The Price of Discipleship
Mk. 3:14
INTRODUCTION
Before we can know the Price of Discipleship, we need to know:
- What discipleship is.
- How does one get to the stage of discipleship?
- Who is a disciple?
- It is the basis / core of Christian Faith (not religion). (Phil.3:10, Col. 3:1-2).
- It is a relationship with THE PERSON of Christ (Col.1:15), which leads to character formation AFTER HIM. (Gal. 4:19).
- It forms the VERY LIFE OF CHRIST in us as we are transformed into His very image (Rom.8:29, Rom.12:2).
- It brings us to the MEASURE of the stature of the fullness of Christ (Eph.4:13).
- But, sadly, it is an exercise that has been FORGOTTEN by the church.
- It has been replaced with a lot of look-alikes, but not the real (Gal. 1:8-9).
- People are no longer introduced to a person (Jesus), but a system (church). Pil.3:10.
- It is now more of knowing Christ as SAVIOUR (encounter) but not as LORD (leading).Ex. 33:15.
- PERSONAL RELATIONSHIP with the person of Christ has been replaced with being religious or a very good Christian.
- ‘Christianity’ and commitment to the church has replaced Faith in Jesus.
- HEAD KNOWLEDGE of Christ (Christianity) has replaced Heart Knowledge.
- Working FOR him has replaced waiting ON Him (Lk.24:29, Jn.15:5).
- Talking ABOUT Him has replaced allowing Him to talk THROUGH us Acts 19:14-16, Acts 2:4).
- Instead of a personal relationship with the person of Christ.
- We see a lot of talk but less walk.
So, getting to know what discipleship is and what it is not is the first step in knowing the price of discipleship, as you don’t can not know the price of something, without knowing its worth, function or value.
- Salvation is the GATEWAY (door) and qualification to discipleship (Jn.14:6).
- Without Salvation Experience, discipleship cannot be achieved (Jn. 3:16).
- It is loosing your life and adopting the life of Christ (Mk.8:35, Mt.10:39, Mt.16:25).
- It is this life of Christ in you that creates a hunger, desire and longing for discipleship (being like Christ). Col.1.
- It becomes a passion for Christ (Phil.3:10).
- It involves Justification, Righteousness (Right Standing), Sanctification, Purification and Holiness With God.
SUMMARY OF DISCIPLESHIP AND SALVATION
SALVATION DISCIPLESHIP
- Requires an entry, Requires a following.
- Its like a visa to a country like a flight ticket to the country
- Is an event It is a process.
- It is coming to Jesus It is following after Jesus.
- Free (someone paid for it) Has a price (you pay for it)
- Christ is Saviour Christ is Lord
- Obey Abide, obey, love, deny oneself, take up the cross, follow, lose one’s life, "hate" one’s family, etc.
- New birth A lifetime of growth.
- Depends on Christ’s work on the Cross Depends on a believer carrying his or her cross for Christ.
- A response to Christ’s death and resurrection A response to Christ’s life.
- Determines eternal destiny; Determines eternal and temporal rewards.
- Obtained by faith Obtained by faith through works.
- Involves the Damascus Experience It involves the Arabian Experience
This brings us to the topic:
THE PRICE OF DISCIPLESHIP.
But again, before this, having known what discipleship means, let us know who a disciple is.
WHO IS A DISCIPLE?
- First of all, a disciple of Jesus Christ is someone who has accepted by faith, God's free gift of salvation.
- The word disciple refers to a follower of Jesus, a learner, or a pupil.
- So, in order to be a follower of Jesus, one must believe His Gospel and accept it by faith
- A disciple is someone who believes and follows the teachings and the lifestyle of his master.
- The word disciple is a derivative of the word, ‘discipline’.
- A disciple thus means a disciplined one.
- Disciplined as regards following the very life and pattern of the master.
- A disciple is becoming like the master in everything (conforming to the master’s image).
