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Christian or Disciple |
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Written by Administrator
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Many people today think you can be one or the other or maybe, both. But this is a misconception. If you are a Christian, you are a Disciple!
The real question is how do you know if you are a Christian?
- You realize that you are sinful and lost and that you need God.
- No matter how “good” you believe yourself to be you acknowledge that you can’t save yourself. You need a savior.
- You believe that Jesus the Christ died for your sins on the cross and that through Him you are cleansed from your unrighteousness.
- You acknowledge that Jesus the Christ is your Lord and Savior and there is none besides Him.
If you have taken the steps above then you are a Christian. If you are a Christian then you are a Disciple.
What does it mean to be a Christian/Disciple?
Simply put: Unconditional surrender to the Lordship of Jesus the Christ.
Jesus is not looking for your spare time, your Sunday mornings, and your Wednesday evenings. He is seeking those who will place Him as their first priority in all areas of their lives, 24 hours a day, seven days a week. There is no such thing as a part-time Christian.
It only takes a short perusal of the Gospels to see that Jesus made stringent demands on those who would be His disciples. Those demands are often ignored today even by the most well meaning Christians. How often have we softened the message? How often have we looked at or presented Christianity as an escape from hell and a guarantee of heaven. Lee Thai (an aquaintance of mine) recently said, “Are you seeking the gifts or the Giver of gifts”. A statement that we would all do well to ponder.
How often have we admired and even set apart our soldiers who have given their lives for patriotic reasons. But for us to consider that the life of a Christian should be something other than simple and easy seems difficult to grasp. We tend to think that all will be well because we believe. We live in a country of luxury and freedom, which have dulled our senses and our hearts.
Look closely at the words of the Lord Jesus. There is no room for misunderstanding. The terms of discipleship have been laid down and are very clear.
"If anyone comes to Me and does not hate his father and mother, wife and children, brothers and sisters, yes, and his own life also, he cannot be My disciple." Luke 14:26
Does this mean that we should actually hate our relatives? Of course not! But it does mean that our love and devotion to Christ should be so great that all other loves are hatred by comparison.
"If any man will come after me, let him deny himself..." Matthew 16:24
What does it mean to deny yourself? It means that you give up all you are and all you have. You turn over everything to Him (it is His to begin with). You give complete submission to Christ’s Lordship.
"If any man come after me, let him deny himself and take up his cross ..." Matthew 16:24
What is your cross?
It is not the things that are common to all men. The cross is a symbol of the persecution, shame and abuse that Christ went through to save us. This is the path of a Disciple/Christian. If you conform to the world then you are not bearing the cross.
What does it mean to follow Him?
It means that your life must be lived as a life of obedience to the will of God. You cannot live this life on your own. You must depend upon the power of the Holy Spirit for your enablement. You must live a life that puts others above yourself. Service to the needs of others is required. Your life must exhibit patience, endurance and love in the face of the wrongs that may be committed against you. You are to live your life as closely as you can to the life that Jesus lived.
"By this all will know that you are My disciples, if you have love for one another." John 13:35
The love for one another is a love that is best explained in 1 Corinthians 13:4-7:
It is the love that suffers long and is kind. It is not puffed up. It does not behave unseemly; seeks not its own, is not easily provoked; thinks no evil. It bears all things, believes all things, hopes all things, and endures all things (I Corinthians 13:4-7).
"If you abide in My word, you are My disciples indeed. John 8:31
If you abide in My word. It is easy to start out strong but it requires much more strength to stay the course and finish the race. This is who Jesus says are His disciples. Any man who looks back after putting his hand to the plow is not fit for the kingdom of God (Luke 9:62). Obedience to the Scriptures when you feel like it will not do. Christ plainly said that those who follow Him in constant, unquestioning obedience are His disciples.
"So likewise, whoever of you does not forsake all that he has cannot be My disciple.” Luke 14:33)
What does forsaking all mean?
This has been explained countless times by just as many preachers and theologians. Most of the time it has been explained as softly as possible so that we can keep and have as much as we desire. But the words are plain and clear. It means an abandonment of all one's material possessions that are not absolutely essential and that could be used in the spread of the gospel.
The passion of a disciple’s life is to advance the cause of Christ. Everything else he leaves in God’s hands. Jesus told us to seek first the kingdom of God and His righteousness. If we do that God will provide everything else we need. A disciple lays up his treasures in Heaven, not here on earth.
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