It is not only the 12 apostles who are the disciples of Christ. Everyone who receives the gospel of Jesus Christ and follow the same is a disciple of Jesus Christ. The disciples are those who follow the teachings of a master. Our master is the Lord Jesus Christ. We who have believed in Him are his disciples. It is not only the twelve apostles who were with Jesus at the beginning who are accounted for as the disciples. The Bible records that at the time Jesus Christ resurrected, there were already more than 500 disciples. The twelve apostles were those who walked with Jesus Christ and were eye witnesses of His glory and majesty. The apostles have passed on the doctrines to us. We have learnt from them. We ourselves are the disciples of Jesus now. We have to prove ourselves as the true disciples.
A true disciple is someone who follows the teachings of His master wholly. As we are the disciples of Jesus Christ, we should commit ourselves to obeying the commandments of God. We are to prove ourselves as his followers. Obedience to the doctrines is what will make us true disciples. We are living in the days where some brethren find it difficult to obey all the commandments of God. Some of only obey those part of the doctrines that are pleasant to our flesh. We choose to quote from those passages in the Bible that proclaim blessings. We do not want to follow the parts that tell us to shun fleshly desires and lust. That will not qualify us as the true disciples of Jesus Christ.
The church of God is the house of God. It is the family of those who obeys the commandments of God. We should turn away from every carnal pleasures and live in obedience to the doctrines which we are given in the church.
