We have the opportunity to experience a great blessing in our church this morning. There are some who will follow the Lord in believer’s baptism and a family who desires to dedicate their child to the Lord. Because these two events are so special, I thought we would step away this morning from our study in Ephesians and focus on not only on what these individuals are doing, but why they are doing it.
Though baptism and a baby dedication are very different, they have some things in common. Both are symbols of people dedicating themselves to the will and authority of God. Baptism is a public demonstration of a believer identifying themselves with the death, burial and resurrection of Jesus Christ. Baby dedication is a demonstration of parents dedicating their child and themselves to the will of God. Both are symbols of commitment.
As I thought about a passage to study this morning, the Spirit led me to Matthew 28.
Matthew 28:16 Then the eleven disciples went away into Galilee, into a mountain where Jesus had appointed them. 17 And when they saw him, they worshipped him: but some doubted.
18 And Jesus came and spake unto them, saying, All power is given unto me in heaven and in earth. 19 Go ye therefore, and teach all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost: 20 Teaching them to observe all things whatsoever I have commanded you: and, lo, I am with you alway, even unto the end of the world. Amen.
The Bible teaches us that our Lord remained on earth 40 days after His resurrection. During that time period He repeadelty presented Himself to His disciples in order to confirm that indeed He was alive, as well as teach them things concerning the kingdom of God.
On the day of His ascension He gave them an important command – “Go in to all the world and make disciples from all nations. Preach to them the gospel, baptize them in My name and teach them to how to live the Christian life.” We often call this command the Great Commission. A commission is an authoritative order or command that assigns someone to a special task.
The Greatness of this Commission might be best understood by considering the four ‘ALLS’ found in this passage:
1) With all authority
2) Go to all people
3) Teach them to observe all things
4) And I will be with you always
I. With All Authority
18 And Jesus came and spake unto them, saying, All power is given unto me in heaven and in earth.
The word power found here means authority. We learn from the book of Colossians that heaven and earth has always been under the authority of Christ. All things were created by Him and for Him scripture says. We see also from the four gospels that Jesus often demonstrated His authority while here on earth. He demonstrated His authority over sickness and disease when He healed those brought to Him. He demonstrated His authority over nature when He calmed the storms. He demonstrated His authority over the devil and his demons when He commanded them to come out of those who were possessed. He even demonstrated His authority over death when He brought back to life those who had died.
But the authority that Jesus is referring to in this passage is not the authority that He holds as the Ruler of the universe, but rather the authority that He holds as the Redeemer of mankind. The Bible teaches us that Christ died for the sins of the world and therefore He has been given the authority to go to all the world and to proclaim to them salvation in His name.
We read in the book of Acts of a time when Peter and John healed a man near the temple. Afterwards they preached the gospel and 5,000 came to know Christ as their Savior. The religious leaders became upset and demanded of Peter and John –
Acts 4:7 By what power, or by what name, have ye done this?
In other words, from what authority did you receive the ability to do this?
Acts 4:10 … by the name of Jesus Christ of Nazareth, whom ye crucified, whom God raised from the dead, even by him doth this man stand here before you whole.
12 Neither is there salvation in any other: for there is none other name under heaven given among men, whereby we must be saved.
Paul wrote to the Romans –
Romans 10:13 For whosoever shall call upon the name of the Lord shall be saved.
To preach in the name of Jesus means to preach in the authority of Jesus. By His sacrificial death, burial and resurrection, Jesus has been given the authority to declare that there is forgiveness of sin in His name.
II. Go To All People
Matthew 28:18 And Jesus came and spake unto them, saying, All power is given unto me in heaven and in earth. 19 Go ye therefore, and teach all nations…
A. Go and Preach the Gospel to All
Mark’s gospel says – ‘Go into all the world and preach the gospel to every person.’ (Mk 16:15) It is the will of God that every individual have the opportunity to hear the gospel. What is the gospel? The word gospel means good news and here is God’s good news – Jesus Christ, God’s Son, died for our sins! Jesus said that God so loved the world that He sent His one and only Son, so that whosoever would believe in Him and His sacrificial death, should not perish in hell, but receive everlasting life. “Therefore”, Jesus said, “go and tell everyone the good news!”
B. Go and Make Disciples of All
‘To go and preach the gospel to all’ is the foundation of Christ’s Great Commission, but that’s not all. Note that Jesus said –
19 Go ye therefore, and teach all nations …
Literally Jesus was saying – ‘Go and make disciples from all nations.’ Christ’s desire is that men and women, from all the nations of the earth, become His disciples. What is a disciple?
The word disciple means: pupil or learner. It implies that the person not only accepts the views of the teacher, but puts them into practice. Another way of describing a disciple would be to say that they are someone whose life has been shaped and molded by the lifestyle and teaching of their master.
The concept of making disciples was not new in Jesus’ day. It was common, both of the Jews and the Greeks, for masters to have disciples who followed their way and teaching.
Christ had disciples. There were the twelve disciples as we know them, but there were also many, many more. At one point Jesus sent out seventy of His disciples. After His resurrection Jesus appeared to over 500 disciples at one time.
The idea of being considered a disciple carried over into the early church. Long before believers were called Christians, they were known as disciples. On the day of Pentecost, scripture says that there were 120 disciples, both men and women, gathered together in the upper room. Soon the church grew to over 3,000 disciples. Everyone who was a part of the early church was called a disciple.
