How do preachers or teachers explain this?

[Dino246]

The Lord would not command His chosen people to go into the literal world,

You reject the plain word of God. That's foolish.

because if He meant the physical world, many of His chosen ones who live in poverty would be unable to fulfill His command due to a lack of financial resources.
How could they afford to do so?

He is the God Who Provides (Genesis 22:14). If He calls someone to "go into all the world", He will provide for them to do so. You inadvertently demonstrate your literal reading of the text and don't apply lessons from the rest of Scripture.

How could the Lord have commanded this, when He Himself ministered only in Israel and did not travel throughout the whole world?

You filter the plain text through your made-up ideas instead of letting the text form your ideas. You reject the plain text in favour of a "Jesus" of your own invention. You reject the idea that His followers would do greater works than He did.

Remember, before the Lord Jesus (in His role as God the Father) commanded His chosen ones, He had already fulfilled it Himself (in His role as the living Son of God). Therefore, His disciples had no objection to what He said.

Given that "God the Father" is an identity and not a role, and that Jesus is not the Father, your comment is meaningless.

That is why the Lord revealed to His chosen one the true meaning of the "world" He was referring to.
To people, the world means the Earth, but to God, the world refers to humanity.

You seem to think this is some profound revelation. I've known this for well over 30 years. Every mature Christian I know understands that Jesus means "go and preach the gospel to all people".

Therefore, His command, "Go into all the world and preach the gospel to every creature," means, "Go into the people and preach the gospel to every creature."

Well... that was redundant.

 

[Godsgood]

Well, take the apostle Paul. We read that he was a tentmaker. That was his secular job:

(Act 18:1-3 NKJV) After these things Paul departed from Athens and went to Corinth. And he found a certain Jew named Aquila, born in Pontus, who had recently come from Italy with his wife Priscilla (because Claudius had commanded all the Jews to depart from Rome); and he came to them. So, because he was of the same trade, he stayed with them and worked; for by occupation they were tentmakers.

Also, some of the churches he visited supported him. For example:

(2Co 11:9 NKJV) And when I was present with you, and in need, I was a burden to no one, for what I lacked the brethren who came from Macedonia supplied. And in everything I kept myself from being burdensome to you, and so I will keep myself.


The fact that He Himself didn't go beyond His own country was no barier to Him commanding His followers to go into all the world.

So are you saying that Paul, Silas, Timothy, Luke, Barnabas and others were being disobedient when they took the gospel to people beyond the borders of Judea/Israel?

Well, take the apostle Paul. We read that he was a tentmaker. That was his secular job:

I'm glad you brought this up. The Apostle Paul took the Lord Jesus as his model, just as stated in 1 Peter 2:21. As one chosen by God, he did not ask people for money Acts 20:33. Instead, he faithfully carried out God's will.
This stands in contrast to what we see today with some who claim to be disciples of the Lord Jesus.
They are full-time preachers and have no secular profession, so they ask people for financial support.



So are you saying that Paul, Silas, Timothy, Luke, Barnabas and others were being disobedient when they took the gospel to people beyond the borders of Judea/Israel?

True servants chosen by God can certainly do that. When they have the opportunity to travel to different parts of the world, they can share the truth with the people they meet, because this is God's commission to them, as stated in Mark 16:15: "Go into all the people (not the literal world), and preach the gospel to every creature." However, this should not be understood literally to mean that every believer must travel throughout the entire world. Rather, the command is to proclaim the gospel to people wherever God gives them the opportunity.
Therefore, Paul, Silas, Timothy, Luke, Barnabas, and the others you mentioned were fulfilling God's commission as revealed in Mark 16:15. They were not carrying out what you understand to mean the literal physical world. Rather, they preached the gospel to the people wherever God led them and gave them the opportunity to do so.

Therefore, we who have been chosen by God in our generation have also accepted, from the time we came to know the one true God, that He speaks in parables. We follow the example of the Lord's disciples when He said, "Destroy this temple." The Jews, who did not recognize the one true God who was among them, understood Him to be referring to the literal temple.
But to His disciples, He revealed that the temple was His body.

In the same way, we understand Mark 16:15. Those who do not know the one true God, like the Jews of that time, insist that the Lord was referring to the literal world.
But we, having come to know the one true God, sought His mercy because we believe that the "world" He referred to is parable or dark saying of old. He revealed to us that the "world" means people.

 

[Godsgood]

I would say that we should take the words of Scripture literally unless there is good reason not to do so (as for example when we read of Jesus saying that He is a door.) The first disciples clearly didn't understand Jesus to mean that each one of them individually had to travel to every country in the world to spread the gospel; some of them remained in their own country and preached the gospel there. It is the same with Christians in 2026. Not all of us are called to go to other countries, and none of us individually is called to visit every single country in the world with the gospel. Nevertheless, the gospel is to be taken into all the world.

