If any man come to me, and hate not his father, and mother, and wife, and children, and brethren, and sisters, yea, and his own life also, he cannot be my disciple. And whosoever doth not bear his cross, and come after me, cannot be my disciple. (Luke 14:26,27)

Saving a soul versus making a disciple. It appears that being a disciple of the Lord Jesus means far more than what is accepted today as "being saved." According to the two passages above, few "Christians" of today are disciples.

It appears we are preaching an abbreviated Gospel—one consisting only of justification. There is not much emphasis placed on denying ourselves, taking up our cross, and following the Lord Jesus.

Sanctification, which is the all-important work of character transformation,

and consecration, which involves presenting our life to the Lord, is often given only passing notice.

To permit justification to include and replace sanctification and consecration so that believing in the Lord Jesus is the only aspect of the Gospel is to destroy the Kingdom of God.

What we mean today by "saving a soul." Saving a soul has come to mean persuading an individual to believe that the blood of the Lord Jesus is his or her ticket to eternal residence in a mansion in Heaven. "Making a decision for Christ" is not only an unscriptural expression, it leaves people with the idea that once they assent mentally to the theological facts concerning Christ's atonement and resurrection they will go to Paradise when they die independently of any growth in sanctification and consecration.

The idea that belief alone accomplishes our eternal salvation is antinomianism, an ancient heresy.

As we have stated, there are not many believers of today who would qualify as a disciple. Yet it was the disciples who were termed "Christians."

The disciples were termed "Christians."

And when he had found him, he brought him unto Antioch. And it came to pass, that a whole year they assembled themselves with the church, and taught much people. And the disciples were called Christians first in Antioch. (Acts 11:26)

Notice the accent on teaching in the verse above.

The Lord Jesus did not command the eleven disciples to persuade people that the blood of the Lord Jesus is their ticket to eternal residence in a mansion in Heaven. The Lord Jesus commanded the eleven to make disciples, that is, to persuade the people of the nations to be baptized and to set out after the Lord Jesus, denying themselves and laying down their life that they might do the Lord's will perfectly each day.

The sixth chapter of the Book of Romans gives us the meaning of water baptism.

The Lord Jesus told us it is His will we be one with each other and with the Lord Jesus and the Father, as He is One with the Father.

That they all may be one; as thou, Father, art in me, and I in thee, that they also may be one in us: that the world may believe that thou hast sent me. (John 17:21)

The Lord told us when we are in union with God, the world will believe that God has sent the Lord Jesus.

To be continued.