Discipleship

I preached to you…1 Corinthians 15:1

In one sentence the Apostle Paul defines a disciple. Moreover, brethren, I declare to you the gospel which I preached to you, which also you received and in which you stand, by which also you are saved, if you hold fast that word which I preached to you—unless you believed in vain. 1 Corinthians 15:1 & 2. Jesus commanded that we all go out and make disciples. This is what a disciple of Christ does. He/she gives what they have received. In this context, it is the gospel.

In another context it is forgiveness; and be kind to one another, forgiving one another, even as God in Christ forgave you, Ephesians 4:22. In another context it is love, a new commandment I give to you, that you love one another, as I have loved you, that you also love one another, John 13:34. This is what disciples of Christ do. They emulate their teacher, who is Jesus Christ.

Jesus’ first disciples left everything to follow Him. To do what Jesus was doing required going, and as they went, they made more disciples, who also followed Jesus, doing what He was doing. In doing so they became ambassadors, now then, we are ambassadors for Christ, as though God were pleading through us: we implore you on Christ’s behalf, be reconciled to God. 2 Corinthians 5:20.

As Jesus traveled, more and more people followed Him. Some of whom became His disciples. That is, they declared to others what Jesus taught them. In doing so they made more disciples. People who declare to others the gospel they received. Those who believed were saved, unless they believed in vain. That is, they believed in the idea of the gospel and not in Jesus. 

It is easy to say, I believe in Jesus. This is dead faith as defined by James, 2:18. Living faith is more than mere words. Of the thousands who followed Jesus only a few were disciples. Of the many who were disciples only 120 of those gathered in Jerusalem at Pentecost. Of those, only 12 were chosen to be apostles. Even so, every disciple of Christ who has received His Spirit, which is you, made other disciples. For your confession (words) were from your heart (your mind, spirit, and soul.)