A commandment is a commandment. God's commandments are for everyone, and they are meant to be obeyed by all. For if you fail to keep even one commandment, you are guilty of breaking them all.
JAMES 2:10
10 For whosoever shall keep the whole law, and yet offend in one point, he is guilty of all.

 

[Godsgood]

The verse I meant where Jesus asked which of His hearers could convict Him of sin is this one:

(Joh 8:46) Which of you convicts Me of sin? And if I tell the truth, why do you not believe Me?

Not one of His hearers answered, "Yes, I can convict You of sin. I saw You doing such-and-such."

I don't see this as Jesus challenging them.

In John 8:46, He is referring to sin that can be seen outwardly, sin in one's physical life and conduct.
His point is that although the Jews could find no visible sin in Him, they still refused to believe Him.

Pontius Pilate likewise acknowledged this when he examined the Lord and found no fault in Him.
JOHN 18:38
38 Pilate saith unto him, What is truth? And when he had said this, he went out again unto the Jews, and saith unto them, I find in him no fault at all.

However, when it comes to the spiritual life or matters concerning heaven, the Lord Jesus would never contradict what He revealed to the Apostle Paul.
ROMANS 3:10
10 As it is written, There is none righteous, no, not one:

 

[Godsgood]

In His role as God the Father? Yet He said:

(Joh 15:26 NKJV) "But when the Helper comes, whom I shall send to you from the Father, the Spirit of truth who proceeds from the Father, He will testify of Me.

(Joh 16:28 NKJV) I came forth from the Father and have come into the world. Again, I leave the world and go to the Father."

(Joh 5:26 NKJV) For as the Father has life in Himself, so He has granted the Son to have life in Himself,

Where do we read of Jesus Christ having the role of God the Father?

Where do we read of Jesus Christ having the role of God the Father?

There are revelations from God that are no longer written in the text of Scripture.
He reveals this only to His chosen ones.
JOHN 20:30
30 And many other signs truly did Jesus in the presence of his disciples, which are not written in this book:

And regarding God's revelation, what would you say is God's revelation here? For example, how would you reconcile this?
It is true that the Lord Jesus is the Savior. However, God the Father said, He alone is the Savior, and there is no other.
ISAIAH 43:11
11 I, even I, am the Lord; and beside me there is no saviour.

 

[Godsgood]

Have you never read the book of Acts?

Could you please complete your question?
And please specify what you are referring to.

 

[DavidLamb]

A commandment is a commandment. God's commandments are for everyone, and they are meant to be obeyed by all. For if you fail to keep even one commandment, you are guilty of breaking them all.
JAMES 2:10
10 For whosoever shall keep the whole law, and yet offend in one point, he is guilty of all.

Yes, Christians are to go into all the world. That doesn't mean that every individual Christian must go into every country in the world. The first disciples clearly realised that Jesus didn't mean that. Even Paul, probably the one who travelled most in spreading the gospel, did not go to every country in the world - he never went to France, Britain, Iceland or Australia, fore example. Luke puts it like this:

(Luk 24:46-47 NKJV) Then He said to them, "Thus it is written, and thus it was necessary for the Christ to suffer and to rise from the dead the third day, and that repentance and remission of sins should be preached in His name to all nations, beginning at Jerusalem.

All nations. That is how the gospel reached the UK where I live, and the Philippines, where, I see from your profile, you are.

 

[DavidLamb]

I don't see this as Jesus challenging them.

In John 8:46, He is referring to sin that can be seen outwardly, sin in one's physical life and conduct.
His point is that although the Jews could find no visible sin in Him, they still refused to believe Him.

Pontius Pilate likewise acknowledged this when he examined the Lord and found no fault in Him.
JOHN 18:38
38 Pilate saith unto him, What is truth? And when he had said this, he went out again unto the Jews, and saith unto them, I find in him no fault at all.

However, when it comes to the spiritual life or matters concerning heaven, the Lord Jesus would never contradict what He revealed to the Apostle Paul.
ROMANS 3:10
10 As it is written, There is none righteous, no, not one:

So are you saying that Jesus Christ is a sinner? If He is, He needs saving Himself, and cannot save you and me.

 

[DavidLamb]

Where do we read of Jesus Christ having the role of God the Father?

There are revelations from God that are no longer written in the text of Scripture.
He reveals this only to His chosen ones.
JOHN 20:30
30 And many other signs truly did Jesus in the presence of his disciples, which are not written in this book:

And regarding God's revelation, what would you say is God's revelation here? For example, how would you reconcile this?
It is true that the Lord Jesus is the Savior. However, God the Father said, He alone is the Savior, and there is no other.
ISAIAH 43:11
11 I, even I, am the Lord; and beside me there is no saviour.

