Disciple
A student, learner or pupil, a follower of Jesus. Discipline, teachable. We are told to
study to show ourselves approved (II Tim 2:15). Jesus said “It is enough for the disciple
that he be as his Master” (Matt 10:25).
Are you a disciple or a believer?
Every believer is not a disciple (John 12:42-43). Those who believe in Christ and do not
follow Him are Carnal Christians (Jesus called them lukewarm) lacking in conviction.
(people will die for a conviction). Jesus condemned the church at Laodicea because of
its lukewarm faith and declared that He was about to spew them out of His mouth (Rev 3:
14-22). Lacking the courage to follow God or to rebel against Him, they were disgusting
to Him.
A believer is someone who gives mental assent to an idea and says yes I believe this
idea to be true. But Jesus didn’t call us to be a believer, He called us to be a disciple. (
even satan believes and trembles (Acts 8:13-24, James 2:14-26). Mere assent to God’s
truth is not saving faith according to the Bible.
Every true believer is a disciple of the Son of God, the call of salvation is a call of
discipleship and those who know Him they follow Him at any cost.
A disciple follows hard after Jesus (Luke 9:23-25) denies self. Paul says it like this I no
longer live for self, I am going to live for Jesus. (Gal 2:20).
Discipleship has always marked true believers, how in the early church they followed
Jesus, He was real unto them. The Reformers, Luther, the Puritans, the Pilgrims, they
suffered much following Jesus (Rev 12:11).
Jesus tells us how to become a disciple. (John 8:31-32) Disciples bear fruit, the purpose
of fruit is reproduction. (John 15:1-17).
We are told to follow Jesus as dear children (Eph 5:1-2)
Jesus gave power to His disciples (Mattt 10:1, 19:28-29, Mark 16:15-18)
We are told to make disciples of all nations: (Matt 28:19-20). Disciples are still being
made today. (Acts 6:1, 9:10,26; 21:16).
How will people know we are disciples? (Luke 19:37-40, John 13:34-35).
Who can not be a disciple (Luke 9:59-62, 14:26-27, 33).