The Path of True Christianity
Originally for
Sunday Morning 1/6/08; 12/28/07; 5/18/08; 5/30/09; 8/19/09; (7/24/10);
10/17/11; 10/19/11; 1/29/12-1/30/12
Contents
Language (“Etymology”) – What is
a “Disciple”2
Functional Definitions of
Discipleship2
Disciples Are Eager for
Discipleship3
Are you Truly Following Jesus?. 4
How do you know when you’re REAL?6
Are You Paying the Price of
Discipleship?6
Are You Disciplined and Committed
to Discipleship?7
Personal Proofs of Discipleship. 7
Disciples Discontinue Depravity. 8
3. Imitation
– Where We Finally Find Out if You are a Real Disciple! 9
Intro Basics – The Solid
Proclamation of Imitation9
Imitate me and Peace will be with
You11
Humility Produces Real Discipleship that
Actually Imitates!11
5. The
Reward of Discipleship12
Especially
See:
Preface | Language… What is a “Disciple”
| Functional Definitions of Discipleship | Mat 7 | Luk_14:25 | Mat_10:32-39
The
MP3 of this teaching should be available at:
www.TrueConnection.org/MP3s/Discipleship_1.6.07_ED.mp3 [date
needs to be changed to 1/6/08]
(The MP3 is only a
brief overview of all the details that you can see here below)
Preface
If you are an
American christian beware! The path that Jesus trod and set for us and our
salvation is one of discipleship rather than the theoretical and shallow
commitment of converts that we see in most churches in Westernized culture. If
we don’t follow this extreme and unpopular path that Jesus called being His
disciple, we only have the Broadway to Hell and destruction as our alternative!
Avail yourself to
know and understand this eternal distinction called “Discipleship.”
Intro
·
I’m not here to make the Bible easy for
you to understand, I’m here to challenge you to believe it!
·
There’s only ONE rule here: Believe the
Bible
· But first,
find out what these mean: Disciple, Apostle, christian, believer…
1. Defining Discipleship
Below:
A.
Language… – What is a “Disciple” | B. Functional Definitions of Discipleship
Language (“Etymology”) – What is a “Disciple”
The
Hebrew is from ָלַמד (lāmaḏ) H3925: to
teach, or "...the acquisition of instruction..." (The Complete Word Study Dictionary), which produces ִלמּוּד (limmûḏ) H3928:
Someone who is taught.
The Greek is from μανθάνω (manthanō) G3129: “…to learn (in any way)”
(Strong’s), which produces μαθητής (mathētḗs) G3101: “…a learner, that is, pupil …” (Strong’s).
The English
word “disciple” ends up “…coming to English by way of
the Latin discipulus
meaning ‘a learner’.” [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Disciple_%28Christianity%29]
The Bible is very clear that discipleship is the only way to
heaven, and it is not at all some advanced form of christianity, but that it is
indeed, the one and only form of True Christianity:
Mat_28:19-20; Act_11:26 - "...And the disciples were called Christians
first in Antioch."
We ought to reject the heresy of easy-believeism
which insults the entire body of Truth by asserting that christians need not
necessarily be disciples in order to go to heaven, as though a person could be
saved from eternal hell without truly and completely following Jesus.
Summary we could almost say that a disciple simply means a
student, but this means so much more than something as shallow as
“intellectual instruction” as we are prone to think of it. To those in the
Bible, truly learning is more like apprenticeship, and this is why we
use the word “disciple,” avoiding the shallow assumptions Westernized
thinkers often connect to “learning.” This Divine apprenticeship is the only
way to follow Jesus and be saved from sin and hell unto eternal glory with Him
forever.
Functional Definitions of Discipleship
Discipleship…
Is training in righteousness to
fully obey and follow Jesus.
Is a mentoring process to become a
man or woman of God.
Means being committed to
this process of mentoring and training.
Is harder than you ever expected,
and infinitely more rewarding than you ever dreamed.
Filters and separates the American
christian from someone who is REALLY following Jesus.
Weeds out the fake and shallow,
from the totally committed.
·
When someone is ready to commit to discipleship, that’s
when you know they’re really ready to commit to following Jesus.