So are you claiming to have a revelation from God that does not come from Scripture? Indeed, if you are claiming (as you seem to be doing) that God has revealed to you that Jesus Christ is God the Father, that goes against what Jesus Himself said about being sent by the Father, and Jesus praying to His Father.

 

[DavidLamb]

Could you please complete your question?
And please specify what you are referring to.

I think he was referring to the fact that in Acts, we read of the apostles and other Christians travelling far and wide to preach the gospel. Granted, they didn't visit every country, but they visited the countries in their region of the world, then others took the gospel on to other places.

 

[Godsgood]

So are you saying that Jesus Christ is a sinner? If He is, He needs saving Himself, and cannot save you and me.

There is a difference between saying that Jesus was without sin and saying that Jesus was not accepted as being good.

He did not sin, So that He could perfectly demonstrate what it means to be a true child of God. (1 Peter 2:21).

He did not accept the idea that He was good (Luke 18:18). Because as the model to be followed, people must see that they themselves are not good so that they may seek God's mercy.

I do not know if you are able to understand this.
If not, it means that God has not given you understanding of His words (Prov 2:6).

However, the lost sheep will begin to reflect on this.

You will only understand this when you come to know the one true God.

 

[Godsgood]

So are you claiming to have a revelation from God that does not come from Scripture? Indeed, if you are claiming (as you seem to be doing) that God has revealed to you that Jesus Christ is God the Father, that goes against what Jesus Himself said about being sent by the Father, and Jesus praying to His Father.

If you cannot reconcile this, it is proof that the one true God has not yet revealed Himself to you.

Because if you truly know the one true God, He will reveal the truth to you. I repeat, what is God's revelation to you in this matter?

And regarding God's revelation, what would you say is God's revelation here? For example, how would you reconcile this?
It is true that the Lord Jesus is the Savior. However, God the Father said, He alone is the Savior, and there is no other.
ISAIAH 43:11
11 I, even I, am the Lord; and beside me there is no saviour.

 

[Godsgood]

I think he was referring to the fact that in Acts, we read of the apostles and other Christians travelling far and wide to preach the gospel. Granted, they didn't visit every country, but they visited the countries in their region of the world, then others took the gospel on to other places.

It seems to be the same as what you said, and I shared with you what was revealed by God. Am I correct?

 

[DavidLamb]

There is a difference between saying that Jesus was without sin and saying that Jesus was not accepted as being good.

He did not sin, So that He could perfectly demonstrate what it means to be a true child of God. (1 Peter 2:21).

He did not accept the idea that He was good (Luke 18:18). Because as the model to be followed, people must see that they themselves are not good so that they may seek God's mercy.

I do not know if you are able to understand this.
If not, it means that God has not given you understanding of His words (Prov 2:6).

However, the lost sheep will begin to reflect on this.

You will only understand this when you come to know the one true God.

I assure you that I do know the one true God. I do not understand how you can say that being sinless is not the same as being good. It would be nonsenses to say that Jesus Christ is sinless, but sometimes did not do good, but evil. Doing evil (the opposite of good) is sin.

 

[DavidLamb]

If you cannot reconcile this, it is proof that the one true God has not yet revealed Himself to you.

Because if you truly know the one true God, He will reveal the truth to you. I repeat, what is God's revelation to you in this matter?

And regarding God's revelation, what would you say is God's revelation here? For example, how would you reconcile this?
It is true that the Lord Jesus is the Savior. However, God the Father said, He alone is the Savior, and there is no other.
ISAIAH 43:11
11 I, even I, am the Lord; and beside me there is no saviour.

I am sure that most genuine Christians, who by His grace have come to know and believe on the Saviour, would find your notion that God has revealed things to you that are not in the Bible as dangerous.

As to how I reconcile those two verses, the Scriptures show us that the Father is God, the Son is God and the Holy Spirit is God - one God in three "Persons." So I see no problem in God saying in Isaiah 43:11 that besides Him there is no Saviour, and the New Testament speaking of the Lord Jesus Christ as Saviour.

 

[Godsgood]

So are you claiming to have a revelation from God that does not come from Scripture? Indeed, if you are claiming (as you seem to be doing) that God has revealed to you that Jesus Christ is God the Father, that goes against what Jesus Himself said about being sent by the Father, and Jesus praying to His Father.

That is not impossible. The truth is that there are many revelations from God concerning the truth in His words that the Lord did not have written down. Therefore, they are revealed only to His chosen ones.
JOHN 21:25
25 And there are also many other things which Jesus did, the which, if they should be written every one, I suppose that even the world itself could not contain the books that should be written. Amen.

And because of that, no matter what kind or how long a person's study may be, they will not arrive at the truth.
2 TIMOTHY 3:7
7 Ever learning, and never able to come to the knowledge of the truth.


God has revealed to you that Jesus Christ is God the Father, that goes against what Jesus Himself said about being sent by the Father, and Jesus praying to His Father.

