Am I a Disciple of Christ?
Matthew 28:18-20
The last commandment that Jesus spoke before His ascension into heaven was to go make disciples of all the nations. We are to make disciples? How do we make disciples?
This week as we had family in visiting from out of state, most of them made the trip to Amish Country. But for those of us who stayed home I was playing the role of host and decided that we would cook hotdogs out on the grill. The problem was that I don’t normally eat chili on my hotdogs but I figured that my guest would want some on their hotdogs. So I had to go to the store to get the ingredients in order to make the chili. So I asked one of my guests if they knew how to make chili and they said yes. So I asked them to go with me to get the ingredients. But I guess I forgot to explain that I wanted hotdog chili and not the kind that you eat in a bowl with crackers. Have you ever had chili with beans on your hotdog? My guest (who was from New York) was in charge of making the chili so not to hurt his feelings I ate some on my hotdogs. Not too bad but the after effect was, let’s just say, shared the rest of the night.
My point is that there are different meanings for the word chili and there are different meanings for the word disciple.
So remember the questions that I asked earlier? Am I a disciple of Christ? If so how do we make others disciples? My intent this morning is to give a clear definition of what a disciple is and what we need to do to make others disciples.
What is a Disciple of Christ?
The first thing that we need in order to answer the question is determine what a Disciple is. When I say the word disciple you probably thinking of the twelve men who followed Jesus who we refer to as the disciples.
Webster’s dictionary defines the word disciple as a follower. So does the word disciple mean someone who follows Christ?
That is kind of a trick question because the answer is yes and no. Think about it. Judas was called a disciple. We read about how many multitudes would follow Him, so were they all disciples?
We read in John 6:65-67And He said, “Therefore I have said to you that no one can come to Me unless it has been granted to him by My Father” Form that time many of His disciples went back and walked with Him no more. Then Jesus said to the twelve, “Do you also want to go away?”
Jesus had a lot of Disciples, or followers. The word disciple we read about in John in the Greek ment those who were learners. You need to look at the context when you see the word disciple being used because of the different meanings of the word.
You could be a disciple by following Jesus or from learning from Him. He was a wonderful teacher and He put on a pretty good show with all the miracles. And that is why a lot of people could call themselves disciples. They come to be entertained.
And I think even today some come to church to be entertained, or we use coming to church as a social event. There is nothing wrong with enjoying some good singing or a good sermon or in the case of this church to see what mistake the pastor will make next.
But that is not the disciple that we are commanded to make all Nations of.
But the kind of disciples that we are commanded to make is found in Peter’s reply to Jesus when asked if they also wanted to go away.
John 6:68-69 But Simon Peter answered Him, “Lord whom shall we go? You have the words of eternal life. Also we have come to believe and know that You are the Christ, the Son of the living God”.
That is what a disciple is and that is what we are to go out and make others.
Acts 11:26 So it was that for a whole year they assembled with the church and taught a great many people. And the disciples were first called Christians in Antioch.
A disciple is not just someone who comes to Church. It is not just someone who is a good person and follows Christ example. There will be a lot of good people in Hell. We are not saved by being good and we are not disciples by doing good.
Ephesians 2:8-9 For by grace you have been saved through faith, and that not of yourselves; it is the gift of God, not of works, least anyone should boast.
A disciple of Christ is not just someone who believes in Christ.
James 2:19 You believe that there is on God. You will do well. Even the demons believe and tremble.
There is a difference is believing in a supreme being called God and accepting Him as your personal Savior.
So what is a disciple of Christ? A disciple of Christ is someone who admits that they are a sinner and they repent of their sin. They believe that Jesus was the Son of God. And that He died, was buried, and rose up from the dead on the third day, and He now reigns in Heaven. And then after they accept Christ they confess Him as their Savior. Anyone who has truly been saved there will be a change.
2 Corinthians 5:17 Therefore if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation; old things have passed away; behold, all things have become new.
So anyone who receives Christ is their Savior is a disciple, which leads to my next question.
What we need to do to make others disciples?
Jesus just before He ascended into Heaven to prepare a place for us, commands His disciples to “Go therefore and make disciples of all the nations”.
No longer was Jesus going to be here to walk this earth. No longer was He going to preach to the multitudes. He was passing that job on to us.
2 Corinthians 5:20 Now then, we are ambassadors for Christ, as though God were pleading through us: we implore you on Christ behalf, be reconciled to God.
The word ambassador here means more than a messenger. It means you are the representatives of the one who sent them. We can be the only Christ that others may see. We are to be the ones who represent Christ on His behalf.
How do we do that?
By the way we act.
Matthew 5:16 Let your light so shine before men, that they may see your good works and glorify your Father in heaven.
We are not going to be perfect, but we now have the Holy Spirit to help us and convict us when we do wrong.
We do it by the way we talk.
Some times we need to do more than just live a good life. Like I have said before, there will be a lot of good people who will be in hell. We are to be the ones who share the good news of Jesus Christ. And one of the best ways to do that is just simply just share with others what Christ has done in our own lives.
If you came upon a bridge that had washed out would you just turn around and go another way and not notify anyone else as the night hours were approaching? Letting the chance of someone else coming upon it in the dark and not seeing the bridge out and plunging to their deaths?
No we would warn everyone we could. So why do we sit around an not have a sense of urgency for those who don’t know Christ as their own personal Savior?
We are His workmanship created for good works and not good looks. We are to be the ones to lead others to be disciples for Christ.
Let’s pray.
