Weekly Devotional 10-30-17 Apostle or Disciple
Recently, we received this question from a Facebook friend; “What is the difference between a disciple and an apostle?” In answer, I directed said friend to Acts 1:15-26 which reads; “15And in those days Peter stood up in the midst of the disciples (altogether the number of names was about a hundred and twenty), and said, ‘16Men and brethren, this Scripture had to be fulfilled, which the Holy Spirit spoke before by the mouth of David concerning Judas, who became a guide to those who arrested Jesus; 17for he was numbered with us and obtained a part in this ministry.’ 18(Now this man purchased a field with the wages of iniquity; and falling headlong, he burst open in the middle and all his entrails gushed out. 19And it became known to all those dwelling in Jerusalem; so that field is called in their own language, Akel Dama, that is, Field of Blood.) 20For it is written in the book of Psalms: ‘Let his dwelling place be desolate, And let no one live in it’; and, ‘Let another take his office.’ ‘21Therefore, of these men who have accompanied us all the time that the Lord Jesus went in and out among us, 22beginning from the baptism of John to that day when He was taken up from us, one of these must become a witness with us of His resurrection.’23And they proposed two: Joseph called Barsabas, who was surnamed Justus, and Matthias. 24And they prayed and said, ‘You, O Lord, who know the hearts of all, show which of these two You have chosen 25to take part in this ministry and apostleship from which Judas by transgression fell, that he might go to his own place.’ 26And they cast their lots, and the lot fell on Matthias. And he was numbered with the eleven apostles.”
The passage qualifies that an apostle was one who had personally witnessed the life of Jesus from the time of His baptism until He was taken up bodily into heaven. The apostle Paul was the only recorded exception. He testified that he had seen the risen Lord as one born out of due time and that by the grace of God he was numbered as an apostle (See 1st Corinthians 1-10a). Further, he had not received the Gospel of Jesus Christ by man, but by direct revelation of Him (See Galatians 1:10-19). By the qualification stated by Peter, of personally witnessing the life of Jesus and Paul’s seeing Him out of due time, and being taught by Him by direct revelation, no other persons would qualify as an apostle past, present or future.
A disciple, however, was one who has come, or comes to believe (have faith) in Jesus as being man’s salvation. This coming to faith was and is orchestrated by the Holy Spirit as He regenerates a person to newness of spiritual life (See John 3:1-8). Following this regeneration, the person regenerated forsakes all else and follows Jesus and His teachings. A disciple is a follower of Jesus, not by word only but by deed. Being a disciple, a follower is much more than making verbal attestations. It is a surrender of one’s self will to the will of Jesus. In a sense a true follower dies to self.
There is an interesting account recorded by Luke of certain men who thought they wanted to be disciples of Jesus. When faced with what that meant they turned aside making excuses wanting to put off a true commitment of discipleship until a later time. We read from Luke 9:57-62; “57Now it happened as they journeyed on the road, that someone said to Him, ‘Lord, I will follow You wherever You go.’ 58And Jesus said to him, ‘Foxes have holes and birds of the air have nests, but the Son of Man has nowhere to lay His head.’ 59Then He said to another, ‘Follow Me.’ But he said, ‘Lord, let me first go and bury my father.’ 60Jesus said to him, ‘Let the dead bury their own dead, but you go and preach the kingdom of God.’ 61And another also said, ‘Lord, I will follow You, but let me first go and bid them farewell who are at my house.’ 62But Jesus said to him, ‘No one, having put his hand to the plow, and looking back, is fit for the kingdom of God.’” These men were not truly seeking the kingdom of heaven but wanted to glean what they could from an association with Jesus.”
In another setting Jesus said, “21Not everyone who says to Me, ‘Lord, Lord,’ shall enter the kingdom of heaven, but he who does the will of My Father in heaven. 22Many will say to Me in that day, ‘Lord, Lord, have we not prophesied in Your name, cast out demons in Your name, and done many wonders in Your name?’ 23And then I will declare to them, ‘I never knew you; depart from Me, you who practice lawlessness!’ ‘24Therefore whoever hears these sayings of Mine, and does them, I will liken him to a wise man who built his house on the rock: 25and the rain descended, the floods came, and the winds blew and beat on that house; and it did not fall, for it was founded on the rock. 26But everyone who hears these sayings of Mine, and does not do them, will be like a foolish man who built his house on the sand: 27and the rain descended, the floods came, and the winds blew and beat on that house; and it fell. And great was its fall.’”
Therefore, in ending our answer to the friend mentioned above, while we cannot be apostles, that office ceased with the death of the apostle John; we can be disciples or followers of Jesus, but only if regenerated by the Holy Spirit and by being truly committed to Him.
stevelampman@comcast.net stevelampman.com
Transforming Power; The Work of God on Behalf of Man