- Christ disciple is thus a little Christ
To be a disciple, it means:
- To be called Mt.18:19, John 6:65 (Mt.4:21, Mt.10:1, Mt.15:10, Mk.1:20, MK.8:34, Lk.9:1, Jn.1:35.)
- To Follow (Mt.4:19, Mt.8:22, Mt.9:9, Mt.16:24, Mk.2:14).
- To be with Jesus (Jn.1:38-39, Mk.3:14).
- To Obey Mk.10:24, Lk. 6:40, Jn, 14:15.
- To be Sent (Mk.3:14, Mt.10:16, Lk.10:3).
DOES DISCIPLESHIP HAS A PRICE?
Mt.16:22.
- Denial. (Mt.9:9, Mt.4:19, Phil.3:4, Lk.22:33, Acts 7, Lk.14:33)
- Taking Your Cross (Mt. 10:38)
- cross-bearing involves prayer, Bible study, feeding the hungry, giving drink to the thirsty, receiving strangers, clothing the naked, caring for the sick, visiting
prisoners, and witnessing.
- SACRIFICE: LK. 18:22: The rich Young Ruler
- WARFARE
Lk. 22:36: Then said he unto them, But now, he that hath a purse, let him take it, and likewise his scrip: and he that hath no sword, let him sell his garment and
buy one).
Mat. 10:33: Think not that I am come to send peace on earth: I came not to send peace, but a sword.
Mat 10:35: For I am come to set a man at variance against his father, and the daughter against her mother, and the daughter-in-law against her mother-in-law.
Mat 11:12: And from the days of John the Baptist until now the kingdom of heaven suffereth violence and the violent take it by force.
- DETACHMENT (John 1:29)
- John the Baptist was the last of the O.T. prophets
- He was the bridge between Religion and Faith.
- But still represented the old order, the law.
- He said emphatically that he was not the Messiah
- But a voice preparing the way for the Messiah
- He showed the Messiah to the people through revelation (Jn.1:33)
- Andrew and John were disciples of John
- But when John confessed that he was not the Messiah
- And showed them the Messiah.
- They changed Master and became followers Jesus
- Religion represents the old order of law
- It has a shadow but not the image
- One of the price of discipleship is that we need to detach
- From religion to Faith
- From commitment to church to personal relationship with Jesus
LOOSE YOUR LIFE: Mat 10:39:He that findeth his life shall lose it: and he that loseth his life for my sake shall find it. "Deny himself"….To deny oneself refers contextually to being mindful of the things of God, not the things of man (Matt 16:23//Mark 8:33). In Stott’s understanding, one "must repudiate himself and his right to organize his own life."18 Gentry argues the significance in relation to salvation: "A person who truly receives Christ as Savior is in effect denying himself and his wants as nothing and Christ as everything."19
"Take up his cross.
Mt. 10:38: And he that taketh not his cross, and followeth after me, is not worthy of me.
Mat 10:39:He that findeth his life shall lose it: and he that loseth his life for my sake shall find it.
"Stott argues that to take up the cross is to make oneself as a condemned man, apparently in the sense of living for Christ instead of self.20
Specifically, Boice declares that cross-bearing involves prayer, Bible study, feeding the hungry, giving drink to the thirsty, receiving strangers, clothing the naked, caring for the sick, visiting prisoners, and witnessing.21
Specifically, Boice declares that cross-bearing involves prayer, Bible study, feeding the hungry, giving drink to the thirsty, receiving strangers, clothing the naked, caring for the sick, visiting prisoners, and witnessing.21
First of all, a disciple of Jesus Christ is someone who has accepted by faith God's free gift of salvation. The word disciple refers to a follower of Jesus, a learner, or a pupil. So, in order to be a follower of Jesus, one must believe His Gospel and accept it by faith
The price of any commodity is determined by so many factors, among which are:
a. The commodity itself: like a car, house, etc
b. its value: while a car with 4 tyres, 4 doors, 1 engine, etc could be sold for N40,000 another of the same make could go for N1,000.000.00. Why?
c. its function: a car is to transport you from one place to the other, house is to provide shelter
d. its worth, etc.
