Once a person is saved, discipleship is “teaching them” how to “observe all things” that Jesus left for them to be and to do as His followers. We are all left with a great commission, the one Jesus Christ left for all of His disciples. I have been discipling individuals since I led my first person to the Lord at about age 11. So for the past 45+ years I have been learning all I can from everyone I meet who has ever discipled another believer. Today is the summary of what I have learned. Next year it will change a bit more after meeting and learning from more disciplers. The next year the same. This is a life-long process. We can learn so much if we love something so much we want to learn it better and better. What is first? After establishing that the person is saved, the very next truth for them to learn is the: CONNECTION BETWEEN SALVATION & THE REST OF LIFE This connection was taught by Paul in Colossians 2:6. Note with them what Paul said: Colossians 2:6 (NKJV) As you therefore have received Christ Jesus the Lord, so walk in Him, The same way God saved us is how we are to follow Christ through life. That is simple, clear, and easily explained in Scripture. Paul went on to teach the saints at Colosse that there was even a correspondence to Gods Word and the fullness of the Spirit. In fact Paul uses the exact same language to Ephesus for being Spirit-filled (Ephesians 5:18), as he does for being Word-filled (Colossians 3:16-17). Salvation and all the work of God within us by His Spirit are founded upon Gods Word. Those are the foundational truths that the Apostle Paul taught as he planted churches across the Roman World. EVERYTHING STARTS WITH GODS WORD Turn to the Romans Road, one of the simplest explanations of salvation, and look at the final stop in Romans 10:13 (see also v. 5,8,11). Romans 10:13-17 (NKJV) For “whoever calls on the name of the Lord shall be saved.” 14 How then shall they call on Him in whom they have not believed? And how shall they believe in Him of whom they have not heard? And how shall they hear without a preacher? 15 And how shall they preach unless they are sent? As it is written: “How beautiful are the feet of those who preach the gospel of peace, Who bring glad tidings of good things!” 16 But they have not all obeyed the gospel. For Isaiah says, “Lord, who has believed our report?” 17 So then faith comes by hearing, and hearing by the word of God. We are saved by hearing and responding to the Word of God. SALVATION IS COMPLETELY TIED TO GODS WORD The Jesus that a person believes in determines their destiny. The Gospel flows only from Gods Word, no where else. Only believing the Gospel contained in Gods Word the Bible can a person be saved. If you believe is the Jesus that comes from Joseph Smith then you become a Mormon, not a born-again follower of Christ. If you believe is the Jesus that comes from Judge Rutherford then you become a JW, not a born-again follower of Christ. If you believe is the Jesus that comes from Muhammad then you become a Muslim, not a born-again follower of Christ. Only believing the Gospel contained in Gods Word the Bible can a person be saved. That means: SALVATION IS GOD IMPLANTING HIS WORD INSIDE US Move onward to James 1:21, from what may be the earliest book of the New Testament written by James who was the Pastor of the First Church of Jerusalem. Here is how he explained salvation to his congregation while Paul was still being trained. James 1:21 (NKJV) Therefore lay aside all filthiness and overflow of wickedness, and receive with meekness the implanted word, which is able to save your souls. Again we see that receiving Gods Word, believing Gods Word, and acting upon Gods Word are all tied to our salvation. We were saved when we heard the truth of the Gospel contained in Gods Word the Scriptures, and responded by faith to God’s truth. Think about that in light of what Paul said in Col. 2:6. The same way we were saved is the way we live the rest of our lives. We hear truth from God. We believe that truth from God. We respond to that truth from God We are transformed by God. That is how God has always operated. Before His Word was written down by Moses, God spoke, people heard, believed, responded, and were transformed. Now God’s Word is complete. We hold everything God wants us to know. Just as in salvation we heard, believed, responded, and God transformed us by salvation: so God wants us to each new day hear His voice speaking truth in the Bible, believe that truth from God by faith, respond to what God has said obediently, and then see God change us. One of the greatest proofs of salvation in our lives is seeing this happen each day. That is exactly what we see the Apostles teaching as they planted and established churches in the First Century. Now move onward to 1 Peter 1:22 to 2:3 and see how Peter describes this exact same process when he explains the relationship between salvation and our daily walk in Christ. Peter reminds us that both are tied to Gods Word. SALVATION STARTS A LIFE OF BELIEVING & OBEYING GODS WORD https://youtube/watch?v=AzqfQAgg6LI&list=PLSP1IO9h3J7sOwRwcsmtdDmKvjnBbz0VL&index=23
Posted on: Mon, 29 Sep 2014 13:25:26 +0000
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