Baptizing The Nations

Text:

English Standard Version Chapter 28

18 And Jesus came and said to them, “All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me. 19 Go therefore and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, 20 teaching them to observe all that I have commanded you. And behold, I am with you always, to the end of the age.”

(ESV)

18And Jesus came and said to them, “All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me.

19Go therefore and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit,

20teaching them to observe all that I have commanded you. And behold, I am with you always, to the end of the age.”

Question:

Does God intend for the Christian church to be an effective and potent gospel witness in a world of unbelief? (D Wilson)

How you answer this question matters immensely with how you will live.

If it’s God’s explicit intention to redeem his children from every tribe, nation, and tongue, and it is, then not only will He supply the authority and power to do this work, but He will also make the work that we do each day matter greatly.

What is the Church called to do?

What are these two congregations called to do?

This - The Great Commission - is the purpose of the Church.

It’s not an OK Commission - It’s The Great Commission

We live in a world full of death. We live in a world of injustice. We live in a world of anxiety. We live in a world with a long history of war. We live in a world of poverty and disease. We live in a world of false hopes.

We are the gatekeepers of the good news; carrying the bright torch of God’s grace to the neighbors and nations that are stained by the curse to tell them Jesus, the curse breaker, has come to redeem the world He made. That death doesn’t have the final say anymore. That shame can be taken away and forgiveness offered. We bring food to the poor. We become supporters and parents to orphans. We tell the world about Jesus as we live like Jesus among the nations.

Eschatology - study of final things. Many religions have an eschatology where the world is changed and their god wins, and many Christians have this sort of eschatology where their world remains difficult but in the end they win.

It’s a privatized faith. Heaven is a reward for you at the end of a comfortable life.

t’s a privatized faith. Heaven is a reward for you at the end of a comfortable life.

But that’s not what’s in view in the Bible. God has plans to change the world, and He has the power and authority to do so.

Heaven isn’t a private reward; God is remaking the world - He’s making all things new. He wins. He is glorious in every language.

In Revelation there will be singing and eating in a new world with people from

Therefore Go:

Intentionality - (present participle) “As we are going” Assurance - Jesus already has authorityChrist is and will build His church - we want to be a part of itHoly Ambition to go

Make:

Words, works, ways of Jesus

Apprentice

Not to Imperial Cæsar, with his legions at command and the civilised world at his feet; not to a company of intellectual giants, who by the sheer force of genius might turn the world upside down; but to these obscure Galileans of whom Cæsar has never heard, not one of whose names has ever been pronounced in the Roman Senate,”

“These are simple words and very familiar now, and a distinct effort is needed to realise how extraordinary they are, as spoken then and there to that little company. “All nations” are to be discipled and brought under His sway,—such is the commission; and to whom is it given? Not to Imperial Cæsar, with his legions at command and the civilised world at his feet; not to a company of intellectual giants, who by the sheer force of genius might turn the world upside down; but to these obscure Galileans of whom Cæsar has never heard, not one of whose names has ever been pronounced in the Roman Senate,”

Gibson, John Monro. “The Gospel of St. Matthew.” In The Expositor’s Bible: Jeremiah to Mark, edited by W. Robertson Nicoll, 4:809. Expositor’s Bible. Hartford, CT: S.S. Scranton Co., 1903.

Baptizing in the name of The Father, The Son, and The Holy Spirit:

This isn’t a message on the topic of baptism specifically. That deserves another sermon.

Question:

Does God intend for the Christian church to be an effective and potent gospel witness in a world of unbelief? (D Wilson)

Look at the flow of the text and what it is saying.

Baptizing in the name... of The Father, The Son, and The Holy Spirit --- Baptism here means more than the simple act of baptism; it’s referring to the association with The Trinity - The Family of God.

Here’s how describes baptism.

(ESV)

Do you not know that all of us who have been baptized into Christ Jesus were baptized into his death? 4 We were buried therefore with him by baptism into death, in order that, just as Christ was raised from the dead by the glory of the Father, we too might walk in newness of life. 5 For if we have been united with him in a death like his, we shall certainly be united with him in a resurrection like his. 6 We know that our old self was crucified with him in order that the body of sin might be brought to nothing, so that we would no longer be enslaved to sin. 7 For one who has died has been set free from sin.