- Do these things describe you?
·
Making disciples is sealing the deal to call people to
absolute and total commitment to live according to the eternal mandates of the
Bible.
·
Saying, “I don’t need training…” is saying, “I don’t need
Jesus’ way of getting to God” because He’s the one that ordained discipleship:
Mat_28:18-20 (“Make disciples”) Luk_10:16; Mat_10:40; Joh_13:20 (“Whoever listens to you,
listens to me”)
·
Humanism says, “I worship God in my own
way”; It says, “I don’t need anyone to help me know God… I trust
my own heart to guide me to him.”
We think we came up with this idea ourselves, but actually we’re our
culture’s disciples when we think like this.
Pro_28:26
KJ2000 He that trusts in his own heart is a fool:
but whosoever walks wisely, he shall be delivered.
Jer_17:9 KJV The heart is deceitful above all things, and desperately wicked: who can know it?
Pro_14:12 WEB There is a way which seems right to a man, But in the end it leads to death.
Also see: Psa_51:5 (naturally corrupt); Ecc_9:3 (full of evil); Mar_7:21-23 (you sin because there’s sin
in your heart)
·
According to the Bible, we stand in desperate need of
Jesus’ discipleship, and He has ordained that this be done through submitting
to other people that He has put in a person’s life as ambassadors of His
training (such as, Apostles, Overseers, Leaders, Mentors, etc.).
·
Truly, we ALL
stand in desperate need… the question is:
are we going to walk in foolish self-confidence relying on ourselves, or are we
going to acknowledge our need and embrace discipleship?
Discipleship Digs Deep
Jer_13:23 KJ2000 Can the EthiopianH3569/ G128
change his skin, or the leopard his spots? then may you also do good, that are accustomedH3928/ G3129 to
doing evil.
Also Compare:
The Disciples of John Mat_11:2; Mar_2:18; Luk_5:33; Luk_7:18; Joh_3:25
Said to be of Moses Joh_9:28
The disciples of the Pharisees Mar_2:18
[Ultimately, whoever you are
learning from and imitating you are being discipled by]
Details:
From the Hebrew Old Testament (the
original language), and the Greek Old Testament (The “LXX” translated ~200BC
and quoted throughout the New Testament)
H3569/ G128 –
כושׁי (kûshîy*)/ Αἰθίοψ** (Aithiops) – Where
we get “Ethiopian” from, i.e. the African descendants
of Cush, (being the greater part).
* i.e. “Cushite,” a
descendant of Cush, son of Ham (Gen_10:6).
** Greek literally means someone with a “burnt (Αἰθί) face (οψ)”
speaking of their adjusted skin color, (same as in Num_12 and
Act_8:27).
H3928/ G3129 – למדי (limmûd)/ μεμαθηκότες (memathēkotes) – “discipled” (i.e. instructed)
- When you’ve TRULY been discipled it becomes cemented in you as a solid
part of your nature!
- When you’ve TRULY been discipled it becomes as pronounced as the skin
on your face!
- Mat_7:16-23 “You will know them by their fruits”
- Is discipleship where you are going?
Or are you drifting spiritually? You know, you won’t get godly accidently.
Disciples Are Eager for Discipleship
Questions
If you are a disciple and don’t
understand, then you will ask questions as they did: Mat_13:10; Mat_13:36; Mat_15:12; Mat_24:1; Mat_24:3; Mat_26:17
It is not “forced” Externally
Act_2:41-42 KJV Then they that gladly
received his word were baptized: and the same day there were added unto them
about three thousand souls. 42 And they continued stedfastly
in the apostles' doctrine and fellowship, and in breaking of bread, and in
prayers.
