That may sound like a shocking question.
After all, many churches treat Matthew 28:19–20 as the marching orders for every believer today:
“Go ye therefore, and teach all nations, baptizing them…”
It’s repeated in mission conferences.
Printed on church walls.
Used to motivate evangelism.
And if you question it, people often assume you’re against soulwinning.
But here’s the real issue:
Are we obeying what Christ is doing today—or are we borrowing instructions from another program?
That question matters.
And the answer requires us to do exactly what Paul told us to do:
“Study to shew thyself approved unto God… rightly dividing the word of truth.”
—2 Timothy 2:15 (KJV)
Right division changes everything.
The so-called Great Commission was given to the twelve apostles.
And notice when it was given:
It was before Israel’s fall.
Before the revelation of the mystery.
Before Paul’s apostleship.
Before the Body of Christ was revealed.
Jesus told the eleven:
“Go ye therefore, and teach all nations, baptizing them…”
—Matthew 28:19
That commission was connected to Israel’s prophetic kingdom program.
Why?
Because during Christ’s earthly ministry, He made His audience very clear:
“I am not sent but unto the lost sheep of the house of Israel.”
—Matthew 15:24
And He told the twelve:
“Go not into the way of the Gentiles…”
—Matthew 10:5
That wasn’t the Body of Christ program.
That was prophecy.
That was Israel.
That was kingdom preparation.
Even in Mark 16, signs followed that commission:
• casting out devils
• speaking with new tongues
• taking up serpents
• drinking deadly things without harm
• miraculous healing
Mark 16:17-18
Be honest:
Is your church doing that?
Most churches say the Great Commission is for today…
while quietly ignoring half of what it actually says.
That’s inconsistency.
Then there’s Luke 24 and Acts 1.
The apostles were still asking:
“Lord, wilt thou at this time restore again the kingdom to Israel?”
—Acts 1:6
Why?
Because they were still functioning within Israel’s prophetic expectation of an earthly kingdom.
They knew nothing about:
• the Body of Christ
• the heavenly calling
• one new man
• Jew and Gentile in one body
• the dispensation of grace
Because those truths were still a mystery.
Then Acts 9 happens.
Everything changes.
The risen Christ saves Saul of Tarsus.
Not to continue the kingdom commission—
but to reveal something hidden.
“For I speak to you Gentiles, inasmuch as I am the apostle of the Gentiles…”
—Romans 11:13
Paul received a distinct ministry.
A distinct message.
A distinct apostleship.
And notice what Paul said:
“For Christ sent me not to baptize, but to preach the gospel…”
—1 Corinthians 1:17
That statement alone should make people stop and think.
How can water baptism be central to our commission if Christ specifically told Paul otherwise?
Because Paul’s ministry is different.
Not contradictory—
Different.
What is our message today?
Not kingdom preparation.
Not water rituals.
Not sign gifts.
Not law performance.
Our message is:
“Christ died for our sins according to the scriptures;
And that he was buried,
And that he rose again the third day according to the scriptures:”
—1 Corinthians 15:3-4
That is the gospel of grace.
Complete.
Finished.
Sufficient.
Our commission today is found in Paul’s epistles:
• Preach reconciliation
• Preach grace
• Preach Christ according to the revelation of the mystery
• Teach believers who they are in Christ
• Build up the saints in sound doctrine
“Now then we are ambassadors for Christ…”
—2 Corinthians 5:20
“According to my gospel…”
—Romans 16:25
This doesn’t make us less evangelistic.
It makes us more accurate.
We still preach Christ.
We still reach souls.
We still send missionaries.
But we do it with the right message for the right dispensation.
When churches mix Peter’s commission with Paul’s ministry, confusion follows:
Law and grace get blended.
Israel and the Body of Christ get merged.
Prophecy and mystery get confused.
And believers lose clarity.
Friend, God is not asking you to imitate the twelve.
He is asking you to understand what He is doing today.
You are not kingdom apostles.
You are members of the Body of Christ.
You are seated in heavenly places.
You are ambassadors of grace.
And your message is gloriously simple:
Trust Christ’s finished work alone.
Rightly divide your Bible.
Preach Paul’s gospel.
Stand fast in grace.
And preach Jesus Christ according to the revelation of the mystery.
