Disciple (3)
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Intro
Intro
Lord willing, I hope to continue on with our study about being a disciple and making disciples, as it has sprung from the study on the Gospel According to Matthew. If you would please, turn to Matthew chapter 4, starting in verse 18.
We began looking at this passage in previous weeks and examined the calling of the first disciples to full time ministry. We know that before this, these men called in Matthew 4, were disciples of Jesus Christ, but now they are going to be making disciples.
And Jesus, walking by the sea of Galilee, saw two brethren, Simon called Peter, and Andrew his brother, casting a net into the sea: for they were fishers. And he saith unto them, Follow me, and I will make you fishers of men. And they straightway left their nets, and followed him. And going on from thence, he saw other two brethren, James the son of Zebedee, and John his brother, in a ship with Zebedee their father, mending their nets; and he called them. And they immediately left the ship and their father, and followed him.
Being a Disciple
Being a Disciple
What is a disciple?
What is a disciple?
I gave a simple definition last week, but want to add to it today.
A disciple is: A learning and obedient follower of Jesus Christ— who teaches and encourages others to do the same.
When the Bible refers to true disciples, it is referring to those converted believers that follow, learn, copy, and obey Jesus Christ.
In previous messages, after looking at the basic description and definition of “what is a disciple”, we began to look at some specific characteristics of a disciple.
The points, or characteristics, we looked at last week were — 1)You are not your own, 2) Follow, learn, obey, & copy, 3) Count the cost, 4) Love, and 5) Works and Fruits.
The next point I’d like to look at today is,
Maturity
Maturity
Disciples should be maturing in their faith— growing from a newborn on milk, to a maturing adult on meatier food.
As newborn babes, desire the sincere milk of the word, that ye may grow thereby: If so be ye have tasted that the Lord is gracious.
If you have tasted the grace of God there should be growth.
This growth is echoed by Paul in
And I, brethren, could not speak unto you as unto spiritual, but as unto carnal, even as unto babes in Christ. I have fed you with milk, and not with meat: for hitherto ye were not able to bear it, neither yet now are ye able. For ye are yet carnal: for whereas there is among you envying, and strife, and divisions, are ye not carnal, and walk as men?
Spiritual maturity in Christ means that there is growth whereby a believer is being molded more and more in to the image of Jesus. Disciples who are learning and enlightened by the Holy Spirit, will have spiritual growth— moving from the pure milk of the simplicity of the Gospel to meatier in-depth doctrines and the deeper things of God.
Turn to
Hebrews 5:11–14 (AV)
Of whom (which is Christ and the doctrines prior to this verse) we have many things to say, and hard to be uttered, seeing ye are dull of hearing. For when for the time ye ought to be teachers (that is disciples who are discipling other disciples— as a disciple you should be teaching others— we’ll look at that more later, Lord willing), ye have need that one teach you again which be the first principles of the oracles of God; and are become such as have need of milk, and not of strong meat. For every one that useth milk is unskilful in the word of righteousness: for he is a babe. But strong meat belongeth to them that are of full age, even those who by reason of use have their senses exercised to discern both good and evil.
Every born again believer should be growing in grace. There should be spiritual maturity.
Now everyone is not going to grow spiritually at the same rate. Some may also stagnate, at times not growing at all— often because of sin in their life. That stalled or slow growth is what the writer of Hebrews was talking about— it should not be happening, believers need to grow. A believer should be growing beyond just a conversion experience.
This is important, because through the work of the Holy Spirit — Spiritually mature Christians produce spiritually mature Christians.
Paul wrote in verse 14, “But strong meat belongeth to them that are of full age, even those who by reason of use have their senses exercised to discern both good and evil.
The leads us to our next point, or characteristic, which is
Discernment
Discernment
As God’s children we must look at all things in light of God’s Word— in all matters of faith and life the Scriptures are to be our final and ultimate rule of authority.
In the power of the Holy Spirit, with the Word of God, we are to examine all things to judge right from wrong, good from evil. We must learn and know what is from God and what is from the world. We must know holiness and righteousness versus sin. Identify works of righteousness versus works of iniquity. We must know light from darkness.
It goes further. We must know the difference between the law and the Gospel. And thereby, knowing the Gospel of Grace, we must know the true doctrines of Christ so as to identify false doctrines of men.
One of the most widely used passages on discernment is concerning the Bereans in Acts 17:11.
