Unlocking the Meaning of Baptizing

Meaning of Baptizing

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In the Greek language, the word "baptize" takes on a fascinating range of meanings, from a short-term "to dip" to a more extended "to dye" as in coloring clothing. But the truest sense of its meaning lies within the context of the verse.
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Within the New Testament, baptize or baptism can mean to dip (short-term) or to dye, as in clothing (long-term). 

Within the context of the long-term process of making a disciple, it appears that the 'baptizing' we find in Matthew 28:19 should be interpreted on the longer-term end of the scale. 

An example of this can be found within Greek literature and has to do with pickling a vegetable. Pickling involves the immersion – baptism- into an agent that permanently changes the vegetable. What was once a cucumber is now a pickle. 

This is the essence of Baptizing when it comes to making a disciple. The agent of change is the 'reality of the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit.' 

When we immerse an individual in the long-term process of becoming a disciple, the result is a permanent change that cannot be undone. 
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Join us in this lesson as we explore the profound meaning of the word Baptizing in the context of making a disciple.

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Class Handout: 

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