The Mac Daddies on Discipleship

Lately, there has been a discussion here at Wakefield over the question of discipleship. "What is discipleship?" and "What makes one a disciple of Jesus Christ?" are two of the questions kicked around. We know that Matthew 28:19 tells us to go and make disciples. Does that mean that the term "disciple" is the same as "believer"? Let's try in just a few paragraphs to develop an answer.

First, to be a disciple it is absolutely essential to be a believer. One cannot be a disciple of Christ without first putting their trust in Christ. Are there those who follow the principles of the christian life without first believing? No doubt. However, to live the disciple's life does require something that only a believer posseses, the indwelling of the Holy Spirit. For the life of a disciple is a supernatural life, a life that can only be lived with the power of God, not the power of self.

William MacDonald, a Plymouth Brethren writer, lists seven terms for discipleship:
1. A supreme love for Jesus Christ - Luke 14:26
2. A denial of self - Matthew 16:24
3. A deliberate choosing of the cross - Matthew 16:24
4. A life spent following Christ - Matthew 16:24; Galatians 5:22-23; John 15:8
5. A fervent love for all who belong to Christ - John 13:35; 1 Corinthians 13:4-7
6. An unswerving continuance in His Word - John 8:31
7. A forsaking of all to follow Him - Luke 14:33

I'll put a link to MacDonald's article below and you can go to it and read the greater detail. Feel free to voice you comments here concerning the article.

We can simplify MacDonald's many words by using a statement from John MacArthur Jr. Commenting on Matthew 7:24-27 in his commentary on Matthew 1-7, MacArthur says, "The mark of true discipleship is not simply hearing and believing, but believing and doing." The two men in the passage build similar homes, but with one major difference - the foundation. The passage speaks of a believer building a life based on obedience to God's Word as opposed to someone, unbeliever or believer, who builds his life on something other than God's Word. The first is a disciple, the second not.

If our understanding of Matthew 7:24-27 is correct, then churches contain many believers, but few disciples. Discipleship begins with faith, but does not end there. Discipleship is a life lived in obedience to Christ and to His Word. God help us in our effort to obey and in our effort to bring others into the the place of discipleship.

-Mark

MacDonald's article

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