LOOKING TO PRAISE AND WORSHIP JESUS THE CHRIST, THE SON OF THE LIVING GOD. 18 No man has ever seen God at any time; the only unique Son, or the only begotten God, Who is in the bosom [in the intimate presence] of the Father, He has declared Him [He has revealed Him and brought Him out where He can be seen; He has interpreted Him and He has made Him known].

Tuesday, January 30, 2007

What are disciples?

Matthew 28:19-20 Go therefore and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, teaching them to observe all that I have commanded you. And behold, I am with you always, to the end of the age."

In the great commission Jesus commanded his eleven disciples to go into the world and make disciples by teaching them to observe all that he had commanded. Therefore, it is apparent that Jesus envisions a believer that would be more than someone who would through ‘simple faith’ take a get out of hell free card and continue on his merry carnal way. No, Jesus taught that his disciples are people that observe ALL that he commanded. Christians do not perfectly observe all that Jesus taught and commanded, but the mindset and desire to follow these teachings are there because God put them there with power through regeneration. The false teaching that a Christian can and may resist God’s power and make no effort to obey and observe the teachings of Jesus is exactly the message that Satan would like to have taught in every church in America. What an insult to the sovereignty and power of almighty God to suggest that his regenerating power is insufficient to accomplish his will. Regeneration brings faith, justification, and adoption by God and enables a redeemed sinner to cooperate in sanctification and strive for holiness. Anyone considering this unbiblical carnal Christian teaching should carefully consider the whole counsel of God as revealed in his word to discern the truth………

What does the Bible have to say about disciples, believers, and Christians?
(1) Disciples are Christians. (Acts 11:26)
(2) Christians are saved by grace alone through faith alone. (Eph. 2:8, John 3:16, Rom. 3:24-25)

(3) Christians are born again. (John 3:3)
(4) Christians are given the gift of faith. (Eph. 2:8, Eph. 2:5, Rom. 9:16, John 6:65)
(5) Christians have a new nature. (2 Cor. 5:17)

(6) Christians are “in Christ.” (Rom. 8:1, 2 Cor. 5:17, 1 Peter 5:14)
(7) Christians walk according to the Spirit. (Rom. 8:4)
(8) Christians live according to the Spirit and set their minds on the things of the Spirit. (Rom. 8:5)

(9) Christians do the will of the Father. (Matt. 12:49)
(10) Christians do good works that God prepared for them. (Eph. 2:10)
(11) Christians do not keep on sinning as a way of life. (1 John 3:6)
(12) Christians will strive for holiness. (Hebrews 12:14)
(13) Christians are given the gift of repentance from God. (Acts 11:18)

What does the Bible say about unbelievers and false professors of the Christian faith?
(1) Not everyone who calls Jesus Lord will enter the Kingdom of Heaven. (Matt. 7:21-23)
(2) False professors of Christianity will be mixed with true Christians. (Matt. 13:36-43)
(3) False professors of Christianity have a dead faith that does not save. (James 2:14-26)
(4) People who walk according to the flesh are not Christians and are not saved. (Rom. 8:5-8)
(5) People whose mind is set on the flesh are hostile to God and cannot submit. (Rom. 8:7)
(6) People who leave the faith are false professors. (1 John 2:19)

12 Comments:

Blogger mark pierson said...

Excellent post!

I believe that in discipleship God's aim is conformity to Christ. Jesus said in Luke 6:40 "A disciple is not above his teacher, but everyone who is perfectly trained will be like his teacher".

As we consider Romans 8:29, God's pretty plain about His goal in Christianity and for individual Christians. Any teaching that sets the salvation message, and salvation itself apart from this purpose of God is deficient.

January 30, 2007 11:35 AM

 
Blogger Gojira said...

Jazzy, step back, I am gonna yell


AMEN!!!!!!!!!!!!

Excellent post!

January 30, 2007 2:42 PM

 
Blogger jazzycat said...

Mark and Douglas (gojira),
Thanks for the comments. I think Mark is correct and that conformity to Christ is the goal of sanctification.

Affirming Justification by faith alone does not mean one has to deny God's grace in sanctification with man's participation and pursuit of holiness.

January 30, 2007 4:54 PM

 
Blogger Gojira said...

Hey Mark and Jazzy,

Speaking of sanctification, could you guys give your thoughts on this:

http://gojiras-stomping-ground.blogspot.com/2007/01/calvinist-with-free-grace-view-of.html

Sometimes it seems to me that the FG teaching of rewards, instead of saying "conformity to Christ is the goal of sanctification" they seem to be saying do good so you can get a reward.

Just wondering what thoughts you guys might have.

Anyway, what you gave was indeed a good post, as well as the comments Mark gave.

January 30, 2007 5:34 PM

 
Blogger Baptist Girl said...

Amen Jazzcat,
excellent post.

Cristina

January 30, 2007 10:27 PM

 
Blogger jazzycat said...

Baptist girl,
Thanks for the visit....

January 31, 2007 9:50 AM

 
Anonymous Anonymous said...

Nobody says it better than you, Wayne! :)

January 31, 2007 10:05 AM

 
Blogger Even So... said...

Nice...

January 31, 2007 10:58 AM

 
Blogger Joe said...

Hooray! I have finally conquered New Blogger!

Well put!

Discipleship is closely related to, but not the same as, discipline.

January 31, 2007 3:13 PM

 
Blogger jazzycat said...

Gayla, J.D. and Joe,
Thanks for stopping by.

Wayne

January 31, 2007 4:20 PM

 
Blogger Craver Vii said...

For some reason, I had January 28 with 2 comments on this page until just now! So I apologize for joining in late, but WOW, great post!

It is a myth indeed, that a Christian can and may resist God’s power and make no effort to obey and observe the teachings of Jesus.

Thanks for a great post.
Thanks for the convenient format (list).
Thanks for backing it up with Scripture.

February 01, 2007 3:42 PM

 
Blogger jazzycat said...

Thanks Mr. Craver. As you allude to, it is Scripture that matters....ALL OF SCRIPTURE.

February 03, 2007 11:06 AM

 

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