All New Testament Churches Must Disciple Believers Pt. 1 Edification & Living For God's Glory.

The Great Commission includes edifying believers. 

Matthew 28:18-20  And Jesus came and spake unto them, saying, All power is given unto me in heaven and in earth. 19)  Go ye therefore, and teach all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost: 20)  Teaching them to observe all things whatsoever I have commanded you: and, lo, I am with you alway, even unto the end of the world. Amen. 

This text is the Great Commission given by our resurrected Lord Jesus Christ. We looked at the first part of the Great Commission which is elevating Jesus Christ above all other. 

The second element of the Great Commission is edifying believers in Christ. We are to teach all people in all nations.

That is, wherever a local New Testament church is located, a primary function is teaching new believers about Jesus Christ, about the Bible and sound doctrine.

Two different Greek words are translated "teach" in this text. The first word is one that means taking a believer new or otherwise, and  teaching them Bible truth, one on one. 

This word is found in the word "mathematics" which suggests a logical and systematic method of teaching truth. 

Christ gave us a mandate to teach individual Christians sound truth of the Word, that can be clearly communicated to a new believer, or any believer who lacks spiritual growth. 

The other word translated "teaching"
means teaching in the usual sense of the term, instructing new converts with sound doctrine. 

It means taking time to explain something or expound on it more fully so that the disciple can understand the truth being taught. 

Allow the scriptures to soak deeply into our heart.

Colossians 3:16  Let the word of Christ dwell in you richly in all wisdom; teaching and admonishing one another in psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing with grace in your hearts to the Lord.

All teaching must begin with the inspired Word of God. This text shows us what can happen in our lives when we seek to be taught of God. 

We can be instructed in God's wisdom, which is learning and applying the right things of God. We may be admonished if we are living in a way that the scripture forbids. We exercise wisdom when we apply what God teaches us to our daily decisions.

We are to allow the scriptures to dwell in us richly. This is the idea that we have the Word of God pouring into our hearts and minds so that we constantly detect His living truth in us. 

We need this to dwell in us richly because God's Word will influence us for our good.

Our worship of the One, True God of heaven will be profoundly impacted when we are properly discipled in the school of Jesus Christ. Our hearts will overflow with Psalms and hymns that restate the truth of the Bible. 

Our hearts will be filled with joy and happiness and adoration for our God. We will be singing with all of our heart turned to our glorious Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ.

Thus, a New Testament church must place a strong emphasis upon clearly and accurately preaching the Word, without compromise. 

The New Testament church must also have deacons and elders who are well grounded in the faith and capable of teaching other believers. 

All of these things are necessary for spiritual growth and making sure new believers have a good spiritual foundation to build upon.

Instruct new believers in truth so their lives are transformed. 

2 Timothy 3:15-17  And that from a child thou hast known the holy scriptures, which are able to make thee wise unto salvation through faith which is in Christ Jesus. 16)  All scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness: 17)  That the man of God may be perfect, throughly furnished unto all good works. 

Regular readers of this blog are well acquainted with Paul's instruction to Timothy. 

The scriptures are holy because they were breathed out or inspired by the Holy Spirit of God. The Spirit of God moved upon holy men of ancient times so that they wrote, spoke and saw the scriptures, which God then put into written format.

The scriptures can lead a sinner to repentant faith in Jesus Christ. 

All scripture is beneficial for each believer in Christ. It teaches us sound doctrine, so that we can live righteous before God and avoid falling into error. 

It teaches us reproofs, that is it shows us where we have erred, strayed or sinned. It teaches us the corrective measures we must take in order to be restored to full communion with God. 

It teaches us instruction of righteousness, which means showing us how to live so that we do avoid the reproof of scripture. 

A church must be a place where believers are edified.

Romans 14:19  Let us therefore follow after the things which make for peace, and things wherewith one may edify another.

We have another word connected with discipleship, and that is the word "edify." This word means to build up or strengthen believers in the Christian faith. 

To "edify" the church means a more mature believer comes along side a believer who needs to be taught fundamental truths. 

The spiritual mentor disciples and edifies the new convert to Christ.  It means promoting their spiritual growth in Godly wisdom, piety, happiness and holiness. 

The word "edify" is connected with construction and building, except the home under construction in a believers heart is a spiritual home.

Edifying is God's Spirit working to conform us to Christ. 

Ephesians 2:19-22  Now therefore ye are no more strangers and foreigners, but fellowcitizens with the saints, and of the household of God; 20)  And are built upon the foundation of the apostles and prophets, Jesus Christ himself being the chief corner stone; 21)  In whom all the building fitly framed together groweth unto an holy temple in the Lord: 22)  In whom ye also are builded together for an habitation of God through the Spirit.  

