Did God really Say we are to make disciples?

Yes … yes he did.

Sort of.

Actually it was Jesus who said, “Go and make disciples of all nations.” Matthew 28:19. But what is a disciple? The word “disciple” (“mathetes” in Greek) means “pupil” or “follower.” Biblical scholars have interpreted this to mean a “follower of Jesus.” Jesus gave this command to his eleven disciples (those who followed and learned from him while he was alive). He also instructed them to: “baptize them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit. Teach them to obey everything I have commanded you.”

So what did Jesus teach? Let’s walk through his list.

* “Do not put the Lord your God to the test.” Matthew 4: 7 (your mom or dad might have said the same thing to you)

* “Repent.” Matthew 4: 17 (make a 180 turn from your life of sin)

* “Shine your light before men.” Matthew 5:16 (His light in you, not your dim-bulb light)

* Respect and honor the Law and Prophets. “I have not come to abolish them, but to fulfill them.” Matthew 5: 17  “I tell you the truth, until heaven and earth disappear, not the smallest letter, not the least stroke of a pen will by any means disappear from the Law until everything is accomplished.” Matthew 5: 18 Christ affirmed and obeyed God’s standards set in the Old Testament. You should, too.

* “Anyone who breaks one of the least of these commandments and teaches others to do the same will be called the least in the kingdom of heaven.” Matthew 5: 19  Avoid instruction from any teacher or preacher who claims that God’s Old Testament words are no longer relevant. “Every Scripture is God-breathed and profitable for instruction, for conviction, for correction, and for training in righteousness.” 2 Timothy 3:16 When the Apostle Paul wrote to Timothy, “Scripture” was the Law, Prophets, Psalms, and other Old Testament writings. If you learn from someone who encourages you to break God’s commandments and ignore the principles behind his commandments you will become as lost as they are.

Next we will look at what Jesus said about personal accountability.