Jesus said to go and make disciples “making learners” from all the people of the world. How? “by teaching them to observe all things that I have commanded you.” The apostles did not preach for one to become a disciple. They preached the Gospel for one to be saved – to be forgiven of their sins, and learn and be conformed to his likeness.

The name Christian appears three times in the New Testament and the word “disciple” appears at least 250 times. Christian at the time meant a derogatory term, one who follows Christ. In the synoptic gospels the term disciple is used 160 times, John 78 times, Book of Acts after the church began 28 times. We can see the number of times it is being used is slowly dwindled, the question is why? Not once is it used in the rest of the New Testament after the book of Acts. Instead the Church members are identified as saints, brethren. As the Church developed it was called the body of Christ. This meant membership in Christ himself by Spirit baptism 1 Cor.12:13. You can follow Christ and be a disciple and still not be saved, or, you can be saved and follow which makes you a saint, one of the brethren. This term “Saint” was first used in the New Testament after the resurrection (Mt.27:52). The word Saint show’s ones new position in Christ as they are set aside for his service, they are part of the church, the word disciple shows one is a learner and may not yet be part of the church.