What is the Cost of Discipleship....

In our society, a reprobate theology is being put forward that says you can be a Christian and never have to worry about being committed. There are some that think you can be a Christian and not even be a disciple. 

Beginning in Luke 9:57, the Lord is speaking about discipleship and its cost. He says this: “And as they were going along the road, someone said to Him, ‘I’ll follow You wherever You go.’  And Jesus said, ‘The foxes have holes and the birds of the air have nests, but the Son of Man has nowhere to lay His head.’  And He said to another, ‘Follow Me.’  But he said, ‘Permit me first to go and bury my father.’  But He said to him, ‘Allow the dead to bury their own dead, but as for you, go and proclaim everywhere the Kingdom of God.’ And another also said, ‘I will follow You, Lord, but first permit me to say goodbye to those at home.’  But Jesus said to him, ‘Not one after putting his hand to the plow and looking back is fit for the Kingdom of Heaven.’” 

What is a disciple?  Is it something different than a Christian?  It’s clear in the Bible that Jesus calls men to follow Him.  Discipleship is more than just being a studious learner in a Bible study group and attending praise and worship on Sunday or being a timely volunteer. Its more than having a 'personal' relationship with Christ (He's my Jesus); its about going out into all the world proclaiming His name and making disciples of Christ through the Gospel of Christ.  Its following Him to the point where you would go as far as death out of love for Him.  

The call that Jesus gave was a call to follow Him, its a call to submission, a call to obedience.  It was never a whimsical plea as to make some kind of momentary decision to acquire forgiveness and peace and heaven, and then go on living anyway you wanted.  

Discipleship is this: Follow Jesus. How do you do that? Do as He did: proclaim the Gospel, forgive, love and believe... Jesus answered, "The work of God is this: to believe in the one he has sent." John 6:29. God who is the Creator of all things seen and unseen. 

In Matthew, chapter 10:32, “Everyone therefore who shall confess Me before men, I will confess him before My Father who is heaven.  But whosoever shall deny Me before men, I will deny before My Father who is in heaven.  Do not think that I came to bring peace on the earth; I didn’t come to bring peace, but a sword.  I came to set a man against his father, and a daughter against her mother, and a daughter-in-law against her mother-in-law, and a man’s enemies will be the members of his household.  He who loves father or mother more than Me is not worthy of Me.  He who loves son or daughter more than Me is not worthy of Me.  He who does not take his cross and follow after Me is not worthy of Me.  He who has found his life shall lose it, and he who has lost his life for My sake shall find it.”
 
A Christian is a disciple and every Christian is a follower of Jesus Christ.  Some of us are following more faithfully than others, but every true believer has committed himself or herself to follow Jesus Christ which is first and foremost to share the Gospel.  

We do not believe that you can be a follower of Jesus and not be a real Christian.  But, we suppose that you could follow along without having a changed heart, and say, “Lord, Lord,” and He would say, “I never knew you.”  

We don’t follow perfectly, but we don’t follow out of our own will and our own flesh; we follow because God in His sovereign grace transformed us into followers; a  working grace in us by the power of the Holy Spirit.

This is how we are called to make disciples! In Mark 16:15, He said, “Go into all the world and preach the gospel to all creation.”  Matthew says make disciples, Mark says preach the gospel because they’re one and the same.  “And he who has believed and been baptized shall be saved.” ‘There is forgiveness of sins for all who repent.’ ~ Luke 24:47.

So believer, disciple, Christian ... spread the Gospel going out into all the world and make disciples.

Looking again at Luke 9:57, "As they were walking along the road, a man said to him, "I will follow you wherever you go." 

Know this... Christ first gave the call; he said to him, Follow me. Religion teaches us to be kind and good, to show piety at home, and to honor our parents; but we must not make these an excuse for neglecting our duty to God. Our willingness to follow Christ, means we have to forgo worldly concerns.

You see, No one can do any kind of business in a proper manner, if he is attending to other things. Those who begin with the work of God, must resolve to go on, or they will make nothing of it. Looking back, leads to drawing back, and drawing back is to perdition. Only the one who endures to the end shall be saved... giving up all for His sake and never looking back.  

Its the Gospel that makes disciples... we who have been transformed by the Gospel introduce others for it is the Word of God "the Gospel' which makes disciples. We make disciples by introducing the Good News which is the Gospel of Jesus Christ. Being a Christian means being a disciple of Jesus Christ. Jesus calls us to go out and make disciples; tell people the Gospel of Jesus Christ "the Good News" that which is Jesus Christ!