Each believer must receive help to grow spiritually. Paul tells us that we are being "built upon" into the household of God. This is the same word as the word edify. 

We all begin at the same starting point by exercising repentant faith in Christ and the new birth.  We are to take care how we go about building upon this holy foundation of Christ, the prophets and the apostles. 

The Holy Spirit is putting each believer into the body of Christ as He deems best. He is fashioning a habitation for God composed of believers who are living stones, through His mighty work in us. 

Thus, the edification of believers means allowing the Holy Spirit to do His work in us, building into us the image of God. 

Edifying begins with a foundation of faith in Christ. 

1 Corinthians 3:9-11  For we are labourers together with God: ye are God's husbandry, ye are God's building. 10)  According to the grace of God which is given unto me, as a wise masterbuilder, I have laid the foundation, and another buildeth thereon. But let every man take heed how he buildeth thereupon. 11)  For other foundation can no man lay than that is laid, which is Jesus Christ. 

In this text the word for edifying is translated buildeth or building. Believers in Christ are laborers for God, working together with God when we cooperate with His kingdom purposes. 

The apostles and prophets were master builders, who spread the gospel into the world. 

Each believer has a role to play in being built up in our faith. 

We must attend our local church so that we can hear our pastor faithfully preach the truth.

We must obtain a copy of the Bible so that we might read it, meditate on it, think about it and commit it to our memory. 

We must actively pray for help from the Spirit of God because He is our teacher in the scriptures and Jesus promised that the Spirit would guide us in all of God's truth.

We must seek out godly men and women who can help us understand the Bible and how it applies to our lives. 

God gave faithful leaders to help edify the church.

Ephesians 4:11-16  And he gave some, apostles; and some, prophets; and some, evangelists; and some, pastors and teachers; 12)  For the perfecting of the saints, for the work of the ministry, for the edifying of the body of Christ: 13)  Till we all come in the unity of the faith, and of the knowledge of the Son of God, unto a perfect man, unto the measure of the stature of the fulness of Christ: 14)  That we henceforth be no more children, tossed to and fro, and carried about with every wind of doctrine, by the sleight of men, and cunning craftiness, whereby they lie in wait to deceive; 15)  But speaking the truth in love, may grow up into him in all things, which is the head, even Christ: 16)  From whom the whole body fitly joined together and compacted by that which every joint supplieth, according to the effectual working in the measure of every part, maketh increase of the body unto the edifying of itself in love. 

Paul teaches us that God gave us apostles, prophets, evangelists, pastors and teachers. The offices of apostles and prophets passed away, but the apostolic writings continue on for us to live by. 

When believers are edified, the work of ministry will be done more effectively. The truth will be spoken in love to those who need it. 

The local church body will grow closer together, and become a tight knit community of likeminded believers serving the Lord Jesus Christ. 

An evangelist, pastor, teacher or lay leader, must focus on teaching all that they can about Jesus Christ and sound doctrine, so that the church is built up with an unshakable faith. 

We must be about speaking God's truth in love for the intent that the body of Christ, His church, is edified in His love. 

We must speak truth which edifies. 

Ephesians 4:29  Let no corrupt communication proceed out of your mouth, but that which is good to the use of edifying, that it may minister grace unto the hearers. 

One on one discipleship must be centered on what God says, not what man needlessly speculates about. The goal of discipleship is edifying new believers in Christ. 

Thoughts to Ponder...

Edification of believers is the means for making progress toward spiritual maturity in Christ.

Each local church has a significant role in edifying believers. 

• Churches must have strong, accurate preaching. 

• Worship that honors God with Bible based hymns and songs is greatly needed. 

• Prayer times for the needs of the church, for our missionaries and any other burdens that concern us.

• Encouraging Christian fellowship and friendships among the believers is necessary to promote spiritual wellbeing.

Each Christian home has a role to play in edifying our families. 

• Parents must faithfully live out the Christian faith so that their children can observe the life of Christ in us. 

• Children must be trained up in the way that they should go, according to God's word. 

• A Christian home should be a place of shelter from the corrupt culture, a nurturing environment where Christ is exalted. 

May Jesus Christ help each of us to make progress toward spiritual maturity. May He help us be renewed in our minds and built up securely upon the foundation of faith in Christ. May each of us yield to the Holy Spirit working in us so that Christ sits enthroned upon our heart.

Bob