A Christian Yes, But Am I A Disciple Of Jesus Christ?

A Christian yes, but am I a disciple of Jesus Christ?

It is quite an extraordinary thing when you ponder it but there are many born again Christians who are not yet disciples of Jesus Christ. What is a disciple? Here are the six basic truths that Jesus said characterize and are the requirements to be His disciples:

Lu 14:26 Whoever comes to me cannot be my disciple unless he loves me more

than he loves his father and his mother, his wife and his children, his brothers

and his sisters, and himself as well (because none of them died for my sins) TEV

Lu 14:27 And whoever of you does not carry his own cross and follow me cannot

be my disciple (meaning he knows that he has died to his sinful human nature, by

believing God’s words that say Christ died to sinful flesh on his behalf - Rom 6:6).

Lu 14:33 So likewise, whoever of you does not forsake all that he has, he cannot be my disciple (he surrenders his ownership claim, knowing he has been bought with a price, he is not his own, so he and what he has belong to God, he is now just the steward).

This is my unconditional surrender to God of all my relationships, my human nature, my will, and all my possessions. This makes Jesus Lord. If I love Him, by His Spirit I can do it.

John 8:31 Jesus said to the people who believed in him "You are truly my disciples if

you keep obeying my word” (believing, being changed by and doing His word). NLT

John13:35 By this shall all men know that you are my disciples, if you have love one

to another (and this is love: that we walk in obedience to His commands - 2 Jo 6 NIV).

John15:8 Herein is my Father glorified, that you bear much fruit so shall you be my

disciples (the fruit of our lips speaking and praying God’s words, by the Holy Spirit);

Feeding on and living by God’s words brought to me by His Spirit, then loving others with God’s words by my mouth bearing the spiritual fruit of those words, made living by His Spirit. So that the hearts of others can feed on them and by which I minister Christ to them.

What’s the point of being a born again Christian if it isn’t to become a true disciple of Christ?

Why are there so many Christians who are not yet disciples of Jesus Christ?

In the great commission in Mat 28:19 Jesus told His disciples “Go and make disciples of all nations”. God makes new disciples when they’re willing to be discipled by existing disciples. Many Christians today are not disciples. Why not? Maybe because they weren’t interested in becoming a disciple? Why not? Perhaps because many Christians have learned some untruths about God that now act as a barrier to their wanting to learn the truth about being a disciple. What are some of these untruths that a Christian will have to unlearn before they can believe the blessed truths of becoming one of Christ’s disciples?

Some of the untruths a Christian may need to unlearn in order to become a disciple:

1. Unlearn that God is in control of this world, scripture says Satan is the god of this world:

1 Jo 5:19 ...The whole world is under the rule of the Evil One. TEV [The Lord’s Prayer tells us; God’s will is done in Heaven, on earth only as we obey and pray believing prayers]

2. Unlearn that stealing, killing and destroying is by God’s hand when it is by Satan’s hand:

John 10:10 (Jesus) The thief (Satan) does not come except to steal, and to kill, and to

destroy. I have come that they may have life, and …have it more abundantly.

3. Unlearn that Satan is God’s agent, for he is God’s enemy and mine, whom I am to resist:

1 John 3:8 For this purpose the Son of God was manifested, that He might destroy

the works of the devil. (If God destroys His agent’s works then God’s kingdom is divided)

4. Unlearn that God guides, leads and corrects His children through their circumstances:

Ps119:133 Direct my steps by Your word…

Rom 8:14 For as many as are led by the Spirit of God, these are the sons of God.

2 Tim 3:16 All Scripture is given by inspiration of God and is profitable for...correction

5. Unlearn that the Bible is a rule book that can be understood by normal human means:

1 Cor 2:14 The unspiritual self...by nature, can't receive the things of God's Spirit... Spirit can be known only by spirit, God's Spirit and our spirits in communion. MSGE

Prov 20:27 The spirit of man is the lamp of the Lord...(where scripture is revealed) NASU