True Discipleship

What does it mean to be a true disciple or Christian? Is it true that everyone who believes in God is a true disciple? What sayeth the Scriptures?

First, James said, “Thou believest that there is one God; thou doest well: the devils also believe, and tremble. But wilt thou know, O vain man, that faith without works is dead?” (James 2:19). Jesus said, “…Narrow is the way, which leadeth unto life, and few there be that find it (Matt. 7:14). In the same context he said, “Not every one that saith unto me, Lord, Lord, shall enter into the kingdom of heaven; but he that doeth the will of my Father which is in heaven. Many will say to me in that day, Lord, Lord, have we not prophesied in thy name? and in thy name have cast out devils? and in thy name done many wonderful works? And then will I profess unto them, I never knew you: depart from me, ye that work iniquity (Matt. 7:21-23).

The phrase “I never knew you” indicates many who think they are doing works in Jesus’ name are not even in the church or kingdom. How can this be? Isn’t it true that man is saved at the point of faith and that once saved he cannot be lost? These are popular doctrines but neither is supported by the Scriptures.

A true disciple is one who has been born again (John 3:5). When one is “born again” he rises to “walk in newness of life” (Rom. 6:3,4,17,18), he has “put on Christ” (Gal. 3:27), he has been baptized into the one body (1 Cor. 12:13), he has been baptized for the remission of sins as he calls on the name of the Lord (seeking a clear conscience) (Acts 2:38; 22:16; 1 Pet. 3:21) and as a Christian he is diligent in his efforts to “walk in the light” (1 John 1:7) that he might remain in God’s graces.

Jesus said, “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). This obscure passage could be easily misinterpreted because of the word “hate.” But the meaning here is “love less.” Thus, Jesus was saying, “If you want to be my disciple you must love me more than anyone else.”

Again, Jesus said, “So likewise, whosoever he be of you that forsaketh not all that he hath, he cannot be my disciple” (Luke 14:33). This simply means a true disciple will forsake (abandon or give up) all that stands in the way of duty or things that would hinder him from doing the will of God.

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