02 The Great Commission Refocused (Matthew 28)

On Saturday, October 19, 2024, Dr. Alan Strange delivered the second of three lectures, "The Great Commission Refocused" featuring Matthew 28. Summary: Christ calls us to preach the gospel to all people groups with the promise of his abiding presence, even though people naturally reject him, as did the religious leaders of his time. Outline: We need to keep our spiritual focus and not become distracted by the flesh. I. A survey of the history of the doctrine of the work of the Holy Spirit. A. The early Church grasped the doctrine of the person of the Holy Spirit. 1. Even as it did the doctrine of the person of Christ. 2. The work of Christ awaiting medieval development in Anselm's Cur Deus Homo. B. Similarly, the doctrine of the work of the Holy Spirit awaiting development 1. It did not receive such, as did the doctrine of the work of Christ, in the Middle Ages. 2. It awaited Calvin and other Reformers who properly developed the doctrine of the work of the Holy Spirit. II. Matthew 28 helps us keep our spiritual focus A. The broader context demonstrates the necessity of the work of the Spirit not only in evangelism but in apologetics. 1. Seen in the absurd counter-story: such a story was concocted not because of a lack of evidence but because of the need for a new heart to receive Christ. 2. We need such Spirit-indicted work to believe (v. 17) B. It is ours because the resurrected Christ is with us to the end of the age, always empowering us. 1. He does this by the work of his Holy Spirit. 2. The Spirit who brings us to Christ and Christ to us. 3. Who makes Christ powerfully present among us in the means of grace.