Are You A True Disciple?

            “then Jesus said to those Jews who believed Him, if you abide in My word, you are My disciples indeed. And you shall know the truth and the truth will make you free”. John 8:31,32. Among those to whom the Lord spoke were those who believed “on” him and others who simply believed him. To believe “on” the Lord is to trust Him and commit yourself totally to Him. They were told to “abide in My word” was to be a disciple indeed.

            Merely to believe Him was but to accept His words as true without necessarily submitting to His will. To become a genuine disciples, we must “abide” in His word. Discipleship is not by professing one is a disciple, but it is a profession of action, showing we are His disciples. We are not to be shallow in our faith or what we proclaim. Shallowness of faith is like “having no root”. Luke 8:13, “but the ones on the rock are those who, when they hear, receive the word with joy. And these have no root, who believe for a while and in time of temptation fall away”.

            Jesus through the rest of chapter 8 of John tells what a full commitment to Him was. Verses 42, 43, “if God were your Father, you would love Me, for I proceeded forth and come from God. Nor have I come of Myself, but He sent Me. Why do you not understand my speech? Because you are not able to listen to My words”. 

            Other Scriptures also support this. Acts 10:34,35, “ then Peter opened his mouth and said, in truth I perceive that God shows no partiality. But in every nation whoever fears Him and “works” righteousness is accepted by Him”. Read James 2:20-26 in talking about Abraham in that he was justified by works.

            Freedom from sin is only obtainable through abiding “in truth”. Only by abiding in truth can we be free from the “bondage of sin”. People of this world, especially those in denominations often boast of their freedom they claim to have, to do as they please. Only faithful children of God are truly free, being neither in bondage to the world, nor the flesh, nor the devil. Free from an evil conscience, the cares and anxieties of the world, and death itself.

                                                                                  We are truly free from all the fears of these, if we “abide in the doctrine of Christ.

- CL Bruner