In the Biblical sense, the word "disciple" is used most often to refer to a follower of Jesus Christ(Matt. 5:1, Matt. 8:21). Sometimes it refers to a follower of John (Matt. 9:14), a follower of the Pharisees (Matt.22:16) or a follower of Moses (John 9:28).
Also, in the true Biblical sense, the word "christian" is used often to refer to a follower or an adherent of Jesus Christ. There is actually no Biblical difference between a disciple or a christian. If a person is a christian then he is a disciple. If he is a disciple then he is also a christian. In other words, a person cannot calls himself a christian unless he is a disciple, or calls himself a disciple unless he is a christian.
Therefore, in the strict Biblical sense we cannot call someone a Christian or a disciple immediately he is born again. He is saved yes, he enters the Kingdom of God yes, but, he needs time to bear the fruit of Christ-likeness in his life. You will not find it in the Scripture that a new born again believer is a christian. I have heard more than one renowned Bible teacher who said that "Many are Christians, but few are disciples"! In my opinion they are "putting the cart before the horse", so to say. It is not the job of the Local Church to make disciples out of christians. But, to make christians out of born again believers, and to make disciples of all the nations (Matt. 28:19).
According to the Scripture, christians were called disciples before the revelation of the Church at Antioch. When elders were appointed at the Church in Antioch the disciples who gathered there regularly were called Christians.
The elders of the Church in Jerusalem sent Barnabas to Antioch. He later departed for Tarsus to seek Paul. "And when he had found him, he brought him to Antioch. So it was that for a whole year they assembled with the church and taught a great many people. And the disciples were first called Christians in Antioch" (Acts 11:26, NKJV, emphasis added).
Jesus' view on Discipleship
1. Demand of discipleship is greater than the demand of a person's family commitment and his own life.
"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, NKJV, emphasis added).
In other words, devotion to one's family must take the second place to his devotion to Christ.
2. A disciple must be willing to suffer shame and humiliation and hardship in following Christ.
"And whoever does not bear his cross and come after Me cannot be My disciple" (Luke 14:27, emphasis added).
3. A disciple must exercise complete self denial with renunciation of all claims to his own life.
"So likewise, whoever of you does not forsake all that he has cannot be My disciple" (Luke 14:33, emphasis added).
4. A true disciple must abide in His Word.
"If you abide in My word, you are My disciples indeed" (John 8:31, emphasis added).
In other words, a true disciple must continue to obey His commandments and receive and follow His doctrines. A true disciple must be a doer of the Word and not hearer only (James 1:22). He must not compromise the truth of His Word.
5. A disciple must continue to bear fruit.
"By this My Father is glorified, that you bear much fruit; so you will be My disciples" (John 15:8, emphasis added).
In the above context, Jesus said a disciple cannot bear fruit unless he abides in Him (Verse 5). Bearing fruit speaks of the character of Christ. In other words, a disciple must have the Fruit of the Spirit:
"But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, longsuffering, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, self-control. Against such there is no law" (Gal. 5:22,23).
God the Father is glorified when He sees His disciples bear fruit.
6. Disciples must have love for one another.
"A new commandment I give to you, that you love one another; as I have loved you, that you also love one another. By this all will know that you are My disciples, if you have love for one another" (John 13:34,35, emphasis added).
In fact, a believer who has no love for another believer is neither a disciple nor a christian:
"Beloved, let us love one another, for love is of God; and everyone who loves is born of God and know God. He who does not love does not know God, for God is love" (1 John 4:7,8).
A person who is not born of God and does not know God cannot be a disciple or a christian!
No comments:
Post a Comment