This will be the final post till 12/30.
SEARCHING FOR AND IDENTIFYING THE UNDERLYING CAUSES OF LACK OF SPIRITUAL GROWTH
In Romans 1:24-32, we see a rather exhaustive list of sins that will cause a man or woman to suffer in hell forever, but the sins are only a symptom of the real problem we see in Romans 1:18-23. Because these people knew God by the things He has made and yet did not acknowledge Him as their Creator and Owner but rather loved the world and things of the world rather than Him, He gave them up to do those terrible sins.
Perhaps their original “conversion” is another problem. Matthew 28:19-20 says, “Go ye therefore, and teach all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost: 20 Teaching them to observe all things whatsoever I have commanded you: and, lo, I am with you alway, even unto the end of the world. Amen.” The actual Greek word for teach in vs. 19 means “make disciples.” Are all members of the church aware they should have become disciples of Jesus Christ before they made the decision to be baptized? Do they even know what a disciple is? How would a disciple behave differently than just an ordinary person who wanted her sins forgiven so she would not have to suffer for her past sins? Would a genuine disciple be concerned about her spiritual growth? Would she be seeking ways to grow? Certainly a person who only wanted her sins forgiven would be satisfied to “retire” from active duty once that forgiveness was accomplished.
The Great Commission tells Christians to make disciples first. Jesus commanded to “. . . go and teach (mathetuo) all nations” (Matt. 28:19). The literal meaning of this Greek word ‘matheteuo’ is ‘go and make disciples.’ This is the very pattern Jesus followed. “. . . Jesus made and baptized more disciples than John . . .” (John 4:1-3). Even those who ask WWJD (What would Jesus do?) should at least make disciples like Jesus did. It is true that the King James versions translates this word as ‘go ye therefore and teach all nations.’ However, it is just as true that the command Jesus gave is to go and make disciples of all nations. If we expect to please our Father we will not neglect this command.
One may wonder why the word ‘disciple’ is so seldom used today except by Total Commitment groups. (They wrongly ‘disciple’ people to their own peculiar leaders and organizations, not to Jesus as they claim.) Has the gospel changed? Is this command of God no longer valid? The word disciple is the primary word used to describe Jesus’ followers. It is used 269 times in the New Testament. In contrast the word ‘Christian’ is used three times in the New Testament. Both words are valid words to describe God’s children, but God used one word far more than another for a reason. It is not traditional to use the word disciple today. The Jews could not find the truth of God because they were bound by their own traditions. To find God’s truth they would have had to have left all of the teaching of men and listened only to Christ. We are no different today. When we insist on following our peers’ tradition, we are liable not to obey God. We need to obey his command and go and make disciples of all nations. That brings us to our next question. How do we make disciples?
Does baptism make a disciple? Baptism does not make disciples. The Great Commission has three parts – the first and second parts are not the same. He did not command the apostles to make disciples by baptizing men. They did not baptize anyone who had not responded to the first part. Those who responded to the first part were ready to be baptized. The command is to “Go therefore and teach (the original Greek is go and make disciples) of all the nations, baptizing them. . .” When he says “baptizing them,” to whom is he referring? If he is saying “baptizing them (nations),” we can understand that this is impossible. All nations would not submit to baptism. If he is saying “baptizing the them (disciples),” they must have been made disciples before they were baptized. If baptizing someone makes them a disciple, then the one who is being baptized does not need to know why he is being baptized. If baptizing someone makes them disciples, then many of the denominations are obeying the first part of the great commission when they immerse someone in water because he has already been saved. Scripturally, the one being baptized must have a change of mind and understand what he is doing before he is qualified to be baptized. This qualification Jesus calls ‘making disciples.’ There is a process in making disciples. John 4:1-3 says that Jesus made and baptized more disciples than John. As Jesus was teaching, some of the Jews believed on him. Notice how they were told to be disciples indeed: “If ye continue in my word, then are ye my disciples indeed . . .” (John 8:30-31). If baptism makes one a disciple, then “once a disciple always a disciple,” for it is impossible to get ‘unbaptized.’ Jesus knew how to make disciples. We must follow our master’s example on how to make a disciple but first we must know what a disciple is.
The Lord has his own definition of what it means to be a disciple. The Greek dictionaries give a beginning definition of the word ‘disciple’ as “a learner (i.e. pupil).” This is only a beginning definition. Jesus further defines the word ‘disciple’ when he says: “The disciple is not above his master: but every one that is perfect shall be as his master” (Luke 6:40). He gives a similar definition of the purpose of a disciple by stating: “The disciple is not above his master, nor the servant above his lord. It is enough for the disciple that he be as his master, and the servant as his lord. If they have called the master of the house Beelzebub, how much more shall they call them of his household?” (Matt. 10:24-25). This explains why no man can have two masters. No man can be in the image of two masters at the same time. John’s disciples would end up being like John, and Jesus’ disciples would end up being like Jesus. Here is the Father’s eternal purpose for Jesus’ disciples. We read of this same purpose many times throughout the scriptures.
Lie not one to another, seeing that ye have put off the old man with his deeds; And have put on the new man, which is renewed in knowledge after the image of him that created him: Where there is neither Greek nor Jew, circumcision nor uncircumcision, Barbarian, Scythian, bond nor free: but Christ is all, and in all. Put on therefore, as the elect of God, holy and beloved, bowels of mercies, kindness, humbleness of mind, meekness, longsuffering; Forbearing one another, and forgiving one another, if any man have a quarrel against any: even as Christ forgave you, so also do ye. (Col. 3:9-13)
When we obey Jesus command to make a disciple, we make someone who desires to have a heart and mind like Jesus. Jesus calls men to learn of him and follow him. He is meek and lowly in heart (Matt. 11:28-30). We learn of him so that we can become like him in heart – meek and lowly, and in all of the other good ways of his heart. Some leaders emphasize many other purposes (many of a temporary nature like buildings, collection plates and numbers). This is more in line with the description of false teachers who seek to make merchandise of God’s children (2 Pet. 2:1-3). We need to emphasize the eternal purpose of God. The Lord states his purpose in Romans 8:28 to describe this same plan to have all of his children to grow in the image of Christ.
And we know that all things work together for good to them that love God, to them who are the called according to his purpose. For whom he did foreknow, he also did predestinate to be conformed to the image of his Son, that he might be the firstborn among many brethren. (Rom. 8:28-29)
He is clear. He calls souls according to his purpose. He ‘predestinated’ (predetermines) that these souls should be “conformed to the image of his Son.” He told the Colossians the same thing: “And have put on the new man, which is renewed in knowledge after the image of him that created him” (Col. 3:10). We have already put on the new man as we rise from the waters of baptism to walk the new life (Rom. 6:4). At that time we have ‘put on Christ’ (Gal. 3:27). After we put on Christ it is time for that image which we have put on to grow more in the image of Christ. This is done by being renewed in the knowledge of Christ (Col. 3:10). It is an ongoing process. “But we all, with open face beholding as in a glass the glory of the Lord, are changed into the same image from glory to glory, even as by the Spirit of the Lord” (2 Cor. 3:18).
–Beth Johnson