Disciples of Jesus Christ

Disciples of Jesus Christ

Look up “disciple” in the Bible concordance. There we clearly see that the intention with proclaiming the gospel and inviting people to become disciples of Jesus Christ, is to make those who desire it His disciples, that is, His apprentices. Everything revolves around this one point!

The condition for being accepted for an apprenticeship in His school is described in the clearest words of the language in Luke 14:23 and 25-27. We read three times in a row that no one can be His disciple unless he is willing to forsake his entire life and all his possessions. Jesus does not accept other apprentices in His divine institution of higher learning.

What we learn there is to become like Him, to be transformed on the inside in our mind and in our nature, to partake of His virtues, to grow in them until we reach the maturity of manhood, to be without spot or wrinkle or any such thing, to rest in God in all possible circumstances, and always to overcome all possible kinds of sins, even to triumph over them! We also learn to be fully equipped for the work of ministry, to act wisely in all situations. In other words, we partake of divine nature; we are being transformed inwardly now during our pilgrimage.

Unfortunately, the usual so-called Christianity does not believe in this. They are so blind that they do not see it in the Bible despite the fact that almost nothing else is written in the entire New Testament!!! Their blindness is enormous! Thus they feel assured that it is impossible to partake of such an amazingly great and glorious salvation, despite Jesus’ word, “All things are possible to him who believes.” Mark 9:23. Therefore they reject all these glorious words of Jesus and many other glorious words! Yet they still call their gospel the “Full Gospel.” How ironic!

However, it is truly impossible according to Jesus’ word in Luke 14, if you do not forsake your own life and all your possessions! In that respect their unbelief is totally correct and altogether biblical.

On the other hand, if they think it is impossible to forsake all their own, that is, to fulfill the conditions, they commit a grave error, which is a great shame! If this were impossible, it would be the same as saying that Jesus could not have any disciples. How meaningless!

The disciples were first called Christians in Antioch. Acts 11:26. In other words, the disciples of Jesus Christ are Christians, not all the others who have come to faith in the atonement but who have not forsaken all their own! “If you abide in My word, you are My disciples indeed.” John 8:31. Without forsaking everything, you are just an imaginary Christian or disciple. Jesus’ command in Matthew 28:19 is: “Go therefore and make disciples of all the nations . . . .” This is what it is all about. Everything else is the elementary principles, or the introduction to being a Christian or a disciple.

It also states in Acts 6:1: “Now in those days, when the number of the disciples was multiplying . . . .” It wasn’t just that the number of converts increased, but there were several who were converted to be disciples, to forsake everything of their own. This was always the main concern. It was the purpose of proclaiming the gospel.

“And when they had preached the gospel to that city and made many disciples . . . .” Acts 14:21. Here we see again what the aim of Christianity is. If there are no true disciples, there is no true Christianity either. Wherever there are true disciples there is also true Christianity, and the full gospel is being preached. Not only is there just something that is lacking in the usual preaching, but it is the essence that is lacking. The consequence of this preaching, where the main thing is not being preached, is obviously a lot of sin and self-life in various manifestations. People are so used to seeing and hearing it that they do not think it can be any other way.

They (the apostles) strengthened the souls of the disciples. V. 22. It is a question of disciples! “But when some were hardened and did not [want to] believe, [namely, to become disciples] but spoke evil of the Way before the multitude, he departed from them and withdrew the disciples . . . .” Acts 19:9.

Most believers have also, in these days, hardened their hearts against the substance of the New Testament writings. Consequently, the hardening is so great that they are bitter adversaries of life’s clear and obvious truths. Alas, alas!

Tabitha was very pointedly called a disciple. Acts 9:36.

The Pharisees also had disciples (apprentices). Matt. 22:15 and 16. They learned to become hypocrites and have an appearance of godliness even though there was no fear of God in their hearts. They were educated to be actors. There are very many such people in these days! They pretend to love God whereas their deeds prove the opposite.

Jesus invites us to learn something completely different: “Learn from Me, for I am meek and lowly in heart . . . .” Matt. 11:29.

The vast majority of all the many thousands of believers in this world are far more interested in money and everything they can purchase for it, and in the honor of man. All in all, they are more interested in doing their own will than learning from Jesus and becoming like Him.

This is an obvious consequence of this not being preached, and therefore it is also not believed.

Who can be said to be avidly interested in something that he himself thinks is bound to fail???

The truth is that the very glorious things that Jesus’ disciples can learn from Him now, during their pilgrimage here on earth, are unlimited! The Lord be highly praised for time and eternity!

Also in these days the number of disciples increases steadily and evenly, in the midst of this ungodly, worldly, and hypocritical world! Glory to God in the highest and here on earth!