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“Go therefore and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, teaching them to observe all that I have commanded you. And behold, I am with you always, to the end of the age.” Matthew 28:19-20
How seriously do you take Jesus’ call to go and make disciples?
These certainly are troubling days we’re living through. I can’t help but be reminded that these are the kind of circumstances we are told to expect in the very last days. It makes our calling to grow in Christ-like maturity and make disciples of all nations seem that much more urgent.
Paul certainly felt the urgency of Jesus’ call to go and make disciples. In fact, the whole reason he is writing a letter to the Colossians is because he takes this call very seriously. Paul’s entire life after his conversion was dedicated to bringing the good news of the gospel to those who did not know it and encouraging and admonishing believers toward maturity in Christ.
The section we are looking at today in our study is Paul’s description of what his ministry as an apostle looks like and how and why he does all the work he does. His description, written nearly 2,000 years ago, is still instructive to us today on how we ought to be discipling others in the faith.
Let’s jump in and find out what it means to go and make disciples of all nations.
The Struggles of a Discipler
Paul begins this section of his letter by making an astonishing claim. He says that he rejoices in [his] suffering for [their] sake (vs 1:24). Paul uses the words suffering and struggle three different times throughout this section to describe his ministry work. The work of making disciples is hard, and Paul is no stranger to the hardship involved in this work. In fact, he is writing this letter from a Roman prison cell. He is a prisoner as a consequence of discipling the nations.
The hardship that results from making disciples is no surprise. In fact, Jesus guarantees that it will happen. Jesus, in Luke 21:17 says, “You will be hated by all for my name’s sake. He is describing one of the consequences of bringing the good news to the nations. But just two verses later, Jesus promises “By your endurance you will gain your lives (Luke 21:19).”
This is how Paul can make the amazing claim that he actually rejoices in suffering for the sake of the people he is discipling. By enduring the trials that come with proclaiming the good news of the gospel, Paul is actually gaining life for himself and for those he is discipling.
Paul then goes on to say that he is glad that he is filling up what is lacking in Christ’s afflictions for the sake of his body, that is, the church (1:24). It sounds as though Paul thinks Christ’s afflictions weren’t sufficient for our salvation and so he, Paul, has to pick up the slack. But that’s not what he means. Rather, as Paul says in 2 Corinthians 1:5, the church shares in the afflictions of Christ when we suffer for the sake of Christ. Paul also believed that the church was to undergo a certain amount of suffering before the second coming of Christ, and he was happy to take some of that suffering on himself so that others in the church might be spared from experiencing it 1.
Paul rejoices in his suffering for the church because it is a sign that God is at work in the church and that the end times are drawing nearer as the suffering that Jesus foretold becomes a reality.
The Job of a Discipler
In verse 25 of chapter 1, Paul reminds the Colossians that his job as an apostle and discipler was given to him by God. And then he outlines some of the things that he has been called to do as a discipler. Today, we are called to do some of the same things as we carry the good news to the ends of the earth.
Disciples who make disciples:
1.Make the mystery of God fully known (vs. 1:26). Can you imagine living in Old Testament times and never fully understanding why God was choosing to do the things he did or how it would all come out right in the end? This is the mystery that Paul is referring to. And this mystery has been revealed to those who believe in Jesus – both to Jews and non-Jews (Gentiles). Paul tells them that the mystery is Christ in you, the hope of glory (vs. 27). Can you imagine going back and telling Moses or Elijah that what God was up to that whole time was working toward a day when God would dwell inside us? Praise God the mystery has been revealed and we can see God at work in us! One of Paul’s roles as a discipler, and our role too, is to make the mystery of God fully known. To tell the world how God came near in the person of Christ and that when Christ ascended to the Father his Spirit came to dwell inside all who believe. Only those indwelt with the Spirit can believe the mystery.