“By virtue of His authority in heaven, He authorizes His ambassadors to baptise people of all nations who shall become His disciples “into the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Ghost.” Thus would they be acknowledged as children of the great family of God, accepted by the Father as washed from sin through the blood of Jesus Christ His Son, and sanctified by the grace of His Holy Spirit—the sum of saving truth suggested in a single line.”

Baptism represents our union with Christ.

Our old, sinful self was buried with Christ. Not in dirt, but in water. We are cleansed by Jesus.

The progression of The Great Commission makes sense. As we go and make disciples, the fruit is that they are baptized. They publically associate with God’s grace, Jesus’ death, and the Holy Spirit’s work in their lives.

Gibson, John Monro. “The Gospel of St. Matthew.” In The Expositor’s Bible: Jeremiah to Mark, edited by W. Robertson Nicoll, 4:809. Expositor’s Bible. Hartford, CT: S.S. Scranton Co., 1903.

Let me show you one other text regarding baptism, and then draw out one conclusion regarding The Great Commission for us to look at as we close.

(ESV)

37 Now when they heard this they were cut to the heart, and said to Peter and the rest of the apostles, “Brothers, what shall we do?” 38 And Peter said to them, “Repent and be baptized every one of you in the name of Jesus Christ for the forgiveness of your sins, and you will receive the gift of the Holy Spirit. 39 For the promise is for you and for your children and for all who are far off, everyone whom the Lord our God calls to himself.” 40 And with many other words he bore witness and continued to exhort them, saying, “Save yourselves from this crooked generation.” 41 So those who received his word were baptized, and there were added that day about three thousand souls. 42 And they devoted themselves to the apostles’ teaching and the fellowship, to the breaking of bread and the prayers. 43 And awe came upon every soul, and many wonders and signs were being done through the apostles. 44 And all who believed were together and had all things in common. 45 And they were selling their possessions and belongings and distributing the proceeds to all, as any had need. 46 And day by day, attending the temple together and breaking bread in their homes, they received their food with glad and generous hearts, 47 praising God and having favor with all the people. And the Lord added to their number day by day those who were being saved.

Baptism is an association with the family of God, His Church. It’s safe to say that baptism here in The Great Commission isn’t simply the act of baptism, but what’s in view is also the larger picture of disciples being associated with the family of God — The Church. And that brings us to the main point today.

The typical mode of seeing The Great Commission fulfilled is the establishment of churches. It’s not simply and individual endeavor. (We think of churches that are growing in nations, not usually a specific individual’s influence)

These are simple words and very familiar now, and a distinct effort is needed to realise how extraordinary they are, as spoken then and there to that little company. “All nations” are to be discipled and brought under His sway,—such is the commission; and to whom is it given? Not to Imperial Cæsar, with his legions at command and the civilised world at his feet; not to a company of intellectual giants, who by the sheer force of genius might turn the world upside down; but to these obscure Galileans of whom Cæsar has never heard, not one of whose names has ever been pronounced in the Roman Senate,

The safe place for the sheep is in the flock

Therefore Go:

Intentionality - (present participle) “As we are going” Assurance - Jesus already has authorityChrist is and will build Hos church - we want to be a part of itHoly Ambition to go

Make:

Words, works, ways of Jesus

Apprentice

Baptizing in the name of The Father, The Son, and The Holy Spirit:

Baptizing in the name... The association with The Trinity

“By virtue of His authority in heaven, He authorizes His ambassadors to baptise people of all nations who shall become His disciples “into the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Ghost.” Thus would they be acknowledged as children of the great family of God, accepted by the Father as washed from sin through the blood of Jesus Christ His Son, and sanctified by the grace of His Holy Spirit—the sum of saving truth suggested in a single line.”

Gibson, John Monro. “The Gospel of St. Matthew.” In The Expositor’s Bible: Jeremiah to Mark, edited by W. Robertson Nicoll, 4:809. Expositor’s Bible. Hartford, CT: S.S. Scranton Co., 1903.

