What Is A Disciple? – Biblical Perspectives

FIRST, a disciple is a person who observes all things Jesus commanded.

• It’s not enough just to get saved so you won’t go to hell – it is not about an eternal life insurance policy. 
• You have to continue in Jesus’ words (committed obedience) if you’re going to be His disciple. This ought to be the primary goal of every single Christian! 
• You might say you love God and be liberal in your social views, but you can’t possibly love the Word and be that way. 
• If you’re going to be a disciple of Jesus, you can’t observe only the parts of the Word that you like.  If your attitude, your doctrine, or your worldview doesn’t line up with the Word of God, you need to change it, not try to change or reinterpret the Word of God.
• If you are truly born again, love God, and you’re headed to heaven, but you still hold fast to viewpoints and cultural norms that are completely opposite of what the Word says, then you don’t love the Word. You haven’t been taught or chosen “to observe all things” as Jesus commanded. You are not a disciple!

SECOND, the Law of Christ provides another description of a true disciple.

• “Bear one another’s burdens, and so fulfill the law of Christ” (Galatians 6:2). How do we obey Jesus and fulfill what He commanded us? According to Paul, we bear one another’s burdens. It’s that simple.
• What is the Law of Christ you might ask? It is better known as the Great Commandment (Matthew 22:35-40) – Then one of them, a lawyer, asked Him a question, testing Him, and saying, “Teacher, which is the great commandment in the law?” Jesus said to him, “‘You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart, with all your soul, and with all your mind.’ This is the first and great commandment. And the second is like it: ‘You shall love your neighbor as yourself.’ On these two commandments hang all the Law and the Prophets.” – This is the foundation for the Great Commission!
• The law of Christ flies in the face of today’s me-first, fast-paced, self-centered, and hectic secular humanist culture.
• Being a disciple of Jesus is not simply loving and helping those who are like you; rather, it is loving everyone — even your enemies — and seeking to bear their burdens.  
• We must also choose better relationships! That means praying for and planting the seeds of faith in those around us (especially family) but avoiding toxic people who will consistently try to lead you astray and create pain, conflict, and discord in your lives.
• How badly do we want to be disciples of the Lord? If we’re truly serious about it, we must do what He commanded; we must love one another. This is the mark of discipleship.  We must love the person, but still hate and resist their sin (lifestyle, lie-based thinking, deception, and compromises)!

THIRD, a true disciple is a person who studies, obediently conforms, and teaches others.

• Ezra 7:10 – “Now Ezra had determined in his heart to study the law of the LORD, obey it, and teach its statutes and ordinances in Israel”.
• In both Hebrew and Greek, the word for “disciple” means “student.” A disciple, then, is one who studies (TEACHABLE). We tend to use the term disciple to mean a follower, but that is not the biblical idea of discipleship.
• Ezra provides the model of a biblical disciple: one who studies, who applies/does, and who then teaches.
• In fact, this is the progression of biblical discipleship: study leads to doing, and as one progresses with study and doing, he or she gains the ability to teach others (experience, credibility, etc.)
• Agape love (biblical) is a decision, not an emotional response!
• Biblical discipleship requires study – it’s at the very core of discipleship:“The student is not above the teacher, but everyone who is fully trained will be like their teacher” (Luke 6:40).Our Teacher is Jesus – through the Holy Spirit!
• We must enthusiastically and consistently pursue knowledge, understanding, and wisdom by:
  • Reading and meditating on the Word (can’t afford to be Biblically illiterate).Pursuing qualified mentors and teachers.Maintaining a teachable attitude and spirit.
  Seeking teachings from sources other than just your pastor at Sunday services.
  • Actively participating in Small Groups.
• Jesus called us to be His disciples and to make disciples! (NOT just converts or followers)