Hello and welcome to the New Life in Christ website.  At new Life, we are committed to sharing the word of God.  We have dedicated this website to help people understand the Gospel of Jesus Christ, repentance toward God and faith in Jesus Christ, how to be born again, and biblical discipleship.  

In this teaching, we want to help you understand the importance of true biblical discipleship. Discipleship is an ongoing process in our walk with the Lord, in our being perfected and made more like Jesus.   

Biblical Discipleship

"And Jesus came and spoke to them, saying, 'All authority has been given to Me in heaven and on earth.  Go therefore and make disciples of all the nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, teaching them to observe all things that I have commanded you; and lo, I am with you always, even to the end of the age.'"  Matthew 28:18-20 

The Lord Jesus commanded us to make disciples. Discipleship is an ongoing requirement for born again believers in Christ. It is not our aim to disciple people through this website, as we believe that true biblical discipleship is a daily gathering of saints stirring up one another in love and good works. In addition, we believe that the saints should gather as much as possible to help edify, encourage and strengthen one another through the gifts given by the Holy Spirit.

"And let us consider one another in order to stir one another, in order to stir up love and good works, not forsaking the assembling of ourselves together, as is the manner of some, but exhorting one another, and so much more as you see the Day approaching."   Hebrews 10:24-25

Are You a True Disciple of Christ?

Are you a true disciple of Christ, or mostly a church going person? This is a vitally important question. Just because we go to church, and believe that Jesus Christ died on the cross, does not make us a disciple of Christ. Unfortunately, many are told that they become a disciple of Christ, or are saved, because they said a sinner’s prayer or asked Jesus into their heart. This teaching is unbiblical. Neither Jesus nor any of the Apostles, or any other preacher of the word of God in scripture, ever told someone to repeat a prayer for salvation or ask Jesus into your heart. While this is a common teaching today, it is not biblical; and everyone who calls themselves a Christian must diligently search the scriptures so they understand the truth about salvation and discipleship.     

A true disciple of Christ understands the cost to be a disciple. They have repented of their sins, their way and their will. They believe the gospel, are baptized in Jesus name and receive the gift of the Holy Spirit. However, after this awesome conversion, they must continue their walk in biblical discipleship. 

"When He had called the people to Himself, with His disciples also, He said to them, 'Whoever desires to come after Me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross, and follow Me.   For whoever desires to save his life will lose it, but whoever loses his life for My sake and the gospel’s will save it.'"   Mark 8:34-35 ^"

 Radical Disciples

"Now great multitudes went with Him. And He turned and said to them,  ^'If anyone comes to Me and does not hate his father and mother, wife and children, brothers and sisters, yes, and his own life also, he cannot be My disciple.  And whoever does not bear his cross and come after Me cannot be My disciple.'"   Luke 14:25-27

 ^"For which of you, intending to build a tower, does not sit down first and count the cost, whether he has enough to finish it—  lest, after he has laid the foundation, and is not able to finish, all who see it begin to mock him,  saying, ‘This man began to build and was not able to finish?  Or what king, going to make war against another king, does not sit down first and consider whether he is able with ten thousand to meet him who comes against him with twenty thousand?  Or else, while the other is still a great way off, he sends a delegation and asks conditions of peace.  So likewise, whoever of you does not forsake all that he has cannot be My disciple.'"   Luke 14:28-33 

The making of disciples is a life-long commitment for both those being discipled and for those called by God to disciple. In order for a disciple of Christ to mature and grow in the things of the Lord, they must be grounded in the principles of Christ. The bible gives us a clear understanding of those principals.  It’s these core elementary principles of Christ that must be the foundation of every true believer. 

Ongoing Discipleship

"Therefore, leaving the discussion of elementary principles of Christ, let us go on to perfection, not laying again the foundation of repentance from dead works and of faith toward God, of the doctrine of baptisms, of laying on of hands, of resurrection of the dead, and of eternal judgment."  Hebrews 6:1-2

The Lord wants all His disciples to go on to perfection. We must first understand and live out the core principles of Christ. Those elementary principles are:

1) repentance from dead works

2) faith toward God

3) doctrine of baptisms

4) laying on of hands

5) resurrection of the dead

6) eternal judgment

These biblical principles are essential for the grounding and growth of each believer. However, as a very dear brother pointed out to me many years ago, we must not overlook what it says in the very next verse:

"And this we will do if God permits."  Hebrews 6:3

Imagine building a structure with a faulty foundation, and you were permitted (received a permit) to continue building upon this faulty foundation. It would not take very long for the structure to crumble, crack and fall.   It would become evident that the foundation was faulty. God must permit us to move on and grow into maturity, and that cannot be done without a proper biblical foundation.

The foundation described in these six elementary principles ground every believer in the truths of Christ. If these foundational truths are not taught, not understood, and more importantly not believed; then how can God build us up. God must give us the permit to move on. He wants us all to move on to perfection, meaning maturity in Him and through Him, as we journey upon earth, hasting His imminent return.