Un-denominating Christianity The Pre-Baptism Disciple

Doctrine Which Divides One doctrine which separates churches of Christ from most every denomination is the essentiality of baptism. Almost no denomination will teach that baptism is essential for salvation. We need to remember, though, that baptism is only one step in the grand scheme of redemption.

How Do You Make A Disciple? The Great Commission Matthew 28:18-20 -- And Jesus came up and spoke to them, saying, “All authority has been given to Me in heaven and on earth. Go therefore and make disciples of all the nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and the Son and the Holy Spirit, teaching them to observe all that I commanded you; and lo, I am with you always, even to the end of the age.”

Three Parts Of The Commission Part One: Go and make disciples of all the nations. How is a disciple made? Mark 16:15 – “And He said to them, ‘Go into all the world and preach the gospel to all creation.’” Disciples are made when the gospel is preached.

Part Two: Baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit. Entrance into relationship with the Father, Son and Holy Spirit requires baptism. More about this in next week’s sermon.

Part Three: “Teaching them to observe all I have commanded you….” Teaching about the life, worship and behavior of baptized believers in the church. More teaching on this in two weeks.

Two Five-Finger Illustrations Walter Scott in 1827 Faith Repentance Baptism Remission of Sins Gift of the Holy Spirit Modern Hear Believe Repent Confess Be baptized

The Pre-Baptism Four What Are We To Hear? Romans 10:17 – “So faith comes from hearing, and hearing by the word of Christ.” Romans 1:16 -- For I am not ashamed of the gospel, for it is the power of God for salvation to everyone who believes, to the Jew first and also to the Greek.

1 Corinthians 15:1-2 “Now I make known to you, brethren, the gospel which I preached to you, which also you received, in which also you stand, by which also you are saved, if you hold fast the word which I preached to you, unless you believed in vain.”

So what gospel must be heard? A case for the core gospel 1 Corinthians 15:3-4 -- For I delivered to you as of first importance what I also received, that Christ died for our sins according to the Scriptures, and that He was buried, and that He was raised on the third day according to the Scriptures….” Death, burial, resurrection

Remaining Gospel As we teach them to observe all that Christ commanded. Acts 2:42 – “They were continually devoting themselves to the apostles’ teaching and to fellowship, to the breaking of bread and [a]to prayer.”

What must we believe? Romans 10:14 – “How then will they call on Him in whom they have not believed? How will they believe in Him whom they have not heard? And how will they hear without a preacher?” 1 Cor. 1:21 – “…God was well- pleased through the foolishness of the message preached to save those who believe.

Hebrews 11:6 “And without faith it is impossible to please Him, for he who comes to God must believe that He is and that He is a rewarder of those who seek Him.” Belief is in God, Christ and the Holy Spirit and salvation through God’s plan. Belief is in eternal judgment either with or away from God.

Of What Must We Repent Acts 3:19 – “…Therefore repent and return, so that your sins may be wiped away, in order that times of refreshing may come from the presence of the Lord….” We repent of being alien sinners away from relationship with God.

2 Corinthians 7:10 “For the sorrow that is according to the will of God produces a repentance without regret, leading to salvation, but the sorrow of the world produces death.” We repent of all those things that stand against the will of God. Sin in general.

Luke 15:7 “I tell you that in the same way, there will be more joy in heaven over one sinner who repents than over ninety-nine righteous persons who need no repentance.” We repent of unrighteousness and sin and strive for righteousness.

What Must We Confess? Mark 1:5 – “And all the country of Judea was going out to him, and all the people of Jerusalem; and they were being baptized by him in the Jordan River, confessing their sins.” Matthew 10:32 -- “Therefore everyone who confesses Me before men, I will also confess him before My Father who is in heaven….”

Romans 10:9-10 “…that if you confess with your mouth Jesus as Lord, and believe in your heart that God raised Him from the dead, you will be saved; for with the heart a person believes, resulting in righteousness, and with the mouth he confesses, resulting in salvation.”

Philippians 2:11 “…and that every tongue will confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father.”