? Was our baptism just ceremonial, or did it point to an inward reality of turning from sin and toward God?

3. Do we believe in the reality of hell? Does it cause us to cling more to Christ, and does it cause us to proclaim the good news of salvation in Christ alone all the more?

4. Whether we agree or not with Ryle’s view of gifts, do we not believe that the church is a miracle in and of itself? Even this coming Sunday, would we not look around and remember God’s great work in gathering a people for himself and worship Him?