Some of the last words of Jesus to his disciples are commonly referred to as the Great Commission. Jesus said, "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. And surely I am with you always, to the very end of the age" (Matthew 28:19-20).
Analyzing our Lord's comments, we note that he specifically mentioned three different things. First of all, Jesus wanted his followers to"make disciples." A disciple is a student or follower of a teacher or master. Becoming a disciple begins with the decision to become a follower of the leader. There are three essential prerequisites described in the New Testament which include the repentance of sin and belief in Christ as Savior. Then the individual is supposed to announce his decision publicly (see Romans 10:9-10). Observe the imperative given by Jesus to the disciples that they were to "go and make" disciples of all nations. Christianity is an evangelizing religion. It is part of our faith to recruit for Christ's kingdom.
Secondly, Jesus instructed his disciples that they should mark those making the decision to become a disciple by "baptizing them in the name of the Father, and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit." The Greek word baptizo literally means to submerge or immerse. In New Testament passages that describe baptism, we read things like "they went down into the water" and they "came up out of the water" (see Acts 8:38-39). Jesus was baptized by John the Baptist in the Jordan River and Philip baptized the Ethiopian official in a pool of water. Baptism as practiced by the Early Church always took place after someone's confession of faith or personal statement of belief (see Acts 2:38 and 16:31-32).
The spiritual significance of Christian baptism is explained by the Apostle Paul: "We were therefore buried with him through baptism into death in order that, just as Christ was raised from the dead through the glory of the Father, we too may live a new life. If we have been united with him like this in his death, we will certainly also be united with him in his resurrection. For we know that our old self was crucified with him so that the body of sin might be done away with, that we should no longer be slaves to sin— because anyone who has died has been freed from sin. Now if we died with Christ, we believe that we will also live with him" (Romans 6:4-8). Like communion, baptism is a symbolic act participated in by Christians.
Thirdly, Jesus commanded his disciples to "teach them (the new disciples) to obey everything that I have instructed you." Notice the order in Christ's commission. It is just as divinely inspired as in the contents. A) Make disciples. B) Mark disciples; and C) Mature them by training them in all of the things that Jesus taught. There is enough material in the New Testament and the Bible that a lifetime of study could not exhaust. And study alone is not enough; Christians need to know and do what Jesus taught.
Rev. Kenneth Fellenbaum
Showing posts with label Christ's Kingdom. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Christ's Kingdom. Show all posts
Monday, November 1, 2010
Monday, September 28, 2009
Cornerstones
The ancient engineers were able to construct buildings without the benefit of steel and concrete because they utilized cornerstones. Cornerstones were just that. Large stones that held the building in place because of their size. Normally they would use the largest stone to hold what was potentially the weakest corner of the building. I've entitled this sermon, "Cornerstones," because it will set forth four theological presuppositions on which Christians should build their lives.
The first "cornerstone" is the Bible; God's Word. The Scriptures are the revelation of God to mankind that have been transmitted through forty some writers and compiled over fifteen hundred years. The Bible contains sixty-six books: thirty-nine in the Old Testament and twenty-seven in the New Testament. There are approximately three-quarter million words in the Bible. When most people read the Bible, they are not aware of the many writers because translators have homogenized it. Reading in the original Hebrew and Greek, however, one can sense some of the differences in the background of the various scribes who wrote what they did under the inspiration of the Holy Spirit. (See 2 Tim. 3:16 and 2 Pet. 2:20-21). The Bible enlightens us with the way to salvation as well as providing the information and inspiration to live the life pleasing to God.
The second "cornerstone" is God himself. In Genesis, we read, "In the beginning god created the heavens and the earth..." The existence of God is presumed. Creation bears witness to the Creator. "For since the creation of the world God's invisible qualities--his eternal power and divine nature--have been clearly seen, being understood from what has been made, so that men are without excuse" (Romans 1:20). Science does not adequately explain certain key questions such as: a)Where did the first matter come from; b)What caused the changes to occur--how did inorganic (non-living) material become organic (living); and c)How did chaos become order. In the absence of an explanation, science usually suggests that the events took billions and billions of years. The person of faith accepts the existence of God and that He created and made things including mankind. While creation bears witness of the Creator, the Bible reveals that the Supreme Being is a loving, heavenly Father. (See John 3:16 and 1 John 4:7).
The third and "chief cornerstone" is Jesus Christ. John tells us that Jesus existed as the divine Son of God before the creation of the world. He is the central figure of history. His uniqueness is seen in his virgin birth, his sinless life, and his resurrection from death. Isaiah the Prophet and Apostle Peter wrote of Christ, "See, I lay a stone in Zion, a chosen and precious cornerstone, and the one who trusts in him will never be put to shame" (1 Pet. 2:6 and Isaiah 28:16). See also Ephesians 2:20.
The fourth "cornerstone" is the Church which was formed by Christ himself. "And I tell you that you are Peter, and on this rock I will build my church, and the gates of Hades will not overcome it" (Matt. 16:18). Christians commit to being Christ's disciples and follow him in the fellowship of all others who also have been called from darkness to the light. The Church is our spiritual family and Christ's Kingdom on earth.
The first "cornerstone" is the Bible; God's Word. The Scriptures are the revelation of God to mankind that have been transmitted through forty some writers and compiled over fifteen hundred years. The Bible contains sixty-six books: thirty-nine in the Old Testament and twenty-seven in the New Testament. There are approximately three-quarter million words in the Bible. When most people read the Bible, they are not aware of the many writers because translators have homogenized it. Reading in the original Hebrew and Greek, however, one can sense some of the differences in the background of the various scribes who wrote what they did under the inspiration of the Holy Spirit. (See 2 Tim. 3:16 and 2 Pet. 2:20-21). The Bible enlightens us with the way to salvation as well as providing the information and inspiration to live the life pleasing to God.
The second "cornerstone" is God himself. In Genesis, we read, "In the beginning god created the heavens and the earth..." The existence of God is presumed. Creation bears witness to the Creator. "For since the creation of the world God's invisible qualities--his eternal power and divine nature--have been clearly seen, being understood from what has been made, so that men are without excuse" (Romans 1:20). Science does not adequately explain certain key questions such as: a)Where did the first matter come from; b)What caused the changes to occur--how did inorganic (non-living) material become organic (living); and c)How did chaos become order. In the absence of an explanation, science usually suggests that the events took billions and billions of years. The person of faith accepts the existence of God and that He created and made things including mankind. While creation bears witness of the Creator, the Bible reveals that the Supreme Being is a loving, heavenly Father. (See John 3:16 and 1 John 4:7).
The third and "chief cornerstone" is Jesus Christ. John tells us that Jesus existed as the divine Son of God before the creation of the world. He is the central figure of history. His uniqueness is seen in his virgin birth, his sinless life, and his resurrection from death. Isaiah the Prophet and Apostle Peter wrote of Christ, "See, I lay a stone in Zion, a chosen and precious cornerstone, and the one who trusts in him will never be put to shame" (1 Pet. 2:6 and Isaiah 28:16). See also Ephesians 2:20.
The fourth "cornerstone" is the Church which was formed by Christ himself. "And I tell you that you are Peter, and on this rock I will build my church, and the gates of Hades will not overcome it" (Matt. 16:18). Christians commit to being Christ's disciples and follow him in the fellowship of all others who also have been called from darkness to the light. The Church is our spiritual family and Christ's Kingdom on earth.
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