God
is the Master of the kingdom, the power and the glory.
He
made mankind in His image, according to His likeness
to show His glory to them (whom He created) (Gen 1:26-27).
He made them holy by giving the spirit of God’s revelation (Gen 2:16-17).
However,
mankind’s ancestor fell by the devil’s deception and corrupted,
was severed from God (Gen 3:9-10),
and his spirit was judged (Heb 9:27).
But God’s love gave the Gospel on behalf of mankind.
God sent His special revelation as ‘Immanuel’ (Mt 1:21-23),
and He called Jesus’ disciples
so that they could receive the revelation from Jesus to man (Jn 14:12-14).
Jesus’ twelve disciples are chosen workers
like the twelve tribes of Israel (Acts 1:2).
He had them stay with Him (Mk 3:13-15),
preach the Gospel with Him,
and gave them authority to drive out demons like Him.
And
when Jesus finished His work in the world and ascended,
He gave the authority of heaven to the twelve disciples (Mt 28:18-20).
Jesus’ disciples were led by the Holy Spirit
and became great pillars of the Christian church (Rev 21:14).
○ As Matthias replaced Judas Iscariot among the disciples,
the churches of today are His disciples.
○ As Manasseh replaced the tribe of Dan (which disappeared among the twelve tribes),
the church of today is raised as His disciple.
○ The Lord’s disciples are one body with Him in life and death,
and they deeply love the Lord Jesus.
※ Though you say you are a disciple of Jesus
– if you do not walk with Jesus – you are a religious person and a hypocrite.
Jesus’ disciples must follow the purpose of His calling.