What is a Disciple? a personal follower and student of Jesus the Christ.
Matthew 28:18 And Jesus came and spoke to them, saying, “All authority has been given to Me in heaven and on earth. 19 Go therefore and make disciples of all the nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit,20 teaching them to observe all things that I have commanded you; and lo, I am with you always, even to the end of the age.” Amen.
A. Must be willing to suffer and endure persecution:
Matthew 10:24-25 24 “A disciple is not above his teacher, nor a servant above his master. 25 It is enough for a disciple that he be like his teacher, and a servant like his master. If they have called the master of the house Beelzebub, how much more will they call those of his household!
1 Peter 5:10 But may the God of all grace, who called us to His eternal glory by Christ Jesus, after you have suffered a while, perfect, establish, strengthen, and settle you.
2 Timothy 3:12 Yes, and all who desire to live godly in Christ Jesus will suffer persecution.
B. Must be willing to forsake earthly ties:
Luke 14:26 If anyone comes to Me and does not hate his father and mother, wife
and children, brothers and sisters, yes, and his own life also, he cannot be My disciple.
1 Corinthians 5:11 But now I have written to you not to keep company with anyone named a brother, who is sexually immoral, or covetous, or an idolater, or a reviler, or a drunkard, or an extortioner—not even to eat with such a person.
2 Corinthians 6:17 Therefore, Come out from among them,And be separate, says the Lord. Do not touch what is unclean,And I will receive you.
Matthew 10:34-36 32 Whosoever therefore shall confess me before men, him will I confess also before my Father which is in heaven. 33 But whosoever shall deny me before men, him will I also deny before my Father which is in heaven. 34 Think not that I am come to send peace on earth: I came not to send peace, but a sword. 35 For I am come to set a man at variance against his father, and the daughter against her mother, and the daughter in law against her mother in law. 36 And a man's foes shall be they of his own household.
Matthew 10:37-39 37 He that loveth father or mother more than me is not worthy of me: and he that loveth son or daughter more than me is not worthy of me. 38 And he that taketh not his cross, and followeth after me, is not worthy of me. 39 He that findeth his life shall lose it: and he that loseth his life for my sake shall find it.
C. Must be willing to lay down his life in following Jesus and endure to the end:
Luke 9:62 62 But Jesus said to him, “No one, having put his hand to the plow, and looking back, is fit for the kingdom of God.”
Matthew 10:22 And you will be hated by all for My name’s sake. But he who endures to the end will be saved.
D. Must be willing to forsake all things:
Luke 14:33 So likewise, whoever of you does not forsake all that he has cannot be My
disciple.
Luke 14:27. 27 And whoever does not bear his cross and come after Me cannot be My disciple.
E. Must be willing to continue in His Word daily:
John 8:31 Then Jesus said to those Jews who believed Him, “If you abide in My word, you are My disciples indeed.
Acts 2:42 And they continued steadfastly in the apostles’ doctrine and fellowship, in the breaking of bread, and in prayers.
1 Peter 1:23 having been born again, not of corruptible seed but incorruptible, through the word of God which lives and abides forever.
James 1:21 Therefore lay aside all filthiness and overflow of wickedness, and receive with meekness the implanted word, which is able to save your souls.
F. Must bear fruit:
John 15: 5-8 5 “I am the vine, you are the branches. He who abides in Me, and I in him, bears much fruit; for without Me you can do nothing. 6 If anyone does not abide in Me, he is cast out as a branch and is withered; and they gather them and throw them into the fire, and they are burned. 7 If you abide in Me, and My words abide in you, you will ask what you desire, and it shall be done for you. 8 By this My Father is glorified, that you bear much fruit; so you will be My disciples.
Galatians 6:9 And let us not grow weary while doing good, for in due season we shall reap if we do not lose heart. G. Must be teachable,John 14:26 But the Helper, the Holy Spirit, whom the Father will send in My name, Hewill teach you all things, and bring to your remembrance all things that I said to you.
Jeremiah 3:15 And I will give you shepherds according to My heart, who will feed you with knowledge and understanding.
H. Must be one whose life is characterized by love:
John 13:35 By this all will know that you are My disciples, if you have love for one another.
1 John 5:3 For this is the love of God, that we keep His commandments. And His commandments are not burdensome.
I. Must Live a Lifestyle of Holiness:
Hebrews 12:14 Pursue peace with all people, and holiness, without which no one will see the Lord.
1 Thessalonians 4:7 For God did not call us to uncleanness, but unto holiness.1 Peter 1:15 but as He who called you is holy, you also be holy in all your conduct.
J. Must have a daily prayer life:
Psalm 5:3 My voice You shall hear in the morning, O Lord;In the morning I will direct it to
You, And I will look up.
Psalm 55:17 Evening and morning and at noon I will pray, and cry aloud, And He shall hear my voice.
Matthew 17:21 However, this kind does not go out except by prayer and fasting.
K. Must Fear God:
Luke 12:5 But I will show you whom you should fear: Fear Him who, after He has killed,
has power to cast into hell; yes, I say to you, fear Him!
Ecclesiastes 12:13 Let us hear the conclusion of the whole matter: Fear God and keep His commandments, For this is man’s all.14 For God will bring every work into judgment,Including every secret thing,Whether good or evil.
Proverbs 16:6 In mercy and truth Atonement is provided for iniquity;And by the fear of the Lord one departs from evil.
L. Must Obey God:
Hebrews 5:9 And having been perfected, He became the author of eternal salvation to all who obey Him,
Hebrews 10:26 26 For if we sin willfully after we have received the knowledge of the truth, there no longer remains a sacrifice for sins,
1 Peter 4:1 Therefore, since Christ suffered for us in the flesh, arm yourselves also with the same mind, for he who has suffered in the flesh has ceased from sin,
Romans 6:18 And having been set free from sin, you became slaves of righteousness.
Luke 6:46 “But why do you call Me ‘Lord, Lord,’ and not do the things which I say?
1 John 3:4-10 Whoever commits sin also commits lawlessness, and sin is lawlessness. 5 And you know that He was manifested to take away our sins, and in Him there is no sin. 6 Whoever abides in Him does not sin. Whoever sins has neither seen Him nor known Him.7 Little children, let no one deceive you. He who practices righteousness is righteous, just as He is righteous. 8 He who sins is of the devil, for the devil has sinned from the beginning. For this purpose the Son of God was manifested, that He might destroy the works of the devil. 9 Whoever has been born of God does not sin, for His seed remains in him; and he cannot sin, because he has been born of God.10 In this the children of God and the children of the devil are manifest: Whoever does not practice righteousness is not of God, nor is he who does not love his brother.
1 John 2:4 He who says, “I know Him,” and does not keep His commandments, is a liar, and the truth is not in him.
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