While Salvation is free and costs nothing, Discipleship is costly and costs everything!
The Cost of Salvation – Ephesians 2:8-9 8 For by grace you have been saved through faith. And this is not your own doing; it is the gift of God, 9 not a result of works, so that no one may boast.
The Cost of Discipleship – Luke 17:33 33 Whoever seeks to preserve his life will lose it, but whoever loses his life will keep it.
IF you wonder if you are a true Disciple of Jesus, here’s what the word of God says.
- IF you have love for one another, you can consider yourself one of Jesus’ disciples. In John 13:35 we find Jesus saying, “By this all people will know that you are my disciples, IF you have love for one another.”IF you love as Jesus loved, accepting people as they are, forgiving others no matter what, meeting each other’s needs as Jesus modeled meeting the needs of others, this is proof that you are one of His disciples.
- IF you allow the truth of the Gospel to guide every aspect of your life, then you can consider yourself a disciple of Jesus Christ. John 8:31 – 32 chronicles one of Jesus’ statements to his disciples. He said, “IF you abide in my word, you are truly my disciples, 32 and you will know the truth, and the truth will set you free.”
- IF you deny your own wants and wishes and live for the Kingdom of Godthen you can consider yourself one of Jesus’ disciples. Jesus declared, “IF anyone would come after me, let him deny himself and take up his cross and follow me. 35 For whoever would save his life will lose it, but whoever loses his life for my sake and the gospel’s will save it.”(Mark 14:34b – 35).
- IF your allegiance to Jesus trumps your allegiance to all others, including yourself, then you can consider yourself a disciple of Jesus Christ. He said, “IF anyone comes to me and does not hate his own father and mother and wife and children and brothers and sisters, yes, and even his own life, he cannot be my disciple.” (Luke 14:26).
- IF you’re willing to die for Jesus then you can consider yourself a disciple of Jesus Christ. Jesus said, “Whoever does not bear his own cross and come after me cannot be my disciple.” (Luke 14:27) Every person within earshot of this statement was most likely aware of the suffering leading to the crucifixion. They were fully aware that anyone who was crucified had to carry his own cross through the streets, about one mile, where crucifixion would take place.
IF someone exhibits love toward others, learns and lives the expectations unearthed in Scripture, denies self in all situations, has as their first relational allegiance Jesus Christ, and will die for the cause of Christ, then they can rest assured, they are a disciple of Jesus Christ.
Pastor Alan
