The Deep Waters Way | Episode 12: Making Disciples: Saved, Transformed, Sent

In this episode, we bring our 12-part series on new beginnings to a close by exploring the Great Commission in Matthew 28:18-20. Rather than treating this passage as a stand-alone missions text, Ray frames it as the purpose behind everything the series has covered — the new beginning and transformation found in Christ isn't just personal, it's commissioning.

Jesus didn’t save us just to keep us out of hell — He saved us to send us. This episode examines the transition from personal transformation to divine mission, unpacking Jesus’ declaration of authority, the grammatical nuance behind “go,” the true depth of discipleship, the meaning of baptism “into” the name of the Triune God, and the promise of Christ’s abiding presence through the Holy Spirit. The Great Commission serves as the ultimate “why” for our journey, providing the motivation and direction needed to navigate the discomfort of faith and step into deeper waters.

Core Takeaways

• A secure sense of “why” sustains commitment through the discomfort of new beginnings and transformation — without it, it’s easy to quietly let a calling go.
• Jesus’ authority in Matthew 28:18 is not newly granted divinity, but the public restoration of authority that was always His, laid aside voluntarily in the incarnation.
• “Go” in the Greek functions as a command because it is paired with the imperative “make disciples” — a construction Matthew uses elsewhere (go and tell, come and see).
• Discipleship is imitative, not just informational — a disciple takes on the master’s character and mission, not merely his knowledge.
• The Great Commission removes previous geographic restrictions, extending the mission to all nations.
• Baptism is better understood as being baptized “into” the name of the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit — entrance into covenant relationship and shared identity.
• Obedience to Christ’s commands is not what saves us, but is the natural fruit and evidence of a transformed, loving relationship with Him.
• Jesus’ promise to be with us “to the end of the age” is fulfilled through the ongoing presence of the Holy Spirit.

Depth of Insight

• True discipleship is a life-long journey of becoming, where a fully trained disciple looks like their Teacher in both character and mission.
• Making disciples is a diligent task to be lived out “as you are going” through daily life — at home, while walking, lying down, and rising.
• The mission is grounded in the vindication of Jesus’ authority, which He voluntarily laid aside during the incarnation.
• The “in the name” vs. “into the name” translation debate clarifies baptism as covenant entrance rather than simply an act performed under authority.
• The apostles’ practice in Acts of baptizing “in the name of Jesus” is a natural shorthand that complements, rather than contradicts, the full Trinitarian formula in Matthew.
• By returning to the Father, Jesus is no longer bound by physical limitations, allowing Him to be present with every believer through the Spirit until the new heaven and new earth.

Featured Scripture These passages are explicitly cited in the episode:

• Matthew 28:18-20 — The Great Commission (primary text)
• Luke 6:40 — “A disciple is not above his teacher…”
• Acts 1:8 — Witnesses to the ends of the earth
• John 14 — Obedience as the sign of love for Jesus

Theological Connections

• Deuteronomy 6 — Diligent teaching of God’s truth in everyday life
• 1 Peter 2:9 — God’s people as a kingdom of priests and holy nation
• Joel 2:28 — The Spirit poured out on all flesh
• John 14:18, 16-17, 16:7 — The promise of the Spirit and not being left as orphans
• Mark 5:1-20 & John 4:1-42 — Early examples of ministry beyond Israel
• Revelation 21:1 — The hope of the new heaven and new earth

Scholarly Context & Commentary

• The Holy Bible: English Standard Version (primary translation)
• G.K. Chesterton quote on the Christian ideal being found difficult and left untried
• Analysis of the participle poreuthentes (“having gone” / “as you are going”)
• Trinitarian baptismal formula and its relationship to baptismal language in Acts

Links referenced in this episode:

• podchaser
• applepodcasts

The whole point of making disciples is that those disciples will then go out and make disciples.

One of my professors said that if all we ever do is sit around and talk about discipleship, all we will ever create is disciples who sit around and talk.

The Deep Waters Way. Where Scripture, Theology, and Transformation Meet.

