The Purpose of the Gospel: To Make Disciples

Week 43, Thursday
Marilyn Kirkpatrick
 
Go therefore and make disciples of all the nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and the Son and the Holy Spirit, teaching them to observe all that I commanded you; and lo, I am with you always, even to the end of the age. Matthew 28:19-20 (nasb)

I recently got an iPhone. I had heard of its amazing capability and considered it a great asset to my busy life. However, for awhile I didn’t realize its full potential. I have learned I can make a phone call, web surf, find a map, snap a picture, e-mail it immediately, download attachments, calculate tips, and even order my favorite Starbucks beverage ahead of time to have it waiting when I arrive! For so long, I used the phone only for calls, e-mails, and texts. While I have discovered more “apps” I realize I still have not used it for its full purpose. There is much more an iPhone is intended to do.

The gospel message—the good news of Jesus—is often underutilized in its full and intended purpose. We limit the gospel to simply the source we use for reaching the lost, bringing them into a relationship with God, and securing their salvation. Salvation is only the beginning of the purpose of the gospel! It is, as Paul stated, “The power of God for salvation to everyone who believes” (Romans 1:16, nasb), but he goes on to say in Romans 1:17, “For in it the righteousness of God is revealed from faith to faith.” What is that “righteousness of God” revealed? It is God’s holy standard for man. Righteousness means conformity to the right.

God tells us in Genesis 1:26 that we are created in the image of God. To what then is man to be conformed? Romans 8:29 says we are to be conformed to the image of Christ. At salvation we received not only the righteousness of God (right standing before Him), but by faith that righteousness is reproduced in us so that we can live the right way before God. His righteousness reproduced in us is what conformity to the image of Christ looks like—being Christlike.

Christlikeness is what making disciples is all about—the process of being conformed to His image. Salvation occurs in a single moment, but Christlikeness occurs as we progressively mature. Through biblical discipleship, we learn to live like Christ. The calling given by Jesus in Matthew 28:19-20 is answered, using the gospel for its full and intended purpose.

Father, help us to realize the power of the gospel to not only reach the lost but transform our very lives into the image of Christ. Give us willing hearts to invest the gospel message in others and walk along with them in the discipleship process. Amen.

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