Turn there if you would please
These were more noble than those in Thessalonica, in that they received the word with all readiness of mind, and searched the scriptures daily, whether those things were so.
Jesus said in,
Search the scriptures; for in them ye think ye have eternal life: and they are they which testify of me.
We should be zealous for truth, as Jesus himself is truth. Our desire as disciples is to search out God’s truth and doctrinal purity.
Errors, lies, false teachings, and bad doctrines should provoke us to jealousy— not desiring anything to tarnish the name of Christ and his truth.
Turn to
If any man teach otherwise, and consent not to wholesome words, even the words of our Lord Jesus Christ, and to the doctrine which is according to godliness; He is proud, knowing nothing, but doting about questions and strifes of words, whereof cometh envy, strife, railings, evil surmisings, Perverse disputings of men of corrupt minds, and destitute of the truth, supposing that gain is godliness: from such withdraw thyself.
We must know the truth found in the Scriptures, by the knowledge and enlightenment of the Holy Spirit, so that we may identify false teachings and teachers. The more saturated in the truth we are, the easier it is to identify errors.
Paul wrote in,
But the natural man receiveth not the things of the Spirit of God: for they are foolishness unto him: neither can he know them, because they are spiritually discerned. But he that is spiritual judgeth all things, yet he himself is judged of no man. For who hath known the mind of the Lord, that he may instruct him? But we have the mind of Christ.
We have the mind of Christ— and by the Holy Spirit we have knowledge from God Most High to discern all things— good and bad.
All of our thinking should be shaped by the Word and God’s Spirit.
We bring God honor by diligently searching out his truth, in his Word, and then defending it— by proclaiming sound doctrine, by reproving, by correcting, and by giving instruction in righteousness.
Not only are we to do these things in our private lives, but also as a church. As the body of Christ we need to protect the holiness and purity of our hearts and minds— and also that of the church. We must work diligently to make sure all things conform to God’s Word and pure doctrine.
Because we love Christ, and love our Brothers and Sisters that he died for, we search out truth and walk in it together as to hold each other accountable-- that not one sheep would go astray.
Discipline from the Father
Discipline from the Father
I’m not going to comment much on this point, I’m going to let the Scriptures do most of the talking here.
Please turn to Hebrews 12:4.
Ye have not yet resisted unto blood, striving against sin. And ye have forgotten the exhortation which speaketh unto you as unto children, My son, despise not thou the chastening of the Lord, nor faint when thou art rebuked of him: For whom the Lord loveth he chasteneth, and scourgeth every son whom he receiveth. If ye endure chastening, God dealeth with you as with sons; for what son is he whom the father chasteneth not? But if ye be without chastisement, whereof all are partakers, then are ye bastards, and not sons. Furthermore we have had fathers of our flesh which corrected us, and we gave them reverence: shall we not much rather be in subjection unto the Father of spirits, and live? For they verily for a few days chastened us after their own pleasure; but he for our profit, that we might be partakers of his holiness. Now no chastening for the present seemeth to be joyous, but grievous: nevertheless afterward it yieldeth the peaceable fruit of righteousness unto them which are exercised thereby. Wherefore lift up the hands which hang down, and the feeble knees; And make straight paths for your feet, lest that which is lame be turned out of the way; but let it rather be healed. Follow peace with all men, and holiness, without which no man shall see the Lord: Looking diligently lest any man fail of the grace of God; lest any root of bitterness springing up trouble you, and thereby many be defiled;
God is a loving Father who desires his children to walk in his paths of righteousness. A loving Father will correct and discipline his children when necessary to put them on the right path.
Experiencing the discipline of the Father produces godly character— in it he works holiness in us, and forms us into the image of his Son.
The next point is very important in both being a disciple and making disciples. A disciple must be a,
Member of the Body of Christ— Church
Member of the Body of Christ— Church
This is where “being a disciple” merges into “making disciples”.
The two go hand in hand. Disciples are going to produce more disciples— and disciples are gathered by Christ into his local church— to serve and to worship.
Uniting together
Uniting together
Please turn to Ephesians chapter 4, verse 15.
Being a disciple means uniting together with other believers.
Paul wrote to the Ephesians,
But speaking the truth in love, may grow up into him in all things, which is the head, even Christ: From whom the whole body fitly joined together and compacted by that which every joint supplieth, according to the effectual working in the measure of every part, maketh increase of the body unto the edifying of itself in love.
