Becoming a disciple is possible because of the role of the Holy Spirit in your life after accepting Jesus as Lord and Savior. Disciples are told to make other disciples.
Definition of a Disciple
Great Commission. 19 Therefore go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, 20 and teaching them to obey everything I have commanded you. And surely I am with you always, to the very end of the age.” Matthew 28: 19-20
Role of the Holy Spirit
The role of the Holy Spirit makes possible Becoming a Disciple.
(The words below are from A Primer on Power, Discovering the Dynamic Ministry of the Holy Spirit, br Dr. Scott Camp.)
If you have received Jesus as Lord and Savior, the Holy Spirit is present in your life. The moment you received Jesus as Lord and Savior, the Holy Spirit entered your life and your spirit came alive. You were “born again.” (p. 37)
“Jesus’ Great Commission mandate requires the active ministry of the Holy Spirit.” (p. 47)
God wants everyone baptized in the Holy Spirit. The Holy Spirit is God.
God wants more than getting you into Heaven; He wants to get Heaven into you! (p. 38)
There are two distinct works the Holy Spirit wants to accomplish in your life. The first occurs when you accepted Jesus as Lord and Savior. At that moment, the Spirit brought the life of God into your dead spirit, and you were born again. (Eph. 2:5)
Simultaneously, the spirit baptized you into the Body of Christ. (1 Cor. 12:13) This is Christian salvation. Then the Holy Spirit begins to work in your life.
“At its birth, the church was global.” (p. 72) The Holy Spirit filled the Apostles and they turned the world upside down. (p. 81)
The second work is the baptism of the Holy Spirit. The Book of Acts has six additional Pentecost-type outpourings of the Spirit. (p. 85-104)
Becoming a Disciple of Jesus Christ
(The following is from the excellent site Becoming a Disciple by Dr. Tony Evans.)
Being a disciple of Jesus Christ is a lot different than just going to church once or twice a week. To get excited because the preacher moved you and the choir inspired you is nice, but that’s not spiritual growth. To enjoy fellowship with your friends is a wonderful part of the Christian life, but it in and of itself is not discipleship.
The goal and the cornerstone of your activity, that which brings God the most glory, is for you to become a disciple. God’s goal is not salvation; that is just the introduction to God’s goal. He desires that those who are saved become disciples.
It is not enough simply to say: “I’m on my way to heaven.” The issue is, are you becoming like the One who is taking you to heaven? That’s discipleship, and that’s what Christ wants from you.
Discipleship is that developmental process that progressively brings Christians from spiritual infancy to spiritual maturity so that they are then able to reproduce the process with someone else. The singular, overarching goal of a disciple is to bring all of life under the lordship of Jesus Christ and then help someone else to do the same.
Notice that this brings discipleship around full circle. Disciples are to turn around and make other disciples. Ultimately, that’s how you fulfill the mandate of Matthew 28:18–20. Whether that be at home in your relationships, at work, in church, through mentoring or volunteering at the local school, or in a variety of ways—your life ought to be about discipling others to become more like Jesus Christ. That is your highest calling and purpose.
See Becoming a Christian, which comes before Becoming a Disciple.
Also, see Personal Development.
Please comment. Contact Us