Are You a True Disciple?

INTRODUCTION

In John Chapter 8 it begins with the Jews bringing to Christ the woman found in adultery. Rather than being judged immediately, she experiences the grace, love, and forgiveness of Jesus Christ. Throughout the rest of chapter 8, Jesus continues to teach the Pharisees and in v. 30 we find that some come to saving faith in Jesus Christ. As soon as they are saved, Jesus has something to say to them about discipleship or following Jesus.

Discipleship Begins With Belief

Hebrews 11:6 AV

6 But without faith it is impossible to please him: for he that cometh to God must believe that he is, and that he is a rewarder of them that diligently seek him.

** Everything starts with faith when it comes to our relationship with God.

This Requires a Genuine Belief

* Here we see Jesus measuring the genuineness of their belief. Are they true believers? Saying we’re saved isn’t enough - there will be some indicators of genuine belief.

2 Corinthians 13:5 AV

5 Examine yourselves, whether ye be in the faith; prove your own selves. Know ye not your own selves, how that Jesus Christ is in you, except ye be reprobates?

** Indeed in verses 31 means truly, sincerely, certainly. Sometimes we have false motives for our Christian service - because of what others expect or maybe to put on a show. We must have a sincere belief within ourselves.

There are False Disciples

Isaiah 29:13 AV

13 Wherefore the Lord said, Forasmuch as this people draw near me with their mouth, and with their lips do honour me, but have removed their heart far from me, and their fear toward me is taught by the precept of men:

Matthew 15:7–9 AV

7 Ye hypocrites, well did Esaias prophesy of you, saying, 8 This people draweth nigh unto me with their mouth, and honoureth me with their lips; but their heart is far from me. 9 But in vain they do worship me, teaching for doctrines the commandments of men.

Obviously a deceiver, a false believer would claim to be a disciple of Christ.

Note than in Isaiah and Matthew here, they drew near with their mouth / lips (outside) but their heart (inside) was far from him. God looks on the heart. He sees if someone is sincere or not.

Some of you may remember that old gag where someone would offer you a piece of gum. It looked like one piece in the foil wrapper was extended toward you. But when you grabbed it, it gave you a shock! It wasn’t what it appeared to be. What was on the inside mattered.

Your motives and attitude matter - the ‘why’ of what you’re doing is very important.

In addition, real Christians grow; they mature; they get stronger spiritually

Job 17:9 AV

9 The righteous also shall hold on his way, and he that hath clean hands shall be stronger and stronger.

“I would recommend you either believe God up to the hilt, or else not to believe at all. Be satisfied with nothing less than a faith that swims in the deeps of divine revelation.

- Spurgeon

1 John 2:18–19 AV

18 Little children, it is the last time: and as ye have heard that antichrist shall come, even now are there many antichrists; whereby we know that it is the last time. 19 They went out from us, but they were not of us; for if they had been of us, they would no doubt have continued with us: but they went out, that they might be made manifest that they were not all of us.

We as true disciples should be growing in genuine belief of the truths of God’s Word; maturing; ought to have a genuine and sincere motivation to serve God.

A Disciple Stays in the Word

** We see that there has to be a genuine belief, now we see the phrase continue in my word.

The Meaning of Continue

It means to stay, abide, or dwell.

Really here it means to persevere, or hold fast.

We must persevere in the Word of God. But it’s a shame how few Christians really know the Word of God.

We should constantly remain in the Word of God so that when trouble comes we’re already in the ‘right location.’

The Ways to Continue

1. Continue Listening to the Word

We are to live our whole lives listening for the voice of Jesus and we are to make no decision until we’ve heard from him.

We tend to run through life haphazardly without much direction from the Lord.

If we have ears to hear, we are to hear Him. We must listen to the preaching and instruction from God’s Word.

The legendary story is told of President Franklin Roosevelt, who often endured long receiving lines at the White House. He complained that no one really paid any attention to what he said. One day, during a reception, he decided to try an experiment. To each person who passed down the line and shook his hand, he murmured, “I murdered my grandmother this morning.” The guests responded with phrases like, “Marvelous, keep up the good work. We are proud of you, God bless you, sir.” It wasn’t till later int he line while greeting the ambassador from Bolivia, that his words were actually heard. Unfazed, the ambassador leaned over and whispered, “I’m sure she had it coming.”

True disciples will continue to listen to the Word of God

Titus 1:3 AV

3 But hath in due times manifested his word through preaching, which is committed unto me according to the commandment of God our Saviour;

Listening to the Word is required for salvation!

Romans 10:17 AV

17 So then faith cometh by hearing, and hearing by the word of God.

2. Continue Learning from the Word

Sometimes we’re listening but are we really learning? Disciple means learner - one who learns and is an imitator of the teacher’s instruction.

The great preacher Alexander White, when he was too old to preach from the pulpit, would rise every morning to prepare a sermon, even though he never preached them. He did so until the day he died. He was convinced that the study of the Word was essential to his spiritual walk.

1 Timothy 4:16 AV

16 Take heed unto thyself, and unto the doctrine; continue in them: for in doing this thou shalt both save thyself, and them that hear thee.

Have you listened to God’s Word in such a way that you learned something that changed your life?

Our learning should be a lifetime endeavor. Some people church hop with statements like “I’m not getting fed.” Well likely that’s not true - what are you feeding on? Are you wanting to learn about stuff that you agree with or do you want to learn about the heart of Christ?

