Making Disciples

John 4:1

When therefore the Lord knew how the Pharisees had heard that Jesus made and baptized more disciples than John,

Much is made of discipleship classes in our day, but there was never one class in the Scriptures that taught on discipleship. Rather, the making of a disciple is a decision of the individual’s willingness to obey.

There are several key steps the Scriptures teach about people who get saved. When you first accept Christ, you are a believer. Just because you are a believer does not mean that you are a disciple. The believer is saved and on their way to Heaven, but that is simply the first step.

The second step is being a disciple. Being a disciple simply means you are being a follower of someone. The first goal of the believer should be to be a disciple of Christ, which simply means they are a follower of Christ.

The third step is being converted. You will recall that Peter was saved and a disciple, but he was yet to be converted. Jesus said to Peter in Luke 22:32, when thou art converted, strengthen thy brethren. In other words, you can be saved and be a disciple of Christ, but not be converted. To be converted is to live the Romans 12:1-2 life which says, I beseech you therefore, brethren, by the mercies of God, that ye present your bodies a living sacrifice, holy, acceptable unto God, which is your reasonable service. And be not conformed to this world: but be ye transformed by the renewing of your mind, that ye may prove what is that good, and acceptable, and perfect, will of God. Being converted is living the transformed life, which only happens when you willingly present your body to Christ as a living sacrifice.

The fourth step is to be a Christian. You can be saved and be a disciple, and even be converted, but not be a Christian. Being a Christian means you are like Christ. A Christian will never call themselves a Christian because the Christian will never believe they are like Christ but are trying to become like Him. A Christian will be called a Christian by others because people will look at that believer and will be reminded of Christ through the life that person lives.

However, you will never become a Christian without first being a disciple. Notice in the verse above that people were saved, but they did not become a disciple until they were baptized. Jesus made disciples by having those who got saved to get baptized. Baptism is the first step of growth and obedience. Nobody can be a disciple of Christ until they first get baptized.

Baptism is essential to the believer becoming like Christ. You cannot be a disciple of Christ by sitting in a class, but by being baptized. Romans 6:4 confirms this when it says, Therefore we are buried with him by baptism into death: that like as Christ was raised up from the dead by the glory of the Father, even so we also should walk in newness of life. Notice that baptism displays a person will walk in the newness of life after they get baptized, which simply means, they choose to be a follower of Christ.

If you want to make disciples of Christ, you must get your converts baptized. The reason the church in Acts grew greatly is because they made disciples by getting their converts baptized. Making a person a disciple comes through baptism. Baptize your converts, and you will make disciples of Christ.