The Requirements Set By Christ to Become His Disciple
The Requirements Set By Christ to Become His Disciple
Please Read this Before we Begin. Scripture requires each individual to “Do not be Deceived”. So I caution you the remember to not believe what I or any Other man try to teach you until and unless it is confirmed to you PERSONALLY by scripture and the Holy Spirit of God as TRUTH.
The writer will answer for what he writes but only YOU will answer for what YOU believe.
In this study we will look at ALL that Jesus, the man Himself said He Requires of those who are or desire to be His Disciples, during His time here on earth. In other words we will see if all the different ways of the 46,000 divisions in the church system are ALL correct according to Jesus. And if not all then what are His requirements
Why are we doing this? Because scripture says to test ALL things to see if they be of God. And to hold fast to what is and REJECT what IS NOT. I can not find such a study anywhere so it is important that there be one as 46000 plus or minus different ways simply cannot all be correct.
Follow Christ Only and Fully
What is referred to as salvation is actually receiving from Christ the Eternal life that Adam lost by his disobedience and thereby defeating the second death in the lake of fire. It is the only way to become a disciple of Christ and thereby a son of God, inherit the earth and be saved from the wrath of God that sends all that are not sons to their destruction in the lake of fire at the judgment. Scripture teaches us to Follow Christ alone as He is Lord of this age, He alone can write your name in the Lamb's Book of Life, HIS Book.
Because Jesus Christ OWNS death and life, having died and defeated death, resurrected and now He is the ONLY source of eternal life. WE need to look at the words of Jesus to see what He says we must do to be His disciple. No one else can set the rules as He is Lord of this age because God has delegated ALL of His authority and power the Jesus for this age. Jesus is acting in God's stead until He returns all authority and power to God at the Judgment.
Read the following scripture carefully.
Notice that He Has (Possesses) “ ALL the AUTHORITY of God in Heaven and Earth”. Also many People do not see or understand that This authority (power)is His UNTIL the end of the age. The word translated as “age “ at the end, means the world (this world and the human race end at judgment), so He possesses this authority until the end of this world (remember this world is temporary). The eternal kingdom of God will be on a new earth, not this one.. Man has so corrupted this world that God can not return to live here, so He is sending a new heaven and earth, pure and undefiled by man so He can join His sons (those that have been cleansed through Christ) there and live eternally with them on the new earth.
Matt 28:18-20 And Jesus came and spoke to them, saying, "All authority has been given to Me in heaven and on earth. 19 Go therefore*and make disciples of all the nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, 20teaching them to observe all things that I have commanded you; and lo, I am with you always, even to the end of the age."
Speaking to his disciples, to each individual, those present and each that will follow in the future.
As the possessor of ALL of the authority of God for this age, He tells us to GO and make disciples of Him. He says go out into the nations of the world and make disciples of ALL MAN. Did you notice that part of the charge to you is that YOU are to GO and make disciples of Christ? In other words if YOU do not MAKE disciples for Him you are NOT one yourself as it is part of the requirements.
Then He says to baptize them in the name of God, the ultimate authority from creation through eternity. Then He says to baptize them in the name of Jesus, the Lord of this age and the ONLY man that can provide access to God in this age. Then He says to baptize them in the Holy Spirit, infill them with the Spirit of God to make them of one Spirit with Him and his Father. Then He goes on and says to Teach them to observe ALL things that He has commanded us to do. Here there is a problem with the translation in most bibles.
The word translated as “observe” is Strong's NT5083. Which would support doing as He did as well as direct Commands. Observe His behavior and follow His example.
NT:5083 thre/w tereo (tay-reh'-o); from teros (a watch; perhaps akin to NT:2334); to guard (from loss or injury, properly, by keeping the eye upon; and thus differing from NT:5442, which is properly to prevent escaping; and from NT:2892, which implies a fortress or full military lines of apparatus), i.e. to note (a prophecy; figuratively, to fulfil a command); by implication, to detain (in custody; figuratively, to maintain); by extension, to withhold (for personal ends; figuratively, to keep unmarried); by extension, to withhold (for personal ends; figuratively, to keep unmarried):
The word translated as commanded is Strong's NT1781. It means enjoin, to accept, follow my example, or in other words it has a wider meaning and includes not just Commands, but also more such as the examples He has set for us and shown by His words in scripture.
