- Joined
- 03 Jan 13
- Moves
- 13080
23 Feb 18
4 edits
Originally posted by @thinkofone
In John 8,Jesus makes it clear that those who abide in His word are His true disciples and that the truth makes them free from committing sin.
You may interpret that passage as you like. The FACT of the matter is that Jesus had DISCIPLES. He had twelve and He had seventy. And He had others too.
He called "His disciples" and designated them also "apostles".
"And when it became day, He called His disciples to Him, and He chose from them twelve, whom He also named apostles." (Luke 6:12)
While they were learners and far from perfected followers of Jesus, they were still His "disciples".
Today it is the same.
Again, "His disciples" came to Him.
"And after He sat down, His disciples came to Him. And opening His mouth, He taught them." (Matt. 5:1)
There is nothing wrong with someone saying - "The standard of being a disciple of Jesus is very high." And I do not disagree with that.
It makes no sense however to argue that no one ever qualified to be called a "disciple" of Jesus because the standard set by Jesus was high - sinlessness.
- Joined
- 03 Jan 13
- Moves
- 13080
There is nothing wrong with saying - "Boy, I recognize from reading John that the cost of discipleship to Christ is very high."
There is something both unbiblical and frankly stupid about leaping from that to:
"The standard for being a disciple of Jesus is such that none have ever existed. And all you Christians cannot say you are disciples of Jesus."
In Mark 14:14 Jesus referred to "MY disciples".
"And wherever he enters, say to the master of the house, The Teacher says, Where is My guest room, where I may eat the passover with My disciples."
Judas was among them.
So were the disciples who argued back and forth jealously as to which one of them would be the greatest.
Jesus was indignant toward His disciples for the shortsightedness they displayed in chasing the children away from Him. They must have not been acting with absolute sinless purity.
"And they brought little children to Him so that He might touch them, but the DISCIPLES rebuked them.
But Jesus, seeing it, was indignant and said to them, Allow the little children to come to Me. Do not forbid them, for of such is the kingdom of God." (Mark 14:13,14)
They were STILL His disciples.
Do not miss my point. The motive is not - "How much sinning can I get away with and still be called a disciple of Jesus?"
The point is that Jesus recognized that His disciples needed ever to BE discipled, and that unto maturity.
After the resurrection, when ALL the disciples forsook Him in fear, The angel referred to the unfaithful ones still as "His disciples"
"But go, tell His disciples and Peter that He is going before you into Galilee. There you will see Him, even as He told you." (Mark 16:7)
Peter's offense was particularly egregious. And he probably felt the most unworthy to ever be called a disciple again. The words " ... His disciples AND PETER" denotes that Peter, from intense self remorse may have been disqualifying himself. He may have denied Jesus three times. But He was STILL a disciple of Jesus. Special support and encouragement he needed to save him from his uttermost dejection.
Today, I mean TODAY, a woman or man may become a disciple of Jesus Christ.
A supposed Bible teacher teaching that people cannot be disciples of Jesus if they still have a failure and sin, must be teaching a doctrine of demons.
It is destructive only. There is nothing spiritually constructive to the Christian church about such a doctrine.
- Joined
- 03 Jan 13
- Moves
- 13080
Sometimes is it amazing to see how the Devil works on a man's mind.
ThinkOfOne does not want to be a disciple of Jesus.
What better way to rationalize his preference not to follow Christ than to declare that Jesus Christ taught that he CANNOT be His disciple ANYWAY.
This is ThinkOfOne's handy dandy rationale not to receive Jesus as Lord.
Ie. "Jesus taught that I cannot be His disciple anyway in John chapter 8. And of course neither can anyone else. "
"The road to hell is paved with good intentions."
23 Feb 18
Originally posted by @sonshipA disciple of Christ follows His teachings.
Sometimes is it amazing to see how the Devil works on a man's mind.
ThinkOfOne does not want to be a disciple of Jesus.
What better way to rationalize his preference not to follow Christ than to declare that Jesus Christ taught that he CANNOT be His disciple ANYWAY.
This is ThinkOfOne's handy dandy rationale not to receive Jesus as Lord.
Ie. "J ...[text shortened]... And of course neither can anyone else. "
"The road to hell is paved with good intentions."
You are the most vociferous proponent of ignoring the commandments of Christ.
- Joined
- 16 Feb 08
- Moves
- 120159
24 Feb 18
1 edit
Originally posted by @thinkofoneYou keep mentioning this “gospel” of Jesus Christ in your posts, in fact here you have started a whole thread about it this “good news”. What is this good news that Jesus spoke about?
Many seem to deny that the message of the gospel preached by Jesus during His ministry is something very different from the message of the gospel preached by Paul.
When Jesus said he was sent by God, do you believe him?
- Joined
- 03 Jan 13
- Moves
- 13080
24 Feb 18
Bump for ThinkOfOne:
Yes.
You keep mentioning this “gospel” of Jesus Christ in your posts, in fact here you have started a whole thread about it this “good news”. What is this good news that Jesus spoke about?
When Jesus said he was sent by God, do you believe him?
- Joined
- 03 Jan 13
- Moves
- 13080
24 Feb 18
4 edits
Originally posted by @rajk999
A disciple of Christ follows His teachings.
You are the most vociferous proponent of ignoring the commandments of Christ.
You are the most vociferous proponent of ignoring the commandments of Christ.
In over 24 hours you could not produce two serious false doctrines taught by one Witness Lee.
I have no confidence that in 24 hours you can produce two commandments of Christ I have taught anyone here to disobey/ignore.
Since you bear false witness, you have no high moral ground to accuse me.
What commandment of Christ did I teach readers to ignore/disobey? QUOTE me.
It is now to me February 24, about 8:12 am EST.
Go.
24 Feb 18
Originally posted by @sonshipC'mon jaywill. We both full well know that I never said anything of the sort.
Sometimes is it amazing to see how the Devil works on a man's mind.
ThinkOfOne does not want to be a disciple of Jesus.
What better way to rationalize his preference not to follow Christ than to declare that Jesus Christ taught that he CANNOT be His disciple ANYWAY.
This is ThinkOfOne's handy dandy rationale not to receive Jesus as Lord.
Ie. "J ...[text shortened]... And of course neither can anyone else. "
"The road to hell is paved with good intentions."
You're the one who doesn't believe it possible for anyone to be freed from committing sin. This despite the fact that Jesus says just that in John 8. As such, you're the one that doesn't believe Jesus.
How can you follow Jesus if you don't believe Him? This was a point Jesus made time and again while He was preaching His gospel.
- Joined
- 16 Feb 08
- Moves
- 120159
24 Feb 18
Originally posted by @divegeesterBump for thinkofone
You keep mentioning this “gospel” of Jesus Christ in your posts, in fact here you have started a whole thread about it this “good news”. What is this good news that Jesus spoke about?
When Jesus said he was sent by God, do you believe him?
- Joined
- 31 Jan 18
- Moves
- 3456
25 Feb 18
Originally posted by @thinkofoneI think Jesus said one could be freed from the power of sin and I think that’s right in that Christians have a choice about whether or not to commit sin because they no longer have to live in the flesh.
C'mon jaywill. We both full well know that I never said anything of the sort.
You're the one who doesn't believe it possible for anyone to be freed from committing sin. This despite the fact that Jesus says just that in John 8. As such, you're the one that doesn't believe Jesus.
How can you follow Jesus if you don't believe Him? This was a point Jesus made time and again while He was preaching His gospel.
As Christians, they have God’s Holy Spirit indwelling them and can choose to live in the Spirit and not in the flesh. Before God’s Holy Spirit indwelt them, they had no choice but to live in the flesh.