Benefits of discipleship

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Joy, peace and happiness result from following Jesus Christ, together with the hope of being like him and with him in heaven. This is anticipated in the OT, which stresses the importance of obedience to the Lord.

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Blessings result from obedient discipleship

Luke 11:28 NKJV

But He said, “More than that, blessed are those who hear the word of God and keep it!”

See also Pr 8:32; Mt 7:24–25; Jn 13:17; Jn 14:21; Jas 1:25

God does not confer the status of righteousness upon us without at the same time giving himself to us in friendship and establishing peace between himself and us’

John Stott

Joy results from discipleship

John 15:10–11 NKJV

If you keep My commandments, you will abide in My love, just as I have kept My Father’s commandments and abide in His love. “These things I have spoken to you, that My joy may remain in you, and that your joy may be full.

See also Ps 119:14; Ac 13:52; Ac 16:34 the Philippian jailer; Ro 14:17; Ro 15:13; Ga 5:22 the fruit of the Spirit; Php 1:25; 1 Th 1:6; Heb 10:34; 1 Pe 1:6; 1 Pe 1:8; Jud 24

Peace results from discipleship

John 14:27 NKJV

Peace I leave with you, My peace I give to you; not as the world gives do I give to you. Let not your heart be troubled, neither let it be afraid.

See also Nu 6:26; Ps 4:8; Ps 29:11; Ps 37:11; Is 26:3; Mt 11:28–29 Jesus Christ promises rest for the weary; Lk 2:14 the angels’ greeting to the shepherds at the birth of Jesus Christ

Jesus Christ’s greeting to his disciples when he first appeared to them after his resurrection:

Lk 24:36; Jn 20:19

Jn 16:33; Jn 20:21; Jn 20:26; Ro 2:10; Ro 5:1; Php 4:7; Col 3:15

True happiness results from discipleship

Happiness flows from doing God’s will

Ps 1:1; Ps 119:1–2

See also Ps 94:12; Ps 112:1; Ps 128:1; Pr 29:18

Disciples are truly happy

Matthew 5:3–12 NKJV

“Blessed are the poor in spirit, For theirs is the kingdom of heaven. Blessed are those who mourn, For they shall be comforted. Blessed are the meek, For they shall inherit the earth. Blessed are those who hunger and thirst for righteousness, For they shall be filled. Blessed are the merciful, For they shall obtain mercy. Blessed are the pure in heart, For they shall see God. Blessed are the peacemakers, For they shall be called sons of God. Blessed are those who are persecuted for righteousness’ sake, For theirs is the kingdom of heaven. “Blessed are you when they revile and persecute you, and say all kinds of evil against you falsely for My sake. Rejoice and be exceedingly glad, for great is your reward in heaven, for so they persecuted the prophets who were before you.

Disciples are abundantly recompensed in this life

Mark 10:29–30 NKJV

So Jesus answered and said, “Assuredly, I say to you, there is no one who has left house or brothers or sisters or father or mother or wife or children or lands, for My sake and the gospel’s, who shall not receive a hundredfold now in this time—houses and brothers and sisters and mothers and children and lands, with persecutions—and in the age to come, eternal life.

See also Pr 15:16; Pr 16:8; Mt 7:7–11; Jn 8:12; Jn 10:27; Jn 12:26; Ro 8:31–39; 1 Ti 6:6

Disciples are blessed by being united with Jesus Christ in the family of God

Matthew 12:46–50 NKJV

While He was still talking to the multitudes, behold, His mother and brothers stood outside, seeking to speak with Him. Then one said to Him, “Look, Your mother and Your brothers are standing outside, seeking to speak with You.” But He answered and said to the one who told Him, “Who is My mother and who are My brothers?” And He stretched out His hand toward His disciples and said, “Here are My mother and My brothers! For whoever does the will of My Father in heaven is My brother and sister and mother.”

Disciples will be blessed with eternal life

Matthew 19:29 NKJV

And everyone who has left houses or brothers or sisters or father or mother or wife or children or lands, for My name’s sake, shall receive a hundredfold, and inherit eternal life.

See also Mt 25:46; Ro 2:7; Ga 6:8; 1 Jn 1:2; 1 Jn 5:11; 1 Jn 5:13; 1 Jn 5:20

Disciples have the hope of being like Jesus Christ and being with him in heaven

1 John 3:2 NKJV

Beloved, now we are children of God; and it has not yet been revealed what we shall be, but we know that when He is revealed, we shall be like Him, for we shall see Him as He is.