Make Disciples
In my January 7 blog, "Follow Jesus", I shared about the necessity of a believer becoming a disciple of Jesus. I stated, "By definition a disciple is a learner, one who follows both the teacher and the teaching."
Today, I would like to share an aspect of discipleship from a different perspective.
We will begin by reading Matthew 28:18-20 (NLT), "Jesus came and told his disciples, "I have been given all authority in heaven and on earth. 19 Therefore, go and make disciples of all the nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and the Son and the Holy Spirit. 20 Teach these new disciples to obey all the commands I have given you. And be sure of this: I am with you always, even to the end of the age." This conversation took place between Jesus and His disciples when they met with Him in Galilee, following His death and resurrection. These verses are referred to as 'The Great Commission.' Be aware, that in speaking these words, Jesus did give the apostles a divinely commanded mission.
Many in the church have received and acted upon this command to "go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit."
However, my blog topic today comes from my observation (not as a criticism) that many churches and believers have failed to realize that Jesus did not merely tell them to make 'converts', but, to make disciples. The divine command in the Great Commission did not end with verse 19. The command was not to just get people converted to a saving relationship with Christ and have them get baptized. In verse 20, Jesus added, "teaching" them to observe all things that I have commanded you."
I believe this is an area where many churches have failed. I believe there are many pastors who got caught up in teaching a social gospel and the Word of God and it's importance has been cast aside. Therefore, the church has not been as effective and strong as it should be. We need to do a better job of teaching those who accept Christ to become true disciples of Christ.
The Greek word for "teaching" in verse 20 is didasko. Didasko means to impart instruction and to instill doctrine into one.
Remember, a disciple is one who follows both the teacher and the teaching. If a new believer is not being taught, led by example, or is not learning on their own, they will not become a true disciple.
Look at what 2 Peter 1:2-4 tells us, "Grace and peace be multiplied to you in the knowledge (precise and correct knowledge) of God and of Jesus our Lord, 3 for His divine power has granted to us everything pertaining to life and godliness, through the true knowledge of Him who called us by His own glory and excellence. 4 Through these He has granted to us His precious and magnificent promises, so that by them you may become partakers of the divine nature, having escaped the corruption that is in the world on account of lust."
Luke 6:40 (Holman Christian Standard Bible) reads, "A disciple is not above his teacher, but everyone who is fully trained will be like his teacher." We will realize we are being effective in training converts when we see that their life is an imitation of Christ.
Paul told Timothy in 2 Timothy 2:2 (NASB), "The things which you have heard from me in the presence of many witnesses, entrust these to faithful people who will be able to teach others also."
When we look at 1 Thessalonians 1:5-8 (NASB20), "for our gospel did not come to you in word only, but also in power and in the Holy Spirit and with full conviction; just as you know what kind of men we proved to be among you for your sakes. 6 You also became imitators of us and of the Lord, having received the word during great affliction with the joy of the Holy Spirit, 7 so that you became an example to all the believers in Macedonia and Achaia. 8 For the word of the Lord has sounded forth from you, not only in Macedonia and Achaia, but in every place the news of your faith toward God has gone out, so that we have no need to say anything." As each convert is discipled (or taught) then, they are able to teach or disciple someone else.
Sad to say, I have found that many believers, even those who attend church, do not know the Word of God. It is by the example of other believers who disciple new converts that they learn to love God's Word.
Jesus is the Living Word, and we can not be like Him, if we do not know Him.
