What Are Genuine Disciples?

Paul talks a lot about the sons of faith and being the spiritual father of some. What he is describing is the discipleship relationship. The analogy of sonship is common in the New Testament. A son is one who is in Christ and is adopted into the family of God.

In Romans 3:21-4:13, we can read about the foundation of our faith and the grafting of believers in Jesus into sonship. This passage also gives the example of Abraham’s faith and how he, before circumcision, was justified by his faith and God credited it to him as righteousness. We also have this privilege, without works of our own but by faith, to be called God’s children. Therefore, spiritually speaking, if you’ve come to know Christ, you are a son or daughter of God.

This idea didn’t begin with Paul. Jesus makes this idea plain in John 8:34-36 when the subject of Abraham, faith, and the works of a true disciple come into the conversation.

What Are the Works of True Disciples?

Jesus desires the Jews in this passage to know that they are only true sons when they have the faith of their father Abraham, and until then, they are illegitimate children and still slaves. We can reference Genesis 12:15 and several passages in Romans 1, 2, and 3 describing faith and that the whole world is sinful and separated from God.

In order to be a true disciple, you must do the works of a true disciple. These works are:

• The work of love
• The work of receiving messengers
• The labor of disciplining ourselves unto hope
• The work of mission

The Work of Love

True disciples prioritize love for Jesus. It's easy for a genuine believer to love Jesus. 1 John 4 says that we love Him because He first loved us. How do people know we love Jesus? Our love for Jesus is clearly seen and put on display for others to know by our actions. If you have a passion for living a moral life but are not by nature loving, then your life is not changed and you do not understand the work of love.

We Welcome His Messengers

In Genesis 18, Abraham welcomed three men. Two of them were angels, and one was the pre-incarnate form of Jesus Christ Himself. Abraham welcomed them and had Sarah make them a meal.

Do you long to hear from the messengers of God's Word in the local church? There's a lot of religious content on the Internet, and often people focus more on getting fed instead of on worship. God puts us in a specific local context for us to hear God's message through His messengers.

True Disciples Are Excited About Our Hope

In John 8:56, Jesus says, “Your father Abraham was overjoyed that he would see My day, and he saw it and rejoiced.” The word "rejoiced" here means to be so happy you leap. Jesus said Abraham leaped forward to see His day, specifically, His resurrection. Abraham was so hopeful and expectant of Jesus. Are you leaping forward? Is it tangible to you? Are you ready?

The Work of Mission

Jesus tells us to go make disciples. It is the timeless work of missions that is the work of Abraham. Do you have the faith of Abraham? Do you believe it can be global in its influence? Do you believe you can be part of that?

The local church is a sending agency, not a saving agency. The local church wasn't meant to be invited to. It is a place to equip to go, in God's timing and according to God's gifting.

Application Points

• If you are not a son, then you are a slave. A slave to sin has no place in the house. If you believe you are a son of God’s, then do the deeds of faith.
• We look to the Internet and our devices, TV and media to “feed” us God’s Word. But that is not true worship. That is not what it means to be a true disciple. God wants us to be active in the church, hearing His message from His messengers. We are to be equipped in the church to go out from it. If we long to see Christ, then we have a message to give.
• There will be many moralists who did things in God's name, but in the day of judgement, God will say He doesn't know them. If you embrace these four aspects of a true disciple, you'll know Him and be known by Him.

Tools for Further Study

Cross References to Explore:

• Rom 3:21-4:13
• John 1:12
• 1 John 5 - Overcoming sin through Jesus
• 2 John 6 - What love is
• Eph 6:15 - missions
• 1 Pe 1:6-8 - rejoice with joy inexpressible
• 1 Thess 2 - His crown of rejoicing
• Revelations 19
• Rom 4:16