Knowledge of these will assist in determining the right price so that it will not be under priced or over priced.
To know what the price of discipleship is, we must know what is called discipleship, its value, function, worth, where can we get it, etc.
While some people buy their own discipleship very cheaply, others pay a heavy price for it. Acts 22:27-28.
So, we will know the price of discipleship by first knowing
- ‘And he ordained twelve, that they should be with him, and that he might send them forth to preach’
- He called Peter
Is a process of following a leader, teacher or a master?
Mar 6:7 And he called unto him the twelve, and began to send them forth by two and two; and gave them power over unclean spirits;
Mat 16:24 Then said Jesus unto his disciples, If any man will come after me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross, and follow me.
The Free Grace position holds that salvation and discipleship are separate issues. Salvation concerns the sinner’s acceptance of the free gift of eternal life and the forgiveness of sins through faith alone. Discipleship concerns the believer’s response to the grace received by offering himself to God in submission, obedience, and sacrifice. In salvation, Christ paid the price; in discipleship, the believer pays the price. Therefore, salvation is free, but discipleship is costly. Because they are separate issues, there is no contradiction.
In the previous articles of this series, we have defended the Free Grace view that discipleship is separate from salvation.8 This was done by studying the terms for discipleship in the NT and by showing that the call to salvation is not the same as the call to discipleship. This article will study the conditions for becoming a disciple in the Gospels and will show that they cannot be conditions for salvation.
II. The Conditions of Discipleship
The teachings of Jesus Christ make it plain that discipleship is costly. The matter to be determined is whether the passages which specify the cost of discipleship speak of the requirements for salvation or of a post-salvation commitment to our Lord. The basic conditions of discipleship were given by Christ after Peter’s well-known confession and Christ’s prediction of His death and resurrection and the story of His transfiguration. The focus of this section will be largely upon the parallel passages Matt 16:24-27, Mark 8:34-38, and Luke 9:23-26. Other conditions discussed are those found in Matt 10:37//Luke 14:26; Luke 14:33; and John 8:30-31.
A. The Conditions at Peter’s Confession,
Matthew 16:24-27//Mark 8:34-38//Luke 9:23-26
Before the conditions themselves are studied, a consideration of their context will be valuable. The occasion and audience will help determine the purposes of Jesus’ hard sayings about discipleship.
III. The Difference Between
Discipleship and Salvation
Synthesizing the observations of this and the previous two articles, we find a clear distinction between committed discipleship and salvation. These differences between simple salvation and discipleship cannot be ignored: Salvation is a free gift; intimate discipleship is costly. Salvation relates primarily to Christ as Savior; discipleship relates primarily to Christ as Lord. Salvation involves the will of God in redemption and reconciliation; discipleship involves the whole will of God. Salvation’s sole condition is "believe"; discipleship’s conditions are abide, obey, love, deny oneself, take up the cross, follow, lose one’s life, "hate" one’s family, etc. Salvation is a new birth; discipleship is a lifetime of growth. Salvation depends on Christ’s work on the Cross for all people; discipleship depends on a believer carrying his or her cross for Christ. Salvation is a response to Christ’s death and resurrection; discipleship is a response to Christ’s life. Salvation determines eternal destiny; discipleship determines eternal and temporal rewards. Salvation is obtained by faith; discipleship is obtained by faith through works.
The difference is the same as that between justification and sanctification. These realities are related, but we do not encourage sanctification before justification. Justification is through faith alone; sanctification is through a life of progressive faithful obedience. Justification can take place apart from sanctification, but sanctification cannot take place apart from justification. With justification comes the Spirit and His power to accomplish sanctification.
INTRODUCTION
Before we can know the Price of Discipleship, we need to know:
- What discipleship is.
- How does one get to the stage of discipleship?
- Who is a disciple?