(ESV)

15 He is the image of the invisible God, the firstborn of all creation. 16 For by him all things were created, in heaven and on earth, visible and invisible, whether thrones or dominions or rulers or authorities—all things were created through him and for him. 17 And he is before all things, and in him all things hold together. 18 And he is the head of the body, the church. He is the beginning, the firstborn from the dead, that in everything he might be preeminent. 19 For in him all the fullness of God was pleased to dwell, 20 and through him to reconcile to himself all things, whether on earth or in heaven, making peace by the blood of his cross.

(ESV)

14 I hope to come to you soon, but I am writing these things to you so that, 15 if I delay, you may know how one ought to behave in the household of God, which is the church of the living God, a pillar and buttress of the truth.

Elder’s established

Missionaries commissioned

To be encouraged and strengthened ; 16:5

What Has God Done Through The Gathering These Four Years?

Closing and Communion

Help establishing the local Church

There are two ways in which we acknowledge God’s grace, often called The Sacraments. They are Baptism and The Lord’s Supper

Moreover, Scripture makes it abundantly clear that baptism symbolizes spiritual cleansing or purification, ; ; .; ; ; ; ; . - Berkhof’s ST

Baptism is done once and recognizes our union with cleansing work of Christ’s death, burial, and resurrection, and our unity with Him.

The Lord’s Supper, or communion, is done regularly. We remember and partake in Christ’s free gift of high grace - His life.

We aren’t clean because we eat the bread with our mouth. We are clean because we have eaten the Bread with our heart.

The safe place for the sheep is in the flock

- Jesus head of the Church

Pillar and foundation of the truth

11 In him also vyou were circumcised with a circumcision made without hands, by wputting off the body of the flesh, by the circumcision of Christ, 12 xhaving been buried with him in baptism, in which yyou were also raised with him through faith in zthe powerful working of God, zwho raised him from the dead. 13 aAnd you, who were dead in your trespasses and the uncircumcision of your flesh, God bmade alive together with him, having forgiven us all our trespasses, 14 by ccanceling dthe record of debt that stood against us with its legal demands. This he set aside, nailing it to the cross. 15 wHe disarmed the rulers and authorities2 and eput them to open shame, by ftriumphing over them in him

11 In him also vyou were circumcised with a circumcision made without hands, by wputting off the body of the flesh, by the circumcision of Christ, 12 xhaving been buried with him in baptism, in which yyou were also raised with him through faith in zthe powerful working of God, zwho raised him from the dead. 13 aAnd you, who were dead in your trespasses and the uncircumcision of your flesh, God bmade alive together with him, having forgiven us all our trespasses, 14 by ccanceling dthe record of debt that stood against us with its legal demands. This he set aside, nailing it to the cross. 15 wHe disarmed the rulers and authorities2 and eput them to open shame, by ftriumphing over them in him.

7 Now when mthey heard this they were cut to the heart, and said to Peter and the rest of the apostles, “Brothers, nwhat shall we do?” 38 And Peter said to them, o“Repent and pbe baptized every one of you qin the name of Jesus Christ rfor the forgiveness of your sins, and you will receive sthe gift of the Holy Spirit. 39 For tthe promise is for you and ufor your children and for all vwho are far off, everyone wwhom the Lord our God calls to himself.” 40 And with many other words he bore witness and continued to exhort them, saying, x“Save yourselves from this ycrooked generation.” 41 So those who received his word were baptized, and zthere were added that day about three thousand souls.

The Fellowship of the Believers

42 And athey devoted themselves to the apostles’ bteaching and the cfellowship, to dthe breaking of bread and the prayers. 43 And awe5 came upon every soul, and emany wonders and signs were being done through the apostles. 44 And all who believed were together and fhad all things in common. 45 And fthey were selling their possessions and belongings and distributing the proceeds to all, as any had need. 46 And day by day, gattending the temple htogether and ibreaking bread in their homes, they received their food jwith glad and generous hearts, 47 praising God and khaving favor with all the people. And the Lord ladded to their number mday by day those who nwere being saved

Gibson, John Monro. “The Gospel of St. Matthew.” In The Expositor’s Bible: Jeremiah to Mark, edited by W. Robertson Nicoll, 4:809. Expositor’s Bible. Hartford, CT: S.S. Scranton Co., 1903.