John 13:15-17 For I have given you an example, that you should do as I have done to you. 16Most assuredly, I say to you, a servant is not greater than his master; nor is he who is sent greater than he who sent him.
NT:1781 e)nte/llomai entellomai (en-tel'-lom-ahee); from NT:1722 and the base of NT:5056; to enjoin:
Then he goes on and says He is with us until the end of the age. Why does He say this? He is reminding us that He and all He is are available to us until the end of the age, until the judgment, At the judgement (the end of this age) it will be too late for Him to help anyone. The wrath of God is then here, if you have not become a disciple of Christ and endured to the end your name is not in the Lamb's Book Of Life, His book of who belongs to Him, who the sons of God are and since His authority expires at judgment, it is too late to add any more names.
1 Cor 15:20-28 But now Christ is risen from the dead, and has become the firstfruits of those who have fallen asleep. 21For since by man came death, by Man also came the resurrection of the dead. 22For as in Adam all die, even so in Christ all shall be made alive. 23But each one in his own order: Christ the firstfruits, afterward those who are Christ's at His coming. 24Then comes the end, when He delivers the kingdom to God the Father, when He puts an end to all rule and all authority and power.25For He must reign till He has put all enemies under His feet. 26The last enemy that will be destroyed is death. 27For "He has put all things under His feet."*But when He says "all things are put under Him," it is evident that He who put all things under Him is excepted. 28Now when all things are made subject to Him, then the Son Himself will also be subject to Him who put all things under Him, that God may be all in all.
Now we know His charge to His disciples we need to see what else we must do to be a disciple of Christ. We can find more from Him in scripture, so let's look.
Other Scriptures That Show More of His Requirements
There are many things that Jesus told or showed us to do that are part of the “ALL” that he requires of his brothers. Below is a list of some of them and the scriptures where He says to do them follow. ALL scripture works together and you cannot pick one or two things that He tells us and say that is what he requires when He also said we must do ALL if we wish to be His disciples and sons of God.
These are some of the things you must do as well as those listed in Matthew 28:18-20 and also included are any that the Holy Spirit of God may speak to you.
Repent.
Let YOUR light shine.
Lay up treasures in heaven not on this earth. (in other words in the kingdom of God)
Do not try to serve 2 masters, YOU cannot, it is not possible For any man.
Choose the narrow gate and difficult path as it alone leads to the eternal kingdom of God.
Be a doer not a sayer, do what He requires do not just talk about it, only doers inherit the earth..
Speak the words as given to you by the Holy Spirit when they are needed without fear of man.
Be proud to be a follower of Christ and speak of Him openly so He will see the Father accepts you.
When you do all that Jesus requires of you, all who receive you are receiving Him.
Many are called but only the few that follow Christ alone become sons of God.
Love the Lord your God (in this age that also includes Jesus the delegated representative of God) with ALL your being and love your brethren as yourself. The neighbor actually means brethren, (this was spoken to the Israelites under the old testament (New testament did not begin until after His death),and they lived together in communities and could not live near orassociate with outsiders) See the meaning here for the word Strong's NT 4139.
NT:4139 plhsi/on plesion (play-see'-on); neuter of a derivative of pelas (near); (adverbially) close by; as noun, a neighbor, i.e. fellow (as man, countryman, Christian or friend):
To be saved from the wrath of God you must endure to the end.
You must deny your self desires, take up His cross and follow Jesus only.
You must give to the Government what is theirs and to God what is His. (no 501(c)3 tax exemption)
You are to go into all the world and bring Jesus to Them, making them accountable to God for the Gospel
You must cast out demons, speak in tongues, and not be concerned that you may be poisoned or snakebit because it can not harm those that are doing ALL Christ requires of them, and YOU are to lay hands on the sick and they will recover.
