Baptize
Matthew 28:19
Message #4
We are in our fourth week of roughly following the book by Greg Ogden called “Essential Guide to Becoming a Disciple” and we’re following Chapter 4 today called Baptize.
I encourage you to go through last week’s workbook chapter on your own this week for your devotional time or in your discipleship group of three.
Our core truth today comes again from the Great Commission in Matthew 28:19.
Matthew 28:19 (NLT)
19 Therefore, go and make disciples of all the nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and the Son and the Holy Spirit.
Our focus today is this commission from the Lord that as we are going and as we are making disciples that we BAPTIZE them in the name of the Father and the Son and the Holy Spirit.
And here is the two-fold question we want to answer today.
1) What does Jesus MEAN by BAPTIZE?
2) Why is Baptism so CENTRAL to what it means to be a Disciple?
In order to answer those questions, I have to first shake up any religious understandings that you may have regarding baptism. So please hear this first. If you are thinking that Baptism is only a quick bath with no soap, then you really need to hear and receive this study.
If I were to ask four different people from four different Church backgrounds “What does Baptism symbolize?” you would easily get four different answers!
You might hear one of these answers.
#1) Baptism is a Public Declaration of your Faith
That’s true enough and that is certainly a big deal.
#2) Baptism is a sign of you becoming part of the True Church that includes all believers, everywhere
As long as you know that you become part of the True Church by putting your full faith in Jesus Christ then Baptism can be a sign that you have done that. So, I guess it’s okay.
#3) Baptism symbolizes your old life dying and you beginning a New Life
Again, I like that. It can be a symbol of that.
# 4) Baptism is a picture (outward sign) of your ‘transforming Identification’ (becoming one) with the Death, Burial, and Resurrection of Jesus Christ
And that is the answer we focus on most, and it actually comes from the Greek word we translate – BAPTIZE.
So, let me ask you.
Prior to hearing these 4 common answers – What would you have said Baptism represents or symbolizes?
My prayer today is that maybe you would see a deeper identification with God and a far deeper meaning in Baptism.
In order to do that, we have to start by speaking Greek… okay? Just two Greek words.
BAPTO – Say BAPTO with me - and
BAPTIZO – Say BAPTIZO with me
Okay, here are the definitions.
BAPTO = “to dip” – a temporary, momentary act
BAPTIZO = “to immerse to bring upon a permanent change”
BAPTO – Is what we do physically “to dip momentarily” – it is a SYMBOL of Baptizo
BAPTIZO – Means to be so immersed into something that a permanent change takes place
To make a pickle you take a cucumber and first “Bapto” it into boiling water to clean it (dip it momentarily). Then you “Baptizo” it into vinegar – you immerse so as to bring upon a permanent change. And it is through that “Baptizo” (immersion) that the cucumber changes permanently into a pickle.
Does understanding these two words – help you begin to see that there’s a difference between the ‘Quick Dip’ and what Baptism Truly Means?
Okay, let’s see how this first applies to our salvation. Turn in your Bibles to Romans Chapter 6. I need to use the ESV here so you can see the word Baptism easily. If you’re using an NLT, you’ll see the word joined where the ESV says baptized and that is actually the NLT’s way of helping you see that there’s more to being Baptized than just the “quick dip.”
Watch carefully in Romans 6 verse 3.
Romans 6:3 (ESV)
3 Do you not know that all of us who have been baptized into Christ Jesus were baptized into his death?
This is BAPTIZO – “to immerse to bring upon a permanent change.” Romans 6:3 is saying we’ve become so immersed into Jesus Christ through faith, that when he died… we died – in him. Then, Romans 6, the beginning of verse 4.
Romans 6:4(a) (ESV)
4 We were buried therefore with him by baptism into death . . .
This Baptism is not referring to the quick dip that we most often call Baptism. This “Baptism” is referring to the incredible union between you and Jesus that occurs when you put your full faith in him. It is through that union (that vital union) that what Jesus has done is credited to you.
Let’s read all of Romans 6:4.
Romans 6:4 (ESV)
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.
Through BAPTIZO (the permanent change that takes place by us being immersed into Jesus Christ through faith) that supernatural union with Christ means when he was buried – we were buried – with him and when Jesus beat death and rose to new life – we beat death and rose to new life – in him.
This is the salvation part of Baptism.
Not BAPTO – meaning the quick dip
But BAPTIZO – immersed to bring on a permanent change.
So, why does the Great Commission command us to Baptize disciples “in the name of the Father and the Son and the Holy Spirit”?
First of all, in the Bible, “THE NAME” represents the full character and nature of the person. So, just using the more descriptive words this part of the Great Commission is saying “Immerse them into the full character and nature of the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit, in order to bring on a Permanent Change.”