- WHAT IS DISCIPLESHIP?
- It is the basis / core of Christian Faith (not religion). (Phil.3:10, Col. 3:1-2).
- It is a relationship with THE PERSON of Christ (Col.1:15), which leads to character formation AFTER HIM. (Gal. 4:19).
- It forms the VERY LIFE OF CHRIST in us as we are transformed into His very image (Rom.8:29, Rom.12:2).
- It brings us to the MEASURE of the stature of the fullness of Christ (Eph.4:13).
- But, sadly, it is an exercise that has been FORGOTTEN by the church.
- It has been replaced with a lot of look-alikes, but not the real (Gal. 1:8-9).
- People are no longer introduced to a person (Jesus), but a system (church). Pil.3:10.
- It is now more of knowing Christ as SAVIOUR (encounter) but not as LORD (leading).Ex. 33:15.
- PERSONAL RELATIONSHIP with the person of Christ has been replaced with being religious or a very good Christian.
- ‘Christianity’ and commitment to the church has replaced Faith in Jesus.
- HEAD KNOWLEDGE of Christ (Christianity) has replaced Heart Knowledge.
- Working FOR him has replaced waiting ON Him (Lk.24:29, Jn.15:5).
- Talking ABOUT Him has replaced allowing Him to talk THROUGH us Acts 19:14-16, Acts 2:4).
- Instead of a personal relationship with the person of Christ.
- We see a lot of talk but less walk.
So, getting to know what discipleship is and what it is not is the first step in knowing the price of discipleship, as you don’t can not know the price of something, without knowing its worth, function or value.
- HOW DOES ONE GET TO THE STAGE OF DISCIPLESHIP?
- Salvation is the GATEWAY (door) and qualification to discipleship (Jn.14:6).
- Without Salvation Experience, discipleship cannot be achieved (Jn. 3:16).
- It is loosing your life and adopting the life of Christ (Mk.8:35, Mt.10:39, Mt.16:25).
- It is this life of Christ in you that creates a hunger, desire and longing for discipleship (being like Christ). Col.1.
- It becomes a passion for Christ (Phil.3:10).
- It involves Justification, Righteousness (Right Standing), Sanctification, Purification and Holiness With God.
SUMMARY OF DISCIPLESHIP AND SALVATION
SALVATION DISCIPLESHIP
- Requires an entry, Requires a following.
- Its like a visa to a country like a flight ticket to the country
- Is an event It is a process.
- It is coming to Jesus It is following after Jesus.
- Free (someone paid for it) Has a price (you pay for it)
- Christ is Saviour Christ is Lord
- Obey Abide, obey, love, deny oneself, take up the cross, follow, lose one’s life, "hate" one’s family, etc.
- New birth A lifetime of growth.
- Depends on Christ’s work on the Cross Depends on a believer carrying his or her cross for Christ.
- A response to Christ’s death and resurrection A response to Christ’s life.
- Determines eternal destiny; Determines eternal and temporal rewards.
- Obtained by faith Obtained by faith through works.
- Involves the Damascus Experience It involves the Arabian Experience
This brings us to the topic:
THE PRICE OF DISCIPLESHIP.
But again, before this, having known what discipleship means, let us know who a disciple is.
WHO IS A DISCIPLE?
- First of all, a disciple of Jesus Christ is someone who has accepted by faith, God's free gift of salvation.
- The word disciple refers to a follower of Jesus, a learner, or a pupil.
- So, in order to be a follower of Jesus, one must believe His Gospel and accept it by faith
- A disciple is someone who believes and follows the teachings and the lifestyle of his master.
- The word disciple is a derivative of the word, ‘discipline’.
- A disciple thus means a disciplined one.
- Disciplined as regards following the very life and pattern of the master.
- A disciple is becoming like the master in everything (conforming to the master’s image).