Welcome once again to The Deep Waters Way. I'm Ray Cooper, and I'm glad that you've joined me on this journey. Our series that we've been following for the last 11 episodes comes to a close today with a look at the Great Commission.

This is part of the purpose and the culmination of the new beginning and transformation that comes from following Christ into the deeper waters.

Before we dive into that, though, let me remind you: if you have found value in this podcast, please click subscribe or follow wherever you're listening so that you never miss an episode. Then head over to Podchaser or Apple Podcasts and leave a review or a rating. Doing so only takes a moment, and it makes the show more visible so that others can easily find it.

Now it's time to slip the moorings and head for the deep waters.

Have you ever sensed God doing something new in you, but you're not sure where it's leading? What if the new beginning you've received is actually meant to launch you into something much bigger? What if Jesus didn't save you just to keep you out of hell? What if He saved you to send you?

New beginnings can be scary. Total and radical transformation takes you into the unknown, and along the way there's a temptation to go back, to return to that which is familiar and comfortable. But as I said when we started this journey, we are not called to be comfortable.

Heading into the deep requires trusting that even though we don't see how things are going to work out, or where exactly we're headed, God does — and that we can trust Him in all things.

One of the ways, though, that we can find support and motivation in our journey into the depths of faith is to have a why. It's been said that a human being can withstand anything if they have a why, if they have a purpose. In many new ventures, that's one of the first things you're asked to identify — why are you undertaking this? Because when things start getting rough, when things get uncomfortable, when it feels like you're screaming into the void or shouting at the wind, knowing why you are doing something is sometimes all you have to keep you moving forward.

I can tell you, from my own personal experience, that even in the few short months that I've been doing this podcast, there have already been times when — if I didn't have a secure why — it would have been easy to quit. Without something to motivate us and push us forward, we often find ourselves simply letting things go, neglecting things, not actively pursuing them. And when we do, we often set them aside for an easier life.

G.K. Chesterton once said, "The Christian ideal has not been tried and found wanting. It has been found difficult, and left untried." And that is often where we find ourselves when it comes to answering Jesus' call to the deeper waters. We find it hard, and so we leave it untried. We never pursue the call, never experience the growth and the depth of a life surrendered to God. And I think too often it is the case that we do so because we focus too much on our own lives.

But as I've mentioned in a previous episode, Jesus doesn't call us into the deep merely for ourselves. He calls us into the deep, into a new beginning and a transformed life, and then gives us a purpose to keep us there and to keep us moving. He gives us a why.

"And Jesus came and said to them, 'All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to Me. 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.'"

We call this passage the Great Commission, and it gives the impetus to all missionary and discipleship work. This is the why — not just for the apostles, but for the Church as a whole. It is the indication that our calling is not just for ourselves, not just for our salvation. It is, as Peter explains, the continuing mission of God's people to be a kingdom of priests and a holy nation, that we would present God to the world and that we would bear His holiness, His character.

And notice here how Jesus begins. He stands before the gathered apostles — and through them, before us — and declares, "All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to Me." We might naturally ask: who gave it to Him? The short answer is the Father. Just as the Father sent Jesus and raised Him from the dead, the Father has now entrusted Him with universal, unchallenged, and unparalleled authority, equal to His own.

But we have to be careful here. Some early heresies misunderstood this to mean that the Father was elevating Jesus into divinity, or giving Him something He didn't previously possess. That's not at all what's happening. This is not the beginning of Jesus' divine authority. Rather, it is the public restoration and vindication of the full authority that was always His.

In the incarnation, Jesus voluntarily emptied Himself, laying aside the independent exercise of that authority in humble obedience to the Father's will, even to the point of death on the cross. Because of that perfect obedience, the Father has now highly exalted Him.

And with that authority, Jesus calls us, saves us, transforms us, and gives us a brand-new beginning. And it's that same authority that now commissions and sends us into His mission.

We see this as Jesus says, "Go therefore and make disciples of all nations." Because He has all authority, He has the authority to commission us — that is, to deputize us — into His mission and send us out into the world. Everything that follows here is tied directly to, and is dependent upon, Jesus' authority.

