Title: What is a disciple of Jesus?
Text: John 8: 31-36
Key v. 31
The question is indeed a very important one; “What is a disciple of Jesus?” In the past, I have heard teachers of the Bible say that a believer in Jesus was different than a disciple of Jesus. They would say: You can be a believer in Jesus without being a disciple. But, is that what the Bible teaches? Are they different, or are they inseparable?
Def. disciple =Grk. Mathetes - learner, pupil – It means an adherent (believer) who accepts the instruction given to him and makes it his rule of conduct. The general designation was given as a name to those who believed on Christ. Like all those who confess Jesus as the Messiah, Christians: (Acts 6:1,7; 9:19; 11:26)
Question: Could we then separate a believer of Jesus from being His disciple? No! All believers are called to be His disciples.
Matt 28:18-20- 18 And Jesus came and spoke to them, saying, "All authority has been given to Me in heaven and on earth. 19 Go therefore and make disciples of all the nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, 20teaching them to observeallthings that I have commanded you; and lo, I am with you always, even to the end of the age." Amen. NKJV
Note: According to the Great Commission given by our Lord Jesus He expects all His followers to be His disciples, and to obey all His teachings! If there is any deviation from Jesus’ mandate (commands) then it stands to reason that those who do not become His disciples, nor obey all His teachings are not truly His followers.
Cp. John 8:31-32- 31 Then Jesus said to those Jews who believed Him, "If you abide in My word, you are My disciples indeed. 32 And you shall know the truth, and the truth shall make you free." NKJV
Abide = meno (men'-o); a primary verb; to stay (in a given place, state, relation or expectancy):
KJV - abide, continue, dwell, endure, be present, remain, stand, tarry (for), thine own.
This is a true believer in Jesus who has sincerely surrendered all his will, his very life under the Lordship of Jesus.Jesus’ Word is His full authority. Notice the rest of the verse - If you abide in My word, you are My disciples indeed = alethos (al-ay-thoce'); truly:
KJV - indeed, surely, of a surety, truly, of a (in) truth, verily, very.
In other words, Jesus is Lord over his entire life!
Rom 10:9- 9 That if you confess with your mouth, "Jesus is Lord," and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved. NIV
Review:
- All true followers of Jesus are to be His disciples. There is no separation between a believer in Jesus and a disciple of Jesus. They are one and the same. Acts 11:6; Matt 28: 18-20
- The evidence of a disciple of Jesus is one who has surrender his will to the authority of the Word of God. John 8: 31
- Salvation is also evidence by Jesus being Lord, master, ruler over the entire life of the one who claims to believe in Jesus. Rom. 10:9,10
Question: Why is this so important? 1. Because it will free us from being a nominal Christian to being a biblical one. 2. And only those who are authentic will be raptured when the trumpet sounds. 3. We will be able to withstand persecution in the years to come. 4. We will be able to stand as a bold witness to those who are enslaved to sin, and are seeking freedom.
One of the main verses we must live by as true disciple of Jesus is in Rom. 12:1:1,2
Rom 12:1-2- 12 And so, dear brothers and sisters, I plead with you to give your bodies to God because of all he has done for you. Let them be a living and holy sacrifice—the kind he will find acceptable. This is truly the way to worship him. 2 Don't copy the behavior and customs of this world, but let God transform you into a new person by changing the way you think. Then you will learn to know God's will for you, which is good and pleasing and perfect. NLT