Biblical discipleship

The Basics of Biblical Discipleship

by Nolan McFadden Α Text: Matthew 28:18-20 Before our Lord Jesus ascended to Heaven, He gave His disciples some very important instructions. These instructions are known as “the great commission of Christ” and are found in Matthew 28:18-20. Jesus said, “Go ye therefore, and teach all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost: Teaching them to observe all things whatsoever I have commanded you: and, lo, I am with you always, even unto the end of the world. Amen.” (Matthew 28:19-20) There are three parts in the great commission of Jesus Christ. They are: 1. “Go ye therefore, and teach all nations,” is the first part. Here the word teach is translated from the Koine Greek word  This is the second person plural first aorist active imperative of  as recorded in the Textus Receptus (Greek New Testament). The word means to teach in such a way as to make disciples. The first thing we must teach is to repent and believe the gospel message (Matthew 4:17, Mark 1:14-15). Thus, we must first share the gospel message and bring souls to salvation in Jesus Christ (Acts 14:21-22, Romans 1:15-17; 10:9-15).

2. The second is “baptizing them in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost.” Baptizing means to immerse in water. See Discovering the Faith Once Delivered to the Saints, Bible study #12. After people are saved, they must be baptized by immersion in the name of the Father, the Son and the Holy Spirit (Matthew 3:16-17; 28:19, Acts 2:41; 8:37-39; 16:30-34).

3. “Teaching them to observe all things whatsoever I have commanded you:” is the third part. It is extremely important that we understand the context of Matthew 28:20. Jesus was speaking to his disciples (Matthew 28:16). Therefore, the “all things whatsoever I have commanded you,” in verse twenty refers to the commands Jesus gave His disciples during His earthly ministry (the New Testament commands of Jesus Christ). Without a doubt, the third part of the great commission of Jesus Christ is often the most neglected in the lives of believers.

I. What is a disciple?

The word “disciple” is translated from the Koine Greek word μαθητης. It refers to a person who is learning and following the teachings of another person (Matthew 5:1-2, John 13:13-15).

II. What is a disciple of Jesus Christ in the New Testament Scriptures?

In the New Testament a “disciple” of Jesus Christ was a person who had been born again of the Holy Spirit and was following Jesus and his teachings (John 8:31-32, 47; 10:27; 14:15-23; 17:6-8, Acts 6:1-7; 11:26; 14:20-23). Those who continued in Christ’s “word” (the teachings of Jesus) demonstrated that they were his authentic “disciples” (John 8:31-32).

2 Following the New Testament model, we see that we also are saved and called to be “disciples” of Jesus in our time. Just as our Lord Jesus said to Peter, Andrew, Philip and Matthew in the first century, “fear not” and “follow me,” he reaches out to each of us in our current circumstances. Jesus says, “Don’t be afraid, follow me.” If we believe and follow Him, we will have a new, better, abundant “life” “in Christ” (Matthew 4:18-20; 9:9; 28:9-10, Luke 12:4-9, John 1:43; 6:18-20; 21:22, 2 Corinthians 5:17).

Consequently, every genuine “Christian” is a “disciple” of Christ Jesus (Acts 11:25-26). We are part of “the multitude of the disciples” and members of God’s eternal family and kingdom through salvation “in Christ” (Acts 6:2, Galatians 3:26-29, Colossians 1:13-14).

III. What is necessary to be a disciple of Jesus Christ?

A. First, it is necessary to be “born again” of the Holy Spirit (Mark 1:14-15, John 1:12-13; 3:3-7; 5:24). This is the first step in truly following Jesus. Being “born again” of the Holy Spirit means more than being baptized in water or being a member of a church. It must include personal faith in Jesus Christ that saves and changes your heart and life (2 Corinthians 5:17, Ephesians 2:8-9, Titus 3:4-6). It includes “repentance toward God, and faith toward our Lord Jesus Christ” (Acts 20:21). It involves believing the message of “the gospel” in your heart and calling on the name of our Lord Jesus in prayer to receive the gift of salvation (Mark 1:14-15, Romans 10:9-13, 1 Corinthians 15:1-4).

