I am a Disciple of Christ

1. INTRODUCTION

   1. The designation "disciple of Christ" is not a title to be worn, but rather it is a description to fulfill.

   2. Let us consider what it means to be a disciple of Christ and whether we are living up to this description.

       

2. LIKE MASTER, LIKE DISCIPLE

   1. A disciple is a learner of his teacher.

      1. The word "disciple" (Gr. mathētēs, μαθητής) literally means "learner" and is derived from the root word "learn" (Gr. manthanō, μανθάνω).

      2. To be a disciple, one must have a teacher.  A disciple is a student of his teacher's words.

      3. Discipleship indicates more than ordinary learning of facts. It is a system of discipline by which a disciple becomes like his teacher.

   2. Jesus taught the concept of discipleship.

      1. Jesus defined this concept in Luke 6:40:

         "A pupil [lit. disciple, mathētēs] is not above his teacher; but everyone, after he has been fully trained, will be like his teacher."

         1. Notice the order that exists in this relationship.  The teacher is greater than his disciple.

         2. Also notice that the intended goal of discipleship is to make the disciple like his teacher.  A disciple's ambition is to become like his teacher in all things.

      2. Jesus taught that a disciple should expect to be received in the same manner as his teacher in Matthew 10:24-25:

         ²⁴"A disciple is not above his teacher, nor a slave above his master.  ²⁵It is enough for the disciple that he become like his teacher, and the slave like his master.  If they have called the head of the house Beelzebul, how much more will they malign the members of his household!"

         1. A disciple is branded with the mark of his teacher.  If he is a true disciple, then he will act and speak in the likeness of his teacher, and others will recognize this.

         2. Therefore, if men reject a disciple's teacher, then they will reject the disciple also.

   3. Discipleship involves imitation of the teacher by the disciple.

      1. An imitator is one who observes the actions of another and then mimics them in his own life.  In fact, the word "mimic" comes from the root word of mimētēs (μιμητής), which is the Greek word from which "imitator" is translated.

      2. Similarly, a disciple is a learner or student, who learns not only from the words of his teacher but also from the teacher's actions. A disciple imitates his teacher.

      3. Consider a conversation between Jesus and the Pharisees and scribes in Luke 5:30-35.

         1. The Pharisees and scribes grumbled at Christ's disciples, saying, "Why do you eat and drink with the tax collectors and sinners?"

         2. After Jesus answered them, they said to Him, "The disciples of John often fast and offer prayers, the disciples of the Pharisees also do the same, but Yours eat and drink."

         3. The Pharisees were observing discipleship in action. The disciples of Jesus acted as He acted, for He ate and drank with tax collectors and sinners (Matt. 9:10), and He did not fast (Matt. 11:19).

      4. Notice how the Jewish rulers observed the behavior of Peter and John and recognized their imitation of Jesus and their discipleship in Acts 4:13:

         Now as they observed the confidence of Peter and John and understood that they were uneducated and untrained men, they were amazed, and began to recognize them as having been with Jesus.

          

3. DISCIPLES OF JESUS

   1. There are many teachers with disciples, but Jesus gave specific requirements for being His disciple. First, notice that Jesus must come first above all others for a disciple of Jesus.  Consider Luke 14:26-27, 33:

      ²⁶"If anyone comes to Me, and does not hate his own father and mother and wife and children and brothers and sisters, yes, and even his own life, he cannot be My disciple.  ²⁷Whoever does not carry his own cross and come after Me cannot be My disciple...³³So then, none of you can be My disciple who does not give up all his own possessions."

      1. Jesus spoke in bold, comparative words.  Interpret these words in light of other passages such as Ephesians 6:2-3, Acts 5:4, and 2Corinthians 9:6-8.

      2. The Lord's point is that unless one prefers Him above all others and all things, he cannot be Christ's disciple.  Jesus must be first in His disciple's life.

   2. The most obvious requirement is stated by Jesus in John 8:31-32:

      ³¹So Jesus was saying to those Jews who had believed Him, "If you continue in My word, then you are truly disciples of Mine; ³²and you will know the truth, and the truth will make you free."

      1. True disciples of Jesus continual students and practitioners of His word.  How can one be a learner of Jesus without listening to His words?

      2. Even so, many men do claim to be Christ's disciples while disregarding His word.  To them, He says, "Why do you call Me, 'Lord, Lord,' and do not do what I say?" (Luke 6:46).

   3. Imitation of Christ's deeds is also required by in Jesus in John 13:12-16:

      ¹²So when He had washed their feet, and taken His garments and reclined at the table again, He said to them, "Do you know what I have done to you?  ¹³You call Me Teacher and Lord; and you are right, for so I am.  ¹⁴If I then, the Lord and the Teacher, washed your feet, you also ought to wash one another's feet.  ¹⁵For I gave you an example that you also should do as I did to you.  ¹⁶Truly, truly, I say to you, a slave is not greater than his master, nor is one who is sent greater than the one who sent him."

      1. By washing His disciples' feet, Jesus gave an example of service that we are to imitate.  This is not a mandate for foot washing specifically, but it is an example for serving one another.

      2. If Jesus humbled Himself to such a degree to serve His own disciples, then His disciples should do the same.

   4. Jesus described the foremost identifying mark of His disciples in John 13:34-35:

      ³⁴"A new commandment I give to you, that you love one another, even as I have loved you, that you also love one another.  ³⁵By this all men will know that you are My disciples, if you have love for one another."

      1. As the teacher, Jesus held up His own example of sacrificial love as the standard for His disciples.

      2. When Christ's disciples display such love for one another, the world will see the evidence of their teacher in their behavior.

   5. Jesus defined the proof of discipleship in John 15:8:

      "My Father is glorified by this, that you bear much fruit, and so prove to be My disciples."

      1. The Lord gave the analogy of the vine (Himself) and the branches (His disciples) in John 15:1-11.  The branches are expected to be fruitful as they abide in the vine.

      2. Unfruitful disciples, i.e. disciples who are not working, are not disciples at all.  They have not proved to be Christ's disciples because there is no evidence (see Jas. 2:14-26).

   6. The disciples of Jesus are Christians and are members of Christ's church.

      1. "Disciple" is the most common designation for Christ's followers in the New Testament, but the disciples took on a new designation at Antioch in Acts 11:25-26:

         ²⁵And [Barnabas] left for Tarsus to look for Saul; ²⁶and when he had found him, he brought him to Antioch.  And for an entire year they met with the church and taught considerable numbers; and the disciples were first called Christians in Antioch.

      2. Notice what this passage teaches us about disciples of Christ.

         1. They are people who have believed in Jesus and turned to the Lord (Acts 11:21).

         2. They have demonstrated the grace of God (Acts 11:23).

         3. They are part of the church (Acts 11:26).

         4. They have been taught the word of God (Acts 11:26).

         5. They are Christians (Acts 11:26).  The designations of "disciple of Christ" and "Christian" can be used interchangeably, and whatever is said about a disciple is equally true of a Christian.

             

4. CONCLUSION

   1. If you are a disciple of Jesus, then following and learning from the Lord must never cease in your life.

      1. There is always more to learn from Jesus, for none of us has attained perfection.  Disciples are learners, and learners will make mistakes but continue to learn.

      2. If you ever stop following and learning from Jesus, then you will cease from being His disciple (Matt. 26:56; John 6:66).

   2. Can you say in the truest sense that you are a disciple (learner, imitator) of the Lord Jesus?