Ruth’s
Example
Rth_1:15-16 WEB She said, Behold, your sister-in-law is gone back to her people, and to her god: return you after your sister-in-law. 16 Ruth said, "Don't entreat me to leave you, and to return from following after you, for where you go, I will go; and where you lodge, I will lodge; your people shall be my people, and your God my God;
Elijah
and Elisha
2Ki_2:1-6 KJ2000 And it came to pass, when the LORD would take up Elijah into heaven by a whirlwind, that Elijah went with Elisha from Gilgal. 2 And Elijah said unto Elisha, Tarry here, I pray you; for the LORD has sent me to Beth-el. And Elisha said unto him, As the LORD lives, and as your soul lives, I will not leave you. So they went down to Beth-el… 4 And Elijah said unto him, Elisha, tarry here, I pray you; for the LORD has sent me to Jericho. And he said, As the LORD lives, and as your soul lives, I will not leave you. So they came to Jericho… 6 And Elijah said unto him, Tarry, I pray you, here; for the LORD has sent me to Jordan. And he said, As the LORD lives, and as your soul lives, I will not leave you. And they both went on. 9 And it came to pass, when they were gone over, that Elijah said unto Elisha, Ask what I shall do for you, before I be taken away from you. And Elisha said, I pray you, let a double portion of your spirit be upon me.
2. The Proof of Discipleship
Are you Truly Following Jesus?
Joh_6:45 WEB It is written in the prophets, 'They will all be taught by God.' Therefore everyone who hears from the Father, and has learned [μαθων3129], comes to me.
(Also in Mat_11:27-30 “come to me… learn
from me”)
“Mr. Too Quick” -
Mat_8:19-20
WEB A scribe came, and said to him,
"Teacher, I will follow you wherever you go." 20
Jesus said to him, "The foxes have holes, and the birds of the sky
have nests, but the Son of Man has nowhere to lay his head."
“Mr. Too Slow” -
Mat_8:21-23 Another of his disciples said to
him, "Lord, allow me first to go and bury my father." 22 But
Jesus said to him, "Follow me, and leave the dead to bury their own
dead." 23 When he got into a boat, his disciples followed him.
The Rich Young Ruler:
Mat_19:16-30; Mar_10:17-31; Luk_18:18-30
Mar_10:17a WEB As he
was going out into the way…
Luk_18:18 WEB A
certain ruler…
Mar_10:17b …ran to him, knelt before him, and said…
Mat_19:16 WEB …"Good teacher, what good thing shall I
do, that I may have eternal life?
Mar_10:17c …that I may inherit
eternal life?"
Jesus lays
the Law on him: Mat_19:17-20; Mar_10:18-20;
Luk_18:19-21
Mat_19:20 WEB The
young man said to him, "All these things I have observed from my youth. What
do I still lack?” [i.e. “…that I may inherit eternal life“]
Mar_10:21 WEB Jesus
looking at him loved him, and said to him, "One thing you lack…
Luk_18:22 WEB
…"You still lack one thing…
Mat_19:21 KJV …If you
want to be complete [τέλειος5046]…
Mar_10:21 WEB …Go, sell whatever you have, and give to the
poor, and you will have treasure in heaven; and come, follow me, taking up the
cross."
Mat_19:22 KJV But when
the young man heard that saying, he went away sorrowful: for he had great
possessions.
Luk_18:24 KJV And when
Jesus saw that he was very sorrowful…
Mar_10:23-27 WEB Jesus looked
around, and said to his disciples, "How difficult it is for those who have
riches to enter into the Kingdom of God!"
24 The
disciples were amazed at his words. But Jesus answered again,
"Children, how hard is it for those who trust in riches to enter into the
Kingdom of God! 25 It is easier for a camel to go through a
needle's eye than for a rich man to enter into the Kingdom of God." 26
They were exceedingly astonished, saying to him, "Then
who can be saved?"
27 Jesus, looking at them, said,
"With men it is impossible, but not with God, for all things are possible
with God.“
Exclusivity (Only 2 directions!)
Joh_14:6-7 WEB Jesus said to him, "I am the way, the truth, and the life. No one comes to
the Father, except through me. 7 If
you had known me, you would have known my Father also…
Joh_6:66-69 WEB At this, many of his disciples went back, and walked no more with him. 67 Jesus said therefore to the twelve, "You don't also want to go away, do you?" 68 Simon Peter answered him, "Lord, to whom would we go? You have the words of eternal life. 69 We have come to believe and know that you are the Christ, the Son of the living God."