Paul, very resolutely, expresses his desire to 'know' Christ in Philippians 3:8-17 (AMP), "But more than that, I count everything as loss compared to the priceless privilege and supreme advantage of knowing Christ Jesus my Lord [and of growing more deeply and thoroughly acquainted with Him--a joy unequaled]. For His sake I have lost everything, and I consider it all garbage, so that I may gain Christ, 9 and may be found in Him [believing and relying on Him], not having any righteousness of my own derived from [my obedience to] the Law and its rituals, but [possessing] that [genuine righteousness] which comes through faith in Christ, the righteousness which comes from God on the basis of faith. 10 And this, so that I may know Him [experientially, becoming more thoroughly acquainted with Him, understanding the remarkable wonders of His Person more completely] and [in that same way experience] the power of His resurrection [which overflows and is active in believers], and [that I may share] the fellowship of His sufferings, by being continually conformed [inwardly into His likeness even] to His death [dying as He did; 11 so that I may attain to the resurrection [that will raise me] from the dead. 12 Not that I have already obtained it [this goal of being Christlike] or have already been made perfect, but I actively press on so that I may take hold of that [perfection] for which Christ Jesus took hold of me and made me His own. 13 Brothers and sisters, I do not consider that I have made it my own yet; but one thing I do: forgetting what lies behind and reaching forward to what lies ahead, 14 I press on toward the goal to win the [heavenly] prize of the upward call of God in Christ Jesus. 15 All of us who are mature [pursuing spiritual perfection] should have this attitude. And if in any respect you have a different attitude, that too God will make clear to you. 16 Only let us stay true to what we have already attained. 17 Brothers and sisters, together follow my example and observe those who live by the pattern we gave you. 18 For there are many, of whom I have often told you, and now tell you even with tears, who live as enemies of the cross of Christ [rejecting and opposing His way of salvation]."
How do we recognize a disciple? What does a true disciple look like? Jesus taught throughout the Gospels how we recognize a disciple.
John 8:31 and 32, "Then Jesus said to those Jews who believed Him, "If you abide in My word, you are My disciples indeed. 32 "And you shall know the truth, and the truth shall make you free."
John 15:8 (NLT), "When you produce much fruit, you are my true disciples. This brings great glory to my Father."
Galatians 5:22-24, "But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, longsuffering, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, 23 gentleness, self-control. Against such there is no law. 24 And those who are Christ's have crucified the flesh with its passions and desires."
John 13:34 and 35, "A new commandment I give to you, that you love one another; as I have loved you, that you also love one another. 35 "By this all will know that you are My disciples, if you have love for one another."
Mark 8:34 and 38, "When He had called the people to Himself, with His disciples also, He said to them, "Whoever desires to come after Me, let him deny (to forget one's self, lose sight of one's self and one's own interests) himself, and take up his cross, and follow Me. 35 "For whoever desires to save his life will lose it, but whoever loses his life for My sake and the gospel's will save it. 36 "For what will it profit a man if he gains the whole world, and loses his own soul? 37 "Or what will a man give in exchange for his soul? 38 "For whoever is ashamed of Me and My words in this adulterous and sinful generation, of him the Son of Man also will be ashamed when He comes in the glory of His Father with the holy angels."
So, according to the Scriptures, we have just read, a true disciple will know the Word of God, bear fruit, display the fruits of the Spirit, love one another and think of the interests of others before their own. After they have learned the Word of God, or the Truth, they will be an example and pass on what they have learned.
In addition, there are those whom Christ has endued with gifts and callings to equip the saints. We read in Ephesians 4:11-16 (NASB20), "And He gave some as apostles, some as prophets, some as evangelists, some as pastors and teachers, 12 for the equipping (making fit, preparing, training, making fully qualified for service) of the saints for the work of ministry, for the building up of the body of Christ; 13 until we all attain to the unity of the faith, and of the knowledge of the Son of God, to a mature man, to the measure of the stature (maturity) which belongs to the fullness of Christ. 14 As a result, we are no longer to be children, tossed here and there by waves and carried about by every wind of doctrine, by the trickery of people, by craftiness in deceitful scheming; 15 but speaking the truth in love, we are to grow up in all aspects into Him who is the head, that is, Christ, 16 from whom the whole body, being fitted and held together by what every joint supplies, according to the proper working of each individual part, causes the growth of the body for the building up of itself in love." Verse 13 of this reference teaches that we are to come into the stature of the fullness of Christ. The word 'fullness' means: filled with the presence, power, agency, and riches of Christ. When we reach that level of maturity, our lives would reflect His spiritual completeness.
2 Corinthians 3:18 then, tells us, "But we all, with unveiled faces, looking as in a mirror at the glory of the Lord, are being transformed into the same image from glory to glory, just as from the Lord, the Spirit." We are transformed into the image of Jesus by the Holy Spirit. We are to be a reflection of Christ to the world.
My prayer is that those who have been placed in the church to disciple and those of us who are disciples would fulfill the divine commanded mission Christ gave us - to make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father, and the Son, and the Holy Spirit, and teaching them to observe all things Christ commanded.
What things you have learned, teach others!
Be an example to all you meet!
Reflect Jesus to one and all!