“The Great Commission”
September 18, 2024
“The Great Commission,” as Matthew 28:19 is referred to, is often translated this way: “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…” — NIV.
I’ve heard this often and had pictured it as a ceremonial and ritualistic formality directed to the baptizer rather than directed to the baptized. That’s the way it was in the denomination I grew up in. Maybe others have understood it in that same format, too.
However, after remembering many phrases like “now you are children of God,” it occurred to me that I didn’t seem to understand the verse fully or correctly.
The Greek word for “in” as defined in Strong’s Concordance: “eis” (a preposition) — properly, “into” …literally, “motion into which”…to a particular purpose or result. {emphasis mine}
This makes the phrase clear to me.
The idea is all about adoption!
Read the verses Matthew 25:40 and 2 Corinthians 6:18. So, all in all, the idea is made very plain in 1 John 3:1, “See what great love the Father has lavished on us, that we should be called children of God! And that is what we are!”
From this brief study, my understanding has become clear. It is just like my birth certificate says that I am a “Henderson,” with all its heritage and inheritance. Likewise, now, as a born again believer, I am identified with the name, “Jesus,” that is, Christ or, rather, “Christian” — with all its heritage and inheritance.
Similarly, my adopted brother has the same family name as me and has the equal status which comes with the name, “Henderson” — with all its heritage and inheritance.
He is my brother.
“So in Christ Jesus you are all children of God through faith, for all of you who were baptized into Christ have clothed yourselves with Christ. There is neither Jew nor Gentile, neither slave nor free, nor is there male and female, for you are all one in Christ Jesus. If you belong to Christ, then you are Abraham’s seed, and heirs according to the promise.” — Galatians 3:26–29, New International Translation.
It makes so much more sense to me that way and blends very well into the mix of faith and works and promise, and it has complete consistency with the entire New Testament.
As to the faith and works and promise: “You are to have put off, concerning the former way of life, the old man, which is being corrupted according to its desires of deceit, and to be renewed in the spirit of your mind, and to have put on the new man, having been created according to God in righteousness and holiness of truth.” — Ephesians 4:22–24. Berean Literal Bible.
As in 1 Peter 1:23, the same concept is repeated, “For you have been born again…” — 1 Peter 1:23.
I am sure that people who have had this “name change” understand. Just the same, I should try to make it clear to the “uninitiated” that baptism, as a ceremonial and ritualistic formality, as I had once thought, as in child baptism, even though it might be a very nice gesture, babies cannot make their own decisions, now, can they? When a person comes of age, then is the only time an individual can elect to make any name change — even within Mankind’s own legal strictures. Correct?
Still and all, I hope that everyone reading this who has come of age will look to God and Jesus to begin to deepen their understanding of the Bible in order to come to a place of changing their lives and to choosing to join the family of God, to being adopted into the Name.
“And the Spirit and the bride say, “Come!” And the one hearing, let him say, “Come!” And the one thirsting let him come; the one desiring, let him take freely the water of life.” — Revelation 22:17, BLB.