3. Continue Obeying the Word

So a disciple continues in the Word by listening to it, learning from it, then obeying it.

Maybe you’ve learned some things about salvation, baptism, witnessing, giving, forgiveness, but are you obeying. You cannot be a disciple and be disobedient.

The point of learning, is in order to do something about what we learned.

There is an abundance of ‘theology’ Christians. There’s youtube channel after channel and blog after blog and website after website of ‘Christians’ arguing finer points of theology. We need obedient disciples, we need doers and goers, we need an active church that is full of listening, learning, obedient followers of Christ.

The Benefits of Being a Disciple

Discipleship begins with belief, and continues in the Word and then Jesus tells us about some results or benefits of being a true disciple.

Knowing the Truth

We are surrounded by lies, gossip, rumor, fake news, etc etc etc. Who are you going to believe - they’re all human and they have reasons to lie. But we have truth in Christ.

Realize that obscuring the truth is what the devil does best.

2 Corinthians 4:4 AV

4 In whom the god of this world hath blinded the minds of them which believe not, lest the light of the glorious gospel of Christ, who is the image of God, should shine unto them.

But Jesus gives us the light of His truth

John 1:8–9 AV

8 He was not that Light, but was sent to bear witness of that Light. 9 That was the true Light, which lighteth every man that cometh into the world.

John 14:6 AV

6 Jesus saith unto him, I am the way, the truth, and the life: no man cometh unto the Father, but by me.

The real truth is only found in Jesus Christ

Galatians 3:1 AV

1 O foolish Galatians, who hath bewitched you, that ye should not obey the truth, before whose eyes Jesus Christ hath been evidently set forth, crucified among you?

Knowing the truth of salvation and the Bible way to heaven is the most critical knowledge there is.

Enjoying True Freedom

There is only true and perfect freedom in Christ

1. Freedom from Fear

Romans 8:15 AV

15 For ye have not received the spirit of bondage again to fear; but ye have received the Spirit of adoption, whereby we cry, Abba, Father.

2 Timothy 1:7 AV

7 For God hath not given us the spirit of fear; but of power, and of love, and of a sound mind.

A true disciple who believes in the Lord; listens to, learns, and obeys the Word will not live in fear. I’m concerned a little about all the fear-mongering going on about Joe Biden being our next president. That’s not the reaction of a true disciple.

One night during a severe thunderstorm a mother was tucking her small daughter into bed. She was about to turn the light off when she asked with a trembling voice, “Mommy, will you stay with me all night?” Smiling, the mother gave her a warm, reassuring hug and said tenderly, “I can’t dear. I have to sleep in Daddy’s room.” A long silence followed, at last broken by her shaky voice saying, “That big sissy!”

We should find strength in God in even the most fearful of circumstances. If you are a disciple of Christ then you’re never truly alone. Walking in the Word of God will give you true peace of mind. When you’re walking with Jesus, you never need fear.

2. Freedom from Self

The greatest handicap in our Christian life is ourselves. Our greatest enemy is us.

Romans 7:18–24 AV

18 For I know that in me (that is, in my flesh,) dwelleth no good thing: for to will is present with me; but how to perform that which is good I find not. 19 For the good that I would I do not: but the evil which I would not, that I do. 20 Now if I do that I would not, it is no more I that do it, but sin that dwelleth in me. 21 I find then a law, that, when I would do good, evil is present with me. 22 For I delight in the law of God after the inward man: 23 But I see another law in my members, warring against the law of my mind, and bringing me into captivity to the law of sin which is in my members. 24 O wretched man that I am! who shall deliver me from the body of this death?

Galatians 2:20 AV

20 I am crucified with Christ: nevertheless I live; yet not I, but Christ liveth in me: and the life which I now live in the flesh I live by the faith of the Son of God, who loved me, and gave himself for me.

By following Christ, serving and obeying him, we learn to sacrifice ourselves and live in spiritual freedom

Romans 12:1 AV

1 I beseech you therefore, brethren, by the mercies of God, that ye present your bodies a living sacrifice, holy, acceptable unto God, which is your reasonable service.

3. Freedom from Sin

This is truly what we need freedom from. Just because we’re saved doesn’t mean we’re free from sin yet. Sin still wants to take over our lives.

Romans 6:5–7 AV

5 For if we have been planted together in the likeness of his death, we shall be also in the likeness of his resurrection: 6 Knowing this, that our old man is crucified with him, that the body of sin might be destroyed, that henceforth we should not serve sin. 7 For he that is dead is freed from sin.

Romans 6:11–14 AV

11 Likewise reckon ye also yourselves to be dead indeed unto sin, but alive unto God through Jesus Christ our Lord. 12 Let not sin therefore reign in your mortal body, that ye should obey it in the lusts thereof. 13 Neither yield ye your members as instruments of unrighteousness unto sin: but yield yourselves unto God, as those that are alive from the dead, and your members as instruments of righteousness unto God. 14 For sin shall not have dominion over you: for ye are not under the law, but under grace.

To walk with Christ and follow Him means that we must be dead to self - ignore the flesh - and follow only what Jesus says. It’s the only way to be truly free from sin.

CONCLUSION

Are you a true disciple? Have you genuinely put your faith in Christ alone - His work on the cross and His resurrection?

Are you staying in the Word - a good listener, learning from what you hear, and then obeying. Not just a hearer but a doer of the Word too?

The benefits of following Christ mean we know the truth and we have freedom from fear, self, and sin.

Be determined today to be a true disciple of Christ.