- Christ disciple is thus a little Christ
To be a disciple, it means:
- To be called Mt.18:19, John 6:65 (Mt.4:21, Mt.10:1, Mt.15:10, Mk.1:20, MK.8:34, Lk.9:1, Jn.1:35.)
- To Follow (Mt.4:19, Mt.8:22, Mt.9:9, Mt.16:24, Mk.2:14).
- To be with Jesus (Jn.1:38-39, Mk.3:14).
- To Obey Mk.10:24, Lk. 6:40, Jn, 14:15.
- To be Sent (Mk.3:14, Mt.10:16, Lk.10:3).
DOES DISCIPLESHIP HAS A PRICE?
Mt.16:22.
- Denial. (Mt.9:9, Mt.4:19, Phil.3:4, Lk.22:33, Acts 7, Lk.14:33)
- Taking Your Cross (Mt. 10:38)
- cross-bearing involves prayer, Bible study, feeding the hungry, giving drink to the thirsty, receiving strangers, clothing the naked, caring for the sick, visiting
prisoners, and witnessing.
- SACRIFICE: LK. 18:22: The rich Young Ruler
- WARFARE
Lk. 22:36: Then said he unto them, But now, he that hath a purse, let him take it, and likewise his scrip: and he that hath no sword, let him sell his garment and
buy one).
Mat. 10:33: Think not that I am come to send peace on earth: I came not to send peace, but a sword.
Mat 10:35: For I am come to set a man at variance against his father, and the daughter against her mother, and the daughter-in-law against her mother-in-law.
Mat 11:12: And from the days of John the Baptist until now the kingdom of heaven suffereth violence and the violent take it by force.
- DETACHMENT (John 1:29)
- John the Baptist was the last of the O.T. prophets
- He was the bridge between Religion and Faith.
- But still represented the old order, the law.
- He said emphatically that he was not the Messiah
- But a voice preparing the way for the Messiah
- He showed the Messiah to the people through revelation (Jn.1:33)
- Andrew and John were disciples of John
- But when John confessed that he was not the Messiah
- And showed them the Messiah.
- They changed Master and became followers Jesus
- Religion represents the old order of law
- It has a shadow but not the image
- One of the price of discipleship is that we need to detach
- From religion to Faith
- From commitment to church to personal relationship with Jesus
LOOSE YOUR LIFE: Mat 10:39:He that findeth his life shall lose it: and he that loseth his life for my sake shall find it. "Deny himself"….To deny oneself refers contextually to being mindful of the things of God, not the things of man (Matt 16:23//Mark 8:33). In Stott’s understanding, one "must repudiate himself and his right to organize his own life."18 Gentry argues the significance in relation to salvation: "A person who truly receives Christ as Savior is in effect denying himself and his wants as nothing and Christ as everything."19
"Take up his cross.
Mt. 10:38: And he that taketh not his cross, and followeth after me, is not worthy of me.
Mat 10:39:He that findeth his life shall lose it: and he that loseth his life for my sake shall find it.
"Stott argues that to take up the cross is to make oneself as a condemned man, apparently in the sense of living for Christ instead of self.20
Specifically, Boice declares that cross-bearing involves prayer, Bible study, feeding the hungry, giving drink to the thirsty, receiving strangers, clothing the naked, caring for the sick, visiting prisoners, and witnessing.21
Specifically, Boice declares that cross-bearing involves prayer, Bible study, feeding the hungry, giving drink to the thirsty, receiving strangers, clothing the naked, caring for the sick, visiting prisoners, and witnessing.21
First of all, a disciple of Jesus Christ is someone who has accepted by faith God's free gift of salvation. The word disciple refers to a follower of Jesus, a learner, or a pupil. So, in order to be a follower of Jesus, one must believe His Gospel and accept it by faith
The price of any commodity is determined by so many factors, among which are:
a. The commodity itself: like a car, house, etc
b. its value: while a car with 4 tyres, 4 doors, 1 engine, etc could be sold for N40,000 another of the same make could go for N1,000.000.00. Why?
c. its function: a car is to transport you from one place to the other, house is to provide shelter
d. its worth, etc.
