Somewhere along the way the Great Commission advanced by the Lord Jesus in Matthew 28:18-20, got redefined. The commission is to "make disciples" not "evangelize". A disciple is not a special level of Christianity but what every Christian is when they are "born again". Rebirth is only the beginning of the imperative to "make disciples".
This was clear to the first century believer but not so clear in 21st century Christianity. A disciple is one who radically reorients his life to align with the admonitions of his rabbi so that he can become exactly like his rabbi (see the article by Doug Greenwold ). For the Christian, Jesus is The Rabbi and his desires is to become like Him in every way by obeying His words.
This was clear to the first century believer but not so clear in 21st century Christianity. A disciple is one who radically reorients his life to align with the admonitions of his rabbi so that he can become exactly like his rabbi (see the article by Doug Greenwold ). For the Christian, Jesus is The Rabbi and his desires is to become like Him in every way by obeying His words.
1st_century_meaning_of_discipling_.pdf |