Also See These Examples of Jesus’ Disciples Following Him:
Mat_5:1; Mat_9:14; Mat_13:10; Mat_13:36; Mat_14:15; Mat_15:12; Mat_24:1; Mat_24:3; Mat_26:17; Mar_6:35; Luk_6:17; Luk_22:39;
> Real
Disciples FOLLOW Jesus
> There
are Only Two Directions you can go… If you’re not following Him, where are you
going?
Discipleship Scarcity
Narrow Gate - “ONLY A Few are Saved”
Mat_7:13-27 Jos.Trans. Enter by the narrow gateG4439
[πύλης
(pulēs)]:
because wide is the gate, and broad is the way, that leads to
destruction, and there are manyG4183
[πολλοί
(poloi)] who go in by it: 14
Because narrow is the gate, and difficult is the way which leads to
life, and there are a few who find it. 15 Beware of false prophets, who
come to you in sheep's clothing, but inwardly they are ravening wolves. 16 You
will know them by their fruits. Do men gather grapes from thorns, or figs from
thistles? 17 Even so every good tree bears good fruit; but
a bad tree bears bad fruit. 18 A good tree cannot bear bad fruit, nor a bad
tree bear good fruit. 19 Every tree that does not bear good fruit is
cut down, and thrown into the fire.
20 So then, by their fruits you
will know them. 21 Not everyone who says to me, “Lord,
Lord,” will enter into the kingdom of the heavens; but he who does the
will of my Father which is in the heavens.
22 ManyG4183
[πολλοί
(poloi)] will say to me in that day, “Lord, Lord,
haven’t we prophesied in your name, and in your name cast out demons, and in
your name done many powerful works?”
23 And then will I declare to
them, “I never knew you: depart from me, you workers of lawlessness.”
24 Everyone then:
whoever hears these words of mine, and does them, I will compare him to a wise
man who built his house upon the rock: 25 And the rain descended, and the floods came,
and the winds blew, and fell upon that house; and it did not fall, because it
had been founded upon the rock. 26 And everyone who hears these words of mine,
and does not do them, will be compared to a foolish man who built his house
upon the sand: 27 And
the rain descended, and the floods came, and the winds blew, and beat upon that
house, and it fell, and great was its fall.
G4183 πολύς, πολλός polus polos pol-oos'
Including the forms from the alternate “pollos”; (singular) much
(in any respect) or (plural) many;
neuter (singular) as adverb largely;
neuter (plural) as adverb or noun often,
mostly, largely: - abundant, + altogether, common,
+ far (passed, spent), (+ be of a) great (age, deal, -ly,
while), long, many, much, oft (-en [-times]), plenteous, sore, straitly. Compare G4118, G4119.
Probably from the same as G4171, or perhaps from G4183; a
town (properly with walls, of
greater or less size): - city.
Apparently a primary word; a gate, that is, the leaf or wing of a folding entrance (literally or figuratively): -
gate.
Luk_13:23-24 WEB One said to him, "Lord, are they few who
are saved?" He said to them,
24 "Strive to enter in by
the narrow door, for many,
I tell you, will seek to enter in, and will not be able. (Read: Luk_13:23-30)
1Pe_4:18
And if the righteous is scarcely saved, where shall the ungodly and
sinner appear?
A Problem
- It is
like we think that even if we don’t follow Jesus we will still somehow end up
at the same destination.
- Jesus
said there are only two paths (above, & Mat). Either you’re with Him or
you’re against Him! Broad or narrow are your two choices!
- Which extreme are you on? - If you think
you’re “in-between,” then you’re on Broadway.
Mat_6:24 EMTV "No one is able to serve two masters;
for either he will hate the one, and he will love the other, or else he will be
devoted to the one, and he will despise the other. You cannot serve God and
money.
Mat_12:30 EMTV He who is not with Me is against Me, and he who does not gather with Me scatters.
Rev_3:15-16 WEB "I
know your works, that you are neither cold nor hot. I wish you were cold or
hot. 16 So, because you are lukewarm, and neither hot
nor cold, I will vomit you out of my mouth.
- People
ask, “Are you saved?” Real question:
Are you burning for Jesus? (Otherwise you are spit out).
How do you know when you’re REAL?
