Salvation vs Discipleship
Discipleship is not salvation. Religions need to make sure that it is clear to people who are considering taking a discipleship course. Consider Judas—he was a disciple, walking alongside Jesus, yet he never truly believed or entrusted his heart to Christ as the Son of God. Despite sharing in the journey, he ultimately betrayed Jesus for money and was consumed by guilt, ending his life in tragedy. The lesson is stark: being a disciple isn’t synonymous with salvation.
Luke 14:26-33 Jesus explains the cost of Discipleship. 26 “If anyone comes to me and does not hate his father and mother and his wife and children and brothers and sisters, yes even his own life. He cannot be my disciple.” 27 “Whoever does not carry his own cross and come after me cannot be my disciple.” Jesus explains why. 28 “For which one of you, when he wants to build a tower, does not first sit down and calculate the cost to see if he has enough to complete it?” Picture the builder, eager to start, yet confronted with the challenge of finishing strong—if he fails, mockery awaits. 29 “Otherwise, when he has laid a foundation, and is not able to finish. All who observe it begin to ridicule him.” 30 saying, “This man began to build and was not able to finish.” 31 “Or what king, when he sets out to meet another king in battle, will not first sit down and take council whether he is strong enough with 10,000 men to encounter the one coming against him with 20,000? 32 “Or else, while the other is still far away, he sends a delegation and asks for terms of peace. Then Jesus concludes. 33 “So therefore, no one of you can be My disciple who does not give up all his own possessions.” (NAS) The message is clear and compelling: discipleship demands a radical commitment—a willingness to surrender everything and follow Him, whatever the cost.