If you would, please turn to Hebrews 10:24.
The writer of Hebrews gives us a great summary of the duty of disciples to one another.
Hebrews 10:24–25 (KJV)
“And let us consider one another to provoke unto love and to good works:” (We looked at love and good works last week. Those are characteristics of a disciple. We are to provoke each other into being good disciples. We are to stir up these things amongst each other, or encouraging each other into action.)
“Not forsaking the assembling of ourselves together, as the manner of some is; but exhorting one another: and so much the more, as ye see the day approaching.”
(exhorting one another- that is to encourage and support in a response and action.
We cannot provoke, or exhort, or encourage one another if we are not gathered together. We cannot learn from one another if we are not in each others presence— seeing each other living out being disciples of Jesus Christ. That is why we are told to not forsake the assembling of ourselves together.
John Gill wrote on this verse about forsaking,
Now to forsake such assembling, signifies a great infrequency in attending with the saints, a rambling from place to place, and takes in an entire apostacy. It is the duty of saints to assemble together for public worship, on the account of God, who has appointed it, who approves of it, and whose glory is concerned in it; and on the account of the saints themselves, that they may be delighted, refreshed, comforted, instructed, edified, and perfected; and on account of others, that they may be convinced, converted, and brought to the knowledge and faith of Christ; and in imitation of the primitive saints. And an assembling together ought not to be forsaken; for it is a forsaking God, and their own mercies, and such are like to be forsaken of God; nor is it known what is lost hereby; and it is the first outward visible step to apostacy, and often issues in it
When believers forsake gathering together, they forsake the body of Christ and all that is associated with that gathering. We are to gather, as the writer of Hebrews expresses, to disciple one another. We are to provoke each other to godliness, to holiness— encouraging one another to actively follow, learn, obey, and copy Jesus Christ. We are to hold each other accountable, and seek out the spiritual well being and protection of each other.
Gathering just for worship on the Lord’s Day is not enough. It takes more. Church members are to be knit together in a functioning body— there is to be a real, genuine, relationship between them, with a vested interested in each other.
Some relationships will of course be closer knit than others, and that is okay— but there must be a relationship among the body. The workings of those relationships Providence will work out when we are obedient to gather.
But when the gathering is forsaken, as John Gill pointed out, it is very easy for a professing believer to drift away, eventually not living according to the profession of faith they first made, and possibly even leaving the church.
But exhort one another daily, while it is called To day; lest any of you be hardened through the deceitfulness of sin.
I want to briefly read from our confession of faith. These things are so important that two chapter are given to express the importance of gathering together— I’m not going to read both chapters in their entirety.
If you are interested in looking it up later, the two chapters are 27 Of the Church, and 28 Of the Communion of Saints.
From the Philadelphia Confession of Faith, Chapter 27, Of the Church:
PCF 27.5. In the execution of this power wherewith he is so intrusted, the Lord Jesus calleth out of the world unto himself, through the ministry of his word, by his Spirit, those that are given unto him by his Father, that they may walk before him in all the ways of obedience (that is a true disciple— walk with him, following him, and obeying him), which he prescribeth to them in his word. Those thus called, he commandeth to walk together in particular societies, or churches, for their mutual edification, and the due performance of that public worship, which he requireth of them in the world.
27.6. The members of these churches are saints by calling, visibly manifesting and evidencing (in and by their profession and walking) their obedience unto that call of Christ; and do willingly consent to walk together, according to the appointment of Christ; giving up themselves to the Lord, and one to another, by the will of God, in professed subjection to the ordinances of the Gospel.
Giving up ourselves one to another. Do you know that there are over 50 “one another” verses in the New Testament?
Here are some “one another’s”— not all of them. I’m going to read through them kind of fast, because there are a lot:
“...Be at peace with each other.” (Mark 9:50)
“...Wash one another’s feet.” (John 13:14)
“...Love one another...” (John 13:34, plus many more verses)
Romans 12:10 “Be kindly affectioned one to another with brotherly love; in honour preferring one another;”
Romans 12:16 “Be of the same mind one toward another.”
Romans 15:7 “Wherefore receive ye one another, as Christ also received us to the glory of God.”
