All of this is to say that a truly successful minister is one who obeys Jesus’ commandment to make disciples, and who knows that repentance, commitment and discipleship are not options for heaven-bound believers. Rather, they are the only authentic expression of saving faith. Therefore, the successful minister preaches a biblical gospel to the unsaved. He calls the unsaved to repent and follow Jesus, and he does not assure the uncommitted of their salvation.

There are many we could consider, but let us look at one other call to commitment by the Lord Jesus that is nothing less than a call to salvation:

Come to Me, all who are weary and heavy-laden, and I will give you rest. Take My yoke upon you and learn from Me, for I am gentle and humble in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. For My yoke is easy and My burden is light (Matt. 11:28-30).

Evangelists often use this passage of Scripture in their evangelistic invitations, and rightly so. These words are clearly an invitation to salvation. Here Jesus is offering rest to those who are “weary and heavy-laden.” He is not offering physical rest for those who are physically burdened, but rest for their souls, as He says. Unsaved people are weighted down with guilt, fear and sin, and when they become weary of it, they then become good candidates for salvation.

If such people want to receive the rest that Jesus is offering, they must do two things according to Him. They must (1) come to Him and (2), they must take His yoke upon them.

False grace teachers often twist the obvious meaning of the expression “taking Jesus’ yoke.” Some actually claim that Jesus was speaking of a yoke that must be around His own neck, which is why He called it “My yoke.” And Jesus must have been speaking of a double-yoke they say, one half of which is around His neck and the other half of which is empty, waiting for us to take on our necks. We should understand, however, that Jesus is promising to do all the pulling of the plow because He said that His yoke is easy and His burden is light. Thus our only job, according to such teachers, is to make sure we stay yoked to Jesus by faith, allowing Him to do all the work for our salvation, while we just enjoy the benefits offered through His grace! That interpretation, obviously, is quite forced.

No, when Jesus said that weary people should take His yoke, He meant that they should submit to Him, making Him their master, allowing Him to direct their lives. That is why Jesus said we should take His yoke and then learn of Him. Unsaved people are like wild oxen, going their own way and ruling their own lives. When they take Jesus’ yoke, they give up control to Him. And the reason Jesus’ yoke is easy and His burden is light is because He empowers us by His indwelling Spirit to obey Him.

Thus we see again that Jesus called people to salvation, in this case symbolized as a rest for the weary, by calling people to submit to Him and make Him their Lord.

A perfect picture of salvation offered by grace through faith is found in the story of Jesus’ encounter with the woman caught in the act of adultery. Jesus said to her, “Neither do I condemn you [that is grace, because she deserved to be condemned]; go your way; from now on sin no more” (John 8:11, emphasis added). When she deserved to die, Jesus let her go free. He sent her away, however, with a warning: From now on sin no more. This is exactly what Jesus is saying to every sinner in the world—”I’m not condemning you now. You deserve to die and be condemned forever in hell, but I’m showing you grace. My grace, however, is only temporary, so repent. Stop sinning now, before My grace ends and you find yourself standing before My judgment seat as a guilty sinner.”

Let us imagine that adulterous woman repented as Jesus instructed her. If she did, she was saved by grace through faith. She was saved by grace because she could never have been saved without God’s grace, being a sinner. She could never rightly say that she earned her salvation by her works. And she was saved throughfaith because she believed in Jesus and thus believed what He said to her, heeding His warning, and turned from her sin before it was too late. Anyone who has genuine faith in Jesus will repent, because Jesus warned that unless people repent, they will perish (see Luke 13:3). Jesus also solemnly declared that only those who do the will of the Father will enter heaven (Matt. 7:21). If one believes in Jesus, one will believe and heed His warnings.

But let us imagine that the adulterous woman didn’t repent of her sin. She kept on sinning and then died and stood at Jesus’ judgment seat. Imagine her saying to Jesus, “Oh Jesus! It is so good to see You! I remember how You didn’t condemn me for my sin when I was brought before You on the earth. Surely You are still just as gracious. You didn’t condemn me then, so surely You won’t condemn me now!”

What do you think? Would Jesus welcome her into heaven? The answer is obvious. Paul warned, “Do not be deceived; neither fornicators…nor adulterers…shall inherit the kingdom of God” (1 Cor. 6:9-10).