B. Being a disciple of Christ Jesus includes having a heart that is ready to follow Him and His teachings. To follow Jesus we need “an honest and good heart” that is ready to receive “the Scriptures of truth” and continue in the “word” of Christ (Psalm 119:36, Matthew 13:23, Luke 8:15).

IV. How are we to make disciples?

A. The best method to use in making disciples of Jesus is the same method our Lord presented in Matthew 28:20. Why? Because Jesus is the perfect, sinless, omniscient teacher (Luke 6:40). He is wiser and has more knowledge than all other teachers, professors, pastors, and counselors. We cannot find a better teacher than our Lord Jesus Christ. He instructed, “Teaching them to observe all things whatsoever I have commanded you:” (Matthew 28:20) Notice the words “all things whatsoever I have commanded you:.” This refers to the New Testament commands that Jesus taught his disciples during his time of ministry with them on earth in the first century. These commands are recorded in the New Testament Scriptures (Luke 1:1-4). Thus, we must teach Christians the need to be practicing the New Testament commands of our Lord Jesus in our daily living.

B. Jesus said, “Teaching them…” (28:20) But what primary source are we to use in teaching the believers? We are to teach them directly from the Scriptures (John 8:31-32; 17:6-8; 17:17).

Note that Jesus said, “…in my word,” in John 8:31. Consequently, biblical discipleship must include teaching the Scriptures.

C. In the New Testament we discover the methods that Jesus used to teach. For example, Christ Jesus used: 1. Personal testimony – John 5:36-37; 8:38; 17:1-11, Acts 4:20

3 2. His example (attitude, conduct, priorities, habits, communications) – John 13:15, 1 Timothy 4:12, 1 Peter 1:15 3. Life stories – Luke 10:30-37 4. Objects – Matthew 5:15 “candle” and “candlestick”; Matthew 7:19 “tree” and “fruit”; John 6:32 “bread” 5. Illustrations – Matthew 13:33 6. Parables – Matthew 13:3 7. Learning from the good or bad example of others in the news – Luke 13:1-5 8. Questions – Matthew 16:13-16 V. How does biblical discipleship benefit our lives?

1. Transformation of our hearts and minds to become more and more conformed to the likeness of Jesus Christ with each passing day (Romans 8:29, James 1:21) 2. To have the mind of Christ (Philippians 2:1-11) 3. To learn to live as Christ Jesus lived here (1 John 2:6) 4. To grow “in grace, and in the knowledge of our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ.”

(2 Peter 3:18) 5. To honor and glorify our Heavenly Father (John 15:8) 6. To have “much” spiritual fruit (John 15:1-8) 7. To demonstrate our love for and supreme allegiance to Jesus the true Christ of Israel (John 14:15; 14:21-23) 8. To love as Christ loved in this present world (1 John 4:16-17) 9. To learn personal application of the commands of Jesus to our daily lives (John 14:21-23) 10. To be “living epistles” “known and read of all men” (2 Corinthians 3:2) 11. To learn in all circumstances of life to ask yourself, “What would Jesus do in this situation?” WWJD? Seek the command of Christ in the New Testament that applies, and do it for Christ’s glory. Imitate the example of our Lord Jesus (Luke 6:46, John 13:15, 1 John 2:6).

12. To grow in Christian love for “all the saints” including those who are in need or are suffering for Christ under persecution in other countries (John 13:35, Ephesians 1:15, Colossians 1:4, 2 Thessalonians 1:3, 1 John 3:16-18) 13. To continue in the Word of Christ (“in my word” - John 8:31-32) 14. To be “fishers of men” for Jesus (Learning how to win souls to Christ – Matthew 4:19, Mark 16:15-16) 15. To know the Scriptures (the Holy Bible – Matthew 22:29, 2 Timothy 3:14-17) Ω © 2006 Nolan McFadden copies permitted with permission from author