In accordance with both vernacular language and biblical language, it appeared to me that the term nation both in the Old Testament and the New Testament is identified as a people with at least three common characteristics (a common border, a common language, and a common religion).  The original text in the Great Commission is transliterated “disciple all nations.”  We are commissioned to make disciples of not just the elect among the nations, but of the nations themselves which includes God’s elect.  That’s quite a different understanding of the biblical text.

For years I was taught that the Great Commission (Matt. 28: 19-20) would be fulfilled when a few of God’s elect were added to the church from all nations, and then after a slow moral decline in this world, Jesus would return and rescue me from this place of disaster and decay. I was taught this in both church and in seminary.  I’ve lived my life listening to sermons filled with this line of thinking. Why strive for excellence if it is all downhill from here, and Jesus may be coming back tomorrow?

I thought to myself, “No wonder there are so many sad faces in the church.  No wonder so many young people have left the church. No wonder the singing sounds like a funeral procession.”

On my own, apart from reading theological books, I decided one day to look again at the Great Commission, paying special attention to the word “nations.”  The way the Great Commission had been interpreted for me most all my life did not make sense anymore with the biblical text.  Sometimes we get in a rut, and just trust others merely out of respect.  Our eyes can be blinded by godly people.

Jesus told his disciples to “make disciples of all the nations (NASV),” and this has inevitably been interpreted by most Calvinists as “a few elect from all the nations.” Or, they interpret it as “a few elect of every nation” who will become part of the visible church.  Calvinists tend to view all texts through the lens of the doctrine of election, so I can’t necessarily fault them for this.  However, when I traced the word “nation” throughout the Bible, I came to a totally different conclusion about the Great Commission.  It is much greater than what I had been taught. Many preachers and seminary professors have robbed me of much joy.

What seemed strange to me was the meaning of the word “nations.” I had been raised, as most others, to think of nations in terms of entities like Japan, Germany, Canada, Argentina, Mexico, etc.  So, just from the modern use of the word, the interpretation of the text did not parallel the common understanding of what a nation is.  Looking at the Old Testament from which Jesus would have taken his concept of a nation, I noticed that the term was still associated with entities like Egypt, Assyria, Babylon, Canaanites, and even Israel.

In the New Testament when Peter preached on the Day of Pentecost, he mentions the presence of “devout men from every nation under heaven… (Acts 2:5).”  He goes on to list many of the nations including the Parthians, Medes, Elamites, and Egyptians. Important too is the fact that Luke also identifies each nation by a particular and unique language “to which we were born.”

In Acts 17: 26, Paul defines a nation in terms of borders (“appointed times and boundaries of their habitation”).  Paul tells the listeners that they must turn from worshipping false gods and worship the one true God who has revealed himself in the “Man whom he has appointed” i.e. Jesus Christ.  Every nation has a prominent religion or God whom they revere. Paul’s goal was to turn idolaters from their false gods to Christ. There needed to be a change of religions in each nation.

Thus, in accordance with both vernacular language and biblical language, it appeared to me that the term nation both in the Old Testament and the New Testament is identified as a people with at least three common characteristics (a common border, a common language, and a common religion).  The original text in the Great Commission is transliterated “disciple all nations.”  We are commissioned to make disciples of not just the elect among the nations, but of the nations themselves which includes God’s elect.  That’s quite a different understanding of the biblical text.

Peter speaks of the church as a “holy nation” (1 Peter 2:9), but as the Apostle to the Jews, he was writing to the diaspora Jews converted to Christ. In other words, he was writing to Christian Jews, who at that time did not have a common border, although they had a common religion (Christianity) and a common language.  He was writing to a new Christian nation made up of Jews.  Thus, the errant concept of the modern church as a nation must not replace the biblical definition of a nation.

Someone might ask how do you baptize all nations.  My answer to that is very simple.  “All Israel is not of Israel (Rms 9:6).”  Here the Calvinistic doctrine of election is important.  Not everyone in all nations will be converted (although they could be), but such a majority of every nation will be converted and baptized that we can speak of their nation as God always spoke of the whole nation of Israel “as my people,” a holy nation.

Thus, I concluded that the term nation included more than a few elect from every nation, or a concept limited to the church, but it was defined as a corporate people with a common border, a common language, a common religion, and even common ancestors (the word nation comes from the Latin word “birth” as in the word “nativity”).  Common customs, traditions, lore, habits, etc. also make up a biblical nation.

In America, we have redefined the word nation to mean “ethnicity.”  We have trashed the old definition and created a new term to justify who we are, or who we are trying to be.  Christians, Islam, Buddhism, Judaism—we can all live together in one nation.  Religious pluralism (or Religious Liberty) is now sacred.  The only problem is that this contradicts both the historical and biblical notion of the word nation.  It is the attempt to create a democratic utopia, just like the Tower of Babel.  America, under this definition is destined to fail. We are beginning to see this with all the racial tension and rioting in the streets.

Now, here is what personally upset me. Contrary to what I was taught, the truth is that some day before Christ comes again, all the nations (like Japan, Russia, Egypt, Argentina, etc.) will be made disciples of Christ.  The last enemy to be conquered is death before which Jesus will deliver up to his Father the Kingdom when “he has abolished all rule and authority and power” opposed to him on earth (1 Cor. 15: 23-26).

God’s people will have the privilege of teaching the nations the forgiveness of sins in Christ, and the laws of God as the only way to structure their nation. This is the only way to guarantee freedom and liberty in any society. It is called a Christian Nation. We teach our children this and tell them to go as salt in a world which is to be conquered by Christ.  This gives them real purpose.  Jesus is going to win on this earth and we belong to Him!

In the Great Commission, Jesus guarantees that this will happen.  All authority has been given unto him, and thus we must “go.”  Regardless of what we see today, Jesus’ word never fails.  He sits on His throne and none shall void his word.

Thus, I was delivered from my own despair after hearing so many sermons where Jesus was only a victor over my spiritual life, or he was only King over the church.  I do care about this earth, my children, and my great-grandchildren, even unto a thousand generations.  All the nations must be conquered in Christ beginning with the preaching of the gospel.

I pray in the Lord’s prayer that God’s Kingdom will come and that as a result that his will will be done on earth as it is in heaven.  This may not fully happen until after my death, but I and my decedents have an important part to play in it now.  Every thought in every area of life must be brought into subjection to Christ (2 Cor. 10:5).

Now, the Great Commission is more exciting than it ever was before!  I was not told this by others whom I respected.  That’s why I feel cheated and I am upset.

Larry E. Ball is a retired minister in the Presbyterian Church in America and is now a CPA. He lives in Kingsport, Tenn.