Bible Reading: 2 Chronicles 17-19; John 15
“Go ye therefore, and teach all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost:” Matthew 28:19 (KJV)
Jesus gave the Church this great commission just before his ascension to heaven through his disciples, to go and make disciples of all the nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and the Son and the Holy Spirit. But discipleship is not the same as becoming a Christian. True discipleship can only happen after salvation, because a disciple is one that learns of Christ and keeps on learning of Him.
The commission Christ gave was to make disciples of all nations. A disciple of Christ is a learner of Christ and we are all called to be disciples of Christ, to learn of Him and to mature in our faith. The commission Christ gave His disciples at His ascension was not simply a call to evangelize the lost, but it is equally a call for all believers to learn of Christ and to keep on learning of Him throughout their lifetime on earth, and even to become teachers of the same to others as we grow in our Christian life. “But grow in grace, and in the knowledge of our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ. To him be glory both now and for ever. Amen” – 2 Peter 3:18 (KJV)
Most time we only see the great commission as an evangelistic call to lost sinners, but it is much more than that. It is equally a call to teach those that are saved, for all believers need to learn of Christ and to be grounded in the word of God. God wants all people to be saved and also to come to the knowledge of the truth as stated in scriptures, “Who will have all men to be saved, and to come unto the knowledge of the truth.” 1 Timothy 2:4.
All disciples of Christ are believers in Him but not all believers in Christ become His disciples. Only a believer who is learning of Christ and growing in grace can truly be called a disciple of Christ. Let us all become true disciples of Christ as we learn more and more of Him, in so doing teaching others the same. “And He said unto them, “Follow Me, and I will make you fishers of men.” Matthew 4:19
Prayer: Father, help me to learn more of You through the Holy Spirit, and enable me to disciple others, so that we will all come to the knowledge of the truth in Christ Jesus.
Pastor Alfred Samuel