- REAL
Students (disciples) look and act like their masters (Mat_10:25; Act_4:13)
- Not, “We
can go to movies and dress how we want” (see Rom_6:18-23 “being free from righteousness means not saved”;
Gal_6:7-8
“Investing the flesh”)
Jer_6:16 KJV Thus saith the LORD, Stand ye in the ways,
and see, and ask for the old paths, where is the good way, and
walk therein, and ye shall find rest for your souls. But they said, We will not
walk therein.
- Students
of Jesus obey Him as Lord (Rom_10:9; and
Scriptures above)
- You know
you’re not learning a thing when your life-style stays the same (2Co_3:18 “Glory to Glory”; Pro_4:18 “brighter shinning light”)
- If
you’re not changing and growing in righteousness and holiness, then you’re
dying in sin.
Are You Paying the Price of Discipleship?
The ONLY
Way to Follow Him: This shows where you are going
Forsake ALL
Luk_14:25-35 KJB And great crowds went with him and he turned
and said to them, 26 “If anyone comes to me and does not hate his
own father, and mother, and wife, and children, and brothers, and sisters, and
even his very own soul, his life as well, he cannot be my disciple. 27 And
whoever does not bear his cross and come after me cannot be my disciple. 28
Because which of you wanting to build a tower doesn't sit down first and
count the cost if he has the means to finish?
29 That it doesn't happen after
he has laid the foundation and is not able to finish that all who see it begin to mock him 30
saying, ‘This man began to build, and was not able to finish.’ 31 Or
what king going to engage another king in war doesn't sit down first and
consider whether he is able with ten thousand to meet him who comes against him
with twenty thousand? 32 But if not, while the other is still a great
way off he sends a delegation4242 and asks for conditions of
peace. 33 So in the same way, everyone
of you who does not forsake everything that he has cannot be my disciple. 34
Salt is good: but if the
salt has lost its flavor how will it be seasoned? 35 It
is neither fit for the land nor for the dunghill, but they cast it out. He who has ears to hear, let him
hear.”
Details
4242 - A
"delegation," in Greek, "πρεσβειαν"
which is made up of elders.
Bitter-Sweat News
If you’re
not His disciple it doesn’t mean you’re a second-rate christian…
If you’re
not His disciple it means you are not a christian at all!
(i.e. verses
34-35).
Supreme Commitment
Mat_10:32-39 Jos.Trans. So any and
everyone who confesses3670, (1722) me in front of men, I will also
confess him in front of my Father who is in the heavens. 33 But
whoever will deny me in front of men, I will also deny him in front of my Father
who is in the heavens. 34 Don’t think that I came to send peace on
earth: I have not come to send peace, but a sword. 35
Because I have come to set a man against his own father, and a daughter
against her mother, and a daughter in law against her mother in law, 36 and
a man's enemies will be those of
his own household. 37 He that loves father or mother more than me
is not worthy of me, and he that loves son or daughter more than me is not
worthy of me, 38 and he that does not take his cross and
follow after me is not worthy of me.
39 He that finds his soul, his
life, will lose it. But he that loses his soul, his life, for my sake will find
it.
Details
G3670 –
This speaks of “confessing together,” meaning, joining with Jesus in front of
men
G1722 –
This unity “in” Jesus is multiplied by the use of the unrepresented word “εν 1722”
(en).
Literally
and functionally: “Whoever confesses together [i.e. with me], in me, in front
of men”
Are You Disciplined and Committed to Discipleship?
The Dedication of Discipleship
Act_2:41-44 KJV Then they that gladly received his word were baptized: and the same day there were added unto them about three thousand souls. 42 And they continued stedfastly in the apostles' doctrine and fellowship, and in breaking of bread, and in prayers. 43 And fear came upon every soul: and many wonders and signs were done by the apostles. 44 And all that believed were together, and had all things common… 46 And they, continuing daily with one accord in the temple, and breaking bread from house to house… [Also compare: Luk_24:53; Act_1:14, Act_3:1, Act_5:42]
- Converts? Not at all! – We’re talking disciples, and not just
numbers!
- The natural response of someone who truly finds Jesus!