Not only that. There are many passages about this. There are instances where He called upon the Father, gave thanks to the Father, asked the Father for things, and many more.

If you are serious about knowing the truth about this matter, I can share it with you.

 

[DavidLamb]

It seems to be the same as what you said, and I shared with you what was revealed by God. Am I correct?

Was it revealed through His word, the Bible, or are you claiming special revelation apart from the Bible? In the Bible we read:

(2Ti 3:14-17 NKJV) But you must continue in the things which you have learned and been assured of, knowing from whom you have learned them, and that from childhood you have known the Holy Scriptures, which are able to make you wise for salvation through faith which is in Christ Jesus. All Scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness, that the man of God may be complete, thoroughly equipped for every good work.

No suggestion that Timothy should expect revelations outside Scripture to make him "complete, thoroughly equipped for every good work."

When Jesus spoke with the two disciples on the road to Emmaus, He taught them from the Scriptures:

(Luk 24:27 NKJV) And beginning at Moses and all the Prophets, He expounded to them in all the Scriptures the things concerning Himself.

 

[Godsgood]

I am sure that most genuine Christians, who by His grace have come to know and believe on the Saviour, would find your notion that God has revealed things to you that are not in the Bible as dangerous.

As to how I reconcile those two verses, the Scriptures show us that the Father is God, the Son is God and the Holy Spirit is God - one God in three "Persons." So I see no problem in God saying in Isaiah 43:11 that besides Him there is no Saviour, and the New Testament speaking of the Lord Jesus Christ as Saviour.

Regarding your statement that the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit are all equally God, how do you reconcile that with what the Father said: that there was no God formed before Him and no God formed after Him, and that He alone is the one true Lord?
ISAIAH 43:10-11
10 Ye are my witnesses, saith the Lord, and my servant whom I have chosen: that ye may know and believe me, and understand that I am he: before me there was no God formed, neither shall there be after me.
11 I, even I, am the Lord; and beside me there is no saviour.

 

[DavidLamb]

Regarding your statement that the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit are all equally God, how do you reconcile that with what the Father said: that there was no God formed before Him and no God formed after Him, and that He alone is the one true Lord?
ISAIAH 43:10-11
10 Ye are my witnesses, saith the Lord, and my servant whom I have chosen: that ye may know and believe me, and understand that I am he: before me there was no God formed, neither shall there be after me.
11 I, even I, am the Lord; and beside me there is no saviour.

Does the Scripture say that only God the Father said those words recorded in Isaiah 43?

What about Creation? We read in Genesis 1 that the Spirit of God was hovering over the face of the waters (Genesis 1:2), and in John 1:1-3 we see that Jesus Christ was there at Creation too:

(Joh 1:1-3 NKJV) In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. He was in the beginning with God.
All things were made through Him, and without Him nothing was made that was made.

We can see from John 1:14 that "the Word" is Jesus Christ:

(Joh 1:14 NKJV) And the Word became flesh and dwelt among us, and we beheld His glory, the glory as of the only begotten of the Father, full of grace and truth.

 

[Godsgood]

Was it revealed through His word, the Bible, or are you claiming special revelation apart from the Bible? In the Bible we read:

(2Ti 3:14-17 NKJV) But you must continue in the things which you have learned and been assured of, knowing from whom you have learned them, and that from childhood you have known the Holy Scriptures, which are able to make you wise for salvation through faith which is in Christ Jesus. All Scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness, that the man of God may be complete, thoroughly equipped for every good work.

No suggestion that Timothy should expect revelations outside Scripture to make him "complete, thoroughly equipped for every good work."

When Jesus spoke with the two disciples on the road to Emmaus, He taught them from the Scriptures:

(Luk 24:27 NKJV) And beginning at Moses and all the Prophets, He expounded to them in all the Scriptures the things concerning Himself.

Was it revealed through His word, the Bible, or are you claiming special revelation apart from the Bible? In the Bible we read:


If it were true that through studying the written Scriptures people could already know God’s revelation of the truth in His words, then wouldn’t the different groups within Christianity have already come to the same understanding and recognition of the Lord Jesus?

Is this something you read in Scripture?
In the beginning, God was alone, and He saw that it was not good for Him to be alone. Therefore, He established His kingdom, which would be made up of souls who would believe in Him. This is how He has sought, throughout every generation, those who are worthy to be with Him in eternal life. They are the ones who humble themselves before Him, and that is why God Himself reveals Himself to each one of them.

Therefore, while they are still here on earth, they already know the one true God. They alone can be with Him in the kingdom He is establishing. Those who do not know the one true God, even though they use the word of God, will not be worthy to be with God in eternal life. That is why He commanded His chosen ones to carry out the testing mentioned in 1 John 4:2–3 and Revelation 4:2.

That is why I am looking for them here, as an act of obedience to God's command through the prescribed tests He instructed.