Hi BillG, discipleship can happen in a formal setting and also in an informal setting. Both are beneficial to bring a true believer to maturity in Christ. In a formal setting there should be guide lines and time limits set within the relationship so that you can each achieve your personal goals.
I agree with you Bill but could you explain what you meant by this quote:, "But if
discipled correctly and yet rejects it then I would question them." Not sure what you mean by, "
I would question them?" about there salvation?
Thanks brother....
Hi bro,
Yes discipleship is formal and informal.
Of course I can answer your question.
Basically it boils down to
Romans 5:20 - 6:3
20 Moreover the law entered that the offense might abound. But where sin abounded, grace abounded much more, 21 so that as sin reigned in death, even so grace might reign through righteousness to eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord.
Dead to Sin, Alive to God
1 What shall we say then? Shall we continue in sin that grace may abound? 2 Certainly not! How shall we who died to sin live any longer in it? 3 Or do you not know that as many of us as were baptized into Christ Jesus were baptized into His death?
So what I'm talking about here is a person who uses Gods grace to sin.
The reason I say this is because I had a close friend who was sleeping with his girlfriend. I was in the room above and I heard it all.
I was perplexed because to be honest I could not understand it.
As a believer who was messed up I did have sex before marriage.
When I did I was so wracked with guilt and was very heavy in my heart.
I asked him if he felt guilty. He said "No because God knows we are going to do it so it's already forgiven. No guilt at all.
Using grace to sin.
So what I'm trying to say is given my friend who is a believer and I quote the above verses and he turned around and says "I don't give two hoots I can do what I want and go to heaven"
Then I will question their belief in Jesus, hence their salvation.
I deliberately quoted verse 3 above 'Baptised"
I have the pleasure of baptising people.
Every person who I baptise I ask them following when they come to see me.
Romans 10:9
9 that if you confess with your mouth the Lord Jesus and believe in your heart that God has raised Him from the dead, you will be saved.
Have you confessed with your mouth and believed he was raised from the dead.
I had to reject to baptising someone because they could not do that.
I asked them if they would do it and they said no.
So to me to disciple correctly is to use the word of God.
If they reject it then do they not reject Jesus as Lord and Saviour?
I'm not talking about works here.
We all know sanctification is a process and a walk.
For some its hard and for others it's easy.
The refiner in our lives will refine us and we will always seek that, even if at times we do not.
But a genuine beliver will never be happy when they have gone astray.
Those who have not made Jesus Lord will not give two hoots because they have no desire to walk on the level path God had called them walk on with him.
Does the above make sense?