Disciples Of Christ

Dearly Beloved,

We often call ourselves Christians but many who claim this title seem to know very little of what it means to be a disciple of Jesus Christ.

These are a few characteristics and requirements of a TRUE christian.

1. LOVE: Mat 22:37 Jesus said unto him, Thou shalt love the Lord thy God with all thy heart, and with all thy soul, and with all thy mind.
Mat 22:38 This is the first and great commandment.
Mat 22:39 And the second is like unto it, Thou shalt love thy neighbor as thyself.
Mat 22:40 On these two commandments hang all the law and the prophets.
While one could write many sermons on this alone, we will continue in the list for brevity's sake.

2. FORGIVENESS : (Mat 6:14) For if ye forgive men their trespasses, your heavenly Father will also forgive you:
(Mat 6:15) But if ye forgive not men their trespasses, neither will your Father forgive your trespasses.
We are required to forgive to obtain forgiveness, it also releases us from the bondage of hate.

3. NONJUDGEMENTAL: Mat 7:1 Judge not, that ye be not judged.
Mat 7:2 For with what judgment ye judge, ye shall be judged: and with what measure ye mete, it shall be measured to you again.
Mat 7:3 And why beholdest thou the mote that is in thy brother's eye, but considerest not the beam that is in thine own eye?
Luk 6:37 Judge not, and ye shall not be judged: condemn not, and ye shall not be condemned: forgive, and ye shall be forgiven:
Rom 14:10 But why dost thou judge thy brother? or why dost thou set at naught thy brother? for we shall all stand before the judgment seat of Christ.

We as disciples CAN discern whether someone or something maybe harmful to themselves or others, but we leave finale judgement to the one who is worthy to judge;
i.e. Jesus Christ.

4. MERCYFULL: Mat 5:7 Blessed are the merciful: for they shall obtain mercy. Mercy goes Hand in hand with forgiveness.

5. FAITH: Mar 11:22 And Jesus answering saith unto them, Have faith in God. Luk 17:6 And the Lord said, If ye had faith as a grain of mustard seed, ye might say unto this sycamine tree, Be thou plucked up by the root, and be thou planted in the sea; and it should obey you. Faith in the love of the LORD is most essential in the life of the disciple, faith not only enhances the above characteristics but enables the disciple to achieve the true CHRIST-ian persona.

6. TRUTH: Joh 1:17 For the law was given by Moses, but grace and truth came by Jesus Christ.
Joh 4:23 But the hour cometh, and now is, when the true worshipers shall worship the Father in spirit and in truth: for the Father seeketh such to worship him.
Joh 4:24 God is a Spirit: and they that worship him must worship him in spirit and in truth. The TRUTH of the Gospel must always be in our hearts and minds.

7. HOPE: Rom 5:4 And patience, experience; and experience, hope:
Rom 5:5 And hope maketh not ashamed; because the love of God is shed abroad in our hearts by the Holy Ghost which is given unto us. Rom 8:24 For we are saved by hope: but hope that is seen is not hope: for what a man seeth, why doth he yet hope for?.
Without hope, dispare, and evil, enter in.

8. Patient : Rom 2:7 To them who by patient continuance in well doing seek for glory and honor and immortality, eternal life:
Rom 12:12 Rejoicing in hope; patient in tribulation; continuing instant in prayer;
1Th 5:14 Now we exhort you, brethren, warn them that are unruly, comfort the feebleminded, support the weak, be patient toward all men.
Jam 5:8 Be ye also patient; establish your hearts: for the coming of the Lord draweth nigh.

This list is not by any means all inclusive but a fundamental start.

May The Lord Richly Bless You.

Keep Love And Joy Alive.

Pastor Marcus Elam