Matt 4:17 From that time Jesus began to preach and to say, "Repent, for the kingdom of heaven is at hand.
Matt 5:14-16 "You are the light of the world. A city that is set on a hill cannot be hidden. 15 Nor do they light a lamp and put it under a basket, but on a lampstand, and it gives light to all who are in the house. 16 Let your light so shine before men, that they may see your good works and glorify your Father in heaven.
Matt 6:19-21 "Do not lay up for yourselves treasures on earth, where moth and rust destroy and where thieves break in and steal; 20 but lay up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where neither moth nor rust destroys and where thieves do not break in and steal. 21 For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also.
Matt 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.
Matt 7:13-14 "Enter by the narrow gate; for wide is the gate and broad is the way that leads to destruction, and there are many who go in by it. 14 Because* narrow is the gate and difficult is the way which leads to life, and there are few who find it.
Matt 7:24-27 "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: 25 and the rain descended, the floods came, and the winds blew and beat on that house; and it did not fall, for it was founded on the rock. 26 "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: 27 and the rain descended, the floods came, and the winds blew and beat on that house; and it fell. And great was its fall
Matt 10:27-29 "Whatever I tell you in the dark, speak in the light; and what you hear in the ear, preach on the housetops. 28 And do not fear those who kill the body but cannot kill the soul. But rather fear Him who is able to destroy both soul and body in hell.
Matt 10:32-33 "Therefore whoever confesses Me before men, him I will also confess before My Father who is in heaven. 33 But whoever denies Me before men, him I will also deny before My Father who is in heaven.
Matt 10:40 "He who receives you receives Me, and he who receives Me receives Him who sent Me.
Matt 22:14 "For many are called, but few are chosen."
Matt 22:37-40 Jesus said to him, "'You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart, with all your soul, and with all your mind.'* 38 This is the first and great commandment. 39 And the second is like it: 'You shall love your neighbor as yourself.'* 40 On these two commandments hang all the Law and the Prophets."
Matt 24:11-14 Then many false prophets will rise up and deceive many. 12 And because lawlessness will abound, the love of many will grow cold. 13 But he who endures to the end shall be saved.
Mark 8:34-38 He said to them, "Whoever desires to come after Me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross, and follow Me. 35 For whoever desires to save his life will lose it, but whoever loses his life for My sake and the gospel's will save it. 36 For what will it profit a man if he gains the whole world, and loses his own soul? 37 Or what will a man give in exchange for his soul? 38 For whoever is ashamed of Me and My words in this adulterous and sinful generation, of him the Son of Man also will be ashamed when He comes in the glory of His Father with the holy angels."
Mark 12:17 And Jesus answered and said to them, "Render to Caesar the things that are Caesar's, and to God the things that are God's.
Mark 16:15-18 He said to them, "Go into all the world and preach the gospel to every creature. 16 He who believes and is baptized will be saved; but he who does not believe will be condemned. 17And these signs will follow those who believe: In My name they will cast out demons; they will speak with new tongues; 18they*will take up serpents; and if they drink anything deadly, it will by no means hurt them; they will lay hands on the sick, and they will recover."
Now that you know what Jesus really requires of His disciples, YOU must decide if you really want to be one, can you pay the price, will you? If so, YOU must now repent of not doing them yet and start doing ALL that He requires of YOU as a work of Love and not for a salary or special benefits. The apostle Paul clearly explained and was a living example of being a true disciple of Christ and that means becoming a BONDSERVANT. A bondservant gives up his self life and depends fully on His master with no expectation of anything other than his necessities be provided. No salary, no medical plan, no car, no boat, no airplane, no home, just following and doing what he is instructed by his master. Christ is our master and the Holy Spirit that His disciples possess makes us all of one Spirit with Christ and with God.
Now Let's Compare What Christ Says He Requires of His Disciples with What the Churchmen and Their church systems Require of their disciples and see if following them can make You a real Disciple of Christ.
First we need to look at another scripture. Again it is the man Jesus Christ speaking. First He makes it clear He is the ONLY way of entry to the sheepfold (eternal kingdom of God) and any other man that claims he can give you entry is a liar and thief. And He explains how he got that right to be the intercessor.