All of this is to say that Jesus’ requirements for discipleship are nothing more than a requirement for genuine faith in Him, what amounts to saving faith. And everyone who has saving faith has been saved by grace through faith. There are no biblical grounds for the claim that, because salvation is by grace, Jesus’ requirements for discipleship are incompatible with His requirements for salvation. Discipleship is not an optional step for heaven-bound believers; rather, discipleship is the evidence of genuine saving faith.^[1]

This being so, to be successful in God’s eyes, a minister should begin rightly the process of disciple-making by preaching the true gospel, calling people to an obedient faith. When ministers promote the false doctrine that discipleship is an optional step of commitment for heaven-bound believers, they are working against Christ’s commandment to make disciples and are proclaiming a false grace and false gospel. Only Christ’s true disciples possess saving faith and are going to heaven, just as Jesus promised: “Not everyone who says to Me, ‘Lord, Lord,’ will enter the kingdom of heaven; but he who does the will of My Father who is in heaven” (Matt. 7:21).

^[1] It is also helpful to keep in mind that the reason Paul often affirmed that salvation is by grace and not works is because he was constantly fighting the true legalists of his day. Paul was not trying to correct people who taught that holiness is essential for heaven, because he himself believed and often affirmed that fact. Rather, he wrote to correct Jews who, having no concept of God’s grace in salvation, did not see any reason for Jesus to have died. Many did not believe that Gentiles could ever be saved because they had no concept of God’s grace making salvation possible. Some thought that circumcision, physical lineage, or keeping the Law (which they did not do anyway) earned one’s salvation, thus nullifying God’s grace and the need for Christ to have died.

For you are all sons of God through faith in Christ Jesus (Gal. 3:26, emphasis added).

Isn’t it wonderful to know that we are actually God’s own sons, born of His Spirit? When we come to Him in prayer, we approach Him not only as our God but also as our Father!

For we are His workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand so that we should walk in them (Eph. 2:10, emphasis added).

God has not only created us, He also recreated us in Christ. Moreover, God has predestined a ministry for each of us to fulfill, “good works…prepared beforehand.” We each have an individual divine destiny.

He made Him who knew no sin to be sin on our behalf, so that we might become the righteousness of God in Him (2 Cor. 5:21, emphasis added).

The righteousness that we possess because we are in Christ is actually God’s own righteousness. That’s because God has indwelt us and transformed us by the Holy Spirit. Our good deeds are really God’s good deeds through us.

But in all these things we overwhelmingly conquer through Him who loved us (Rom. 8:37, emphasis added).

What are “these things” of which Paul wrote? The verses in Romans that precede this verse reveal that they are the trials and sufferings that believers experience. Even in martyrdom we are the victors, although the world may consider us victims. We overwhelmingly conquer through Christ because when we die, we go to heaven!

I can do all things through Him who strengthens me (Phil. 4:13, emphasis added).

Through Christ, nothing is impossible to us because God gives us ability and strength. We can accomplish any task He gives us.

My God will supply all your needs according to His riches in glory in Christ Jesus (Phil. 4:19, emphasis added).

We can expect that God will meet our true needs if we seek first His kingdom. The Lord is our shepherd, and He takes care of His sheep!

We should believe and say that we are who God says we are.

We should believe and say that we can do what God says we can do.

We should believe and say that God is who He says He is.

We should believe and say that God will do what He says He will do.

Here are some scriptural statements that all believers can boldly declare. Not all are necessarily “in Christ” realities, but all are true according to Scripture.

I am redeemed, sanctified and made righteous in Christ (see 1 Cor. 1:30).

I’ve been transferred out of the kingdom of darkness and into to the kingdom of God’s Son, the kingdom of light (see Col. 1:13).

All of my sins have been forgiven in Christ (see Eph. 1:7).

I am a new creation in Christ—my old life has passed away (see 2 Cor. 5:17).

God has prepared good works beforehand for me to walk in (see Eph. 2:10).

I’ve become the righteousness of God in Christ (see 2 Cor. 5:21).

I overwhelmingly conquer in all things through Christ who loved me (see Rom. 8:37).

I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me (see Phil. 4:13).

My God supplies all my needs according to His riches in glory in Christ (see Phil. 4:19).

I am called to be a saint (see 1 Cor. 1:2).

I am a child of God (see John 1:12, 1 John 3:1-2).

My body is the temple of the Holy Spirit (see 1 Cor. 6:19).

It is no longer I who live, but Christ who lives in me (see Gal. 2:20).

I have been delivered from Satan’s authority (see Acts 26:18).

God’s love has been shed abroad in my heart by the Holy Spirit (see Rom. 5:5).

Greater is He who is in me than he (Satan) who is in the world (see 1 John 4:4).

I am blessed with every spiritual blessing in the heavenly places in Christ (see Eph. 1:3).

I am seated with Christ in heavenly places, far above all of Satan’s spiritual forces (see Eph. 2:4-6).

Because I love God and am called according to His purpose, He is causing all things to work together for good (see Rom. 8:28).