Knowledge of these will assist in determining the right price so that it will not be under priced or over priced.
To know what the price of discipleship is, we must know what is called discipleship, its value, function, worth, where can we get it, etc.
While some people buy their own discipleship very cheaply, others pay a heavy price for it. Acts 22:27-28.
So, we will know the price of discipleship by first knowing
- What is discipleship?
- Who is qualified to be a disciple?:
- ‘And he ordained twelve, that they should be with him, and that he might send them forth to preach’
- He called Peter
- Who is a disciple: One who has accepted to follow the master and his teaching
- What are the principles of discipleship?
- Does discipleship have a price?
- What is the price of discipleship?
Is a process of following a leader, teacher or a master?
Mar 6:7 And he called unto him the twelve, and began to send them forth by two and two; and gave them power over unclean spirits;
Mat 16:24 Then said Jesus unto his disciples, If any man will come after me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross, and follow me.
The Free Grace position holds that salvation and discipleship are separate issues. Salvation concerns the sinner’s acceptance of the free gift of eternal life and the forgiveness of sins through faith alone. Discipleship concerns the believer’s response to the grace received by offering himself to God in submission, obedience, and sacrifice. In salvation, Christ paid the price; in discipleship, the believer pays the price. Therefore, salvation is free, but discipleship is costly. Because they are separate issues, there is no contradiction.
In the previous articles of this series, we have defended the Free Grace view that discipleship is separate from salvation.8 This was done by studying the terms for discipleship in the NT and by showing that the call to salvation is not the same as the call to discipleship. This article will study the conditions for becoming a disciple in the Gospels and will show that they cannot be conditions for salvation.
II. The Conditions of Discipleship
The teachings of Jesus Christ make it plain that discipleship is costly. The matter to be determined is whether the passages which specify the cost of discipleship speak of the requirements for salvation or of a post-salvation commitment to our Lord. The basic conditions of discipleship were given by Christ after Peter’s well-known confession and Christ’s prediction of His death and resurrection and the story of His transfiguration. The focus of this section will be largely upon the parallel passages Matt 16:24-27, Mark 8:34-38, and Luke 9:23-26. Other conditions discussed are those found in Matt 10:37//Luke 14:26; Luke 14:33; and John 8:30-31.
A. The Conditions at Peter’s Confession,
Matthew 16:24-27//Mark 8:34-38//Luke 9:23-26
Before the conditions themselves are studied, a consideration of their context will be valuable. The occasion and audience will help determine the purposes of Jesus’ hard sayings about discipleship.
III. The Difference Between
Discipleship and Salvation
Synthesizing the observations of this and the previous two articles, we find a clear distinction between committed discipleship and salvation. These differences between simple salvation and discipleship cannot be ignored: Salvation is a free gift; intimate discipleship is costly. Salvation relates primarily to Christ as Savior; discipleship relates primarily to Christ as Lord. Salvation involves the will of God in redemption and reconciliation; discipleship involves the whole will of God. Salvation’s sole condition is "believe"; discipleship’s conditions are abide, obey, love, deny oneself, take up the cross, follow, lose one’s life, "hate" one’s family, etc. Salvation is a new birth; discipleship is a lifetime of growth. Salvation depends on Christ’s work on the Cross for all people; discipleship depends on a believer carrying his or her cross for Christ. Salvation is a response to Christ’s death and resurrection; discipleship is a response to Christ’s life. Salvation determines eternal destiny; discipleship determines eternal and temporal rewards. Salvation is obtained by faith; discipleship is obtained by faith through works.
The difference is the same as that between justification and sanctification. These realities are related, but we do not encourage sanctification before justification. Justification is through faith alone; sanctification is through a life of progressive faithful obedience. Justification can take place apart from sanctification, but sanctification cannot take place apart from justification. With justification comes the Spirit and His power to accomplish sanctification.