Christians Are Disciples

 And it came about that for an entire year they met with the church, and taught considerable numbers; and the disciples were first called Christians in Antioch. Acts 11:26

It is significant that for a 10-15 year time-period between Acts 2 when people first began to follow Christ, and Acts 11, it was not the term “Christian” that was applied to them; it was the word “disciple”: “the disciples were...called Christians”. If we can find out what a “disciple” is, we should be able to determine something about the character of a Christian. 

• Disciples abide in God’s word: Jesus therefore was saying to those Jews who had believed Him, "If you abide in My word, then you are truly disciples of Mine; and you shall know the truth, and the truth shall make you free."  John 8:31-32.

How frequently do we study---not just read---God’s word? Some are still babes in their knowledge when it ought to be otherwise, Heb. 5:11-14. David said, O how I love Thy law! It is my meditation all the day. Ps. 119:97. And after their baptism, first century disciples “were continually devoting themselves to the apostles’ teaching”, Acts 2:42. Anything less than this disqualifies me from being called a “disciple”. 

• Disciples speak like, and listen to, their teacher: The Lord GOD has given Me the tongue of disciples, That I may know how to sustain the weary one with a word. He awakens Me morning by morning, He awakens My ear to listen as a disciple.  Isaiah 50:4

Speaking only what the Master speaks; listening only to what He says. What a far cry from what many so-called disciples do today. Rather than paying heed only to their Lord (“My sheep hear My voice, and I know them, and they follow Me”, Jo. 10:27) they listen to their own voice, or those of human-reasoning, and fail to heed the maxim of old: “There is a way which seems right to a man, But its end is the way of death.” Prov. 14:12 

• Disciples resemble their master: "A disciple is not above his teacher, nor a slave above his master. "It is enough for the disciple that he become as his teacher, and the slave as his master. If they have called the head of the house Beelzebul, how much more the members of his household! Matthew 10:24-25

A “disciple” that bears no resemblance to their master? This cannot be. In what we say and do, our lives should remind others of Christ: “By this we know that we are in Him: the one who says he abides in Him ought himself to walk in the same manner as He walked”, 1 Jo. 2:5-6 

• Disciples make great sacrifices: "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. "Whoever does not carry his own cross and come after Me cannot be My disciple. Lk. 14:26-28

Too many expect to follow Christ and it cost them nothing. How different from first century disciples such as Paul: “I count all things to be loss in view of the surpassing value of knowing Christ Jesus my Lord, for whom I have suffered the loss of all things, and count them but rubbish in order that I may gain Christ.” Phil. 3:9

It is sad that so many people want to be called, and known as, Christians/Disciples, but without any of the identifying characteristics. Are you really a disciple?

David Smitherman