If God is for me, who can be against me? (see Rom. 8:31).

Nothing can separate me from Christ’s love (see Rom. 8:35-39).

All things are possible for me because I’m a believer (see Mark 9:23).

I am a priest of God (see Rev. 1:6).

Because I am His child, God is leading me by His Spirit (see Rom. 8:14).

As I follow the Lord, the path of my life is getting brighter and brighter (see Prov. 4:18).

God has given me special gifts to use for His service (see 1 Pet. 4:10-11).

I can cast out demons and lay hands on the sick so that they will recover (see Mark 16:17-18).

God always leads me in triumph in Christ (see 2 Cor. 2:14).

I am an ambassador for Christ (see 2 Cor. 5:20).

I have eternal life (see John 3:16).

Everything I ask in prayer, believing, I receive (see Matt. 21:22).

By Jesus’ stripes, I am healed (see 1 Pet. 2:24).

I am the salt of the earth and the light of the world (see Matt. 5:13-14).

I am an heir of God and a joint-heir with Jesus Christ (see Rom. 8:17).

I am part of a chosen race, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, and a people for God’s own possession (see 1 Pet. 2:9).

I am a member of the body of Christ (see 1 Cor. 12:27).

The Lord is my shepherd, I shall not want (see Ps. 23:1).

The Lord is the defense of my life—whom shall I fear? (see Ps. 27:1).

God will satisfy me with long life (see Ps. 91:16).

Christ bore my sicknesses and carried my pains (see Is. 53:4-5).

The Lord is my helper, so I will not be afraid (see Heb. 13:6).

I cast all my cares upon the Lord because He cares for me (see 1 Pet. 5:7).

I resist the devil, and he flees from me (see Jas. 4:7).

I am finding my life by losing if for Jesus’ sake (see Matt. 16:25).

I am the Lord’s bondslave (see 1 Cor. 7:22).

For me, to live is Christ, and to die is gain (see Phil. 1:21).

My citizenship is in heaven (see Phil. 3:20).

God will complete the good work He has begun in me (see Phil. 1:6).

God is at work within me, to do His good pleasure (see Phil. 2:13).

I’ve been redeemed from the curse of the law (see Gal. 3:13).

This is just a small sampling of positive declarations that we can make based on the Word of God. It would be a good idea to make a habit of saying these declarations until the truths they affirm become deeply rooted in our hearts. And we should monitor every word that comes out of our mouths to make sure we aren’t taking sides against what God has said.

Throughout the New Testament epistles, we find phrases such as “in Christ,” “with Christ,” “through Christ,” and “in Him.” These frequently reveal some benefit that we as believers possess because of what Jesus has done for us. When we see ourselves as God sees us, “in Christ,” it will help us to live as God wants us to live. The disciple-making minister will want to teach his disciples who they are in Christ to help them grow to full spiritual maturity.

First, what does it mean to be “in Christ”?

When we are born again, we’re placed into Christ’s body and become one with Him, spiritually. Let’s take a look at a few sample verses from the New Testament epistles that affirm this:

So we, who are many, are one body in Christ (Rom. 12:5, emphasis added).

But the one who joins himself to the Lord is one spirit with Him (1 Cor. 6:17, emphasis added).

Now you are Christ’s body, and individually members of it (1 Cor. 12:27, emphasis added).

We who have believed in the Lord Jesus Christ should see ourselves as joined to Him, members of His body and one spirit with Him. He is in us and we’re in Him.

Here’s a verse that tells us some of the benefits that we have by virtue of our being in Christ:

But by His doing you are in Christ Jesus , who became to us wisdom from God, and righteousness and sanctification, and redemption (1 Cor. 1:30, emphasis added).

In Christ, we’ve been made righteous (declared “not guilty” and now do what is right), sanctified (set apart for God’s holy use), and redeemed (purchased from slavery). We’re not waiting to be made righteous, sanctified or redeemed at some point in the future. Rather, we have all those blessings right now because we are in Christ.

In Christ we’ve had our former sins forgiven:

For He rescued us from the domain of darkness, and transferred us to the kingdom of His beloved Son, in whom we have redemption, the forgiveness of our sins (Col. 1:13-14, emphasis added).

Notice that this scripture also tells that that we’re no longer in Satan’s kingdom, the domain of darkness, but are now in the kingdom of light, the kingdom of Jesus.

Therefore if anyone is in Christ , he is a new creature; the old things passed away; behold, new things have come (2 Cor. 5:17, emphasis added).

Praise God that if you are a follower of Christ, you are a “new creature,” like a caterpillar changed into a butterfly! Your spirit has been given a new nature. Previously you possessed Satan’s selfish nature in your spirit, but now all of your past life has “passed away.”

