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“For where two or three are gathered together in My name, I am there among them.” – Matthew 18:20 (HCSB)
The Great Commission
Matthew 28:16-20 (ESV)
16 Then the eleven disciples went to Galilee, to the mountain where Jesus had told them to go. 17 When they saw him, they worshiped him; but some doubted. 18 Then Jesus came to them and said, “All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me. 19 Therefore go and make disciples of all nations, BAPTIZING (Emphasis Mine) them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, 20 and teaching them to obey everything I have commanded you. And surely I am with you always, to the very end of the age.”
Not to be confused with 911, bapto. The clearest example that shows the meaning of baptizo is a text from the Greek poet and physician Nicander, who lived about 200 B.C. It is a recipe for making pickles and is helpful because it uses both words. Nicander says that in order to make a pickle, the vegetable should first be ‘dipped’ (bapto) into boiling water and then ‘baptised’ (baptizo) in the vinegar solution. Both verbs concern the immersing of vegetables in a solution. But the first is temporary. The second, the act of baptising the vegetable, produces a permanent change. When used in the New Testament, this word more often refers to our union and identification with Christ than to our water baptism. e.g.Mark 16:16. ‘He that believes and is baptised shall be saved’. Christ is saying that mere intellectual assent is not enough. There must be a union with him, a real change, like the vegetable to the pickle!
Bible Study Magazine, James Montgomery Boice, May 1989.
In Colossians 1:28-29 (ESV), Paul writes, “28 Him we proclaim, warning everyone and teaching everyone with all wisdom, that we may present everyone mature in Christ. 29 For this I toil, struggling with all his energy that he powerfully works within me. “
1. The Heart of Discipleship: Proclaiming Jesus.
– Temptation to fight: Proclaiming ourselves.
2. The Means of Discipleship: Teaching and Warning With Wisdom.
– Temptations to fight: People-pleasing and harshness.
3. The Goal of Discipleship: To Present Everyone Mature in Christ.
– Temptation to fight: Seeking fulfillment in being needed
4. The Cost of Discipleship: Toil and Struggle.
– Temptation to fight: Idolizing ease of life
5. The Power of Discipleship: His Energy.
– Temptation to fight: Dependence on self.
These 5 principles can be found here and all credit goes to the original author.
SNBC’s own Foundational Principles will be updated as we get further into our Sunday lessons on this subject.
“He is the one we proclaim, admonishing and teaching everyone with all wisdom, so that we may present everyone fully mature in Christ.“ Colossians 1:28
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