Disciple ! Online Study

Intro   Lesson 1   2   3   4   5   6   7   [Download PDF of entire study]

Lesson 3  

Disciples are identified as disciples.

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…"

What does "baptizing" mean? Baptism is a ritual or practice involving water to identify someone as a disciple of Jesus. Baptizing is identifying someone as a disciple of Jesus through a ritual or practice using water.

Controversy.

Unfortunately, it’s easy to get distracted by a lot of theological controversies when the subject of baptism comes up. Let’s not get distracted by the mode of baptism (should we immerse in, pour, or sprinkle the water?) or the timing of baptism (should infants be baptized in anticipation of their eventual commitment to become disciples, or should only people be baptized who are old enough to make their own meaningful commitment?). Let’s rather focus on the meaning of baptism.

What’s the Meaning of Baptism?

Baptism is rich in meaning.   Baptism suggests cleansing.   When you are a disciple, you understand that you are cleansed by Christ. You understand that Christ died in your place on the cross, paying for your sins, fully forgiving you for all your wrongs. You are cleansed from guilt, and you are becoming a cleaner, healthier, more whole person.

What’s the Meaning of Baptism?

Baptism suggests an ending and a new beginning. Immersion especially dramatizes this: a person is buried under the water – signifying the end of his or her old "BC" (before Christ) life – and then rises up out of the water – signifying the beginning of his or her new life as a disciple.

What’s the Meaning of Baptism?

Baptism indicates a new identity. By way of analogy … When a woman gets married, she accepts and wears a ring, which is a symbol of her vow and commitment. The ring isn’t what makes her married, and it isn’t what makes her love her husband. The commitment is what makes her married, and the relationship is what makes her love her husband. But she wears the ring as a symbol of her new identity as a woman in commitment and relationship to her new husband.

Baptism suggests that a person has similarly entered into a relationship and commitment to Jesus Christ. It says, "Our relationship has progressed from a casual acquaintance or friendship to a deep, lifelong commitment."

Like a Wedding Ring

Not only that, but through baptism, like wearing a wedding ring, a person is going public. He is saying, "I’m not ashamed of this commitment. I want to be publicly identified as a person of commitment."

In a marriage, the ring is often associated with taking on a new name, which suggests a new identity. A woman says, "I am now the wife of John," or a man says, "I am now the husband of Joan." Before those words were not true; now they are. Now they describe a new identity.

That’s why the words in bold below are so important:

"All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me. 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."

A New Identity

Baptism means that you now identify with God as your Father, with Jesus as God’s Son, with the Holy Spirit as God not only "up there" but also God "in here" – God alive and present in your own heart, your own life. It means you aren’t ashamed of this new identity. It means you are going public with your commitment.


Let’s take some time for self-assessment:

How would you describe your relationship with God, using the marriage analogy? We’re not even acquaintances. We’ve never met. We’re casual acquaintances. I acknowledge God’s existence. We’re "dating" – I’m considered becoming more committed. We’re committed. I have accepted God’s invitation to come into a close, meaningful, intense, and lifelong relationship.

Baptism Makes a Statement

If you are committed to learn from Jesus how to live life to the full, and if you are committed to help others learn to live that way too … if you have accepted God’s invitation into a lifelong relationship … if you have accepted this new identity as a disciple … then you should be baptized to demonstrate that commitment. By being baptized, you’ll be saying, "I am a disciple, and I am committed to the mission of helping others become disciples too." (If you’d like to be baptized, please contact the church office at 847-384-9743 or by emailing Pastor Eric at eflood@southparkchurch.org)

Lesson 3 Review

Disciples are identified as disciples.
 

Used with permission of Brian McLaren and Cedar Ridge Community Church and adapted by Eric Flood