Articles
Are You a Disciple of Christ?
What is a disciple? Bullinger says, "one who follows both the teacher and the teaching". What is a disciple of Christ then? It's one that follows both the Teacher (Christ) and the Teaching (the Word of God, the Gospel). Are you a disciple of Christ?
A true disciple of Christ ABIDES IN THE DOCTRINE OF CHRIST. "Then said Jesus to those Jews which believed on him, If ye continue (abide, NASB) in my word, then are ye my disciples indeed" (John 8:31). If we are to be the disciples of Christ, we MUST abide or continue in the Word of God, the Gospel of Jesus Christ.
What about those who do not abide in the doctrine of Christ? "Whosoever transgresseth, and abideth not in the doctrine of Christ, hath not God. He that abideth in the doctrine of Christ, he hath both the Father and the Son" (II John 9). My friend, abiding in the doctrine of Christ means having book, chapter, and verse for all that we say and do in our life, and work and worship to God Almighty, for "whatsoever ye do in word or deed, do all in the name of the Lord Jesus" (Colossians 3:17). Are you a disciple of Christ?
A true disciple of Christ PUTS CHRIST FIRST. "If any man come to me, and hate not his father, and mother, and wife, and children, and brethren, and sisters, yea, and his own life also, he cannot be my disciple" (Luke 14:26). Thayer says that the word "hate" means, "to love less". One must love Christ MORE than he does anyone or anything else. Being a true disciple of Christ means that we surrender our wants and desires to do what Christ demands. Jesus said, "But seek ye first the kingdom of God, and his righteousness" (Matthew 6:33). No one can truly be a disciple of Christ without putting God first in their life.
A true disciple of Christ HAS LOVE FOR OTHERS. "A new commandment I give unto you, That ye love one another; as I have loved you, that ye also love one another. By this shall all men know that ye are my disciples, if ye have love one to another" (John 13:34-35). Friends, we show ourselves to be true disciples of Christ when we love one another. When folks, that claim to be disciples of Christ, fuss and fight and divide, show the world they are NOT His disciples. My friend, do you love others? Then, do not be divided against one another and have no part or share in denominationalism (division), but rather be united together in spirit and truth and in the love of Christ.
A true disciple of Christ IS A CHRISTIAN. "And the disciples were called Christians first in Antioch" (Acts 11:26). A true disciple of Christ is a Christian, nothing more, nothing less. I hear people talking about being Baptist, Methodist, Catholic, and all claiming to be Christians too. Where in the Bible does God every call His people these denominational names? My friend, if you are a true disciple of Christ, then you are just a Christian. Let's leave off all these man-made names.
A true disciple of Christ follows both the Teacher (Christ) and the Teaching (the Gospel of Christ, the Word of God). Are you truly a disciple of Christ?