Romans 15:14 “And I myself also am persuaded of you, my brethren, that ye also are full of goodness, filled with all knowledge, able also to admonish one another.” Admonish is to teach, we are to teach one another, that is discipleship— teaching one another.
I Corinthians 12:25 “That there should be no schism in the body; but that the members should have the same care one for another.”
I Corinthians 16:20 “All the brethren greet you. Greet ye one another with an holy kiss.” There are other verses to the same effect.
Galatians 5:13 “For, brethren, ye have been called unto liberty; only use not liberty for an occasion to the flesh, but by love serve one another.”
Galatians 6:2 “Bear ye one another’s burdens, and so fulfil the law of Christ.”
Ephesians 4:2 “With all lowliness and meekness, with longsuffering, forbearing one another in love;”
Ephesians 4:32 “And be ye kind one to another, tenderhearted, forgiving one another, even as God for Christ’s sake hath forgiven you.”
Ephesians 5:21 “Submitting yourselves one to another in the fear of God.”
Philippians 2:3 “Let nothing be done through strife or vainglory; but in lowliness of mind let each esteem other better than themselves.”
Colossians 3:9 “Lie not one to another, seeing that ye have put off the old man with his deeds;”
Colossians 3:13 “Forbearing one another, and forgiving one another, if any man have a quarrel against any: even as Christ forgave you, so also do ye.”
Colossians 3:16 “Let the word of Christ dwell in you richly in all wisdom; teaching and admonishing one another in psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing with grace in your hearts to the Lord.”
If you recall from the confession quote, one of our purposes in gathering is to worship together— that is a vital function of the gathering of believers.
I Thessalonians 5:11 “Wherefore comfort yourselves together, and edify one another, even as also ye do.”
James 5:9 “Grudge not one against another, brethren, lest ye be condemned: behold, the judge standeth before the door.”
James 5:16 “Confess your faults one to another, and pray one for another, that ye may be healed. The effectual fervent prayer of a righteous man availeth much.”
I Peter 3:8 “Finally, be ye all of one mind, having compassion one of another, love as brethren, be pitiful, be courteous:”
I Peter 4:8 “And above all things have fervent charity among yourselves: for charity shall cover the multitude of sins.”
All of these things are what a church body is to be experiencing— this is part of true discipleship. These things are what true fellowship is. As disciples we grow as individuals in the grace of God, but we must also grow as fellow believers in the Grace of God. Without fellowship, without this gathering, we will be unfruitful branches.
I quoted earlier from Hebrews 10:24 “And let us consider one another to provoke unto love and to good works:” This next verse pulls that and all of the other “one another’s” together.
I Thessalonians 3:12 “And the Lord make you to increase and abound in love one toward another, and toward all men, even as we do toward you:”
We cannot love one another as we should unless the Lord works it in us. He gives the increase. It is all according to his will. We love because he first loved us. And to that end we should pray for God’s working that amazing love within us— towards one another.
Ordinances
Ordinances
One of the things that the confession says, and I quoted it, “giving up themselves to the Lord, and one to another, by the will of God, in professed subjection to the ordinances of the Gospel.”
I don’t feel led to get in depth on this right now, but it is important to briefly address it.
Turn to Matthew 28:18 please.
This is the Great Commission.
Matthew 28:18–20 (KJV)
And Jesus came and spake unto them, saying, All power is given unto me in heaven and in earth. Go ye therefore, and teach all nations (go and make disciples), baptizing them in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost: Teaching them to observe all things whatsoever I have commanded you: and, lo, I am with you alway, even unto the end of the world. Amen.
As disciples of Christ we are to go and make more disciples. We teach others believers to be a learning and obedient follower of Jesus Christ.
One of the first things for a new believer, after being taught, is to be obedient to Christ’s command to be baptized. This is a call to follow the ordinances of Christ in his church as he has commanded— this includes both ordinances of Baptism and the Lord’s Supper.
Baptism is the formal, public, declaration that a person is a believer— and they are united to Christ is his death, burial, and resurrection. It is a sign of receiving forgiveness of sins, and as the confession states, it is a sign “giving up into God, through Jesus Christ, to live and walk in newness of life.”
Baptism is also the initiating act of a believer uniting with a local church.
A professing believer is admitted into the church as a member based upon their obedience to Christ’s command to be baptized, and that baptism must be Biblically administered.
It is incumbent upon all believers to unite with a body of believers to fulfill those things which Christ has set apart for his people to accomplish— all of those “one another” passages are vital for believers.