And remember that immersing is – identification with or a vital union with – the Trinity.
It is a Supernatural Union that causes us to “become one with” what we are being “baptized into.” So, the Great Commission says “Cause them to be Immersed Into (Become One With) the Full Character and Nature of the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit.”
Now, with that understanding, turn over to John 17 where we see maybe the full meaning of being Baptized into the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit. John 17 is what we call “The High Priestly Prayer” of Jesus. It is the last thing recorded before the arrest in Gethsemane and this prayer of Jesus to the Father is so personal and so real that it is often said it feels like we are intruding on Jesus’ “private time” with his Father.
Today, we’re only going to look at the parts of this prayer that open up the deepest meaning of Baptism to us, okay? After beginning his prayer in verse 1 Jesus says this in verses 4-5.
John 17:4–5 (NLT)
4 I brought glory to you here on earth by completing the work you gave me to do.
5 Now, Father, bring me into the glory we shared before the world began.
Jesus is saying, “Father, bring me home.” “Bring me BACK, into the Glory that we shared before the world began.”
Can you see that Jesus is homesick? He longs to be back in that indescribable unity that he shared with the Father before time began. The Vital Union between Jesus and the Father is what Jesus longs to back to when his work on earth is done.
Then Jesus turns his prayers toward us. Watch very carefully. Picking up the prayer in verse 11.
John 17:11 (NLT)
11 Now I am departing from the world; they (us) are staying in this world, but I am coming to you. Holy Father, you have given me your name; now protect them by the power of your name so that they will be united just as we are. (in the same way as)
As Jesus begins to pray for us, he prays that we would experience a similar supernatural UNITY that he himself has – with the Father. In the ESV the end of verse 11 says . . . that they may be one, even as we are one.
That is an incredible prayer – isn’t it?
Then we skip to verse 21.
John 17:21 (NLT)
21 I pray that they will all be one, just as you and I are one—as you are in me, Father, and I am in you. And may they be in us so that the world will believe you sent me.
Baptism is “immersion” in order to “become one with” and Jesus says May they become one with us that they may be one – just as – we are one.
Are you beginning to see the vital union, the supernatural oneness that occurs as we are immersed into and as we become one with – the trinity?
And it continues in verses 22-23.
John 17:22–23 (NLT)
22 “I have given them the glory you gave me, so they may be one as we are one. (that’s incredible) (and again – think Immersion and “Becoming One”)
23 I am in them and you are in me. May they experience such perfect unity that the world will know that you sent me and that you love them as much as you love me.
Verse 22 says Jesus shared his glory with us so that we may be one – just as he and the Father are one. And then he prays that we would be so vitally united to him that he would be in us and we would be in him that the world would know that the Father loves us as much as he loves Jesus! Whoa!!!
And then, the very pinnacle, bringing us back to where Jesus began this prayer.
John 17:24 (NLT)
24 Father, I want these whom you have given me to be with me where I am. (meaning where I WILL be) Then they can see all the glory you gave me because you loved me even before the world began!
Jesus began in verse 5 by praying Father, bring me (back) into the glory we shared before the world began. And now Jesus prays that we would be so united with him that we would be with him – there- IN the glory Jesus had with the Father before the world began!
What does it take for us to be in the glory that the Trinity had before the world began? It takes us becoming one with God. We must take on his righteousness so that we can live forever – in his glory!
And that can only happen through;
A Supernatural ONENESS
A Miraculous VITAL UNION
A ‘BECOMING ONE’ with Jesus
And that is what Baptism symbolizes – being immersed in – to become one with the Father, and the Son, and the Holy Spirit. Whew! That is mind-boggling.
And just in case you might be saying, “Hey, what about the Holy Spirit?” just write these verses down.
Romans 8:15–16 (ESV)
15 . . . you have received the Spirit of adoption as sons, by whom we cry, “Abba! Father!”
16 The Spirit himself bears witness with our spirit that we are children of God,
The Holy Spirit is the Spirit of Adoption and it is by him that we can cry out “ABBA FATHER.” The Holy Spirit has an equal and vital role in bringing this “miracle of miracles” to pass.
Finally, the New Testament does call us to be physically Baptized – to actually go through the “quick dip” process. But, the “quick dip” in and of itself doesn’t do anything for us. But what it symbolizes, what it is a picture of is the most incredible, the most transforming, the most eternally glorifying thing that could ever happen to us!
So, I have two questions for you.
1) Have you been spiritually BAPTIZED into Jesus Christ?
2) Have you been physically BAPTIZED in water?
Have you been immersed into Jesus Christ and thereby into the Trinity through you putting your full faith in who Jesus is and what Jesus has done on your behalf?
And if you have truly done that then, have you displayed that inner truth with the outward action of being “physically Baptized?”