And notice, this is not just Jesus sending us out to do something on our own. He's inviting us to join the work He has already accomplished on the cross and through His resurrection. Having worked in us, He now works through us, sending us to proclaim the good news of the Kingdom of God and to make disciples.

This is really an interesting phrase, and there's a couple of ways that it can be translated. The word usually translated "go" is rendered most often into English as a command. However, the actual grammatical structure here allows it to be translated as "as you are going," or even a little more precisely, "having gone." Both of these call to mind the instructions Moses gives to the people of Israel in Deuteronomy 6. There he tells them that they're to diligently teach the truths of God to their children throughout the course of their lives — at home, while walking, lying down, and rising up.

Most scholars, however, agree that while the word "go" is not itself a command, it is to be treated as one because it stands alongside a command. This is a construction that Matthew often uses in his Gospel, and it's generally treated as this kind of double command. We see it in phrases like "go and tell," "come and see," and here, "go and make disciples."

Regardless of how you want to translate it, though, there are a couple of things to note. One, it speaks of leaving what is comfortable and safe to seek out those who need to hear. And second, it shows that just as with Deuteronomy 6, we're to do it diligently, or with intentionality. Making disciples doesn't just happen. It takes work, and is the result of dedicated purpose in the midst of our daily lives.

Which, of course, raises the question — then what is a disciple? We often think of it in terms of a student, or simply "leading people to Jesus," that is, making converts. But all of that misses the mark. Yes, a disciple is converted out of an old life and into a new one. Yes, a disciple is a student. But it is also much more than that.

The relationship between a disciple and master is committed, intentional, and even imitative. Rather than just being expected to absorb the master's knowledge, a disciple was also expected to take on the master's character and, ultimately, his mission. Which is why in Luke 6:40, Jesus says, "A disciple is not above his teacher, but everyone, when he is fully trained, will be like his teacher."

This is part of the transformation that comes with following Jesus. To become a disciple is to embark on a lifelong journey — not just of learning, but of becoming. Yes, I believe Jesus saves instantaneously, and He transforms instantaneously. I also believe that character is built over time through endurance and perseverance. That means I see sanctification as grounded in a moment, but also as the shaping of a life over time.

So to make disciples is not just to lead people to become students of Jesus, or of the Bible, or people who attend church. It is to lead them to the place where they surrender their lives to God, accept the work Jesus did on the cross for them, and allow the Holy Spirit to work inside them, to transform them and mold their character to look more like Jesus — and ultimately, to become part of that same mission: making disciples and bringing people into a growing relationship with God.

The whole point of making disciples is that those disciples will then go out and make disciples. One of my professors said that if all we ever do is sit around and talk about discipleship, all we will ever create is disciples who sit around and talk. Discipleship must become a part of life. It should be as natural to the follower of Jesus as breathing is.

And notice, as well, Jesus says this ministry is no longer geographically limited. He says it is to be carried out in all nations. We've seen in previous episodes where Jesus conducted ministry in a Gentile area with the healing of the Gadarene demoniac. After casting out the unclean spirits, He told the man to go and tell everyone what God had done for him. And in Samaria, the woman at the well goes and tells the whole town about Jesus. But these are exceptions. In most cases, including when He sent out the disciples to minister, He specifically forbid them from going into the Gentile areas. Now, however, He tells the disciples they are to spread the Gospel throughout all nations.

And then, after laying that groundwork, Jesus tells us how we are to go about making disciples. He says in verses 19 and 20, "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." Grammatically, "baptizing" and "teaching" are not commands, but they serve to explain or expound upon the command to make disciples.

Most translations render this phrase "baptizing in the name of." However, it would be more correctly translated as "into the name of." The first would seem to imply simply calling on the authority of the Triune God. But baptism is much more than something done simply by the authority of someone. This is better seen with "into," as it implies entrance into something. And that is precisely what baptism is. It is entering into a covenant relationship with the One whose name you are baptized into. It is also the taking on of that person's identity and character, and the recognition of entering into a community.

