You are all familiar with this translation of Matthew 28:19-20
“Therefore go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit and teaching them to obey everything I have commanded you.”
Here is a more literal translation:
“Therefore, [while] going, make disciples of all people, by baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, [and] by teaching them to obey everything I have commanded you.”
You’ll notice several differences. What are they? What are the implications of those translation differences?
Implications:
1. Making disciples is part of everyday life – going is assumed – it is part of the life of a Christian – Deut 6:4-9
2. Not a call for more professional missionaries – it is a call to all Christians – whatever station in life – to live a missionary life – Luther’s theology of vocation
3. Everyone is included – not just everyone is to go, but everyone is reached – all races, all ages
4. Disciples are made through baptism
- God causes people to believe through baptism
- fairly recent phenomenon – people rejecting infant baptism – Reformation era Anabaptists (baptize again) – look at every major heavy hitter in the early church and everyone of them affirms infant baptism and tie it back to Jesus’ day
- lets look at the bible and what it says
a. Psalm 51:5 – we are all sinful from birth, babies need salvation too, one way to heaven => believe
b. Titus 3:5-7 – baptismal regeneration, these passages tie together Jesus’ death and resurrection, faith in Jesus, the gift of the Holy Spirit and baptism
c. Romans 6:1-4 -
d. Acts 2:36-39 – Be baptized for the forgiveness of your sins – the promise is for you and your children – infant baptism
e. 1 Peter 3:18-21 – a lot of theologians mess up this passage – they see the word “symbolizes” and they jump to the conclusion that baptism is a symbol – the Greek word is antitupon – antitype – the water that saved Noah and his family is a type of the water that saves us - baptism
f. Acts 9:10-11,17-18, Acts 22:14-16 – Saul (Paul) is given the Holy Spirit through baptism
g. 1 Corinthians 6:9-11 – Jesus’ righteous is a gift given to us through baptism – Luther’s great exchange
h. Galatians 3:26-27 – Jesus’ righteous is a gift given to us through baptism – Luther’s great exchange
i. Ephesians 5:25-26 -
j. Colossians 2:11-12 – The circumcision that God requires is not OT circumcision but circumcision of the heart accomplished through baptism
Some theologians reject baptism because they see it as a work – If it is a work then one should baptize oneself - Ephesians 2:8-9 says that our salvation is not something that we’ve done – it is something that He’s done. Even our faith is not of our doing – He caused it through baptism
Illustration – You have money in the bank – how do you get it out? – check, ATM, debit card – any other way? If you were to show up and say I want my money what would they do? Tell you to get a check, ATM or debit card. That’s the only way to get your money
Same way with God – He has established ways for us to access His grace – His word, Baptism or Lord’s Supper
5. Disciples are made through teaching
- importance of coming to bible study
- 1 Corinthians 12:14 – “Now the body is not made up of one part but of many. If the foot should say, ‘because I am not a hand, I do not belong to the body,’ it would not for that reason cease to be part of the body. And if the ear should say, ‘because I am not an eye, I do not belong to the body,’ it would not for that reason cease to be part of the body.
- You cannot exclude yourself from the body of Christ
- By participating in bible study you not only help yourself but you help to unite and build up the body of Christ
- Had a conversation with a friend who ran across this passage – Psalm 86:11 – “Teach me your way, O Lord, and I will walk in your truth; give me an undivided heart that I may fear your name.” – That’s what getting into God’s word does
5. Be a disciple maker – God has commissioned you by virtue of your baptism to go and make disciples
