Title: Baptismal Transaction

Focus: Christian baptism denotes a transfer of ownership to the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit

Function: To remind the hearers of the meaning of Christian baptism

Text: Mt 28:18-20

Intro:
Intro
1.  Subject - Lots of disagreement among believers today
2.  Baptism - Most protestant denominations practice it in some way
	a.  Similarity ends there
	b.  Disagreement on mode, who suitable, effect of baptism
3.  Will deal with every major passage on baptism in this series
4.  Mt 28:19-20 - First passage on Christian baptism

I.  This Passage Reveals the Unique Importance of Baptism
	A.  “Teaching them to obey all things”
		1.  Baptism not in that category, it is listed separately
		2.  Baptism singled out, so it has unique importance
	B.  Other passages that reveal baptism’s unique importance
		1.  1 Cor 1:10-17 
			a.  Paul diminishing importance of baptism here?  No
			b.  Reason Paul did not baptize
				- Human allegiance based on baptizer
				- This assumes importance of baptism
				- Paul did not want allegiance to him, but to God
			c.  His preaching did not exclude baptism
				- Preaching was his priority, because the power for
				  salvation is in the gospel (Rom 1:16)
				- Paul's emphasis on preaching, because faith
				  faith comes by hearing
				- Without faith, baptism is nothing (Mk 16:16; Heb 11:6)
			d.  Paul teach extensively on baptism in other places (Rom 6; Col 2-3)
			e.  v.13 - It is placed and discussed on the same level as the
			    cross, and being baptized into the name.  So it obviously is
			    something important.
		2.  Eph 4:4-6
			a.  Baptism placed alongside very important things
			b.  Shows unique importance of baptism
	C.  ILL:  If say important things are food, clothing, and water
		1.  What about veggies?  Shirt?  Shoes?  All included here
		2.  If say in the desert, food, clothing, water, and hat 
		     important, it has unique importance
	D.  In same way baptism has unique importance

- Why is baptism important?

II.  Baptism denotes a transfer
	A.  From the phrase - "In the name of the...."
		1.  What does that mean?
		2.  “Open up, in the name of the law”  = We mean by the authority of the law
		3.  This is not what it is about in this passage
	B.  A bit of exegesis and background
		1.  Lit:  “Baptizing them INTO THE NAME”    eis to onoma
		2.  Name in ancient time not just identification - who you are
		3.  Can see this in the phrase "eis to onoma"
			a.  Very common in business transactions
			b.  Transfer from your account to another
		4.  So "into the name of the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit" is showing a 
		    transfer of ownership
			a.  1 Cor 6:19-20 - We were bought with a price
			b.  What price? 1 Pet 1:19 - Blood
			c.  Eph 1:13 - Seal of Holy Spirit
	C.  ILL:  My ACU pen (not get taken, it identified by the logo on it)
		1.  A seal is like that - Shows ownership, protects, identifies
		2.  In Revelation those with seal escape plagues
	D.  What Holy Spirit and seal have to do with baptism?
		1.  Acts 2:38 - Baptize - Holy Spirit - New Owner, we have the seal
		2.  Baptized INTO THE NAME of Father, Son, Holy Spirit

III.  What is the central Command in this passage?    Make Disciples
	A.  Technically, it is the only command
		1.  Going, baptizing, and teaching all extensions of it
		2.  While baptism unique importance, it is in the context of 
		     making disciples
	B.  What is a disciple?
		1.  Follower, student, imitator.  Life dedicated to teacher
		2.  Same idea as transfer of ownership
		3.  What does it take to be a disciple?
			a.  Lk 14:27-33 - Be a living sacrifice
			b.  Jn 15:1-17 - Abide in him, bear fruit, keep 
			     commands --- means to love one another
	C.  These are the sorts of things involved in being a disciple
		1.  Baptism is just one small but significant part of that
		2.  It is just the beginning
		3.  Some have referred to it as a wedding ceremony, which we will look
		    at next week

IV.  Have I preached the "Gospel" this evening?
	A.  No.  I have preached baptism, which is not the Gospel
		1.  Hear believe repent confess and baptism is not the Gospel
		2.  These are "responses" to the Gospel
	B.  What is the Gospel?   Death for our sins, burial, resurrection (1 Cor 15:1-4)
	C.  First Gospel Sermon, lets read it - Acts 2:22-39

Concl:
1.  Now that you have heard Gospel, are you ready to respond to it?
2.  Ready to transfer ownership to God?