What does TRUE DISCIPLESHIP in JESUS CHRIST LOOK LIKE? Have you seen any evidence of it in your life? What about others who say they are “Christians?” Do you feel that you are far from GOD despite routine attendance, giving, and supporting of the “Organized Church?” Do you feel that you have not grown spiritually? Come and learn with us through the Holy Scriptures!
The Holy Spirit helped me to understand that DISCIPLESHIP is a lost teaching of JESUS CHRIST that is rarely mentioned or taught in the “Organized Church” or today’s “Christian denominations.” The modern “Organized Church” has focused on “membership,” and mostly ignored the concept of DISCIPLESHIP. The “Organized Church” focuses on its own growth while ignoring the growth of the individuals who are supposed to be the living members of the New Testament (NT) Church. (1 Peter 2:2-9)
However, the LORD placed it in my heart that I needed to earnestly focus on teaching DISCIPLESHIP to enable individuals to become wise virgins, prepared for when the LORD returns. (St. Matt. 25:1-13)
FIRST, let me state unequivocally, that you cannot be a TRUE DISCIPLE of JESUS CHRIST if you do not REPENT and FOLLOW JESUS. (St. Matt. 4:17) During JESUS’ day, everyone who wanted to be His DISCIPLE had to leave their former life behind and follow Him. Peter and Andrew did! James and John did! Matthew did! All JESUS’ DISCIPLES had to leave their life behind to follow Him! (St. Matt. 8:22, 9:9, 19:21)
JESUS CHRIST came and introduced us to the Kingdom of GOD and commanded REPENTANCE. (St. Matt. 4:17, 6:33) JESUS taught that those who would come after Him, MUST “deny themselves, take up their cross, and follow Him,” and He called those who FOLLOWED Him, DISCIPLES. (St. Matt. 16:24-28) JESUS CHRIST further declared that individuals must continue in His WORD to become “His DISCIPLES INDEED!” (St. John 8:30-32)
JESUS did not ask us today to leave our homes to follow Him. However, He did command that we MUST LEAVE SIN and that we needed to “live by EVERY WORD THAT PROCEEDETH OUT OF THE MOUTH OF GOD!” (St. Matt. 4:4, 17) TRUE DISCIPLESHIP starts to happen in our lives when we begin to earnestly read and study the NT Holy Scriptures. The NT Scriptures were written by those who JESUS taught to be His Disciples. These are the writings of the Apostles. It is through the Apostles’ writings that constitute the NT text that we learn how to FOLLOW JESUS! (St. Matt. 28:18-20; Acts 1:2; 2 Tim. 2:15; 2 Peter 3:8-18)
Continue to follow our post as we share the Holy Scriptures that teach us HOW to live our lives as TRUE FOLLOWERS and DISCIPLES of JESUS CHRIST!