And if you have not yet put your faith in Jesus Christ as your Lord and Savior, do that today. Then, be Baptized.
I encourage you to go through last week’s workbook chapter on your own this week for your devotional time or in your discipleship group of three.
Our core truth today comes again from the Great Commission in Matthew 28:19.
Matthew 28:19 (NLT)
19 Therefore, go and make disciples of all the nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and the Son and the Holy Spirit.
Our focus today is this commission from the Lord that as we are going and as we are making disciples that we BAPTIZE them in the name of the Father and the Son and the Holy Spirit.
And here is the two-fold question we want to answer today.
1) What does Jesus MEAN by BAPTIZE?
2) Why is Baptism so CENTRAL to what it means to be a Disciple?
In order to answer those questions, I have to first shake up any religious understandings that you may have regarding baptism. So please hear this first. If you are thinking that Baptism is only a quick bath with no soap, then you really need to hear and receive this study.
If I were to ask four different people from four different Church backgrounds “What does Baptism symbolize?” you would easily get four different answers!
You might hear one of these answers.
#1) Baptism is a Public Declaration of your Faith
That’s true enough and that is certainly a big deal.
#2) Baptism is a sign of you becoming part of the True Church that includes all believers, everywhere
As long as you know that you become part of the True Church by putting your full faith in Jesus Christ then Baptism can be a sign that you have done that. So, I guess it’s okay.
#3) Baptism symbolizes your old life dying and you beginning a New Life
Again, I like that. It can be a symbol of that.
# 4) Baptism is a picture (outward sign) of your ‘transforming Identification’ (becoming one) with the Death, Burial, and Resurrection of Jesus Christ
And that is the answer we focus on most, and it actually comes from the Greek word we translate – BAPTIZE.
So, let me ask you.
Prior to hearing these 4 common answers – What would you have said Baptism represents or symbolizes?
My prayer today is that maybe you would see a deeper identification with God and a far deeper meaning in Baptism.
In order to do that, we have to start by speaking Greek… okay? Just two Greek words.
BAPTO – Say BAPTO with me - and
BAPTIZO – Say BAPTIZO with me
Okay, here are the definitions.
BAPTO = “to dip” – a temporary, momentary act
BAPTIZO = “to immerse to bring upon a permanent change”
BAPTO – Is what we do physically “to dip momentarily” – it is a SYMBOL of Baptizo
BAPTIZO – Means to be so immersed into something that a permanent change takes place
To make a pickle you take a cucumber and first “Bapto” it into boiling water to clean it (dip it momentarily). Then you “Baptizo” it into vinegar – you immerse so as to bring upon a permanent change. And it is through that “Baptizo” (immersion) that the cucumber changes permanently into a pickle.
Does understanding these two words – help you begin to see that there’s a difference between the ‘Quick Dip’ and what Baptism Truly Means?
Okay, let’s see how this first applies to our salvation. Turn in your Bibles to Romans Chapter 6. I need to use the ESV here so you can see the word Baptism easily. If you’re using an NLT, you’ll see the word joined where the ESV says baptized and that is actually the NLT’s way of helping you see that there’s more to being Baptized than just the “quick dip.”
Watch carefully in Romans 6 verse 3.
Romans 6:3 (ESV)
3 Do you not know that all of us who have been baptized into Christ Jesus were baptized into his death?
This is BAPTIZO – “to immerse to bring upon a permanent change.” Romans 6:3 is saying we’ve become so immersed into Jesus Christ through faith, that when he died… we died – in him. Then, Romans 6, the beginning of verse 4.
Romans 6:4(a) (ESV)
4 We were buried therefore with him by baptism into death . . .
This Baptism is not referring to the quick dip that we most often call Baptism. This “Baptism” is referring to the incredible union between you and Jesus that occurs when you put your full faith in him. It is through that union (that vital union) that what Jesus has done is credited to you.
Let’s read all of Romans 6:4.
Romans 6:4 (ESV)
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.
Through BAPTIZO (the permanent change that takes place by us being immersed into Jesus Christ through faith) that supernatural union with Christ means when he was buried – we were buried – with him and when Jesus beat death and rose to new life – we beat death and rose to new life – in him.
This is the salvation part of Baptism.
Not BAPTO – meaning the quick dip
But BAPTIZO – immersed to bring on a permanent change.
So, why does the Great Commission command us to Baptize disciples “in the name of the Father and the Son and the Holy Spirit”?
First of all, in the Bible, “THE NAME” represents the full character and nature of the person. So, just using the more descriptive words this part of the Great Commission is saying “Immerse them into the full character and nature of the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit, in order to bring on a Permanent Change.”
And remember that immersing is – identification with or a vital union with – the Trinity.
