They have accepted Jesus as their Savior but not as their Lord.

One of the reasons many Christians are not disciples of Jesus Christ is that they have chosen Jesus Christ only as their Savior and not as their Lord. It is about these people that Jesus said, “Why do you call me Lord, Lord, and do not do what I say?” People who have accepted Jesus as their Savior and not as their Lord also belong to this category of people about whom God said they honor Him with their lips but their hearts are far from Him.

“The Lord says: These people come near to me with their mouth and honor me with their lips, but their hearts are far from me. Their worship of me is based on merely human rules they have been taught.” Isaiah 29:13

Just as tens of thousands of people followed Jesus but only a handful were willing to do His will, so too are churches filled with members on Sundays while only a very small number are willing to carry out the work. The vast majority of those who attend churches want to follow Jesus while continuing to live their lives as they please. These people are not ready to change their lifestyle for Jesus. They continue to seek their own interests instead of the interests of Jesus Christ.

In his letter to the Philippians, the apostle Paul declares that despite the church having many members, he cannot find a true disciple because everyone seeks their own interests instead of those of Christ.

“I hope in the Lord Jesus to send Timothy to you soon, that I also may be cheered when I receive news about you. I have no one else like him, who will show genuine concern for your welfare. For everyone looks out for their own interests, not those of Jesus Christ.” Philippians 2:19-21

If we refuse to become disciples of Jesus because we want to continue seeking our own interests instead of those of Christ, we must remember that the Bible says God cannot be mocked. A man reaps what he sows.

“Do not be deceived: God cannot be mocked. A man reaps what he sows.” Galatians 6:7

2. They mistakenly think they are already disciples.

Another reason most Christians are not disciples is that they mistakenly believe they are already disciples. When Jesus taught, He often denounced the hypocrisy of the Pharisees. The Pharisees were religious people who appeared holy and blameless although their hearts were far from God. Jesus even compared them to whitewashed tombs (Matt. 23:27).

Many Christians are like Pharisees. They have the appearance of disciples, which leads other members of the body of Christ to call them “disciples.” By being called disciples repeatedly, this category of Christians ends up being convinced that they are truly disciples of Jesus Christ. The mistake they make is forgetting that it is Jesus alone who knows who His disciple is and who is not. This mistake or false reasoning prevents them from taking time to learn to become disciples of Jesus Christ.

In the book of Revelation, the Bible speaks of Christians who do not become what God wants them to be because of their pretension. They think they are what they are not in reality.

“You say, ‘I am rich; I have acquired wealth and do not need a thing.’ But you do not realize that you are wretched, pitiful, poor, blind, and naked. I counsel you to buy from me gold refined in the fire, so you can become rich; and white clothes to wear, so you can cover your shameful nakedness; and salve to put on your eyes, so you can see.” Revelation 3:17-18

I remember one day, while teaching about love in church, I asked if there was anyone in the room who thought they had difficulties loving others. No one raised their hand because everyone present claimed to love others. When we are convinced that we love others, it becomes impossible for us to receive divine support in the matter of love. Similarly, by pretending to be disciples of Jesus Christ, we prevent the Holy Spirit from helping us become true disciples of Jesus Christ.

3. They want to continue being free to lead their own lives.

Another reason many Christians are not disciples is that many want to continue being free to lead their lives as they wish. When Jesus was about to go to the cross, the Bible says He asked God the Father to take this cup from Him. Jesus’ will at that moment was to stop the mission or find another way to save humanity apart from the cross. But Jesus quickly regained Himself and remembered that He had committed to doing not His will, but the will of His heavenly Father.

The true disciple is led to renounce their own will to do only the will of Christ. This is the commitment that all Christians are supposed to have made the day they gave their lives to Jesus Christ by accepting Him as Lord and Savior. But reality shows that although they have given their lives to Christ by the confession of their lips, the way they lead their daily lives demonstrates that it is not Christ who controls our lives. This explains why Jesus could ask why we call Him Lord, Lord, and do not do His will.

“Why do you call me Lord, Lord, and do not do what I say?” Luke 6:46

It is important for all of us to understand that the basis of our relationship with Christ is submission. To submit implies that we renounce our own will in favor of our Master’s will. Jesus cannot be our Master while we remain our own master. Whoever wants to follow Jesus while following their own will should be considered as someone who pretends to follow two masters at once. We know well that Jesus taught us that it is impossible for a man to serve two masters at the same time.

“No one can serve two masters. Either you will hate the one and love the other, or you will be devoted to the one and despise the other. You cannot serve both God and money.” Matthew 6:24

4. They are afraid of suffering.

Many Christians do not want to become true disciples of Jesus Christ because they are afraid of the suffering that can be associated with the life of a disciple. The Bible is filled with examples of men and women who suffered in one way or another because of their attachment to Christ. Jesus Himself made many statements that lead to the conclusion that anyone who commits to following Him should be ready to face all kinds of persecution. Thus, Jesus once declared that His disciples should be joyful when they are persecuted and when people falsely say all kinds of evil against them because of their Master.

“Blessed are you when people insult you, persecute you, and falsely say all kinds of evil against you because of me. Rejoice and be glad, because great is your reward in heaven, for in the same way they persecuted the prophets who were before you.” Matthew 5:11-12

Jesus also declared that a grain of wheat that falls to the ground must first accept to die if it wants to bear fruit.

“Very truly I tell you, unless a kernel of wheat falls to the ground and dies, it remains only a single seed. But if it dies, it produces many seeds.” John 12:24

Many Christians know these words of Jesus that refer to suffering, loss, and death. These Christians want Jesus but are not ready to live what Jesus speaks of. They dream of a Christian life without suffering, loss, or death. They want to live a Christian life that is not in accordance with the Word of God, a Christian life limited to coming to church when it suits them, praying when they have problems, and speaking of Jesus only in the presence of other Christians. This category of Christians runs the risk that Jesus will say to them on the last day that He never knew them.

“Then I will tell them plainly, ‘I never knew you. Away from me, you evildoers!‘” Matthew 7:23

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This text is an excerpt from the book “THE TRUE DISCIPLE OF JESUS CHRIST” written by Dominique MBOG.

We invite you to read the following article “FOLLOW JESUS.“