The bible verse shown here does not clearly explain what scripture actually says because the incorrect translation of two words. The phrase “ All who ever came before Me*are thieves and robbers” actually should say – - Because He is the Name above all Names and the Lord of our age and He is the ONLY intermediary between man and God, any man that comes (placing himself ahead of or superior to or representative of) His name (Place) in this age is a thief and Liar. Scripture clearly says Christ is the Head of man and no other can be.
Word translated as came is
NT:2064 e&rxomai erchomai (er'-khom-ahee); middle voice of a primary verb (used only in the present and imperfect tenses, the others being supplied by a kindred [middle voice] eleuthomai (el-yoo'-thom-ahee); or [active] eltho (el'-tho); which do not otherwise occur); to come or go (in a great variety of applications, literally and figuratively):
Word translated as before is
NT:4253 pro/ pro (pro); a primary preposition; "fore", i.e. in front of, prior (figuratively, superior) to:
John 10:7-18 Then Jesus said to them again, "Most assuredly, I say to you, I am the door of the sheep.8 All who ever came before Me*are thieves and robbers, but the sheep did not hear them. 9I am the door. If anyone enters by Me, he will be saved, and will go in and out and find pasture. 10The thief does not come except to steal, and to kill, and to destroy. I have come that they may have life, and that they may have it more abundantly. 11"I am the good shepherd. The good shepherd gives His life for the sheep. 12But a hireling, he who is not the shepherd, one who does not own the sheep, sees the wolf coming and leaves the sheep and flees; and the wolf catches the sheep and scatters them. 13The hireling flees because he is a hireling and does not care about the sheep. 14I am the good shepherd; and I know My sheep, and am known by My own. 15As the Father knows Me, even so I know the Father; and I lay down My life for the sheep. 16And other sheep I have which are not of this fold; them also I must bring, and they will hear My voice; and there will be one flock and one shepherd. 17"Therefore My Father loves Me, because I lay down My life that I may take it again. 18No one takes it from Me, but I lay it down of Myself. I have power to lay itdown, and I have power to take it again. This command I have received from My Father."
John 14:25-27 "These things I have spoken to you while being present with you. 26But the Helper, the Holy Spirit, whom the Father will send in My name, He will teach you all things, and bring to your remembrance all things that I said to you.
We will now look at His requirements and see how they compare to what the churchmen say and do. The church system in the world with its 46000 + different ways of becoming, according to man, a christian.
Speaking to his disciples, those present and each that will follow in the future. He says to GO, not go sit in a building and let some man teach you his ideas about God, but GO. and YOU teach them what you have been taught and will be taught by the Holy Spirit as you follow it. And He says GO to ALL people, not go to a building called by man a church, not just hang around with your friends and create a social club as men do. Not a word about following another man but Christ here. The system of church buildings (churches, tabernacles etc), priests, sacrifices, going to a specific place to meet God, was temporary and was given only to Israel and only for a season, temporary as is everything on THIS earth. It with all its harsh punishments were was given to Israel as punishment for rejecting God. Jesus fulfilled the Law and brought a NEW and DIFFERENT age. One governed by mercy and grace with forgiveness and love not harsh punishment. In this age, designed to bless His followers and deliver whosoever will from the second death, man has ONE intermediary between Him and God, the man Christ Jesus. No other man is to, or can, usurp HIS place even though there are thousands of men trying. The people have been conditioned by the church system to go to church to meet God. But the truth is He is not there. There you find a ghost of the church system, a false copy created by man that has its own rules of how to enter the eternal kingdom of God, But there is a problem, the jesus they follow is one of those JESUS said would come in HIS name but are not of His. And the ones that do teach about the importance of the holy spirit, impart a false holy spirit that JESUS also warned would come. You know, you have seen the foolishness of laughing uncontrollably, falling down, pushing people down etc.
The Holy Spirit of God cannot be imparted by carnal man, it is only available through the real Jesus Christ and those others sons as posessors of The Spirit of the living Creator of all things, God..
