Salt is good: but if the salt have lost his savour, wherewith shall it be seasoned?
The passage begins with a multitude following Christ. But, in this ominous text, we find Jesus pairing down the crowd and distinguishing between the multitudes and the disciple. In fact, Jesus made the standard of discipleship so strict that most professing followers of Christ could not make the grade.
- Jesus said He must be of greater value than family or “ye cannot be my disciple.”
- Jesus said we must bear his cross or “ye cannot be my disciple.”
- Jesus said we must finish our course or “ye cannot be my disciple.”
- Jesus said we must battle to victory or “ye cannot be my disciple.”
- Jesus said we must forsake all when we follow Him or “ye cannot be my disciple.”
I fear modern American Christianity goes for the multitudes, not the disciples. Even when we claim to have discipleship classes, so much of it is merely meant to help the multitudes assimilate. The mark of discipleship is negative. It is a program of exclusion. Only the most ardent and devoted will attain to discipleship.
Without absolute sacrifice of selfish want, “ye cannot be [Christ’s] disciple.”[1]
- You can be saved
- You can be a church member
- You can teach a Sunday school class
- You can be a deacon
- You can even be a preacher
But unless you forsake all you have and follow Christ exclusively, you’re fit for little good but to be cast out.[2]
Certainly, you are no disciple.
[1] The question then is not whether a person can be saved and still worldly. I think that might be possible. But no one can be a disciple of Christ and still be worldly. In fact, no one can be a disciple of Christ and care for the world. Biblical discipleship demands meticulous, extreme obedience to the Word of God. This, in turn, requires earnest, diligent study of God’s Word. It is not a matter of carefully obeying what a church or preacher teaches, but adamantly obeying the Word of God so far as we understand it and working hard to see that we understand it.
[2] I view Revelation 3:15-16 as a parallel passage.
Revelation 3:15-16 (KJV)
I know thy works, that thou art neither cold nor hot: I would thou wert cold or hot.
So then because thou art lukewarm, and neither cold nor hot, I will spue thee out of my mouth.)
To my readers:
Thank you! It is a great joy to me to know you read the thoughts and lessons God has given me in His word. I would love to hear from you. Please feel free to leave comments.
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