We often talk about baptism as being an "outward sign of an inward change," and it is that, for sure. But the early church also saw it as identification with Jesus Christ and entering into the shared life of the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit.

Notice, as well, Jesus tells us to baptize into the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit. This is the fullest and clearest expression we have in Scripture for Christian baptism. It is not just a formula — it tells us the reality we are entering: a covenant relationship with the Triune God.

Now, some may wonder why, in the Book of Acts, we often see the apostles baptizing "in the name of Jesus." This does not contradict Matthew 28. When Peter and the others use "in the name of Jesus," they're using a natural shorthand. They're emphasizing that it's through Jesus — His death, His resurrection, His lordship — that we come to the Father and receive the Holy Spirit. Paul does something similar when he speaks of being baptized "into Christ."

He then says we're to teach these new disciples to obey everything He has commanded. This is not to say that it is obedience that brings us into relationship with Jesus, or that saves us. But, as I've said several times throughout this series, obedience is the natural response of a transformed life. Having a new nature brings with it a new way of living and behaving. And that newness is exemplified in obedience.

Jesus also directly links our obedience to His commands with our love for Him. He says in John 14 that keeping His commands is the sign of love for Him. So not only does obedience come from transformation, it is indicative of love for Jesus. It is the fruit of change in us, and the evidence of the grounds for that change.

Now, at this point, you might — like many — be thinking, "But Jesus is just talking to the apostles here. How does that apply to me?" Did you catch the phrase "all I have commanded you"? Part of what Jesus commanded is that we teach others to obey everything He said. And that includes the command to make disciples. This is the chain of discipleship — disciples make disciples, who make disciples. And that is how you and I came to be in this place: someone became a disciple by the testimony of a disciple, and then passed on their own testimony. How can you or I not do the same? To disciple someone else is part of what it means to be a disciple.

And then Jesus closes out the commission with words of assurance: "Behold, I am with you always, to the end of the age." Literally, the Greek there says, "I will be with you all the days." Some translations render this "each and every day," and however you want to take it, it's a promise to not leave us on our own. It is the fulfillment of Jesus' earlier words to not leave us as orphans. And it is made possible through the sending of the Spirit of Truth, the Paraclete, who proceeds from the Father.

Jesus says in John that it's good that He goes away, because if He stays, the Comforter will not come. My Old Testament professor liked to point out that had Jesus remained, He would have been constrained temporally and geographically by having a body. However, by returning to the Father, He is able to send the Spirit, who is not bound by such limitations. And through the presence of the Spirit, He is indeed able to be with us — not just each day, but every day, to the very end of the age. And that doesn't mean the apostolic age, or the church age, or the Jewish age. It's quite simply a reference to the presence and working of the Holy Spirit in the world and in the lives of believers, until that day when Jesus physically, bodily returns to reclaim those who have submitted themselves to Him, and to bring the new heaven and new earth together.

And with the promise of His presence comes the promise of provision — He will give us all that is needed to accomplish His mission. There is, as well, the promise of power to be His witnesses. And there is peace in the midst of chaos that only comes from the presence of the Lord of all creation.

He has brought us into a new life, a new beginning. He has transformed us, made us whole, healed us, taught us, demonstrated His glory and divinity, given us a firm foundation, a purpose — and now a commission. A shared mission to carry the Gospel to the world, to be a kingdom of priests.

Where has Jesus brought a new beginning into your life? The same authority that allowed Him to do that now commissions and compels you to share it with others. Making disciples is not just an act of obedience. It is an act of love — love for God and love for others.

Thank you for joining me today. Don't forget, this series may be ending, but the show is not. Next week, we'll be taking a break from this teaching format as I discuss recovery ministry with my oldest son and his wife. They bring both a ministerial and professional perspective to this timely work of the church. This is an episode you don't want to miss, so make sure you're subscribed or following. And if this episode has spoken to you, share it with someone you think needs to hear it. Share the show, share the message, and go — make disciples.

Now, it's time to slip the moorings and head for the deep waters.

The Deep Waters Way. Where Scripture, Theology, and Transformation Meet.