Look at Genesis, there was no man between Adam and God in the beginning. There was no man between Noah and God, there was no man between Moses and God, no man between Abraham and God, and God they talked directly to each other. He was with Adam in the garden and they walked and talked together, until Adam disobeyed God by heeding his wife instead of the command of God. Then God no longer was able to be in the presence of man. What is called salvation is receiving the eternal life that Adam lost for us in the garden. Restoring the relationship with God that He intended for us in the beginning. Entering into the kingdom of God is likened to entering the garden in Genesis. Those that enter will then inherit the earth and live with God on the new earth and will be able to walk and talk with Him as Adam did. He is going to leave heaven and bring His throne to the new earth and live among His sons.
Continuing with His instructions He says YOU are to baptize them in the NAME of the Father, the son and the Holy Spirit.(remember the name includes ALL it represents). So YOU are instructed to Baptize them in the name of the Father (that means all His Name represents). So then YOU must baptize them in water for the remission of their sins.(wiping away the record of their transgression that were forgiven when they repented) Notice YOU are to do it , no mention of taking then anywhere or to anyone, yet the churchmen require you to new converts to them. Then you are to baptize them in the Holy Spirit which you possess IF you are a real disciple of Christ. Again no mention to take them anywhere to anyone, YOU are to do it.
THIS is Important to understand if you baptize them in water and the Holy Spirit and taught them ALL that Christ requires then they are baptized in the Name of God as Christ is the door to God and by becoming a real disciple of Christ is all part of being baptized in the name of God.
Churchmen generally make christians of those that follow them and their doctrines. But is that what scripture says the name of those that follow Christ is to be? In scripture the apostles and other followers of Christ are called disciples of Christ. Do you realize there is not one scripture that says for anyone to make christians. The term christian was used by people outside of the church (in Antioch) as an epithet for the disciples. (they were mocking them) It is found in scripture 3 times but never did Christ or the original Apostles use it to describe a disciple of Christ. Peter did use it once as a reference to it being an epithet. An epithet is a word used as a defamatory or abusive name. It's origin is actually as a slur against the disciples. It is NOT a valid word to be used when speaking of a real disciple of Christ.
This following scriptures are the main ones that most of the church system uses to teach how to become a christian. We will as scripture requires, compare them to scripture to see if they be of God.
John 3:16 For God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him should not perish but have everlasting life.
Acts 16:29-33 Then he called for a light, ran in, and fell down trembling before Paul and Silas. 30And he brought them out and said, "Sirs, what must I do to be saved?" 31So they said, "Believe on the Lord Jesus Christ, and you will be saved, you and your household." 32Then they spoke the word of the Lord to him and to all who were in his house. 33And he took them the same hour of the night and washed their stripes. And immediately he and all his family were baptized.
John 3:14-21 And as Moses lifted up the serpent in the wilderness, even so must the Son of Man be lifted up, 15that whoever believes in Him should not perish but*have eternal life. 16For God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him should not perish but have everlasting life. 17For God did not send His Son into the world to condemn the world, but that the world through Him might be saved. 18 "He who believes in Him is not condemned; but he who does not believe is condemned already, because he has not believed in the name of the only begotten Son of God. 19And this is the condemnation, that the light has come into the world, and men loved darkness rather than light, because their deeds were evil. 20For everyone practicing evil hates the light and does not come to the light, lest his deeds should be exposed. 21But he who does the truth comes to the light, that his deeds may be clearly seen, that they have been done in God."
Mark 16:14-18 And He said to them, "Go into all the world and preach the gospel to every creature. 16He who believes and is baptized will be saved; but he who does not believe will be condemned. 17And these signs will follow those who believe: In My name they will cast out demons; they will speak with new tongues; 18they*will take up serpents; and if they drink anything deadly, it will by no means hurt them; they will lay hands on the sick, and they will recover."
