So the disciples of Christ must perform the works of Christ
Discipleship 69 the Christian life a warfare? We ought therefore to consider whether we can endure hardness which a good soldier of Jesus Christ must expect and count upon before we list ourselves under Christ's banner. Are we able to encounter the forces of hell and earth, which come against us twenty thousand strong? Of the two, it is better to make the best terms we can with the world than pretend to renounce it, and afterwards, when tribulation and persecution arise because of the Word, to return to it. That young man who could not find in his heart to part with his possessions for Christ did better to go away from Christ sorrowing than to have stayed with him dissembling.
6. THE CREED OF THE DISCIPLE
So the disciples of Christ must perform the works of Christ and fulfil His will and purpose. To this end they must believe and embrace the doctrine of Christ and that record given concerning him (1 Fohn v. 11).
We are told what the great Gospel truth is which we are to believe (John xx. 31).
(a) That He is the Christ. He is the Person who, under the title Messiah, was promised to, and expected by, the Old Testament saints; and that according to the signification of the name is anointed of God to be a Prince and a Saviour.
(6) That He ts the Son of God: not only as mediator, for then He had not been greater than Moses, who was both a prophet, intercessor, and lawgiver, but antecedent to His being mediator. For if He had not been a divine Person endued with the power of God He had not been qualified for the undertaking, not fit either to do the Redeemer's work or to wear the Redeemer's crown.
7. 'THE COMFORT OF DISCIPLESHIP We are told also what the great blessedness is which His disciples are to hope for (Fohn xx. 31). ''That believing, we shall have life through his name."
(a) This is to direct our faith. It must have an eye to the life, the crown of life, the tree of life set before us. Life through Christ's name, the life proposed in the covenant which is made with us in Christ, is what we must propose to ourselves as the fullness of joy and the abundant recompense of all our services and sufferings.
(b) This is to encourage our faith and invite us to believe. Upon the prospects of some great advantage men will venture far, and greater advantage there cannot be than that which is offered by "the words of this life", as the Gospel is called (Acts v. 20). It includes both spiritual life in conformity to God and communion with Him, and eternal life in the vision and fruition of Him. Both are through Christ's name, by His merit and power, and both indefeasibly sure to all true believers.
It is of these privileges of true discipleship that the Master speaks to the Jews (fohn vitt. 32). These are contained in the two promises, first, ""Ye shall know the truth." Even those who are true believers and disciples indeed may yet be, and are, much in the dark concerning many things which they should know. God's children are but children, and understand and speak as children. Did we not need to be taught, we should not need to be disciples. It is a very great privilege to know the truth—to know the particular truths which we are to believe, in their mutual dependencies and connexions, and the ground and reasons for our belief; to know what is truth, and what proves it to be so. The second promise is, 'The truth shall make you free." Justification makes us free from the guilt of sin, by which we were bound over to the judgment of God, and bound under amazing fears. Sanctification makes us free from the bondage of corruption, by which we were restrained from that service which is perfect freedom, and constrained to that which is perfect slavery. Gospel truth frees us from the yoke of the ceremonial law and the more grievous burdens of the traditions of the elders. It makes us free from our spiritual enemies, frée in the service of God, free to the privileges of sons, and free of the Jerusalem which is from above, which is free. The knowing, entertaining, and believing of this truth frees us from prejudices, mistakes and false notions—these things which enslave and entangle the soul. It frees us from the dominion of lust and passion. It restores the soul to the government of itself by reducing it into obedience to its Creator. The enemies of Christianity pretend to free-thinking, whereas really those are the freest reasonings that are guided by faith, and those are men of free-thought whose thoughts are captivated and brought into obedience to Christ.
Discipleship
SERMON OUTLINE
DISCIPLESHIP
I. THE MEANING OF DISCIPLESHIP (a) To Follow Christ (6) To Have Fellowship with Christ
II. THE ConpiTions oF DISCIPLESHIP
(a) The Denial of Self (6) The Taking Up of the Cross (i) Why this has to be done (ii) How this has to be done (c) The Following of Christ
III. Tue Cost oF DIscIPLesHIP
(2) A Willingness to Abandon All Else (6) A Willingness to Suffer for Christ (c) A Willingness to Persevere (i) Like the man building a tower (ii) Like the man going to war (d) A Willingness to Embrace the Doctrine of Christ
IV. 'THE PRIVILEGES OF DISCIPLESHIP (a) Life Through the Name of Christ (0) Knowledge of the Truth (c) Freedom from Bondage