THE TRUE DISCIPLE

I was studying this morning and was led to consider what a disciple is. Around here it seems that many believe that there are believers who are saved and those who are disciples and they are different. They seem to think that you can be saved and not be a disciple. Seems that Jesus taught differently. He instructed His disciples to go through all the world and make "disciples" and did not indicate that there were levels of disciples or believers.

He said that we must love Him more than we love our families Luke14:26-27 vs. 28 indicates we must count the cost. A disciple is known as a learner or pupil and that's pretty basic so if it takes that much sacrifice to be a basic learner then how can one be saved and not be a disciple? A wealthy young man approached Jesus and asked what he needed to do to inherit eternal life and Jesus told him basically to keep the things in the Law of Moses to which he replied, "this I have done from my youth".

Interesting that he obviously was a believer in God as many people are but when he came in contact with the Savior he was uncertain of his standing. Jesus reply to him was "sell all you have, give to the poor and come follow me". The young man went away sad because he was very rich, Jesus did not call him back and say "let's negotiate, just give a big offering to the church and get a tax deduction and you’re in".

No He let him go away saying "it's harder for a rich man to enter the kingdom of God than for a camel to pass through the eye of a needle". True but here's the part that is overlooked by most teachers of scripture, and that is that the reason a rich person has difficulty is not his money but that he is used to being in control. His money gives him the ability to command his surroundings and circumstances in almost everything except his physical health. Jesus said we have to surrender to His control to enter the kingdom so it would not matter what the issue was, Jesus would have told him that he must give up whatever it was in his life that would hinder total obedience and surrender to Jesus control. Therefore none of
us are really any different than the rich young man, we all must make that choice "to take up our cross (whatever we must sacrifice) and follow Him.

There's much more to this matter which I shall add later.