Disciple Of Christ

(Read Disciple Of Christ, Part 1 First)

Disciple of Christ - Remember the Unique Claims of the Lord
A disciple of Christ sometimes needs to remind himself of Who his Lord really is. C.S. Lewis and other great Christian thinkers have summed it up well. Jesus Christ made unique and outrageous claims...

Jesus claimed the right to receive worship from men and angels (Matthew 2:2, 2:8, 2:11, 8:2, 9:18, 14:33, 15:25, 28:9, Mark 5:6, Luke 24:52, John 9:38, and Hebrews 1:6); while the Word of God commands us not to worship man or angel, but God alone (Matthew 4:10, Luke 4:6-8, Acts 10:25-26, 12:20-23, 14:11-16, and Revelation 19:10, 22:8-9).

Jesus claimed to be sinless (John 8:46); while the Word of God tells us that no mere man is without sin (Psalm 14:1-3; 53:1-3; Romans 3:10,23).

Jesus claimed the power to forgive sins (Mark 2:5-12; Luke 7:46-50); but the Word of God tells us that only God can forgive sins (Mark 2:7).

Jesus claimed to be higher than all other ties, including family ties -- He claimed the right to a greater allegiance (Matthew 10:37; Luke 14:26).

Jesus claimed that He would judge the world (John 5:17-23; Matthew 7:21-23; 25:31-32).

Jesus claimed to give eternal life (John 6:47-51,58).

Jesus claimed to be Almighty God, the First and the Last, the Beginning and the End (John 8:58, 14:8-9; 20:26-29; Also compare, Revelation 1:8,13-18, 21:4-7; 22:6-7,12-16,20).

These claims do not prove that Jesus Christ is God. That's only one of three legitimate options:

• Jesus was a LIAR (He wanted people to think He was God though He really wasn't); or
• Jesus was a LUNATIC (He honestly thought He was God though He really wasn't); or
• Jesus was, and is, sovereign LORD (He was who He claimed to be, God the Son -- God Almighty).

• Jesus was a good man but not God (if He wasn't God, He was either crazy or a relentless liar).
• Jesus was a great teacher but not God (if He wasn't teaching the truth, He was either crazy or a relentless liar).
• Jesus was a profound prophet but not God (if His claims weren't true, and He was merely a lunatic or a liar, He was certainly nothing more than a false prophet).

Disciple of Christ - Remember the Power of Your Decision for Christ!
Disciples of Christ: If you decide Jesus is worth anything, then you must decide Jesus is worth everything! Being worth everything, Jesus is worthy of being first in your life! As such, be very careful whose authority you submit to. Be very careful about which "Bible teachers" you listen to. The Bible warns us, "Beware of false prophets, who come to you in sheep's clothing, but inwardly they are ravenous wolves. You will know them by their fruits. Do men gather grapes from thorn bushes or figs from thistles? Even so, every good tree bears good fruit, but a bad tree bears bad fruit" (Matthew 7:15-17). Further, we read, "Therefore take heed to yourselves and to all the flock, among which the Holy Spirit has made you overseers, to shepherd the church of God which He purchased with His own blood. For I know this, that after my departure savage wolves will come in among you, not sparing the flock. Also from among yourselves men will rise up, speaking perverse things, to draw away the disciples after themselves" (Acts 20:28-30).

Disciples of Christ: How can you tell right from wrong? READ YOUR BIBLE! "To the law and to the testimony! If they do not speak according to this word, it is because there is no light in them" (Isaiah 8:20).

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