Disciple vs. Believer

[icamewithasword]

Brethren,
I struggle with this a bit....
I know the definition of 'disciple'. I feel that all disciples are believers; but not all believers are disciples. I'm having trouble wrapping my head around this one, and would like your input.
Maybe it is due to what 'believers' appear to be these days, verses what 'believers' were thought to be in the early church.

Go therefore and make disciples of all the nations and Go therefore and make believers of all the nations does not seem to say the same thing to me.

Has anyone else ever thought about this one?

 

[Vince53]

A disciple is someone who leaves all to follow Jesus. Judas was a disciple who was a devil from the beginning.

Jesus also said that when we bear much fruit, we are His disciples.

You are correct in believing that not all believers are disciples. John 6:66 tells how many of His disciples walked with Him no more.

 

[icamewithasword]

A disciple is someone who leaves all to follow Jesus. Judas was a disciple who was a devil from the beginning.

Jesus also said that when we bear much fruit, we are His disciples.

You are correct in believing that not all believers are disciples. John 6:66 tells how many of His disciples walked with Him no more.

Thanks for the reply....
But, a disciple not only follows Jesus Christ; he is to pass on the teachings and what he has learned from the Master to others as well.
Are we ALL to be disciples, or are only SOME to be disciples?

 

[WayneinMaine]

I think the promises Jesus made about the kingdom of God, and who would enter the kingdom, implicitly require discipleship. A disciple is essentially a student - one who seeks to learn from his master and who emulates his master. So Christ is our example and His teachings are the disciples standard.

I'm not certain that one can actually "believe" in Jesus (who he said he was and what he taught) and not be a disciple. In the very least, if one believes what Jesus said he will obey Jesus' teachings and do what Jesus said to do. Anything else is actually unbelief. Judas and others believed in a different messiah, they did not believe Jesus' claims and teachings.

 

[icamewithasword]

WayneinMaine,
Thanks for your reply; and I agree with what you stated....

Maybe people believe He is savior; but forget He is Lord. I realize that not everyone is called to be a disciple in the sense that they will pass on all the teachings of the Master- some are gifted this way; others are not. But all believers are called to 'follow' Christ. Some heal for Christ, some serve the brethren for Christ, some feed multitudes for Christ.....

I watched a short film produced by a local church that was about the judgment seat of Christ. It portrayed how a man that lead an unloving, unrepentent, idolatrous life was saved by Jesus Christ because he 'accepted' Christ when he was eight years old. I think this belief permeates Christianity. I can not find it supported by the Gospel.

If that were true, then why would the church at Ephesus have it's lampstand removed unless they repented and returned to their first love?

 

[WayneinMaine]

WayneinMaine,
Thanks for your reply; and I agree with what you stated....

Maybe people believe He is savior; but forget He is Lord. I realize that not everyone is called to be a disciple in the sense that they will pass on all the teachings of the Master- some are gifted this way; others are not. But all believers are called to 'follow' Christ. Some heal for Christ, some serve the brethren for Christ, some feed multitudes for Christ.....

I watched a short film produced by a local church that was about the judgment seat of Christ. It portrayed how a man that lead an unloving, unrepentent, idolatrous life was saved by Jesus Christ because he 'accepted' Christ when he was eight years old. I think this belief permeates Christianity. I can not find it supported by the Gospel.

If that were true, then why would the church at Ephesus have it's lampstand removed unless they repented and returned to their first love?

There is the tendency to synthesize a "gospel" of personal salvation while ignoring the good news (gospel) of the kingdom which Jesus spoke of. It is interesting no notice how little Jesus said about personal salvation as recorded in the Gospels. The pattern of His "evangelism" seemed to be to pronounce the proximity of the Kingdom of God (among you, within reach), describe its character then call for repentance and invite men to follow. If all of this struck the listeners as "good news" they responded, abandoned everything and dedicated themselves 100% to God and His kingdom. The parable of the sower and the parables of the man who found a treasure in a field or a valuable pearl are good examples of the way Jesus called men.