It is a Supernatural Union that causes us to “become one with” what we are being “baptized into.” So, the Great Commission says “Cause them to be Immersed Into (Become One With) the Full Character and Nature of the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit.”
Now, with that understanding, turn over to John 17 where we see maybe the full meaning of being Baptized into the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit. John 17 is what we call “The High Priestly Prayer” of Jesus. It is the last thing recorded before the arrest in Gethsemane and this prayer of Jesus to the Father is so personal and so real that it is often said it feels like we are intruding on Jesus’ “private time” with his Father.
Today, we’re only going to look at the parts of this prayer that open up the deepest meaning of Baptism to us, okay? After beginning his prayer in verse 1 Jesus says this in verses 4-5.
John 17:4–5 (NLT)
4 I brought glory to you here on earth by completing the work you gave me to do.
5 Now, Father, bring me into the glory we shared before the world began.
Jesus is saying, “Father, bring me home.” “Bring me BACK, into the Glory that we shared before the world began.”
Can you see that Jesus is homesick? He longs to be back in that indescribable unity that he shared with the Father before time began. The Vital Union between Jesus and the Father is what Jesus longs to back to when his work on earth is done.
Then Jesus turns his prayers toward us. Watch very carefully. Picking up the prayer in verse 11.
John 17:11 (NLT)
11 Now I am departing from the world; they (us) are staying in this world, but I am coming to you. Holy Father, you have given me your name; now protect them by the power of your name so that they will be united just as we are. (in the same way as)
As Jesus begins to pray for us, he prays that we would experience a similar supernatural UNITY that he himself has – with the Father. In the ESV the end of verse 11 says . . . that they may be one, even as we are one.
That is an incredible prayer – isn’t it?
Then we skip to verse 21.
John 17:21 (NLT)
21 I pray that they will all be one, just as you and I are one—as you are in me, Father, and I am in you. And may they be in us so that the world will believe you sent me.
Baptism is “immersion” in order to “become one with” and Jesus says May they become one with us that they may be one – just as – we are one.
Are you beginning to see the vital union, the supernatural oneness that occurs as we are immersed into and as we become one with – the trinity?
And it continues in verses 22-23.
John 17:22–23 (NLT)
22 “I have given them the glory you gave me, so they may be one as we are one. (that’s incredible) (and again – think Immersion and “Becoming One”)
23 I am in them and you are in me. May they experience such perfect unity that the world will know that you sent me and that you love them as much as you love me.
Verse 22 says Jesus shared his glory with us so that we may be one – just as he and the Father are one. And then he prays that we would be so vitally united to him that he would be in us and we would be in him that the world would know that the Father loves us as much as he loves Jesus! Whoa!!!
And then, the very pinnacle, bringing us back to where Jesus began this prayer.
John 17:24 (NLT)
24 Father, I want these whom you have given me to be with me where I am. (meaning where I WILL be) Then they can see all the glory you gave me because you loved me even before the world began!
Jesus began in verse 5 by praying Father, bring me (back) into the glory we shared before the world began. And now Jesus prays that we would be so united with him that we would be with him – there- IN the glory Jesus had with the Father before the world began!
What does it take for us to be in the glory that the Trinity had before the world began? It takes us becoming one with God. We must take on his righteousness so that we can live forever – in his glory!
And that can only happen through;
A Supernatural ONENESS
A Miraculous VITAL UNION
A ‘BECOMING ONE’ with Jesus
And that is what Baptism symbolizes – being immersed in – to become one with the Father, and the Son, and the Holy Spirit. Whew! That is mind-boggling.
And just in case you might be saying, “Hey, what about the Holy Spirit?” just write these verses down.
Romans 8:15–16 (ESV)
15 . . . you have received the Spirit of adoption as sons, by whom we cry, “Abba! Father!”
16 The Spirit himself bears witness with our spirit that we are children of God,
The Holy Spirit is the Spirit of Adoption and it is by him that we can cry out “ABBA FATHER.” The Holy Spirit has an equal and vital role in bringing this “miracle of miracles” to pass.
Finally, the New Testament does call us to be physically Baptized – to actually go through the “quick dip” process. But, the “quick dip” in and of itself doesn’t do anything for us. But what it symbolizes, what it is a picture of is the most incredible, the most transforming, the most eternally glorifying thing that could ever happen to us!
So, I have two questions for you.
1) Have you been spiritually BAPTIZED into Jesus Christ?
2) Have you been physically BAPTIZED in water?
Have you been immersed into Jesus Christ and thereby into the Trinity through you putting your full faith in who Jesus is and what Jesus has done on your behalf?
And if you have truly done that then, have you displayed that inner truth with the outward action of being “physically Baptized?”
And if you have not yet put your faith in Jesus Christ as your Lord and Savior, do that today. Then, be Baptized.