- And we can’t even get people to stop watching sinful
movies
- You can tell when someone gets it!: Don’t have to
tell them to throw out their bad music
- Are you wondering why you can’t get you
life right? There is a reason why…
Summary
- Don’t
you get the idea that Jesus is demanding ALL if you’re going to follow Him?:
- Truly Follow
Jesus by Paying the Price and submit to the Commitment of
discipleship
Personal Proofs of Discipleship
When I say,
“commit to discipleship” it is important to be sure to know what I mean. I do
not mean going to church or Bible study per se, but I mean
being eagerly devoted to gaining the spiritual truth and favor that God has
worked in another person no matter what the cost.
In other
words, when someone says, “I want to get somewhere in following Jesus” they
often are actually adding to this, “I want you to help me, but I’m not willing
to fully commit to getting what you got.” The problem and the limitation comes
when people say with their actions, “I want you to tell me a solution that will
work and after I try it, I might believe you have something from God if it
works.” And “I want what information you know and I want it to help me, but I
am not willing to commit to you or trust you.”
But Biblical Discipleship simply never works that way. This is mainly
because Jesus said:
Mat_12:39-40 CAB
…"An evil and adulterous generation seeks after a sign, and
no sign will be given to it except the sign of the prophet Jonah. 40 For just as Jonah was three days and three
nights in the belly of the great fish, so will the Son of Man be three days and
three nights in the heart of the earth.
But if
anyone has any favor from God, the only way anyone will be benefited by it is
if those in need believe the one whom God has approved of, that they have what
they need. Committing to discipleship means committing to gain the favor that
God has entrusted to another person, seeing that you need what they have for
life and salvation:
Act_11:13-14 CAB
And he related to us how he had seen the angel in his house,
standing and saying to him, 'Send men to Joppa, and send for Simon whose
surname is Peter, 14 'who
will speak words to you by which you and all your household shall be saved.'
Act_10:33 CAB
"Therefore immediately I sent to you, and you have done well
to come. Now then we are all present before God, to hear all the things having
been commanded you by God."
Rth_1:16 CAB
And Ruth said, Entreat me not to leave you, or to return from
following you; for wherever you go, I will go, and wherever you lodge, I will
lodge; your people shall be my
people, and your God my God.
Gal_4:14 CAB
And my trial which was in my flesh you did not despise nor
disdain, but as an angel of God you received me, even as Christ Jesus.
1Th_2:13 CAB
Because of this we also give thanks to God unceasingly, so that
when you received the word of God which you heard from us, you received not the
word of men, but just as it truly is, the word of God, which also is at work in
you who believe.
(Also see Act_17:10-12)
Disciples Discontinue Depravity
Act_19:18-19 WEB Many also of those who had believed came,
confessing, and declaring their deeds. 19 Many of those who practiced magical arts
brought their books together and burned them in the sight of all. They counted
the price of them, and found it to be fifty thousand pieces of silver.
The Hard-Core Way
Jesus Said: Lk. 6:43 For a
good tree does not produce bad fruit, nor does a bad tree produce good
fruit.
Mat. 3:10 And now also the ax is laid at
the root of the trees, so that every tree that does not produce good fruit is
cut down and thrown into the fire.
Lk. 6:46 Why do you call me, `Lord, Lord,' and don't do the
things which I say?
Jn. 14:15 If you Love Me, keep my commands... 23 ...If
anyone loves Me, he will obey my words... 24 He who does not Love me will not
obey my words.
The Bible Also Says:
1Jn. 2:4 He who says, "I have come to know him," but
does not keep His commands is a liar, and the Truth is not in him.
1Jn. 3:6-10 Whoever remains in Him does not
continue to sin. Whoever continues to sin has not seen Him, or known Him. 7 Little children, don’t let anyone deceive
you: he that does what is right is righteous, just as He is righteous. 8
He that continues to sin is of the devil; because the devil has been sinning
from the beginning. For this reason the Son of God was revealed, that He might
destroy the works of the devil. 9 Whoever is born of God does not continue
to sin; for His seed remains in him: and he cannot go on sinning, because he is
born of God. 10 In this the children of God and the children of the devil
are revealed: whoever does not practice righteousness is not of God…
3. Imitation – Where We Finally Find Out if You are a Real Disciple!
Here are some short notes pertaining to the very
essence and climax of actually doing discipleship: imitate those people that
God has left in your life as ambassadors of truth that you are obligated to
imitate!
