True Disciples

Hi all

John 8:31

“To the Jews who believed in him, Jesus said ‘If you hold to my teaching you are really my disciples. Then you will know the truth and the truth will set you free.”

There is a huge difference between calling yourself a Christian or believer, and being a true disciple of Jesus. A disciple of Jesus is one who comes under the submission of the Lordship of Jesus and secondly His written word. There are thousands of people who say they are Christians but do not live under the clear teachings of scripture. I feel like saying to them don’t call yourself a Christian if you are not living according to clear biblical teaching. For instance, when someone says I don’t have to go and belong to a church to follow Jesus, I just say you are deceived. That’s a violation of clear teaching of scripture. A commitment to Christ is a commitment to His community. The entire NT is written to a community of believers. Christ is the head of His church. You are not really a true disciple of Jesus because he says hold to my teaching. We are living in a time when people pick and choose what they want to believe out of the Bible and embrace the values of the culture around them, and then try to manipulate and distort the clear teaching in scripture to fit into the culture we live in. This is so clear when it comes to things like living together outside of marriage, same sex marriage, or transgender issues. That’s dangerous territory to enter into. That’s not truth that will set you free, but a path to bondage. Are you a true disciple of Jesus?