Discipleship is one of the most talked about, written about, and preached about concepts in the Christian faith, but for many, it can feel like discipleship is incredibly elusive. In our business-driven and productivity-minded society, we want metrics, benchmarks, strategies, independent studies, and numbers to tell how we are doing, how we are trending, and what our success rate is. We want to be sure we are investing our time well, that we’ve identified the right people, and that we are doing what we are supposed to be doing.
We can apply this mindset to discipleship, too. We often overcomplicate, overprogram, and overschedule our lives with habits, strategies, small groups, book studies, accountability groups, rituals, guardrails, checklists, and rhythms to make us feel that we are doing what we are supposed to do.
In our attempts to be disciple-makers in the 21st century, we can very easily miss the heart of Christ’s 1st-century command: “And Jesus came and said to them, ‘All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me. Go therefore and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, teaching them to observe all that I have commanded you. And behold, I am with you always, to the end of the age’” (Matt 28:18-20).
In verse 18, Jesus makes a very important declaration that must guide our thinking as we consider the rest of the text: “All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me” (Matt 28:18b, author’s emphasis added). We must recognize that Christ is King and judge (2 Tim 4:1), he alone is in control (Heb 2:18), he is building his church (Matt 16:18), he has predestined and called his people (Eph 1), he brings the dead to life (Eph 2), he sanctifies his people by his Spirit (1 Pet 1:2), and he is sovereign over everything (Rom 11:36)!
From this, we glean some helpful and encouraging insight. First, the backdrop of discipleship must start with yielding to Christ’s authority and recognizing his sovereignty in salvation and transformation. Our efforts are in vain apart from Christ's authoritative work (John 15:4-5; Mark 4:26-29; Psalm 127:1-2).
Secondly, we are emboldened with courage and confidence to proclaim Christ freely because the burden of salvation and transformation does not fall on us. So, Christ’s Great Commission comes with great comfort that he is ultimately in control of the outcome, so I can rest joyfully and contently in His providence. Jesus did not say, "Make disciples because I told you, and that's it." He said, "Make disciples because all authority is mine."
Armed with the comfort and confidence of God’s sovereignty, the disciples are charged with a command from Jesus: “Go therefore and make disciples of all nations” (Matt 28:19a, author’s emphasis added). Going is an active order, not a passive one. Often, in our fear, our desire for self-preservation, and our love of comfort, we often wait for conversations to come to us. We don’t want to upset the status quo, we don’t want to offend, we want to be liked, and we don’t want our well-polished reputation with others to suffer. For the Christian, preaching the gospel is not an afterthought or an option, it’s the overflow of a life transformed by the astounding grace and mercy of God. Active gospel proclamation is a central part of our disciple-making mission.
This brings us to the command to baptize in verse 19. Baptism in discipleship is all about proclaiming Christ and helping people identify with Christ. This evangelistic role is critical to the Great Commission. We are to proclaim Christ in a way that leads people to make an outward expression of their inward association with Christ. Jesus says in Luke 14 that being his disciple means dying to your old life and walking in newness of life with him. When we make disciples, we bid people to come and die to their jealousy, lust, pride, and selfishness, and put on Christ. We call them to a life of holiness as an obedient response to the love and mercy they have been shown by God. In this, we see that the meaning and symbolism of baptism develop out of the core meaning of discipleship: Die to yourself and put on Christ.
To this point, we’ve seen that Jesus declares his authority over all things, which gives us confidence and comfort to actively proclaim the gospel and call people to “repent and believe” (Mark 1:15).
Now what? Jesus continues with his charge by very simply telling the disciples what ongoing Christian discipleship looks like: “teaching them to observe all that I have commanded you” (Matt 28:20a).
That’s it. It’s that simple. Teach others to obey Christ!
While it is this simple, we know it’s not easy. As those being discipled, we often fail to obey because we are lazy, self-centered, distracted, and consumed by the world. We often minimize our sin, and fall into pride and arrogance all too easily. As those discipling, we often fail to teach because we become frustrated that people aren’t making “progress”, we become angry that people are not further along, we are self-righteous, and we forget the grace that we have been shown by God. Ironically, many times we can be more concerned about people obeying us over obeying the Lord, acting much like the Pharisees, and hindering the growth of others.
Now there are a couple of important observations that we must remember when it comes to teaching: First, in discipleship, we must completely rely on the Holy Spirit who is our ultimate teacher who applies the truth to the heart, mind, and soul of man. We see His work explained in John 14:26. “But the Helper, the Holy Spirit, whom the Father will send in my name, he will teach you all things and bring to your remembrance all that I have said to you.” (John 14:26, author’s emphasis added)
He alone is the great revealer of truth, and he alone is sovereign. This is such an encouraging and freeing truth! We are responsible for planting the seeds of truth from God’s Word and water with patience and endurance, but it is GOD ALONE that grows that truth within the Christian on HIS timeline by HIS Spirit (1 Cor 3:6-7).
Secondly, “Teaching them to observe all I that have commanded” (Matt 28:20a) requires us to go to God’s Word. The apostle Paul gives us some insight on this, “All Scripture is breathed out by God and profitable for teaching, for reproof, for correction, and for training in righteousness, that the man of God may be complete, equipped for every good work” (2 Tim 3:16, author’s emphasis added).
God’s Word must be central! We must not lean on our own understanding, worldly wisdom, cultural catchphrases, therapeutic morality, or our own feelings and opinions. God’s Word alone is a lamp to our feet and light to our path (Ps 119:105); confronts our soul and calls us to holiness (2 Cor 7:1); teaches us the heart of Christ (Col 2:2); and shows us how to please God (1 Thess 4:1-8). We are Bible people because we are God’s people (John 15:10-14).
Veritas Church, let’s not miss the centrality and simplicity of God’s Word in our disciple-making. A small group or book study without the Word of God may make for good conversation but will skirt Jesus’ commission for us to make disciples. Without God’s Word hidden in our hearts, a carefully crafted protective guardrail will only offer a pharisaical defense from sin. A habitual sacrifice or rhythm without obedience to God’s Word is not preferred by God (1 Samuel 15:22). Don’t make disciple-making difficult and complicated: Teach people God’s Word and how to obey it.
Our 21st-century strategies and programs are not inherently bad! But we must ask ourselves: Are they helping us learn to OBEY Christ? Are they helping us TREASURE Christ? Are they helping us KILL SIN and learn REPENTANCE? Are they helping us find JOY in Christ alone? My challenge to us is to consider Jesus' simple charge to preach the fullness of the gospel and teach those whom God has given us to obey all his commands.
Jesus doesn’t leave us alone in this disciple-making mission though. He ends with the greatest and most hopeful promise possible: “And behold, I am with you always, to the end of the age” (Matt 28:20b). Jesus gives us what theologian and pastor John Piper calls a “grace sandwich,” the gracious promise of his absolute authority and power on the one side, and the gracious promise of his constant presence on the other.
Brothers and sisters, discipleship is not complicated: Proclaim Christ, call people to die to themselves and look to Jesus, and teach those whom God has given new life all that he has commanded them. It’s not complicated, but it’s not always easy, so never forget that GOD, who is rich in mercy and sovereign over all, is with us even to the end of the age. Be encouraged, don’t fear, take heart, and simply make disciples!