Kingdom Disciples: Heaven's Representatives on Earth

Session Three: The Commitment of Discipleship

Key Distinctions

• Salvation vs. Discipleship
  • Salvation: Faith alone in Christ for eternal life.
  • Discipleship: Involves commitment, denying oneself, and taking up one's cross to bring heaven's influence to earth.

Salvation

• Free and based on faith, not works.
• Justification is by grace; it’s a gift (Romans 3, Ephesians 2:8-9).
• Misunderstanding arises when works are confused with the free gift of salvation.

Discipleship

• Entails a cost and a commitment.
• Cannot be "audited"; requires active involvement and responsibility.
• James 2: Faith without works is dead, referring to discipleship, not initial salvation.

The Cost of Discipleship

• Luke 14: Jesus emphasizes the commitment required.
  • Must place Jesus above family and personal desires.
  • The commitment is like military enlistment: free to join, requires dedication once within.

Public Identification

• Carrying the Cross: Means public identification with Christ, facing potential rejection.
  • Jesus’ example: public display that led to varied public sentiment.
  • Discipleship involves being a visible, verbal follower of Christ.

Faith and Confession

• Romans 10:9-10 often misunderstood as a salvation passage.
  • Confession here relates to deliverance in history, not salvation into eternity.
• Publicly confessing Christ is part of discipleship, leading to God’s intervention in life situations.

The Role of the Disciple

• Be a kingdom representative on earth, demonstrating commitment to Christ.
• Identify publicly with Jesus, which requires courage and can result in opposition.
• A disciple's life should make it clear they follow Jesus, impacting their relationships and community.

Commitment and Rewards

• Being a disciple brings access to spiritual authority and God's active presence.
• Illustrations: Peter’s rebuke by Jesus shows the importance of aligning with God’s perspective.
• Commitment to Christ should surpass dedication to any earthly commitments, much like sports fans' dedication to their teams.

Conclusion

• Full commitment is required for true kingdom discipleship.
• Future sessions will explore deeper aspects of living under Christ’s lordship.