Be Fruitful and Multiply: Procreation and Disciple-Making

 

   A few weeks ago, we had the opportunity to dive into Genesis 1 and study the creation of the world and of man in our small groups at First Baptist. In this amazing passage, we saw that God created man in His own image in order that we might give testimony to God’s character in our lives. After God created Adam, He gave him the simple command to be fruitful and multiply so that God’s image might spread throughout all of creation. God’s intended purpose for man is to bring Him glory by multiplying and bearing His image. Originally, this was meant to be done through procreation and still can be today. Of course, this is making the assumption that Christian parents are doing their jobs in bringing up their children in the way they should go (Prov 22:6). But what about those who are beyond child bearing years? What about those who struggle with infertility (effects of living in a fallen world)? What about those who aren't quite yet ready to have children of their own (i.e. children and teenagers)? Can they still be fruitful and multiply? In Genesis chapter 3, we see the fall of man and sin’s entrance into the world. Romans 5:12 says, “Sin came into the world through one man, and death through sin, and so death spread to all men because all sin.” Because all human beings are sinful in nature (from birth) and deed, man now fails to properly bear God’s image in this world. However, I have good news. Romans 5 continues with this: “For as by the one man’s (Adam) disobedience the many were made sinners, so by the one man’s (Jesus/The Last Adam) obedience the many will be made righteous” (Rom 5:19). Through Jesus’ substitutionary death on the cross, human beings may find reconciliation and restoration back to God!

     We are not saved for the sole purpose of going to heaven when we die. Salvation is not  fire insurance. Salvation is reconciliation and restoration that puts us back in a right relationship with God and enables us to fulfill the purpose for which man was originally created: to spread God’s image and glory throughout the earth! In Christ we are justified before God, and we are progressively being transformed back into the image of Christ. Because of this, we are able to truly “be fruitful and multiply.” In Jesus’ final command before leaving the earth He said, “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” (Matt 28:18-20). The early church recognized this passage as the command to recover and pursue God’s original design for His creation; to faithfully bear His image and to spread that image throughout the whole earth. In order for human beings to bear and spread God’s image, we need Jesus. We need forgiveness for sin. We need restoration and reconciliation to God. We need transformed hearts and lives. This only happens as we repent of sin and trust Christ in faith. He lived the life we could not live and died the death we deserved to die in our place. Only through identification with Him through repentance and faith are we made right. This is the Gospel!

     Finally, a church that’s not intentionally giving itself over to the conscious effort of making disciples is deceiving itself into thinking they are really doing the Lord’s work. Let’s not be that type of church. I’m pleading with you to consider how you’re giving your life to making disciples. Join a Multiply group or better yet, start one of your own. Take dominion over what you were created and saved to do: to make disciples and multiply! If you are interested in learning more about discipleship and the Multiply Movement, then please let me know and I will offer you a free copy of Multiply and counseling to get you started.