(From The Cost of Discipleship by Bonhoeffer, chapter 2 notes)
The call goes forth and is followed by a response of obedience. The response is an act of obedience and not a confession of faith.
It is Jesus who calls. Notice that Jesus/the Bible never praises a disciple for obeying the call. The call goes forth and one is obedient to that call.
Discipleship is obedience. Without obedience, there is no discipleship.
A disciple must be willing to leave all for the sake of the call.
"Discipleship means Jesus Christ, and Him alone. It cannot consist of anything more than that."
Only God calls people to follow.
There are different types of disciples when reduced to human understanding:
1. Those who want to follow without being called (this person does not know what they are doing).
2. Those who want to follow, but the law (obligation) get in the way (Jesus says "just follow"...no excuses)
3. Those who want to follow on their own terms. He wants to follow, but has his own conditions and terms.
"This disciple places himself at the Master's disposal, but at the same times retains the right to dictate his own terms. But then discipleship is no longer discipleship, but a programme of our own to be arranged to suit ourselves, and to be judged in accordance with the standards of a rational ethic."
Wow....this one could say a lot about Salvation Army officership and the conditions that are placed upon the Army in order for people to "fulfill" their call to full-time ministry in the Army context.
To follow:
The past is the past. The call to follow Jesus produces a "now" situation.
To follow brings one into fellowship with Jesus and binds him to Christ alone.
To follow makes faith possible. Lots of people hear the call, but do not obey. The call vanishes without obedience/following.
Discipleship is not an offer one makes to Christ.
Only he who believes is obedient, and only he who is obedient believes.
When you are disobedient you are trying to keep part of your life under your own control. You cannot hear Christ when you are willfully disobedient.
First, faith, then obedience. For faith is only real when there is obedience. Faith only becomes faith in the act of obedience.
Lots of people think they believe but lack obedience. They are not disciples.
"Unbelief thrives on cheap grace, for it is determined to persist in disobedience" (pg.60).
The devil hides under the cloak of cheap grace.
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The commitment issue. Jesus is not interested in excuses or in problems, but in the person. Difficulties show disobedience. Doubt and reflection take the place of spontaneous obedience.
The call to discipleship requires spontaneous obedience.
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