Intro Basics – The Solid Proclamation of Imitation
Let this saying sink
down in your ears! – Discipleship is the one
case in life where “imitation” is the only thing that is really genuine.
Note: this is another of those
really important sayings that will save your soul if you let it!
Why is this true? Because the real discipleship of imitating the truth
that God has wisely and sovereignly left in ambassadors on earth is the only
way you will have a legitimate, valid, correlating copy of the truth of God
which is in heaven! Because of this, most people do not need other people to go to heaven, which is why
most people are going to hell.
Heb_6:12 WEB
that you won't be sluggish, but imitators
of those who through faith and patience inherited the promises.
Heb_13:7 WEB
Remember your leaders, men who spoke to you the word of God, and
considering the results of their conduct, imitate
their faith.
1Th_2:12-14 CAB
that you would make your walk worthy of
God who calls you into His own kingdom and glory. 13 Because of this we also give thanks to God
unceasingly, so that when you received the word of God which you heard from us,
you received not the word of men, but just as it truly is, the word of God,
which also is at work in you who believe.
14 For you, brothers, became imitators of the churches of God
which are in Judea in Christ Jesus…
Joh_13:20 CAB
Most assuredly I say to you, he who receives whomever I send receives
Me; and he who receives Me receives Him who sent Me."
Gal_4:13-14 CAB You
know that because of weakness in the flesh I preached the gospel to you the
former time. 14 And my trial which was in my flesh you did
not despise nor disdain, but as an angel of God you
received me, even as Christ Jesus.
Don’t kid yourself. You do not love
Jesus in prayer more than you love Jesus on earth in real disciples.
Notice that this love and imitation
of faithful people who proclaim truth is real Discipleship. The real reason it does
not work today is because we hate Jesus in our apostasy and have had too many
bad experiences in our culture with “over honoring” lost wicked pastors of
filthy flesh. But this eager imitation of truth, where people receive preachers
of truth just as they would Jesus, works just as much today as it did then in
the Bible. The reason this does not seem to work out today is because we have
lost people honoring lost pastors, not because the true and faithful example of
the Bible has changed!
Our problem is that we hate Jesus and love flesh balls that cannot
sustain such a reception because they are clearly not like Jesus or in any way
are they really His representatives! No wonder we are let down and hurt when we
try to “over-trust” pastors in our churches today, because we are opening
ourselves up and making ourselves vulnerable to ravenous wolves expecting them
to operate on us in our own best interest!
We are so afraid of falling into a “controlling and abusive cult,” but
we hypocritically have no concern over falling into damnable heresies and
honoring apostate pastors! Real representatives of Jesus can be safely received
just as Jesus (as the Scriptures clearly teach). Repent and do what is Biblical
and you will no longer have a conflict between you and the example left for us
in the Bible.
But we only feel like this is extremely impractical and impossible
because we keep propping up false, apostate, counterfeits and will not just be
honest and call them out as wolves like we should. – If you cannot honor and
receive a preacher as you would Jesus Himself then you should not receive him
at all as a preacher of truth, because such unbiblical games are worthless
exercises that are anything But Biblical discipleship.
Find real proclaimers of truth. Stop pacifying yourself with less than
Biblical preachers. Embrace the proclamation of truth with BIBLICAL
faithfulness, and reject falsehood with reasonable zeal! This is the only way
to “safely” receive discipleship today, because it is the only solution offered
in the Scriptures. There is no other gospel that will save you beyond the
Gospel that demands discipleship (compare Mar_16:15-16; Mat_28:19-20; Gal_1:6-9).