Additionally, Baptism is the prerequisite for partaking of the Lord’s Supper— which is to be taken together as the body.
So, moving on from that.
As I said earlier, being in the Body of the Christ, the Church, is part of both “Being a Disciple” and “Making Disciples”.
Making Disciples
Making Disciples
Disciples are going to produce more disciples.
To make disciples we must be faithful and growing disciples ourselves.
Turn to Titus chapter 2, verse 1.
Making disciples is very simple. The Lord here is giving us directions on how to accomplish this. And although this is a pastoral letter, from Paul to Titus, the instruction here is descriptive of what discipleship should look like among the people of God.
Titus 2:1–14 (KJV)
“But speak thou the things which become sound doctrine” (which means we need to be learning sound doctrine ourselves):
(Here is now the character of mature believers) “That the aged men be sober, grave, temperate, sound in faith, in charity, in patience. The aged women likewise, that they be in behaviour as becometh holiness, not false accusers, not given to much wine, teachers of good things; That they may teach the young women” (here is the crux of it all- in making disciples— the more mature believer is to teach the younger)
“to be sober, to love their husbands, to love their children, To be discreet, chaste, keepers at home, good, obedient to their own husbands, that the word of God be not blasphemed. Young men likewise exhort to be sober minded.” (This means that young men are to be taught and earnestly supported, with encouragement, to think and live wisely, to be sensible, and to have self-control. They are to be encouraged to have the character of Jesus Christ, which they should see in those more mature Christians who are the examples to the young ones).
7 “In all things shewing thyself a pattern of good works” (that is a mark of being a disciple— having good works and fruit)
“: in doctrine shewing uncorruptness, gravity, sincerity, Sound speech, that cannot be condemned; that he that is of the contrary part may be ashamed, having no evil thing to say of you.” (we learn and we obey what is in the Word— not to our own satisfaction, not according to our will, for we are not our own. This also goes towards our growth in grace, in growing to become more mature disciples. We are to be discerning as well— knowing correct behavior, and not living or speaking evil. )
9 “Exhort servants to be obedient unto their own masters, and to please them well in all things; not answering again; Not purloining, but shewing all good fidelity; that they may adorn the doctrine of God our Saviour in all things.” (In living as faithful followers of Jesus Christ, and by the work of God in us to be molded into the image of our precious Savior, we are adorned with the beautiful and glorious Gospel of Grace— in which we should desire it to shine brightly in all areas of our lives, glorifying God in the highest.)
11 “For the grace of God that bringeth salvation hath appeared to all men, Teaching us that, denying ungodliness and worldly lusts, we should live soberly, righteously, and godly, in this present world;” (we are to forsake all and live for Jesus Christ— living according to his teachings and his commands— living in holiness, in godliness, and in righteousness— magnifying and glorifying Jesus with everything in us.)
13 “Looking for that blessed hope, and the glorious appearing of the great God and our Saviour Jesus Christ; Who gave himself for us, that he might redeem us from all iniquity, and purify unto himself a peculiar people, zealous of good works.”
(This is descriptive of the Covenant of Grace. As was determined from eternity, Jesus has redeemed us from our sins, he has purchased us with his own blood. In his sacrifice on the cross he took the wrath that we deserve for our sins. In the works of regeneration and conversion, his Holy Spirit creates in believers a new man— with a new fleshy heart, a new mind, and a new will with new desires. He has set us apart from the world, and gathered us together as his people in his church— a peculiar people. Paul said in Ephesians 2:10 “For we are his workmanship, created in Christ Jesus unto good works, which God hath before ordained that we should walk in them.”
Close
Close
Lord willing, these points and all the marks of true disciples will come out more as we continue on through the Gospel According to Matthew.
My hope has been in these messages to give a brief overview of what is a disciple. It has not been exhaustive, but I pray that the Lord will use what we have learned from his Word to make us better disciples, and give us a better understanding of all of these things as we continue on through his Word.
By God’s grace, by his power and work, we will be good and growing disciples— reflecting the glorious Covenant of Grace as we are molded into the image of our Saviour Jesus Christ. May he make us desirous to follow him, may he give us knowledge and wisdom in his Word, may he work in us obedience to his word, and may he give us all we need to do his will and complete his good works that he has made for us from eternity.
To God be the glory.