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“Jesus approached the disciples and said to them, “All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to Me. Therefore, as you are going, make disciples of all people, baptizing them into the Name of the Father and the Son and the Holy Spirit, teaching them to obediently do everything I have commanded you; and listen, I am always with you, even to the end of time.” (Matthew 28:18-20, MSV)
The term, "make disciples" in Matthew 28:19 is an imperative verb - a command. So, how do we properly respond to what we have learned about personal discipleship and this command to make disciples? Consider these verses:
“And the things that you have heard me say among many witnesses, entrust these to faithful men who will be qualified to teach others as well.” (2 Timothy 2:2, BSB)
“Be doers of the word, and not hearers only. Otherwise, you are deceiving yourselves. For anyone who hears the word but does not carry it out is like a man who looks at his face in a mirror, and after observing himself goes away and immediately forgets what he looks like. But the one who looks intently into the perfect law of freedom, and continues to do so—not being a forgetful hearer, but an effective doer—he will be blessed in what he does.” (James 1:22–25, BSB)
“So you see, faith by itself isn’t enough. Unless it produces good deeds, it is dead and useless.” (James 2:17, NLT)
“Remember, it is sin to know what you ought to do and then not do it.” (James 4:17 NLT)
“So then, my beloved, just as you have always obeyed, not as in my presence only, but now much more in my absence, carry out your own salvation with fear and trembling; because God is the one working in you, both to will and to work for His good pleasure.” (Philippians 2:12–13, MSV)
“that God was reconciling the world to Himself in Christ, not counting men’s trespasses against them. And He has committed to us the message of reconciliation. Therefore we are ambassadors for Christ, as though God were making His appeal through us. We implore you on behalf of Christ: Be reconciled to God.” (2 Corinthians 5:19–20, BSB)
So, in light of the facts that:
God is the one working in us,
we are ambassadors for Christ,
God is making his appeal through us,
we need to recognize that our personal discipleship is only possible by the work of God. That work is seen and accomplished through Holy Spirit acts of grace, commonly referred to as Spiritual Gifts.
1 Corinthians 12:4–7 teaches us that:
There are varieties of gifts, (v. 4)
There are varieties of roles, (v. 5)
There are varieties of workings. (v. 6)
Verse 7 tells us that spiritual gifts are actually manifestations of Holy Spirit.
Manifestation means to disclose, reveal or make known the existence, presence, or nature of a person or thing. What we call spiritual gifts are actually works of grace by Holy Spirit, who is manifesting Himself through us by way of His acts of grace.
The articles linked below are intended to help you discern what God wants you to do regarding personal discipleship. It is best to consider them in the order listed.
(This Page Last Updated 2/1/2025)
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