“For God is with the righteous generation. You would put to death the counsel of the afflicted, but the Lord is His refuge.” Psalm 14:5-6 

David begins Psalm 14 with an apparently hopeless statement, “There is no one who does good.” In verse 1, all the world has seemingly turned aside ... they are corrupt, committing abominable deeds ... there is not even ONE who does good. What a desolate thought. Reminds me of Elijah’s heartache in 1 Kings 19:10 ... “The sons of Israel have forsaken your covenant, torn down Your altars and killed your prophets with the sword. And I alone am left ...”

But hang on, David! As the Lord “looks down from heaven to see if there are any who understand, who seek after God,” (v. 2) David has an epiphany, declaring, “God is with the righteous generation,” (v. 5) and “the Lord is his refuge”! (v. 6) There is a remnant, just as God reminded Elijah later on in that great man’s despair. He was - and we are - part of a righteous generation that God has left alive and it is well and truly living. It might be tiny. It might be hard to find amid this generation of sons of men (just as it was then) who say “there is no God.” (v. 1) But it is there - hallelujah!

David goes on in v. 7 to express his longing for the salvation of Israel. Well - it has come. It has come with a new Kingdom, one that cannot be shaken or crushed. And the spiritual Israel can be glad, for Jesus has already overcome its enemy and WE are living in that age of redemption. What an incredible time to live. The age David hoped for - the age the prophets desired to see - we are the ones privileged to live in it, within the blessings of the life, death, and resurrection of the Son of God, the One who ultimately delivered Israel and reigns now until the end of time. What a truly awesome reality.

And because it is reality, I am encouraged today. I do get fainthearted like David and Elijah. I am tempted often to feel incredibly alone and hopeless. But just as David realized when writing this psalm, that is never completely the case. And because of the power of the Son of God, my life will never be hopeless even in my deepest pain: “for God is with the righteous generation ... the Lord is his refuge.” Praise the Lord.

A disciple learns and follows the teachings of another. Therefore, appreciating and applying this definition is essential to accurately assess whether one is or is not a disciple of Jesus Christ.

One may learn the teachings of another person without being a disciple. For example, one may know the teachings of Karl Marx, yet not be his disciple. However, learning plus following his social and economic philosophies would make one a disciple of Marx.

Likewise, one may learn the teachings of Jesus yet not be His disciple. Jesus said, “If you abide in my word, you are My disciples indeed. And you shall know the truth, and the truth shall make you free” (John 8:31-32). When one trains himself with and follows the teachings of the Master, he is genuinely the Master’s disciple (Luke 6:40).

The great commission to “go therefore and make disciples of (“teach,” KJV) all the nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, teaching them to observe all things that I have commanded you” does not say a disciple learns but does not obey the gospel of Christ (Matt. 28:19-20). Some soften the force of truth by telling believers who do not obey Christ that they are disciples of Christ. No, not yet. Those who only believe are not disciples of Christ (Heb. 5:9; James 2:17, 24). They are still lost. Such softening of the gospel message is, in fact, a perversion that gives sinners false hope while endangering those who teach such error (Luke 6:46; Gal. 1:6-10).

One who knows the truth but does not obey the truth is not a disciple of Christ. That person remains lost in sin. Saul knew the truth, but his sins were not washed away until he obeyed the truth by being baptized (Acts 22:16). A disciple of Christ is a Christian precisely because he believes and obeys (learns and follows) the teaching of Christ (Mark 16:15-16). There are no unrepentant, unbaptized disciples of Christ.

Teach the lost their actual spiritual condition. Teach the lost how to be saved in Christ. Teach the lost the gospel that saves souls from death (Rom. 1:16-17; 10:8-17; 6:3-4). Teach the lost to believe and obey Jesus to be saved and become disciples of Christ (Rom. 6:17-18; Mark 16:15-16; Acts 2:36-41, 47).

Disciples are saved in Christ and “continue steadfastly in the apostles’ teaching” (Acts 2:42). A disciple is not a Christian in prospect. A disciple is a learner who follows the Master. Disciples are Christians (Acts 11:26). 

-The Spirit’s Sword (Feb. 26, 2012)

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