Text:\u00a0 Mark 8:34-38\u00a0Luke 14:26-33<\/p>\n
In our study of the basic truths of the Christian faith, we have now reached the stage where one must face up to the challenge of DISCIPLESHIP or FOLLOWING JESUS.\u00a0 It is all very well to acquire Bible Knowledge and to recognise JESUS CHRIST as the SAVIOUR of the world, and that He is able to save and to give eternal life to all who believe.<\/p>\n
But the crux of the matter is this:\u00a0 Are you willing and ready to become a disciple or follower of Jesus Christ? While His OFFER<\/strong> of salvation is FREE (by GRACE are ye saved), the PRICE<\/strong> of discipleship is COSTLY. You cannot have one without the other. To believe in Jesus Christ is to be His disciple. The REWARDS<\/strong> of discipleship are precious, and without price.<\/p>\n In considering DISCIPLESHIP, it is well for us to remember that our Lord<\/p>\n Himself never persuaded anyone to follow Him on easy terms. On the contrary, He challenged them with the hard reality of discipleship and plainly discouraged those who were not serious or unprepared to face up to its demands. He was not interested in gathering a multitude of fair weather Christians or lip-service Christians.<\/p>\n So, while we long and yearn for men and women to become Christians, nevertheless, we have no desire to increase Church membership by encouraging and admitting those who have only a superficial or passing attraction to Christianity. Truly, the great tragedy of the Church is the presence amongst its membership of great numbers of men and women who have never fully appreciated the meaning of discipleship. We call these \u201cnominal Christians\u201d, still unregenerate. Such a state of affairs is the greatest hindrance to spiritual growth and testimony in the Church. Many unbelievers have been stumbled for years by these professing Christians.<\/p>\n 119<\/p>\n Let those who wish to follow Jesus therefore soberly count the cost, even as our Lord said,<\/p>\n \u201cFor which of you, intending to build a tower, sitteth not down first, and counteth the cost, whether he have sufficient to finish it? So likewise, whosoever he be of you that forsaketh not all that he hath, he cannot be my disciple\u201d<\/em> (Luke 14:28, 33).<\/p>\n In Luke 9:23 Jesus says, \u201cAnd he said to them all, If any man will come after me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross daily, and follow me.\u201d<\/em><\/p>\n Being His disciple, like building a house, is no trivial or light-hearted matter. One must be serious and consider the cost. There is a heavy price to pay for identifying ourselves with the Lord Jesus Christ.<\/p>\n WHAT COST?<\/strong><\/p>\n One day our Lord called the people and addressed them with these words:<\/p>\n \u201cWhosoever will come after me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross, and follow me. For whosoever will save his life shall lose it; but whosoever shall lose his life for my sake and the gospel\u2019s, the same shall save it. For what shall it profit a man, if he shall gain the whole world, and lose his own soul?\u201d<\/em> (Mark 8:34-36).<\/p>\n This passage expresses in a nutshell the cost of following Jesus which every would-be disciple must be prepared to pay. This is what salvation entails.<\/p>\n Denying Self<\/p>\n It is natural for men and women to esteem \u201cself\u201d most highly and to put self at the top of the priority list in everything: in our affection, security, comfort, pleasure, prestige – just to name a few. This great \u201cI\u201d rules supreme in the life of the unsaved, the non-Christian, the men of the world. It is the biggest stumbling block and hindrance to salvation. \u201cSelf\u201d and \u201cselfishness\u201d must first be dethroned before CHRIST can be enthroned, for this is just what it means to follow JESUS. HE must be the LEADER, MASTER and LORD of our lives. Only then can we become followers or his children.<\/p>\n Indeed, not only must \u201cself\u201d be dethroned, it must be put to death – crucified.<\/p>\n Paul the apostle expresses it thus:<\/p>\n \u201cI am crucified with Christ: nevertheless I live; yet not I, but Christ liveth in me and the life which I now live in the flesh I live by the faith of the Son of God, who loved me, and gave Himself for me\u201d<\/em> (Galatians 2:20).<\/p>\n To deny self, then, is to crucify that selfish, sinful, wretched \u201cold man\u201d – he must not dictate my way of life, thinking and actions. In the place of self I must invite the LORD to come into my heart and rule my life. The old self has been crucified, no longer to make decisions and policies. The new person is now altogether controlled and led by the HOLY SPIRIT.<\/p>\n In the process, I must renounce my old sinful past, confess and repent of all known sins and come with penitent heart to Jesus for cleansing and the new birth.<\/p>\n As the Apostle Paul says:<\/p>\n \u201cTherefore if any man be in Christ, he is a new creature: old things are passed away; behold, all things are become new\u201d<\/em> (2 Corinthians 5:17).<\/p>\n The old \u201cselfish I\u201d has passed away in that it has no more control over my life. I am now a new person. CHRIST the LORD is in control. This is what it means to \u201cdeny self\u201d. I am no more a slave to sin or sin has ceased to be my master. I am under no obligation to obey him.<\/p>\n But there is more. If CHRIST is LORD and truly in control, then there must be a VISIBLE DIFFERENCE. My present life must be different from my former life. In what way is it different?<\/p>\n CHRIST has a plan for every follower of HIS. If you have denied yourself to follow HIM, He has a plan for you – for your life.<\/p>\n We will discover HIS plan for us by total commitment and surrender of our lives to Him.\u00a0 Our home, our marriage, our work, our friends, our recreations and pastimes – all these come under His control. Our resources, finance and time belong to Him also. In all these – the way we live and build relationships, the way we employ our time, talents and money – JESUS CHRIST must have the CONTROL.<\/p>\n \u201cIf CHRIST is to be LORD at all He must be LORD of all.