October 1, 2022

How to Determine if you are a Disciple of Jesus Christ or Not https://healthimpactnews.com/2022/how-to-determine-if-you-are-a-disciple-of-jesus-christ-or-not/

You will be betrayed even by parents, brothers, relatives and friends, and they will put some of you to death. All men will hate you because of me. (Words of Jesus recorded in Luke 21:16-17)

by Brian Shilhavy (Ex Jew turned Christian activist, author, publisher.)

Do you know if you are a disciple of Jesus Christ or not?

It is a question that is actually very easy to answer, as it is definitively answered in the Bible, by the recorded words of Jesus Christ himself. But first we need to define “disciple,” because in modern Christianity today, most understand the term “disciple” to be synonymous with “Christian.”

If we use the text of the New Testament to define these words, however, it is very clear that “Christian” and “disciple” are not synonymous at all.

The word “Christian” is only used 3 times in the New Testament, and it is never used by Jesus, and his followers and disciples also never used the term to refer to themselves. It was used by those outside of the fellowships and who were mainly critical of the disciples of Jesus.

I have written entire articles on the word “Christian” and “Christianity,” so I will not repeat that here. For more discussion on this see:

Fact Check: “Christianity” and the Christian Religion is NOT Found in the Bible – The Person Jesus Christ Is

Jesus very clearly distinguished between those who were his “disciples” from among the religious class, which during his day were “Jews” and not “Christians,” and he had harsh words for those who were religious but did not know God, and this is best seen in the Gospel of John in Chapter 8.

To the “disciples”: To the Jews who had believed him, Jesus said, “If you hold to my teaching, you are really my disciples. Then you will know the truth, and the truth will set you free.” (John 8:31-32)

To the unbelieving Jews: You belong to your father, the devil, and you want to carry out your father’s desire. He was a murderer from the beginning, not holding to the truth, for there is no truth in him. When he lies, he speaks his native language, for he is a liar and the father of lies. Yet because I tell the truth, you do not believe me! Can any of you prove me guilty of sin? If I am telling the truth, why don’t you believe me?

He who belongs to God hears what God says. The reason you do not hear is that you do not belong to God.” (John 8:44-47)