Disciples Indeed

John 8:31

Then said Jesus to those Jews which believed on him, If ye continue in my word, then are ye my disciples indeed;

Much is said about being a disciple of Christ. The Scriptures teach that you can't be a disciple of Christ until you obey the first command of growth to be baptized. We know from Luke 14 that you cannot be Christ’s disciple if you are unwilling to leave family, friends, and your own desires of life to live according to God’s Word. We know from the same chapter that you cannot be Christ’s disciple if you are unwilling to bear your cross and forsake all that you have to follow Christ. These are all prerequisites to being a disciple of Christ. Nowhere in these prerequisites do you see a discipleship class; instead, you see the action of obeying Christ as the requirement for being a disciple.

However, there is a difference between being a disciple and a disciple indeed. The word indeed means undoubtedly or undeniably. In other words, you are undeniably or undoubtedly a disciple of Christ if you do what John 8:31 teaches. In other words, you can get baptized and obey what Luke 14 teaches about being a disciple of Christ, but there will be doubt in the minds of others that you are truly a disciple of Christ. In fact, you can get baptized and obey Luke 14, and many will think that you just got religion or that it is another fad in your life. However, if you obey John 8:31, you will prove that you are undoubtedly and undeniably a disciple indeed.

One action makes you a disciple indeed. Notice Christ says, If ye continue in my word, then are ye my disciples indeed. It is in the continuing of obedience that makes you a disciple indeed. It is in the continuing to forsake all for the sake of Christ that makes you a disciple indeed. It is in the continuing to obey what God’s Word teaches that makes you a disciple indeed.

There have been many who have started the Christian walk but stopped when hard times arose; they may have been a disciple for a bit, but they were not disciples indeed. Many have started following Christ, but the cares of the world have drawn them away; they are not disciples indeed. There have been many who followed Christ for a while, only to quit when trials came; they are not disciples indeed. The cares of this world, the affairs of this life, the hardships of trials, and the battles for truth have drawn many away and kept them from being a disciple indeed.

It is by continuing that makes you a disciple indeed. It is continuing when you don't feel like continuing that makes you a disciple indeed. It is sticking with God’s Word when it is unpopular that makes you a disciple indeed. It is not changing when your children go wayward and walk another way that makes you a disciple indeed. It is standing for truth when everyone around you seems to be backsliding from the truth that makes you a disciple indeed. It is continuing to do right and obeying God’s Word when it seems that it does not profit you that makes you a disciple indeed. If you only obey God’s Word in blessings and it benefits you, you will never be a disciple indeed. You are only a disciple indeed when you choose to continue despite what is thrown at you that makes you a disciple indeed. My friend, it is the disciple indeed who makes a difference in lives, and through whom God does His greatest works. Being a disciple indeed is where you will find the joy that comes from serving God.