What does it mean to be a Christian Disciple?

A Christian disciple is one who learns from, follows and lives like his Master, Jesus!  Jesus said that if we love Him, we will keep His commandments (Mt 14:15) and that those who do His will (Mt 7:21) will enter into the kingdom!  When we walk like Jesus walked, our actions, desires, motives and goals CHANGE to be in line with His Word and with His will for ourselves and for others. 

Christian discipleship is a FULL DEPARTURE from living as the world lives, it is a new LIFESTYLE!  Jesus prayed, “I do not pray that You should take them out of the world, but that You should keep them from the evil one. They are not of the world, just as I am not of the world” (Jn 17:15, 16). In surrendering our life to Him, we let Him live through us. 

Our life is no longer our own. To put it bluntly, we’re DEAD. Jesus said, “If any man will come after Me, let him deny himself” (Mt 16:24). It’s not only a sacrifice to live the Christian life, it’s a full DENIAL OF ONESELF so that He may live through us. The Apostle Paul said, “I am crucified with Christ, it is no longer I who live, but CHRIST LIVES in me” (Gal 2:20). The life of a Christian disciple involves a total commitment to following Jesus in order to be a DOER of the Word and not a hearer only. 

We are not only students of God’s Word, but followers of the discipline of Christ; meaning that we are practicing and living out His teachings. Again, to be a disciple of Jesus is not only adhering to a set of beliefs, but a lifestyle.

Jesus said it all in this passage, “Therefore, whoever hears these sayings of Mine, and does them, I will liken him to a wise man who built his house on the rock: and the floods came, and the winds blew and beat on that house; and it did not fall for it was founded on the rock. But everyone who hears these sayings of Mine, and does not do them, will be like a foolish man who built his house on the sand: and the rain descended, the floods came, and the winds blew and beat on that house, and it fell. And great was its fall” (Mt 7:24-27).

Again, he said, “So likewise, whoever of you does not forsake all that he has cannot be My disciple” (Lk 14:33).

Should you want to take a minute, read and meditate on these verses below. They really spell out what is required of a Christian disciple.

Jn 13:35 By this all will know that you are My disciples, if you have love for one another.

Mt 6:24 No one can serve two masters; for either he will hate the one and love the other, or else he will be loyal to the one and despise the other. You cannot serve God and mammon.

Mt 10:36-38 A man’s enemies will be those of his own household.’ He who loves father or mother more than Me is not worthy of Me. And he who loves son or daughter more than Me is not worthy of Me. And he who does not take his cross and follow after Me is not worthy of Me.

Mt 19:29 Everyone who has left houses or brothers or sisters or father or mother or wife or children or lands, for My name’s sake, shall receive a hundredfold, and inherit eternal life.

Mk 10:21 Then Jesus, looking at him, loved him, and said to him, “One thing you lack: Go your way, sell whatever you have and give to the poor, and you will have treasure in heaven; and come, take up the cross, and follow Me.

Lk 9:62 No one, having put his hand to the plow, and looking back, is fit for the kingdom of God.

1Cor 6:20 For you were bought at a price; therefore glorify God in your body and in your spirit, which are God’s.

2Cor 5:14a For the love of Christ compels us.

Phil 1:29 For to you it has been granted on behalf of Christ, not only to believe in Him, but also to suffer for His sake.

Phil 3:7-8 But what things were gain to me, these I have counted loss for Christ. Yet indeed I also count all things loss for the excellence of the knowledge of Christ Jesus my Lord, for whom I have suffered the loss of all things, and count them as rubbish, that I may gain Christ.

Eph 6:6 Not with eye service, as men-pleasers, but as bondservants of Christ, doing the will of God from the heart.

2Tim 2:3 You therefore must endure hardship as a good soldier of Jesus Christ.

1Pt 2:9 But you are a chosen generation, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, His own special people, that you may proclaim the praises of Him who called you out of darkness into His marvelous light.

Lk 9:23-24 Then He said to them all, “If anyone desires to come after Me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross daily, and follow Me. For whoever desires to save his life will lose it, but whoever loses his life for My sake will save it.

Mt 22:14 For many are called, but few are chosen.

1Cor 11:1 Imitate me, just as I also imitate Christ.

Mt 23:11 But he who is greatest among you shall be your servant.

Jn 15:16 You did not choose Me, but I chose you and appointed you that you should go and bear fruit, and that your fruit should remain, that whatever you ask the Father in My name He may give you.