Scripture often confronts the issue of false disciples. In our world today there are many false teachers and false believers. There are those who have cheapened the grace of God by deceiving themselves into thinking they are believers and disciples of the Lord Jesus when they truly are not. The call to discipleship is the call to Christ as Lord. All who are truly saved are surrendered to Christ as Lord and are deepening their relationship as His disciple. Paul admonishes us in 2 Corinthians 13:5 to “Examine yourselves to see if you are in the faith; test yourselves.”
In order to search your heart and find the comforting assurance the Holy Spirit brings, ask yourself questions like these: Have I experienced the leading of the Holy Spirit in my life? Is the Spirit’s fruit (Galatians 5:22-23) evident in my life? Do I genuinely love the members of Christ’s Body? Is the longing of my heart to commune with God in prayer? Do I live in conscious awareness of the presence of God? Does my life demonstrate a love for the Word of God and are its truths evident to me?
If you can answer these and other questions like them in the affirmative, then hold on to the assuring work of God’s Spirit. These are some of the genuine indicators of true disciples. The beloved apostle John wrote, “He who has the Son has life; he who does not have the Son of God does not have life. I write these things to you who believe in the name of the Son of God so that you may know that you have eternal life” (1 John 5:12-13). As a true disciple, walk in the presence of the Lord each day and rest in His unfailing love.
If, by chance, you have “failed the test,” seek the Lord while He may be found. Renew your commitment to Christ and feed the hunger of your soul. Deepen your devotion to Christ and truly surrender to His Lordship today. Reading God’s Word and submitting to its instruction, and even its rebuke, is a sure way to examine yourself, for all His Word is written….That You May Know (1 John 5:13).
That You May Know Ministries 