Are You Religious or a Disciple?

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Jesus commanded the church, “Go, therefore, and make disciples of all the nations…” (Matthew 28:19 NKJV). He did not say, “Go and make the nations religious.”

When Jesus called the original twelve men to follow Him, they were called disciples. Is that an important distinction or am I merely pulling at straws? Let’s look at how Jesus described His followers.

When Jesus calls someone to be His follower, they are to separate themselves from the way of life they have been living and become a disciple of Jesus.

The Apostle Paul wrote it this way in his letter to the Corinthians.

As God has said: “I will dwell in them and walk among them. I will be their God, and they shall be My people.” Therefore, “Come out from among them and be separate,” says the Lord. “Do not touch what is unclean, and I will receive you. I will be a Father to you, and you shall be My sons and daughters,” says the Lord Almighty”

(2 Corinthians 6:16-18 NKJV).

According to Scripture a disciple is someone who has been “called out” by Holy Spirit (Romans 8:30, 9:24; Ephesians 4:1; 2 Timothy 1:9; Jude 1).

Disciples of Jesus Christ are:

1. Romans 1:6 – “called of Jesus”
2. Romans 1:7; 1Corinthians 1:2 – “called to be saints”
3. Romans 8:28 – “called according to His purpose”
4. 1Corinthians 1:9 – “called into fellowship with Jesus Christ”
5. 1Corinthians 7:15 – “called unto peace”
6. Galatians 1:6, 15 – “called in the grace of Christ”
7. Galatians 5:13 – “called to liberty”
8. 1Peter 1:15 – “called” to live holy
9. 1Peter 2:9 – “called out of darkness into His marvelous light”
10. 1Peter 2:21 – “called” to walk in Jesus’ steps
11. 1Peter 3:9 – “called” to be a blessing to others
12. 1Peter 5:10 – “called to His eternal glory”
13. 2Peter 1:3 – “called by glory and virtue”
14. 1John 3:1 – “called the children of God”
15. Revelation 19:9 – “called to the marriage supper of the Lamb”

Are You Religious or a Disciple?

Here is the danger.

A person can be religious and even call themselves a Christian but not be a disciple of Jesus Christ.

Religious people may simply be following a set of prescribed practices that have been designated as spiritual disciplines or sacred ordinances for getting to heaven.

A Christian person may be one gives mental assent to the Holy Bible and to the death, burial, and resurrection of Jesus Christ. That does not mean they have become a disciple of Jesus Christ.

Religious people and people who call themselves Christian are not going to Heaven unless they have received salvation by grace through faith in Lord Jesus Christ (John 3:3, Ephesians 2:5-9).

So, what is a disciple?

How did Jesus Christ describe a disciple?

Vine’s dictionary of the New Testament defines disciple as “mathetes NT: 3101, lit.,

“a learner” (from manthano, “to learn,” from a root math–, indicating thought accompanied by endeavor)… hence it denotes “one who follows one’s teaching,” A “disciple” was not only a pupil, but an adherent; hence they are spoken of as imitators of their teacher”

(W. E. Vine, An Expository Dictionary of New Testament Words, Old Tappan: Fleming H. Revel, 1966)

Jesus defined His disciples in this manner. “…rejoice because your names are written in heaven” (Luke 10:20). “If you abide in My words, you are My disciples indeed” (John 8:31). “By this My Father is glorified, that you bear much fruit; so you will be My disciples” (John 15:8). “By this all will know that you are My disciples, if you have love one for another” (John 13:35).

Jesus also described the behavior of His disciples. “A disciple is not above his teacher, but everyone who is perfectly trained will be like his teacher“ (Luke 6:40). “And He sat down, called the twelve, and said to them, ‘If anyone desires to be first, he shall be last of all and servant of all’” (Mark 9:35).

The most definitive statement by Jesus describing a disciple is recorded in Matthew, Mark, and Luke.

Jesus was in northern Galilee at Caesarea Philippi. He had asked the disciples, “Who do men say that I am?” Peter answered with the profound statement, “You are the Christ.”

Jesus responded to Peter’s statement declaring His was preparing to build His church, then He declared: “Whoever desires to come after Me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross, and follow Me. For whoever desires to save his life will lose it, but whoever loses his life for My sake and the gospel’s will save it. For what will it profit a man if he gains the whole world, and loses his own soul? Or what will a man give in exchange for his soul? For whoever is ashamed of Me and My words in this adulterous and sinful generation, of him the Son of Man also will be ashamed when He comes in the glory of His Father with the holy angels” (Mark 8:34-38 NKJV).

A disciple of Jesus Christ has been born again of the Holy Spirit and their name is written down in Heaven in the Book of Life (Luke 10:20, Revelation 20:15).

They live their life in harmony with the Word of God, seeking to follow the life pattern of Jesus Christ; no longer living for themselves but gladly seeking to please the Lord Jesus Christ and to do His will.

So, the question remains.

Are you religious or are you a disciple?