Summer At Sea: Week 9 Day 4

Matthew 28:16-20

16 Then the eleven disciples went to Galilee, to the mountain where Jesus had told them to go. 17 When they saw him, they worshiped him; but some doubted. 18 Then Jesus came to them and said, “All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me. 19 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, 20 and teaching them to obey everything I have commanded you. And surely I am with you always, to the very end of the age.

Many people will recognize this as the Great Commission, Christ's final instruction to His followers. In this, Christ gave the instruction to make disciples of all nations, meaning make followers of Christ everywhere, and commanded us to baptize them (Matthew 28:19). Baptism is God’s sign and seal, like a ring on the finger of a spouse, marking us as belonging to Christ. Baptism is an outward sign, declaring to the world who we belong to. Anyone who has a spouse knows that the ring on their finger is a declaration that they belong to you, and vice versa. This is what God wants; commitment to belonging to Him and Him alone. Baptism sets us apart, brought to new life in Christ, fully belonging to Him. When we believe and say yes to Christ, we want to be baptized to show the world that we are living a new life with the one and only God and Savior.