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Old 05-14-2009, 08:41 PM
CKG CKG is offline
 
Join Date: Dec 2008
Location: Warner Robins, Georgia
Posts: 197
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Mathew Ward View Post
Paul did teach discipleship 1 Thessalonians 2:3-13.

1. Spoke the Bible - Their Purpose (v3-6)
2. Gentle Leading - Their Progress (v7-8)
3. Living Examples - Their Pattern (v9-10)
4. Individual Attention - Their Provision (v11-12)
5. Taught the Word - Their Primer (v13)

A disciple is simply a "Student of Christ", in order for there to be a student there must also be a teacher or mentor. You could also describe it in terms of an apprentice.
I think you're missing what I'm saying. My original post said "The word disciple is used 226 times in the gospels yet never used in Paul's epistles". I didn't say Paul didn't teach discipleship. For instance Paul tells us;
And the things that thou hast heard of me among many witnesses, the same commit thou to faithful men, who shall be able to teach others also. (2 Timothy 2:2)
My point was that Paul's emphasis was different than that of Jesus'. Paul never tells us;
......if thou wilt enter into life, keep the commandments. (Matthew 19:17)

The young man saith unto him, All these things have I kept from my youth
up: what lack I yet? Jesus said unto him, If thou wilt be perfect, go
and sell that thou hast, and give to the poor, and thou shalt have
treasure in heaven: and come and follow me. (Matthew 19:20-21)

And every one that hath forsaken houses, or brethren, or sisters, or
father, or mother, or wife, or children, or lands, for my name's sake,
shall receive an hundredfold, and shall inherit everlasting life.
(Matthew 19:29)

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)
Jesus came as Israel's Messiah and his main emphasis was kingdom teaching, yet he knew the nation would reject him. He does mention the new birth in John 3. He does teach about the Holy Spirit in John 14-16. He tells them he's going to Jerusalem and will be killed and raised the third day, but they didn't understand. Jesus' disciples didn't understand the gospel message that we know that Paul presented in 1 Corinthians 15. We can see the gospel message in the Gospels, but they didn't because a lot of what Jesus said, again, was kingdom teaching. The reason I am laboring at this point is because folks like John MacArthur write books like "The Gospel According to Jesus" and try and force kingdom teaching into the gospel message that Paul taught and you wind up with Lordship salvation.

Yes Paul taught discipleship, but that wasn't his main emphasis (at least not like Jesus taught). Paul taught relationship. His emphasis was that everything has been accomplished by our Lord Jesus and because of our position in him we are forgiven, have the righteousness of Christ, are indwelt and sealed by the Holy Spirit, are dead to sin, just to name a few truths. Paul wants us to know these facts that are already true of us and walk in light of these truths.
Therefore if any man be in Christ, he is a new creature: old things are passed away; behold, all things are become new. (2 Corinthians 5:17)

To whom God would make known what is the riches of the glory of this mystery among the Gentiles; which is Christ in you, the hope of glory: (Colossians 1:17)
Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who hath blessed us with all spiritual blessings in heavenly places in Christ: According as he hath chosen us in him before the foundation of the world, that we should be holy and without blame before him in love: Having predestinated us unto the adoption of children by Jesus Christ to himself, according to the good pleasure of his will, To the praise of the glory of his grace, wherein he hath made us accepted in the beloved. In whom we have redemption through his blood, the forgiveness of sins, according to the riches of his grace; (Ephesians 1:3-7)
In whom we have redemption through his blood, even the forgiveness of sins: (Colossians 1:14)
Being justified freely by his grace through the redemption that is in Christ Jesus: (Romans 3:24)
For the law of the Spirit of life in Christ Jesus hath made me free from the law of sin and death. (Romans 8:2)

Unto the church of God which is at Corinth, to them that are sanctified in Christ Jesus, called to be saints, with all that in every place call upon the name of Jesus Christ our Lord, both their's and our's: (1 Corinthians 1:2)
But of him are ye in Christ Jesus, who of God is made unto us wisdom, and righteousness, and sanctification, and redemption:
If you don't understand the difference between what Paul taught and what Jesus taught his Jewish disciples then you run the risk of:
Are ye so foolish? having begun in the Spirit, are ye now made perfect by the flesh? (Galatians 3:3)

By the way it's not a Paul versus Jesus thing because Paul tells us;
But I certify you, brethren, that the gospel which was preached of me is not after man.For I neither received it of man, neither was I taught it, but by the revelation of Jesus Christ. (Galatians 1:11-12)