What Disciples Do

A disciple is a person who has answered the call of Christ to follow Him by making major adjustments in their lives to invest into others

I want to continue on with out working definition of a disciples that comes out of Matthew 4. The first thing I see a disciple does is answer the call of Christ. Can you envision Jesus walking by the shore when he calls out to two fishermen (Peter and Andrew) to come and follow Him. Their response was that they immediately left their nets and followed this man named Jesus.

I understand that salvation comes we we answer the call of Christ to follow Him, but isn't being a disciple more than just being saved? Did Christ call the fisherman to rescue them from hell or to give them a whole new way of life? Jesus called us to something bigger than just going to heaven (and that is a big deal). Jesus called us to a new way of life.

Do we cheapen God's grace when we do not live a new life. I know this is a little long, but take the time to read the following from Costly race by Dietrich Bonhoeffer :

Cheap grace means grace sold on the market like cheap jacks’ wares. Cheap grace is the grace we bestow on our selves. Cheap grace is the preaching of forgiveness without requiring repentance, baptism without church discipline. Communion without confession, absolution without personal confession. Cheap grace is grace without discipleship, grace without the cross, grace without Jesus Christ, living and incarnate.

Costly grace is the treasure hidden in the field; for the sake of a man will gladly go and sell all that he has. It is the pearl of great price to buy which the merchant will sell all his goods. It is the kingly rule of Christ, for whose sake a man will pluck out the eye which cause him to stumble, it is the call of Jesus Christ at which the disciple leaves his nets and follows him.

Costly grace is the gospel which must be sought again and again, the gift which must be asked for, the door at which a man must knock.

Such grace is costly because it calls us to follow, and it is grace because it calls us to follow Jesus Christ. It is costly because it costs a man his life, and it is grace because it gives a man the only true life. It is costly because it condemns sin, and grace because it justifies the sinner. Above all, it is costly because it cost God the life of his Son: “ye were bought at a price.” And what has cost God much cannot be cheap for us. Above all, it is grace because God did not reckon his Son too dear a price to pay for our life, but delivered him up for us. Costly grace is the Incarnation of God. (Dietrich Bonhoeffer, Costly Grace, pp. 45-48.)

I think that says it all!