There is no such thing as Christianity with discipleship. There is no such thing as salvation without surrender. Jesus did not come to save men from their sins in order for them to keep on sinning. Jesus came to call sinners to repentance and thus transform them into His disciples.
Note again Christ’s command – 19 Go ye therefore, and teach all nations … ‘Go and make disciples from all nations.’ How do we make disciples?
III. Teach Them to Observe All Things
Matthew 28:19 Go ye therefore, and teach all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost: 20 Teaching them to observe all things whatsoever I have commanded you:
How do we make disciples? Note once again that in order of us to make disciples, we must go to the world. The process of discipleship making begins with us.
A. Go
Matthew 28:19 Go ye therefore…
Luke records the Great Commission in this way –
Acts 1:8 But ye shall receive power, after that the Holy Ghost is come upon you: and ye shall be witnesses unto me both in Jerusalem, and in all Judaea, and in Samaria, and unto the uttermost part of the earth.
One day Amy texted me and said, “We’re ready to go to the mission field.” They had been attending a conference and their hearts were stirred concerning the people around the world who have never heard the gospel. At first I thought, “Oh no! You can’t go to a foreign mission field.” But then I thought, “Why not? Who am I to say what God can and can’t do with my children?” Then I thought, “What about me and Tammy? What if God wanted us to go to a foreign mission field? Would we go?”
In my studies this week I read this –
“Christianity is a missionary faith. The very nature of God demands this, for God is love and God is not willing that any should perish (2 Peter 3:9). Our Lord’s death on the cross was for the whole world. If we are the children of God and share His nature, then we will want to tell the good news to the lost world.”
“Many use the lack of “call” to missions as an excuse; yet it may be that the Lord of the harvest has been calling us through the need of the world but we are not willing to hear.”
It is without question that Christ wants the whole world to hear the gospel. That includes those around the world and those right in our own backdoor. Therefore, we who are His disciples, must go to the world and seek to make new disciples from those who are lost.
B. Baptize
Matthew 28:19 Go ye therefore, and teach all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost:
Water baptism does not save a person, yet if you will follow the pattern throughout the New Testament, you will see that as each individual accepted Christ as their Savior; they then declared their allegiance to Him by being baptized in His name.
Acts 2:38 Then Peter said unto them, Repent, and be baptized every one of you in the name of Jesus Christ for the remission of sins, and ye shall receive the gift of the Holy Ghost.
Acts 2:41 Then they that gladly received his word were baptized: and the same day there were added unto them about three thousand souls.
Acts 8:12 But when they believed Philip preaching the things concerning the kingdom of God, and the name of Jesus Christ, they were baptized, both men and women.
Acts 8:38 And he commanded the chariot to stand still: and they went down both into the water, both Philip and the eunuch; and he baptized him.
Acts 9:18 And immediately there fell from his eyes as it had been scales: and he received sight forthwith, and arose, and was baptized.
Acts 10:48 And he commanded them to be baptized in the name of the Lord.
Acts 16:15 And when she was baptized, and her household …
Acts 16:33 And he took them the same hour of the night, and washed their stripes ; and was baptized , he and all his, straightway.
In each and every one of these incidents the person first believed in their heart and then publicly declared their faith through water baptism. Following the Lord in what we often call ‘believer’s baptism’ is the first step in obedience for becoming one of Christ’s disciples.
C. Teach
Matthew 28:19 Go ye therefore, and teach all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost: 20 Teaching them to observe all things whatsoever I have commanded you:
To be a disciple of Christ means that you are putting yourself under His authority. Baptism is the first step and submitting yourself to the authority of His Word is the next. Consider how this is seen in the lives of the first converts in the church.
Acts 2:41 Then they that gladly received his word were baptized: and the same day there were added unto them about three thousand souls. 42 And they continued stedfastly in the apostles’ doctrine and fellowship, and in breaking of bread, and in prayers.
Note:
1. Salvation – they gladly received his word
2. Identification – and were baptized
3. Dedication – they continued steadfastly in the apostles’ doctrine and fellowship, and in breaking of bread and in prayers.
Teaching men and women to observe Christ’s teaching is an ongoing process. I am thankful to say that I believe that many in this church truly desires to be a disciple of Christ. Like their pastor, they have not arrived, but they want to live a life that will bring God glory. They want to learn and grow and serve the Lord. They are faithful in their church attendance and they are hungry for the Word. That hunger is evidence of true salvation.
I am also proud to say that there are many in this church who desires to disciple others. They take their ministry serious and they desire to rightly divide the Word of truth. Shortly after I came to Twin Oaks I was challenged by one of our men that our church needs to be known as the church that preaches the Word. I believe that can be said of us.
I. With All Authority
II. Go to All People
III. Teach Them to Observe All Things
IV. And I Will Be With You Always
Matthew 28:20 … and, lo, I am with you alway, even unto the end of the world. Amen.
Literally Jesus was saying, “I will be with you until the end of the age.” That statement tells me that what Jesus said to His disciples 2,000 years ago still applies to His disciples today. The first disciples are long dead and gone. They passed the baton down to the next group of disciples and they to the next. Today we hold the baton.
There would be no need for Jesus to make this promise unless He intended for His church to continue making disciples until He returns.
"Seeds of Faith" 