My Gospel; Our Gospel
My Gospel – Rom_2:16; Rom_16:25; 1Ti_1:11; 2Ti_1:8; 2Ti_2:8;
Our Gospel – 1Th_1:5-6; 2Th_2:13-14
[Note: this is the same as the everlasting
Gospel as in Rev_14:6]
By the terms “My Gospel” and “Our Gospel” it is clear that the Gospel that is needed for salvation is entrusted to certain people in a very personal way, and we need such people in order to make it to heaven; inasmuch as we actually do need the Gospel to make it to heaven, we need “Paul’s Gospel” to make it to heaven. We see that we need Paul to preach to us to make it to heaven. Yes, we somehow need “Paul” involved in our lives to make it to heaven because we need that which was given to him, just as it says,
Act_11:13-14 CAB
…he had seen the angel in his house, standing and saying to him, 'Send
men to Joppa, and send for Simon whose surname is Peter, 14 'who will speak words to you by which you and
all your household shall be saved.'
The Gospel I Preach
Some summaries of preaching the Gospel of imitation
Gal_1:11
Gal_2:2-7/ 1Th_2:4
\/
Eph_1:13
\/
Php_1:5-7
Col_1:23
1Th_2:8
1Co_4:14-16 - children... (a) father through Gospel
1Co_11:1
- traditions
Gal_4:10-14 - Be as I am (1Co_10:33)
Php_3:16-18 - not impressed with another way
Heb_6:10-12 - imitate favor
Gal_2:17-18 – “if, while we seek to be justified...”
Imitate me and Peace Will be with You
Php_4:9 CAB The things
which you learned and received and heard and saw in me, practice these things;
and the God of peace shall be with you.
2Th_2:15 CAB So then,
brothers, stand fast and hold to the traditions which you were taught, whether
by word or our letter.
1Th_4:1-8; 2Th_3:6-10 – you ought to be this way
Humility Produces Real Discipleship that
Actually Imitates!
Humility Makes You Vulnerable
toward God enough to Need to Imitate those He has left In Your Life
Think of Others as Higher Than Yourself
Php_2:2-3 CAB
fulfill my joy by being like-minded, having the same love, being united
in spirit, intending the same purpose, 3 doing nothing according to selfish ambition
or conceit, but with humility, regarding one another as being better than
yourselves.
Important:
compare Rom_12:
and see all of Phi_2:2-8
The Ugly Mystery of Differentiation!
1Co_4:7-8 CAB For
who makes you differ from another? And what do you have that you did not
receive? And if you did indeed receive what you have, why do
you boast as though you did not receive it?
8 You are already full! You are already rich!
You have reigned as
kings without us; and I wish that indeed you did
reign, in order that we also might reign with you!
Don’t kid yourself. You are never
“EQUAL” with other disciples! – You are either LOWER (Php_2:2-3; Mat_18:1-4) or
HIGHER than others (1Co_4:7-8) in your own conceit (Pro_26:12; Gal_6:3). Either you are in love and in
need of imitating them (according to the degree of their truth), or you are out
of discipleship as much as you do not need them (see 3Jo_1:9).
Also see: Pro_16:18-19 (and Ecc_7:16; Mic_6:8; Luk_18:11; 2Co_12:7; Jam_4:6; 1Pe_5:5).
4. Sin Lists
See the Bible
Study on this topic
It goes without saying
that if you are living in any sin you have nothing to do with Biblical
Discipleship. Please examine your life and determine whether or not you are a
REAL disciple. Make sure that you are not living in sin so that you can qualify
as a real learner of Jesus!
5. The Reward of Discipleship
Joh_8:31-32 WEB Jesus therefore said to those Jews who had
believed him, "If you remain in my
word, then you are truly my disciples. 32 You
will know the truth, and the truth will make you free."
Joh_15:8 WEB "In this is my Father glorified, that you bear much fruit; and so you will be my disciples.
Applications
- Many people ask, “What
does it take to bring Revival”?
But you can’t earn the
wages of sin (death) and expect a return of life. Furthermore, our modern
christianity has never really been alive, so it cannot return to life (revival),
it has to get alive for the first time (“vival”).
- Repent of learning
(being “discipled” by) the ways of the nations
Rev_3:19 KJ2000 As
many as I love, I rebuke and chasten: be zealous therefore, and repent.
Repent of being American
christian, and become a REAL disciple of Jesus
Breaking
It all Down for You:
- If you are not
forsaking ALL
- If you are not
burning for Jesus
- If you are
living in sin
Then you are not His disciple. If you do not repent, in the end, you
will burn in hell forever.
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