2. Proclaim Him (vs 1:28). The word “proclaim” means “to extol or to praise publicly” (from dictionary.com). We often think of telling others about Jesus in terms of “sharing” him with others. But “sharing” is too tame of a word to describe the job of a discipler and it is not the word that Paul uses 2. We aren’t simply sharing the message of Jesus with those who are willing to receive. Paul’s job, and the job of all disciplers, is to publicly extol Christ as Lord. Our enthusiasm for Christ should overflow into public praise of Him.
3. Warning everyone (vs. 1:28). The good news of the mystery of Christ comes with a warning. The job of the discipler is to convey the urgency of this warning. People who do not repent and turn to Jesus will be separated forever from the presence of God. We are to warn people of coming judgment and the consequences of sin. To think that our message about Jesus contains a serious warning gives urgency to our call to make disciples of all nations.
4. Teaching everyone with all wisdom (vs. 1:28). At the beginning of verse 28, Paul says Him we proclaim (1:28). Who is the we he is referring to here? Who is the we who proclaims and warns and teaches? Looking back at verse 26, we see that Paul is talking about the saints, that is everyone who has put their faith in Jesus. We are all called to proclaim, to warn, and to teach with all wisdom. Do you see yourself as a teacher of the wisdom of Christ? We are all called to instruct others in the wisdom of the Lord.
The Purpose of a Discipler
What is Paul’s purpose as an apostle and discipler? What is his goal, and our goal, in proclaiming, warning, and teaching others about Jesus?
That we may present everyone mature in Christ (vs.28)
In one sense discipleship is evangelism – bringing unbelievers to Christ. In another sense, discipleship is helping other believers mature in their faith. This is the primary goal of discipleship: to present everyone mature in Christ. Wouldn’t it be wonderful if everyone you knew was presented to the Father, mature in Christ, at the end of the age?
But there are other goals in discipleship – goals that come with maturity in Christ. Paul outlines his discipleship goals for the Colossians (and the nearby Laodiceans) at the beginning of chapter 2:
that their hearts may be encouraged (vs. 2:2). Part of the goal of discipleship is to encourage others in the faith. Life is hard, especially for believers, and we need to bring encouragement to other believers to help them strive toward Christ-like maturity.
being knit together in love (vs 2:2) An outward sign of Christ-like maturity is the mutual love and unity of the saints. If we suffer for our faith, we suffer together. If we grow, we grow together. If we proclaim the gospel, we proclaim it together. Our love for our fellow saints compels us toward Christ-like maturity.
to reach all the riches and full assurance of understanding and the knowledge of God’s mystery, which is Christ (vs. 2:2). Knowledge of God is of the utmost importance to Paul and he impresses upon the Colossians that it should be important to them to. This is the third time he has encouraged growing in the knowledge of God and this time he compares it to having riches. Where do we get such rich knowledge? At the end of verse 2 he tells us that this knowledge comes from Christ, in whom are hidden all the treasures of wisdom and knowledge (vs. 2:3). Paul continues to stress the importance and treasure of knowing God, because it is only through knowing God that the Colossians will not be deluded with plausible arguments (vs. 2:5). This is important, because soon Paul will address some of the arguments that have been deluding the Colossians.
Paul concludes this section by saying he is with the Colossians in spirit, meaning he has heard about their good faith and rejoices with them just as he would if he were physically there with them.
Go and Make Disciples
This section of the text begs a certain question. Maybe you’ve already been thinking about it.
The question is: Who are you being called to disciple?
You are being called to go and make disciples. To whom is God calling you to proclaim, warn, and teach the good news about Jesus?
Here are your personal reflection/discussion questions for today:
1. Who in your life needs to hear the good news of the gospel and be warned about the consequences of unrepentance? How might you warn them?
2.What believers in your life need to be encouraged by the good news of the gospel so that they might continue to grow toward Christ-like maturity? How might you encourage them?
3. How can you be preparing yourself today to teach everyone with all wisdom about what Christ has done for us?
Click here to be taken back to part 3 of the Colossians Online Bible Study: Colossians 1:15-23.