BECOMING AND MAKING DISCIPLES
Jesus said: “Whoever wants to be my disciple must deny themselves and take up their cross and follow me.” And he told those who decide be his disciples, “go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit,and teaching them to obey everything I have commanded you” (Matthew 28:19-20). The biblical Word of God “is useful for teaching… and training in righteousness, so that the servant of God may be thoroughly equipped for every good work.” (2 Timothy 3:16-17). The Bible informs us that the Lord rewards us now and in heaven for obeying and making disciples (Mark 10:28:31)
BIBLE INSTRUCTIONS ON BECOMING AND MAKNG DISCIPLES
In the process of taking up your cross and making disciples, you must first learn then teach others what the Word of God says about becoming a disciple of the Jesus. Below are some basic Bible instructions on becoming disciples of the Lord:
- Recognize that “All have sinned and fall short of the glory of God” (Romans 3:23).
- The wages of sin is death, but the gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord. (Romans 6:23).
- Believe that God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life. John 3:16
- Believe that except you repent and accept Jesus Christ as your Savior and Lord you will perish (John 3:17-18; Luke 13:3).
- Repent and be baptized, every one of you, in the name of Jesus Christ for the forgiveness of your sins. And you will receive the gift of the Holy Spirit. (Acts 2:38)
- Pray that the heavenly Father’s will be done that whoever have a heart’s desire to repent and believe in God’s Son would be conformed to likeness or God’s Son (Romans 8:29).
- Be empower by the Holy Spirit to be conformed the likeness of God’s Son; and to proclaim the gospel of Jesus Christ to make other disciples (John 16:13-15; Acts 1:8)
- Be willing to proclaim the gospel of Jesus Christ at home and abroad as the Spirit Leads—among family and friends, on the job, at school, in hospitals and rehab centers, in prisons, and any place in the world that God has called you to go.
- Support others with your prayers and provisions who minister the gospel in places you may not be able to go.
- Follow what the Lord said: “Whoever wants to be my disciple must deny themselves and take up their cross and follow me” (Mark 8:34).
CONFIRMATION OF HAVING BECOME A DISCIPLE OF THE LORD
Jesus said: “If you love Me, you will keep My commandment” (John 14:15).
“’Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your strength and with all your mind’ and, ‘Love your neighbor as yourself”’ (Luke 10:27).
“A new command I give you: Love one another. As I have loved you, so you must love one another” (John 13:34).
THE LORD REWARDS US FOR BECOMING AND MAKING DISCIPLES
We may learn and profit from what the Lord told his disciples about being rewarded for obeying and making others disciples:
Peter, proudly said to the Lord, “We have left everything to follow you!” and to preach the gospel and make disciples.
Jesus replied to his disciples and us: “No one who has left home or brothers or sisters or mother or father or children or fields for me and the gospel will fail to receive a hundred times as much in this present age: homes, brothers, sisters, mothers, children and fields—along with persecutions—and in the age to come eternal life.” (Mark.” 10:28-31). And the Lord will give each of his disciples “a crown of righteousness” (2 Timothy 4:8).
