But Jesus expanded its meaning by saying that everyone who truly believes in Him is called to be a disciple. “Jesus said, 'If you hold to my teaching, you are really my disciples'” (
I testify that everyone can be a disciple of the Savior. Discipleship is not constrained by age, gender, ethnic origin, or calling. Through our individual discipleship, we, as Latter-day Saints, build up a collective strength to bless our brothers and sisters throughout the world.
A disciple would literally follow someone in hopes of eventually becoming what they are. A Christian disciple is a believer who follows Christ and then offers his own imitation of Christ as model for others to follow (1 Corinthians 11:1). A disciple is first a believer who has exercised faith (Acts 2:38).
Disciples are followers of Christ. Jesus had many disciples in the New Testament, those who followed him and his teachings. In John 8 Jesus tells the Jews who believed in him: “If you hold to my teaching, you are really my disciples. Then you will know the truth, and the truth will set you free.”
Disciples certainly were followers of Jesus, but not all followers were disciples.
So, all apostles had been disciples, but not all disciples would become apostles.
Notice the three key characteristics of a disciple: He/she follows Jesus. He/she is being changed by Jesus. He/she is committed to the mission of Jesus.
John 8:31-32. So Jesus said to the Jews who had believed him, "If you abide in my word you are truly my disciples, and you will know the truth, and the truth will set you free."
Faith in Christ is the basis for both believers and Disciples of Christ. The observance of the commandments of God, namely, the love of God and love of neighbor are essential for both of them. But the believer goes beyond the faith and observance of God's commandments. The Disciple of Christ, literally, becomes Christ.
There are four essentials when you are discipling a person – 1) the Word of God, 2) the people of God, 3) the Spirit of God, and 4) the Mission of Jesus.
The disciple must have the following qualifications. He must give up interest in the material bodily conception. He must give up material lust, anger, greed, illusion, madness and envy. He should be interested only in understanding the science of God, and he should be ready to consider all points in this matter.
The first one is usually fairly easy. You must love your own family and yourself as well: “If anyone comes to Me and does not hate (that means love) his father and mother, wife and children, brothers and sisters, yes, and his own life also, he cannot be My disciple.” (Luke 14:26). (New King James Version Bible).
With the word! Only through the gospel they received from Christ can disciples make disciples. Indeed, it is not through good works, social justice, or a plethora of loving actions that we make disciples. Disciples are made by the word of God alone.
In the Bible days, God Almighty made a choice among all the people He created and set them apart to execute the important purposes of His providence. That they were chosen to this high destiny was not on account of their extraordinary merits, but because God wanted to illustrate His glory to all mankind through them.
Children learn from our example and model the behavior of others. This is why children make such excellent disciples of Jesus Christ. Discipleship involves someone imitating the Master and becoming more and more like them.
Faith in Christ is the basis for both believers and Disciples of Christ. The observance of the commandments of God, namely, the love of God and love of neighbor are essential for both of them. But the believer goes beyond the faith and observance of God's commandments. The Disciple of Christ, literally, becomes Christ.
Webster's definition of a disciple is "a pupil or follower of any teacher or school."[i] A true disciple is not just a student or a learner, but a follower: one who applies what he has learned. Thus, a true disciple will ask, "What would Jesus do?"
A disciple is following Jesus, being changed by Jesus and committed to the mission of Jesus. We always come back to this definition when we talk about disciples. If the people are following Jesus, being changed by Jesus, and committed to the mission of Jesus, then they are biblical disciples, as we understand it.
SALVATION is a one-time event. It happens the moment someone believes in Jesus for everlasting life. DISCIPLESHIP is a long term process.
The Bible defines it multiple times but the most prominent definition is found in Luke chapter 14. Here, it states that a disciple is someone who has surrendered to Jesus Christ, someone who loves the Lord and is wholly dedicated to Him.