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By Pastor J.D. Link

Abundant Grace Fellowship Church, Blanco, TX

“Well of course I’m His disciple; I’ve said the “sinner’s prayer” before.” Unfortunately, this would be the response of many professing Christians. Not that I’m opposed to anyone confessing Jesus with their mouth and believing in their heart that He rose from the dead. That is certainly scriptural (Rom 10:9-10). What I’m opposed to is the unscriptural teaching that if you have simply said the sinner’s prayer at any time in your life, that your automatically His disciple. That’s just contrary to Jesus’ clear teaching. You see, just because you’re a professor of Jesus, does not make you a possessor of Jesus. Our profession of faith in Christ is just the beginning, not the end. Many professors of Jesus have been deceived into thinking that if they got their “Get out of Hell free” card punched at the alter call, then they can continue their worldly life, business as usual. I’m not sure what book that’s in, but it’s not the Bible. Let’s see what Jesus had to say about being a disciple.

Jesus said in Luke 14:26-27 “If any man come to me, and hate not his father, and mother, and wife, and children, and brethren, and sisters, yea, and his own life also, he cannot be my disciple. And whosoever doth not bear his cross, and come after me, cannot be my disciple.” The Greek word for disciple means a pupil, or a learner. Jesus was not and is not looking for mere converts, He is looking for pupils. He is the Master; His disciples are the students that listen to His teachings, apply them, live by them, and pass them on to others (Mt 28:19-20).

Does Jesus really want us to hate our family? No. In fact we’re commanded to love our neighbor as ourselves (Mt 22:37-39); men are commanded to love their wives (Eph 5:25); and women are commanded to love their husbands and children (Titus 2:4). Jesus is saying that our commitment to Him, and our love for Him, must be so much greater than any relationship we have here on earth, that our love for our family looks like hate by comparison. In other words, Jesus demands that we give Him the absolute pre-eminence.

Jesus isn’t talking about some no cost, half hearted commitment. In fact lukewarmness makes Him want to throw up (Rev 3:16). Jesus would rather you not even profess Him, than to profess Him and not be a disciple. Not all who say “Lord, Lord” will enter into the kingdom of heaven (Mt.7:21). Jesus wants true commitment, and He deserves nothing less. Some people serve God because of what He can do for them, not because of who He is. If you love God because He blesses you, then you’re not a disciple. A true disciple is one who can say from the heart that if God never did anything for me again, I’m still going to be committed to Him. I’m a firm believer in the blessings of God, but that’s not why I serve Him.

Mere professors are talked about in the parable of the sower (Mt 13:21, Mk 4:16-17, Lk 8:13). They receive the Word gladly and believe for a while, but when things get tough; when prayers don’t get answered like they think they should; when they get persecuted; when their profession is going to cost them something, they get offended and fall away. They’re not truly committed; they’re not true disciples. Jesus knows the difference, make no mistake. That’s why Jesus didn’t commit Himself to those “believers” In John 2:23-25. Man looks on the outward appearance, but God looks on the heart (I Sam 16:7).

We must continue in the Word of God. In John 8:31, Jesus said that if we continue in the Word of God, then are we truly His disciples. Notice in context that Jesus is talking to believers. He tells the believers that if they continue in His Word they’re truly His disciples. Jesus made a distinction between simply believing and being a disciple. I’m not talking about salvation coming by the works of the law, but I am talking Christianity being more than just a confession. There is much more to share on this next week. Until then, rejoice in the Lord!

CAN YOU BE HIS DISCIPLE? PT. 2

By Pastor J.D. Link

Abundant Grace Fellowship Church, Blanco, TX

Last week I started talking about being a true disciple. We saw that not all who confess Jesus actually possess Jesus, and that there is a difference between being a nominal (in name only) Christian and being a pupil of The Master (Jesus). We saw that our relationship with the people we love must seem like hate compared to our relationship with Jesus (Lk 14:26); and that being a lukewarm Christian makes Jesus want to throw up (Rev 3:16). We also saw a picture of mere confessors in the parable of the sower (Lk 8:13); and how true disciples continue in The Word (Jn 8:31). I wrapped it up by saying that I’m not talking about salvation through works of the law, but that true salvation is a total life commitment to Jesus, not just saying some words.

Jesus said that we need to count the cost of being true followers of Him. In Luke 14:28-32, Jesus makes it clear that we shouldn’t make a hasty, foolish decision; but rather we should sit down and contemplate what it could cost us to be a disciple of Christ. It’s something we need to think about. We must ask ourselves if we’re really willing to sell out to Jesus; lock, stock, & barrel. If your not willing to be on fire for Jesus, then don’t even confess His Name. I know that sounds extreme, but Jesus is the One that said it, not me.

Now here’s a real tough one: in Luke 14:33, Jesus said if your not willing to forsake all you have, you cannot be His disciple. That doesn’t get a whole lot of Amen’s, but it’s God’s Word as well as the rest. Forsaking all you have is a little different than just saying a prayer. This may sound absolutely radical, but actually the Bible says it’s reasonable. In Romans 12:1, the Apostle Paul said that we should offer ourselves as a living sacrifice unto God, which is our reasonable service. Did you get what Paul said? Offering ourselves to God as a living sacrifice was reasonable; like it’s standard procedure! Being a totally surrendered disciple of Christ was not exceptional service; it wasn’t just for the “super spiritual”; it wasn’t just for the twelve apostles or the five fold ministry. No, it was the basic, logical service of every Christian.

We in America have more difficulty understanding this than our brothers and sisters in persecuted nations. We don’t have to worry about getting our limbs cut off with a machete by a Muslim mob like they do in Pakistan if we love Jesus. We don’t have to worry about our church being bulldozed like they do in communist China if we name Christ. We don’t have to worry about being raped for being a Christian like our sisters do in Sudan. We don’t have to worry about being sent to prison for years for teaching a Sunday school lesson like in Indonesia. No, we can call ourselves Christians here in America and it really not cost us much. That’s why we especially need to make sure our relationship with Christ is real, and that it’s strong (2Pt 1:10). The day may come when it will cost us everything to be called a Christian, and we need to be ready.

Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego, were great examples of true disciples. These guys were truly devoted to God. The whole kingdom of Babylon was commanded to worship the huge golden idol, but these fellows refused. Notice what they said in Daniel 3:16-18: Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego, answered and said to the king, O Nebuchadnezzar, we are not careful to answer thee in this matter. If it be so, our God whom we serve is able to deliver us from the burning fiery furnace, and he will deliver us out of thine hand, O king. But if not, be it known unto thee, O king, that we will not serve thy gods, nor worship the golden image which thou hast set up. That’s true commitment. They told the king that God would save them, but even if He didn’t, they still won’t bow down to a false God, so do what you have to. We need to be like these three Hebrew boys. We need to be ready to forsake all to follow Jesus.

I know these are some hard sayings, but hopefully they will help us to re-evaluate our commitment to Jesus, and make sure he has proper place in our lives; and that we are true disciples of Christ. Until next time, rejoice in the Lord (Phi 4:4)!