Page 3: But before we can begin in earnest, we must point out the foundations of the Great Commission. The ultimate foundation stones are two: creation and covenant. I will deal with relevant matters drawn from creation and covenant in the first two chapters below.
Correction: The ultimate foundation stone is our love for Jesus Christ.
John 21:15-17 So when they had eaten breakfast, Jesus said to Simon Peter, "Simon, son of Jonah, do you love Me more than these?" He said to Him, "Yes, Lord; You know that I love You." He said to him, "Feed My lambs." He said to him again a second time, "Simon, son of Jonah, do you love Me?" He said to Him, "Yes, Lord; You know that I love You." He said to him, "Tend My sheep." He said to him the third time, "Simon, son of Jonah, do you love Me?" Peter was grieved because He said to him the third time, "Do you love Me?" And he said to Him, "Lord, You know all things; You know that I love You." Jesus said to him, "Feed My sheep.
Page 7: The Christian faith is concerned with the material world, the here and now. The Christian interest in the material here and now is evident in that: (1) God created the earth and man's body as material entities, and all "very good." (2) Christ came in the flesh to redeem man. (3) His Word directs us in how to live in the present, material world. (4) God intends for us to remain on the earth for our fleshly sojourn, and does not remove us upon our being saved by His grace. As is obvious from these four observations, we have a genuine concern with the here and now.
Note: Kenneth Gentry is confused about the material and spiritual worlds.
Page 11: Because of the work of Christ, a "new creation" has begun; there are several verses that speak of salvation as a new creation. The old creation involves the material world in which we live; the new creation involves the spiritual world, which governs the life we live as saved creatures.
Note: True Christians will be doing in the here and now looking forward to the then and there.
Ephesians 1:3-6 Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who has blessed us with every spiritual blessing in the heavenly places in Christ, just as He chose us in Him before the foundation of the world, that we should be holy and without blame before Him in love, having predestined us to adoption as sons by Jesus Christ to Himself, according to the good pleasure of His will, to the praise of the glory of His grace, by which He has made us accepted in the Beloved.
Page 11: The New Creation Mandate, too, occurs at the climax of divine labor. It was given at the completion of Christ's work in securing man's redemption, not long after He declared, "It is finished" (John 19:30). His statement in the Greek is tetelestai, which is based on the root word teleo, the same root found in the statement in Genesis 2:2.
Note: Genesis was written in Hebrew while John was written in Greek, two different languages.
Page 13: The New Creation Mandate, which supplements, undergirds, and restores man ethically to the righteous task of the Creation Mandate, was to begin at Jerusalem (Luke 24:47) and gradually to extend throughout the world (Matt. 28:19).
Correction: The Great Commission is about Jesus Christ not creation dominion.
Luke 24:46-48 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."
Page 13: It is clear from the New Testament that the few original disciples, though initially intimidated by the resistance to Christ from their native countrymen, eventually overcame their cowardly hesitance. Upon witnessing the resurrection of Christ, they became convinced of the power of God. They received the command to "disciple all nations" on the basis of "all authority in heaven and on earth." They accepted the obligation to preach the gospel to "every creature" (Mark 16:15).
Correction: True Christians are filled by the Holy Spirit thereby losing cowardly hesitance.
Luke 24:49 "Behold, I send the Promise of My Father upon you; but tarry in the city of Jerusalem until you are endued with power from on high."
Page 14: Man lives up to His creational purpose as He exercises righteous dominion in the earth. God has implanted within man the drive to dominion. The entrance of sin, however, perverted godly dominion into a desire to "be like God." (Gen. 3:5)
Correction: True Christians are filled with the Holy Spirit to be witnesses for Jesus Christ.
Acts 4:31 And when they had prayed, the place where they were assembled together was shaken; and they were all filled with the Holy Spirit, and they spoke the word of God with boldness.