\u201d<\/p>\n No more SELF but CHRIST!<\/p>\n 2 Corinthians 5:17, \u201cTherefore if any man be in Christ, he is a new creature: old things are passed away; behold, all things are become new.\u201d<\/em><\/p>\n Taking Up the Cross<\/p>\n Becoming a Christian can have only one way–the way of the cross.\u00a0 It will be heavy and fraught with insurmountable difficulties if you try to carry the load yourself. But Jesus promises every genuine believer that his burden is easy and light if he carries the cross with an obedient heart.<\/p>\n Our Lord’s Words give cheer and hope to every follower:<\/p>\n \u201cCome unto me, all ye that labour and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you, and learn of me; for I am meek and lowly in heart: and ye shall find rest unto your souls. For my yoke is easy, and my burden is light\u201d<\/em> (Matthew 11:28-30).<\/p>\n Taking up the cross seems heavy, but to those who follow obediently, Jesus makes the burden light. Taking up the cross signifies walking the way of the condemned prisoner, going to his execution. This is a metaphor or figure of speech to impress on the disciple the need for \u201cdying daily\u201d. The \u201cold person\u201d, \u201cthe flesh\u201d must be constantly subdued or put to death or crucified, with all its passions and sinful desires. Every day, the follower must consciously walk the Calvary road in the attitude of a man going to the gallows, realising his own hopeless condition. And only the cross can remind him of the utter worthlessness of \u201cself\u201d. Let him therefore take up his cross daily. This is the only way… the way of obedience!<\/p>\n The same meaning is conveyed by our Lord’s Words:<\/p>\n \u201cFor whosoever will save his life shall lose it; but whosoever shall lose his life for my sake and the gospel\u2019s, the same shall save it\u201d<\/em> (Mark 8:35).<\/p>\n He who refuses to surrender his life to Christ, but will \u201csave\u201d it e.g. insist on being his own master, will not find the true purpose and meaning of life as intended for us by God. He will not find everlasting life. So, he loses it. And if a man loses his life, though he may have vast possessions (\u201cthe whole world\u201d), truly he has nothing. How sad!\u00a0 For what shall a man give in exchange for his soul? The measure of true ownership is eternity, not to own it for a period of only three score years and ten. In Jesus Christ all that the believer does for Christ\u2019s glory will last for eternity. This is true wealth!<\/p>\n Taking the step to follow CHRIST is the most important decision in life. It is a step which each person must take for himself\/herself.<\/p>\n Passive agreement with the doctrines of the Christian faith, or intellectual assent to the Gospel, or joining a Church does not<\/strong> make one a follower or a disciple of Jesus Christ or a believer.<\/p>\n Our Lord does not soften or alter the road of discipleship. All may follow Him but those who follow Him must follow on His terms.<\/strong> We have already considered what those terms and conditions are. Nevertheless, we may enumerate them once again so that none should be in doubt.<\/p>\n \u201cI have decided to follow Jesus I have decided to follow Jesus.<\/p>\n No turning back, no turning back!\u201d<\/p>\n Following Jesus is therefore an urgent matter. Do not procrastinate. Life on earth for all man is like walking on razor thin pieces of paper and underneath is the Lake of Fire. Anyone can fall through it anytime and anywhere.<\/p>\n What does one gain in following Jesus? This is not an unreasonable question to ask.<\/p>\n he is tried, he shall receive the crown of life,<\/strong> which the Lord hath promised to them that love Him.\u201d <\/em>[Emphasis added]<\/p>\n So let all who follow Jesus be of good cheer, for He whom we follow will soon return again to earth. \u201cAnd when the chief Shepherd shall appear, ye shall receive a crown of glory that fadeth not away.\u201d<\/em> (1 Peter 5:4) If we are faithful to Him unto death, He will give us a crown of life<\/strong> (Revelation 2:10).<\/p>\n <\/p>\n <\/p>\n <\/p>\n Lesson 11: Discipleship – Following Jesus<\/p>\n BASIC BIBLE KNOWLEDGE QUIZ 11:<\/strong><\/p>\n <\/p>\n Fill in the blanks:<\/p>\n Underline the correct answers:<\/p>\n (c) only for fools.<\/p>\n (c) have their burdens made light.<\/p>\n DISCIPLESHIP Text:\u00a0 Mark 8:34-38\u00a0Luke 14:26-33 I. COUNTING THE COST In our study of the basic truths of the Christian faith, we have now reached the stage where one must face up to the challenge of DISCIPLESHIP or FOLLOWING JESUS.\u00a0 It is all very well to acquire Bible Knowledge and to recognise JESUS CHRIST as the […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":0,"parent":0,"menu_order":0,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","template":"","meta":{"footnotes":""},"class_list":["post-444","page","type-page","status-publish","hentry"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/ilekt.me\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages\/444","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/ilekt.me\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/ilekt.me\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/page"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/ilekt.me\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/ilekt.me\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=444"}],"version-history":[{"count":1,"href":"https:\/\/ilekt.me\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages\/444\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":446,"href":"https:\/\/ilekt.me\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages\/444\/revisions\/446"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/ilekt.me\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=444"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}II. TAKING THE STEP<\/h4>\n
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THE GAIN IN FOLLOWING JESUS<\/h4>\n
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DISCIPLESHIP – FOLLOWING JESUS<\/h4>\n
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