True Disciples - Message Study Questions

Message Summary

Jesus warned against false prophets last week (Matthew 7:15-20). This week he warns against false professions of faith. Some people who claim to follow Jesus really don’t. Rather than a connection with Jesus and following Him through faith, they are Christians in name only. Ultimately, they build their own kingdom apart from God, following their own rules. Jesus said, “Only those who actually do the will of my Father in heaven will enter” (Mt 7:21b NLT). Jesus isn’t talking about legalism, but a decision to believe in Jesus as God the son, to be born again. And being born again involves repenting from sin, deciding to follow Jesus and obey His teachings, and so receiving the Holy Spirit, who will naturally produce the fruit of a changed life.

Salvation isn’t by works. Rather, good deeds are the fruit of true faith. Those who do not truly follow Jesus in faith trust in themselves and their own righteousness. Jesus said He never knew them. Therefore, the people in this passage weren’t Christians who lost their salvation; they were never Christians in the first place and are destined for eternal separation from God.

Have you been born again? If so, when?
If you haven’t been born again, what is stopping you?

Consider This

Believers can have assurance of salvation through a threefold confirmation; first, the promises of God’s word. Jesus said, “Truly, truly, I say to you, he who believes has eternal life” (John 6:47 NASB). Secondly, the presence of the Holy Spirit’s ministry, including conviction of sin (guilt), provides assurance. And thirdly, a changed life is the sure fruit of true faith.

Read Matthew 7:21-23. Why will not everyone who says, “Lord, Lord,” be saved (verse 21)?
Who will enter the kingdom of heaven (verse 21)? What does this mean to you?
Do you think false disciples can really prophesy, cast out demons and perform miracles in Jesus’ name, or that they just said they did? If yes, how?
As one of the Twelve, we can assume that Judas spoke in Jesus’ name, performed miracles, and probably cast out demons. Yet what does the Bible say about his spiritual condition in John 12:4-6, 13:10, 26-27, 17:12?
Read John 15:1-10. What does it mean to abide in Jesus?
Can you think of ways God might remove dead or useless branches from your life?
Read Ephesians 2:8-10. Explain how do these truths dovetail with this passage in Matthew 7:21-23.
If you doubt your salvation, does that mean you are not truly saved? Read 1 John 5:13. Can you know for sure that you have eternal life? How?
What evidence do you have to show you have a relationship with Jesus?

Moving Forward – Application

The Apostle said, “But to all who believed him (Jesus) and accepted him, he gave the right to become children of God” (John 1:12 NLT2). This week’s message focused on the need for a changed life—a life that once having decided to believe in Jesus, follows Him by faith and allows God to change him or her through the power of the Holy Spirit.

Have you put your faith in Jesus? If not, will you do it this week? This is how you become born again. Through prayer, you invite Christ into your life. You repent of your sins and believe that Jesus is God. Once you do that, the Holy Spirit indwells you.
In what part of your life do you want to begin acting more like Jesus’ disciple? Will you ask in prayer for the Holy Spirit to empower you to make that change?
List some ways you can show your faith in Jesus this week. Then do it.
This week, consider the following passages. Jot down the insights they give you about fruit and what Christian fruit means in your life?
- Matthew 12:33-34
- Romans 15:26, 28
- Galatians 5:22-23
- Philippians 1:11
- Colossians 1:10
- Hebrews 13:15
- James 3:17-18