These scriptures, in the way they are used, are at best incomplete and at it's worst is a lie. These scriptures according to most churches say that all one has to do believe that Jesus is the Christ. And even more sadly they use the modern meaning of the word believe instead of the correct interpretation of the Greek word that was translated. But look at what the word means when correctly translated
NT:4100 pisteu/w pisteuo (pist-yoo'-o); from NT:4102; to have faith (in, upon, or with respect to, a person or thing),i.e. credit; by implication, to entrust (especially one's spiritual well-being to Christ)
It really says that to believe in Christ you must give (entrust) your spirit (life) to Christ and HIS rules in order to be saved if you endure to the end.
Then of course there is one other very important thing that is, required in many churches. It is the “sinners prayer” and sometimes includes walking the aisle. Amazingly though a large number of the 46000 divisions include this in their methods, IT DOE NOT APPEAR in scripture anywhereand therefore is not of God.
Check Out Who You Say You Are
I would encourage you to go to your church, denomination or other leadership rule book that you follow and see what they say you must do to be “saved”. See what you really are supposed to believe according to your leaders. Do they say anything about becoming a disciple of Christ or do they talk about becoming a christian. Do they mention doing ALL Christ requires of you? Do they say as scripture does that no one is saved until the end and that YOU must endure to the end to be saved? Do they have requirements not found in scripture? Do they leave out some scriptural requirements? AND most important of all do the say you MUST be baptized (infilled) with the Holy Spirit of God to become a disciple of Christ? An example of their blatant false doctrines is found on the website of the Southern Baptist Division, there it has a section, “How to Become s Southern Baptist”, nothing about following Christ, just how to follow man that lead this division Remember God hates Division among HIS people and will not articipate in it, yet they bring people to themselves while using His name in places as a bait. Most divisions do similatr things, check them out.
If they do not require that you follow Christ alone, that you do ALL HE requires, that you be filled with the Holy Spirit of God the Creator of all things and follow the Spirit of God, and that you must become a disciple of Christ alone to become a son of God and receive eternal life with God in His eternal kingdom , then YOU are not a disciple of Christ and must repent and begin anew to become a disciple of Christ, not a follower of carnal man called a christian.
This explains why so many people think christians are bad because they think they are disciples of Christ as they are told BUT the majority of those claiming to be christians are disciples of other man not of THE Man Christ Jesus and are nothing more than man made hypocrits as they appear to be.
Another Reason For This Article
I recently read an article by a bible school graduate that as all man following man do, quoted another man as a source of truth instead of scripture. The man quoted was A,W, Tozer, a famous man in the church world and this quote of what Tozer said shows His hypocrisy. Yet this is considered by churchmen a valid source of information in place of scripture. This quote should have been used to show this man has the knowledge of the truth but prefers to spread the false doctrines of the churchmen by being a part of the church system and not exposing error as this is what the churchmen do.
In the quoted material Tozer did an excellent job of explaining Unity in Christ. Yet this same Tozer is part of and promotes the evil church system that goes totally against His explanation. And still a great many people follow Tozer and other man and do not see their total hypocrisy. But that is what happens when man follow man, it is the blind leading the blind. BUT they do not fall in the ditch over this, it is a much worse fate awaiting them, those that follow man are on the easy path with the wide gate that leads to destruction in the Lake of fire. ONLY those that follow CHRIST ALONE AND FULLY can find that Narrow Gate that few can find and that difficult narrow path where Christ accompanies them to the end where they find the eternal kingdom of God.
My dear brethren if you have passed through the wide gate and are on that wide path, following man instead of Christ, the path that leads to distruction, it is not yet too late, you can repent and find that narrow Gate (through the real Holy Spirit of God), get on that narrow and difficult path that Jesus promised to those that would be HIS and let the Spirit protect you as it leads you on this, the only path leading to the eternal kingdom of God.
Remember only those that are filled with the Spirit of God, follow Christ alone, and follow his leading can become sons of God and ONLY sons of God will inherit the earth and ENTER the eternal kingdom of God to live with God and all His sons for eternity.
DO NOT MISS THE MOST IMPORTANT THING YOU WILL EVER DO IN THIS LIFE.
CHARLES LaFoe
copyright 3/16/2018 to keep it free
May be freely used without changes
