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DISCIPLES OF CHRIST

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Seventh-Day Adventist Publishing Association · Battle Creek, Mich. · Thursday, February 26, 1880

FromThe Advent Review and Sabbath Herald, Vol. 55, No. 9

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DISCIPLES OF CHRIST.

By A. S. Hutchins

BY ELD. A. S. HUTCHINS.
A DISCIPLE of Christ is one who believes his doctrine, reduces to practice the truths he taught, and follows his example. Cruden says: “The word Disciple, absolutely taken, signifies, in the New Testament, a believer, a Christian, a scholar, a follower of Christ or his apostles.”
The disciple enters the school of Christ as a learner. This is the attitude he must maintain if he would at last be a victor. To him the great Teacher says: “Take my yoke upon you, and learn of me; for I am meek and lowly in heart: and ye shall find rest unto your souls.”
The conditions of our discipleship are plainly and repeatedly stated by the Saviour. The following are his words: “And whosoever doth not bear his cross, and come after me, cannot be my disciple.” Luke 14:27.
There is a daily cross. Says Jesus, “If any man will come after me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross, and follow me.” Matt. 16:24. My brother, this means you, it means me, any one, each one who would follow Christ. He must bear his cross, not shrink from it, shun it, or walk around it.
It is the life of the Christian to bear the cross. Hereby he may acquire a love for it, yea, more, he may learn to glory in it. Says the apostle, “God forbid that I should glory, save in the cross of our Lord Jesus Christ, by whom the world is crucified unto me, and I unto the world.” Gal. 6:14.
By means of this crucifixion Christ lived in the apostle, and the apostle lived in him: “I am crucified with Christ: nevertheless I live; yet not I, but Christ liveth in me: and the life which I now live in the flesh I live by the faith of the Son of God, who loved me, and gave himself for me.” Gal. 2:20.
Who can read such scriptures and not desire to be a disciple of Christ—to suffer with him, that he might also reign with him? Reader, will you still be a learner in the school of Christ, and gain the promised rest, or will you refuse to bear the cross? Some will “crucify to themselves the Son of God afresh, and put him to an open shame.” Heb. 6:6.
“Our flesh and sense must be denied, Passion and envy, lust and pride.”