Jesus Disciple

Continue In My Word

Jesus was telling those who believed in verse 30 that believed in him to continue in His Word. This indicates that their were some who believed momentarily based on an emotion rather than a submission. There is a true belief and a false belief. You can tell the difference by those who continue in the word of God. People that continue in the Words of Christ produce kingdom fruit.

Jesus tells the parable of how to tell the difference.

18 “Hear then the parable of the sower. 19 When anyone hears the [i]word of the kingdom and does not understand it, the evil one comes and snatches away what has been sown in his heart. This is the one on whom seed was sown beside the road. 20 The one on whom seed was sown on the rocky places, this is the man who hears the word and immediately receives it with joy; 21 yet he has no firm root in himself, but is only temporary, and when affliction or persecution arises because of the [j]word, immediately he [k]falls away. 22 And the one on whom seed was sown among the thorns, this is the man who hears the word, and the worry of the [l]world and the deceitfulness of wealth choke the word, and it becomes unfruitful. 23 And the one on whom seed was sown on the good soil, this is the man who hears the word and understands it; who indeed bears fruit and brings forth, some a hundredfold, some sixty, and some thirty.” Matt. 13:18-23

Jesus tells of three false beliefs and one true belief.

The first one is the one who hears the message and doesn’t receive it because he doesn’t understand it. This is the one who listens to the gospel message and does not take it to heart.

The second one is the person that receives the gospel with joy, but looses passion for Christ through the difficulties of life and persecution of following Christ. This is the person that you see faithful in church for a few weeks, months, or even years, but eventually gets away from Christ and is drawn back into the world. This person never truly believed.

The third one is the person that tries to have one foot in the world and one foot in the church. This does not work. 15 Do not love the world nor the things in the world. If anyone loves the world, the love of the Father is not in him. 1 John 2:13 This is the person that puts priorities on their own personal conveniences and money over their calling of God. This person can sometimes seem like a Christian, but they do not truly believe. They want the world more than they want Jesus.

The last one is the true disciple of Jesus. It is show in the fruit that they produce in their life. Produce is both practically and spiritually. Spiritually speaking a true believer will exhibit the fruits of the Spirit: 22 But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, 23 gentleness, self-control; against such things there is no law. Gal. 5:22-23 The true believer also makes disciples of Jesus Christ. 19 [e]Go therefore and make disciples of all the nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and the Son and the Holy Spirit, 20 teaching them to observe all that I commanded you; and lo, I am with you [f]always, even to the end of the age.” Matt. 28:19-20

A true belief in Christ does not fail. It perseveres and grows stronger even in the difficulties of life. A false belief is conditional. As long as things work out the way I want then I will be okay with Jesus being my Lord. This is a false belief.

You Will Know The Truth

Jesus told the believers that they would know the truth if they continued in His word. Knowing truth is a perpetual state of enlightenment. It happens by the indwelling of the Holy Spirit. The Holy Spirit gives you understanding of the scriptures and how to apply them in your life. As you do this you will experience the manifest hand of Christ in your life. You will see the evidence of His hand in the fulfillment of His promises as you live out the Word of God! John 15 puts it eloquently:

“I am the true vine, and My Father is the vinedresser. 2 Every branch in Me that does not bear fruit, He takes away; and every branch that bears fruit, He [a]prunes it so that it may bear more fruit. 3 You are already [b]clean because of the word which I have spoken to you. 4 Abide in Me, and I in you. As the branch cannot bear fruit [c]of itself unless it abides in the vine, so neither can you unless you abide in Me. 5 I am the vine, you are the branches; he who abides in Me and I in him, he bears much fruit, for apart from Me you can do nothing. 6 If anyone does not abide in Me, he is thrown away as a branch and dries up; and they gather them, and cast them into the fire and they are burned. 7 If you abide in Me, and My words abide in you, ask whatever you wish, and it will be done for you. 8 My Father is glorified by this, that you bear much fruit, and so [d]prove to be My disciples. 9 Just as the Father has loved Me, I have also loved you; abide in My love. 10 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. 11 These things I have spoken to you so that My joy may be in you, and that your joy may be made full. John 15:1-11

The overwhelming command in this passage is to abide in Christ. One may ask how to do this. The way you do this is allowing God’s word to abide in you. This is done by studying the Word of God. True study of the Word of God brings the enlightenment needed to live life in a Godly way and bring glory to God. Glory to God comes when we make disciples of Jesus Christ.

Making disciples is not a structured event. It is living life with those that God has put in your life and pointing them to Jesus and demonstrating how to follow Him. Disciple making is a lifestyle, not an event.

The Truth Will Set You Free

William Barclay identifies four categories in which true discipleship results in freedom. The first is freedom from fear. The Civil War general Stonewall Jackson was once asked how he could be so fearless amid the perils of battle. He answered by referring to his knowledge of the truth: “My religious belief teaches me to feel as safe in battle as in bed. God has fixed the time for my death.” Fear cripples Christians and restricts our freedom for serving God. Young people are afraid to be different from their peers; wives are afraid to submit to their husbands; couples are afraid to tithe of their income. But knowing the truth of God’s goodness and care and power frees us from such fears. Paul reminds us of the truth: “My God will supply every need of yours according to his riches in glory in Christ Jesus” (Phil. 4:19).

A second freedom is from self. Knowing the truth of a glorious, heavenly kingdom, we find that the chains of selfishness and pride are loosened. Since the Word of God is “living and active” (Heb. 4:12), we gain power to rise above our limitations and weakness and live in the freedom of the life to which we are called.

Third, knowing the truth sets us free from other people. The truth shows us that the world is wicked, and that the esteem of the world is often not worth having. Knowing Jesus and his gospel, we value his opinion and we look forward to our coming day of vindication.

Finally, the truth frees us from sin. “Sanctify them in the truth,” Jesus prayed; “your word is truth” (John 17:17). Paul writes, “Do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewal of your mind” (Rom. 12:2). Barclay explains that through the truth, “discipleship breaks the chains which bind us to our sins, and enables us to be the person we know we ought to be.”

How does truth set us free? Little children are set free from the fear of closets when they learn the truth that goblins do not exist. The timid soul is freed from the terror of hell when he learns that Christ’s blood has paid the debt of his sin. The dying believer is set free from spiritual torment, knowing that through his faith, Jesus Christ awaits across eternity’s veil. The truth is the gospel of grace, and that gospel is “the power of God for salvation to everyone who believes” (Rom. 1:16).

That is why we must know the truth![1]

[1]Richard D. Phillips, John, ed. Richard D. Phillips, Philip Graham Ryken, and Daniel M. Doriani, 1st ed., vol. 1, Reformed Expository Commentary (Phillipsburg, NJ: P&R Publishing, 2014), 544–545.