Are You A Christian Or Disciple?

What is a Christian? Is there a difference between a Christian or Believer, and a Disciple? Which one are you? At times I am both. If given the choice I would be a disciple. Today I want to show you that we should strive to be both. The most important thing for a disciple would be love (1 Corinthians 13:4-7). When we are a disciple of someone that we admire or love, then we will follow what ever they teach or show us. Does not sound like most Christians I know today. The word mathetes or disciple, is most often used by the writers of our new testament. I want to list some of the ways Jesus used the word “mathetes” in the gospels. (Just a note from me before I go on, if you want to get a better understanding of the Greek writers of our New Testament you should get yourself a copy of the Amplified Bible translation as it uses so many more words than our English language.)

KJV-Matthew 10:24-25, the disciple is not above his master, it is enough for the disciple that he be as his master.

Or in other words the pupil is not superior to his teacher, it is sufficient for the pupil to be like his teacher and be content as such. Jesus was teaching His pupils or students to be just like Him, full of love, compassion, and to be totally dependent on Holy Spirit to guide Him as He went about His day.

KJV-Luke 6:40, The disciple is not above his master but every one that is perfect shall be as his master.

KJV-Luke 14:26-27, If any man come to me, and hate not his father, and mother, yea, and his own life also, he cannot be my disciple. And whosoever doth not bear his own cross, and come after me, cannot be my disciple.

Jesus is putting forth some heavy words here using the word hate. He is separating the ones who believe in Him as saviour and the ones who call Him Lord. He is not teaching us to hate someone. He is just showing the difference between the two, believers and disciples. Jesus is telling them that love for God has to be first place in their lives, even before family and wives. This puts most of the Church outside of being a Disciple. But it does not mean they are not saved. It is just a matter of commitment to being just like Him. A disciple will be walking just as Jesus walked, full of the Holy Spirit and power. This is why the Church is so powerless, the lack of committed disciples. J.F.Dake states in his notes on Matthew 10 that “this is the highest position in power and in this life for a disciple to be like Jesus. Being like Christ should be the goal of us all. It is not pride to want to imitate Him, in fact it is a command (1 Corinthians 11:1). Mr. Dake also wrote this- To be above Him is more than enough, To be as he was is enough,To be less than He wants us to be is not enough.

Jesus said in Matthew 4:9, follow me,He gives them an invitation to follow Him as disciples, and I will make you,a disciple is someone who allows Jesus to change them, fishers of men, a disciple is someone doing what Jesus did, going where the Holy Spirit led Him. All disciples are Christians, but not all Christians are disciples. The word disciple is used 267 times in the New Testament and the word Christian is used only 3 times. Don’t you think we should look at the word disciple and allow ourselves to become one?

The Greek meaning for disciple in the New Testament is mathetes, which means more than just a student or learner. A disciple is a follower, someone who adheres completely to the teachings of another, making them his rule of life and conduct.

With permission I will quote Dr. Rick Flanders, “it is very important to understand the difference between believing on Christ for salvation and following Him in discipleship. These concepts are certainly connected, but the book of John makes it clear that they are not the same. Believers will fail to live a holy life unless they understand discipleship, and they will lack assurance of salvation if they confuse salvation with discipleship.” He goes on with a list of differences, but I will let you check it out by going to his website, Ministry 127.com.

In Romans 12:1 Paul is talking to believers and giving them the call to be disciples. Notice this call is addressed to believers. Saved people called to discipleship. “Notice the call to discipleship is voluntary, even for believers. It is not automated that a believer will follow in discipleship.“

This confusion by well meaning preachers confusing the two have led to believers being fearful of their salvation. The requirement is simple faith in Jesus as your saviour. The requirements for discipleship includes self denial, absolute surrender to Christ, and the forsaking of all. Preachers must teach discipleship, but not discipleship for salvation. Failure at discipleship does not prove one is not saved. Salvation is about whosoever will, let him take of the waters of life freely. Discipleship is about, if any man serve me, let him follow me. They go together, but they are not the same. to make them the same is to ruin the plan of salvation by inserting the requirement of works.

A disciple is a student that is committed to one teacher who absorbs his teachings and will strive to live just as his teacher and mentor lives. Totally committed to be just like his master or mentor. So much so that if you hear them (student) talk, you will instantly recognize the teacher by the students words and actions.

Acts 4:13, Now when they saw the boldness of Peter and John, they perceived that they were unlearned and ignorant men, they marveled; and they took knowledge of them, that they had been with Jesus.

This is the depth of discipleship I am talking about in my paragraph above. Can we say that others will recognize us as having been with Jesus? If not, then it may be time to get alone with Him, and let His words be refreshed in our lives once again. (Revelation 2:4)

I will close for now, and I hope you will be moved to get a little closer to Jesus , so others will see Him in you. Remember you will make it, just don’t give up. See you next week.

In His service, Kilted Priest