Some of us, unfortunately, don’t believe what the Word of God says about us, as indicated by our making statements that contradict what the Bible says. Instead of saying, “I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me” we’re saying, “I don’t think I can make it.”

Such statements are what the Bible calls “bad reports” because they disagree with what God says (see Num. 13:32). If, however, our hearts are full of God’s Word, we will be full of faith, believing and saying only what agrees with Scripture.

How long will these ministry gifts be given to the church? Jesus will give them as long as His holy people need to be equipped for service, which is at least until He returns. The church constantly takes in newborn Christians who need to grow, and the rest of us always have room to mature spiritually.

Some have unfortunately concluded that only two kinds of ministries exist today—pastors and evangelists—as if God has changed His plan. No, we still need apostles, prophets and teachers as much as the early church did. The reason we don’t see examples of these gifts among much of the church around the world is simply because Jesus gives these gifts to His church, not the phony, unholy, false-gospel church. In the phony church can only be found those who make a feeble attempt to fulfill the roles of some of the ministry gifts (mostly pastors and perhaps a few evangelists), but they hardly resemble the God-called and anointed ministry gifts that Jesus gives to His church. They certainly aren’t equipping the holy people for acts of service, because the very gospel they proclaim doesn’t result in holiness; it only deceives people into thinking they are forgiven. And those people have no desire to be equipped for service. They have no intention of denying themselves and taking up their crosses.

Imagine asking the average church attendee, “Whose job it is to do the following things?”

Who is supposed to share the gospel with unsaved people? Live a holy life? Pray? Admonish, encourage and help other believers? Visit the sick? Lay hands on and heal the sick? Bear the burdens of others? Exercise his gifts on behalf of the body? Deny himself, sacrificing for the sake of God’s kingdom? Make and baptize disciples, teaching them to obey Christ’s commandments?

Many church attendees would, without hesitation, answer by saying, “Those are all responsibilities of the pastor.” But are they?

According to Scripture, every believer is supposed to share the gospel with unsaved people:

But sanctify Christ as Lord in your hearts, always being ready to make a defense to everyone who asks you to give an account for the hope that is in you, yet with gentleness and reverence (1 Pet. 3:15).

Every believer is supposed to live a holy life:

But like the Holy One who called you, be holy yourselves also in all your behavior; because it is written, “You shall be holy, for I am holy” (1Pet. 1:15-16)

Every believer is supposed to pray:

Rejoice always; pray without ceasing (1 Thes. 5:16-17).

Every believer is expected to admonish, encourage and help other believers:

And we urge you, brethren , admonish the unruly, encourage the fainthearted, help the weak, be patient with all men (1Thes. 5:14, emphasis added).

Every believer is supposed to visit the sick:

I was naked, and you clothed Me; I was sick, and you visited Me; I was in prison, and you came to Me (Matt. 25:36).

Many churches believe their governing structure is biblical because they have a group of elders who govern, but their problem is that their concept of who elders are is incorrect. Their elders are regularly elected and rotated from within the congregation. They are often referred to as “The Board of Elders.” But such people are not elders by biblical definition. If we simply examine the requirements that Paul enumerated for a man to be an elder, this becomes quite clear. Paul wrote that an elder occupies a fulltime, and thus paid, teaching/preaching and governing position in the church (see 1 Tim. 3:4-5; 5:17-18; Tit. 1:9). Very few, if any, of the people who sit on church “elder boards” fit those qualifications. They are not paid; they do not preach or teach; they do not work fulltime for the church; and they rarely know how to manage a church.

Unscriptural church government could very well be the cause of more problems in local churches than any other thing. When the wrong people are ruling a church, there is trouble coming. It can open the door for strife, compromise and the total demise of a church. An unscriptural church governing structure is like a welcome mat for the devil.

I realize that I’m writing to pastors of institutional churches as well as house churches. Some institutional church pastors may be pastoring churches that already have unscriptural governing structures in place where elders are elected from the congregation. These unscriptural governing structures usually cannot be altered without strife developing.

My advice to any such pastors is to do his best with God’s help to alter the governing structure of the church and endure the possible inevitable temporary conflict, as future regular conflict is inevitable if he doesn’t do anything. If he succeeds by enduring some temporary strife, he will have avoided all that future strife. If he fails, he can always start a new church and do it scripturally from the start.

Though painful, in the long run he will probably bear more fruit for God’s kingdom. If those who are currently governing his church are true disciples of Christ, he does has a chance of successfully convincing them to change the structure if he can respectfully convince them from Scripture to make the needed changes.