When I first got save most believers said to me :

16 For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life. (John 3:16, KJV).

I have a very suspicious nature that would not let me believe this simplified version of salvation. I had spent much time around Liars, Crooks, thieves and a multitude of other low lifes. In my opinion Christians were beneath these people. Christians had less backbone than an earthworm. My testimonies is another story for some future day.

With the opinion I had it was no wonder it took 30 years for me to find Jesus. Contrary to opinion I wasn't Lost, Jesus knew right where I was. I was too blinded by my own opinions to see WHO he was.

Christ uses all things to his glory, even an attitude like mine. Being the type of person I am, when I finally saw Jesus for who he IS and myself for who I WAS; let's just say the conversion was absolute. I began studying his word. Understand that my nature is a little different than most. If I were to be dropped in the middle of a foreign country I would not latch onto a tour group to learn about the new areas, I would go wandering off on my own. And so it was with Christianity, Sunday school just didn't do the job. In the process of my wonderings I seemed to find all the puzzling scriptures like:

25 And there went great multitudes with him: and he turned, and said unto them,
26 If any man come to me, and hate not his father, and mother, and wife, and children, and brethren, and sisters, yea, and his own life also, he cannot be my disciple.
27 And whosoever doth not bear his cross, and come after me, cannot be my disciple.
(Luke 14:25-27, KJV).

Many Pastor have shuddered when I would mention some of the passages the Lord has taught me through (often by experiences). Through these teachings and others I've come to realize that there is a difference between believers and disciples. I firmly know that there are believers in Heaven, but the Lord has impressed upon me that I follow a different path.

Though I did not realize the difference as a young believer but scriptures such as the Sheep and the Goats and the ten virgins was preparing me to be part of the wedding feast with the Lord not a spectator from outside the gates.

14 Blessed are they that do his commandments, that they may have right to the tree of life, and may enter in through the gates into the city.
15 For without are dogs, and sorcerers, and whoremongers, and murderers, and idolaters, and whosoever loveth and maketh a lie.
(Revelation 22:14-15, KJV).

Pastors, If you are looking for a way to be sure your people are paying attention some Sunday Tell them that Dogs are in heaven but the Cats didn't make it, using Rev 22:15 as proof. If anyone is asleep after that I suggest you lay hands on them and pray for a resurrection. ;-) (;~D)

If you study the great mysteries of the Bible, this is a great one. Start at chapter 20 where the New Jerusalem ascends from the clouds. Remember that the lost have already been cast into the lake of fire(all references to hell are a great abyss or a lake that not even the angles can go to and from), therefore those that are left are believers weak as they may be. Also that there are 12 gates where some (select few) are allowed to come and go from (why they would leave I don't know).

To help you understand the New Jerusalem consider it like this:
You are out in the middle of nowhere (range desert, it doesn't matter). It's Midnight and the sky is cloudy, no stars can be seen, not even the moon. You see a yard light several miles away. Because you do not LOVE the light you are content just knowing it's there. If you truly LOVE the light you will be brought closer to it depending on how much you value the light(outside the gate of the New Jerusalem as a spectator, the foolish virgins). If you are truly consumed with the LOVE of the light you will be brought into the the element of the light itself (inside the gates to the court yard, the wise virgins). The TRULY blessed become the light itself (married to the groom, Jesus). If someone told you that by being a believer you were married to the bride, check your resources.

To conclude This line of thinking, No not all believers are disciples. The difference is whether the truly LOVE Jesus, or are they just thankful.

My own disclaimer:
Many people have said that I was a fool and my Ideas on this were stupid, Praise God.
27 but God chose the foolish things of the world, that he might put to
shame them that are wise; and God chose the weak things of the world,
that he might put to shame the things that are strong;
(1 Corinthians 1:27, ASV).

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Being the bride is but a small part of the reason for being a disciple. The General Reason is LOVE. But along with that love comes a Promise from us to Jesus and two Promises from Jesus to us.

Our promise to Jesus is to follow his will in our life and to obey his commandments to the best of our ability.

His promises to us is he will Make us part of him in heaven and give us a comforter on earth

23 Jesus answered and said unto him, If a man love me, he will keep my word: and my Father will love him, and we will come unto him, and make our abode with him.
24 He that loveth me not keepeth not my words: and the word which ye hear is not mine, but the Father's who sent me.
(John 14:23-24, ASV).

15 If ye love me, ye will keep my commandments.
16 And I will pray the Father, and he shall give you another Comforter, that he may be with you for ever,
17 even the Spirit of truth: whom the world cannot receive; for it beholdeth him not, neither knoweth him: ye know him; for he abideth with you, and shall be in you.
(John 14:15-17, ASV).

So if we give ourselves to his work does that mean everything will always work out to our benefit?

In Heaven I believe he will be true and just in everything. If anything I believe his generous nature is beyond anything I can imagine. Heaven was so magnificent that John could not find earthly words to truly describe it. How much more his blessings for us

On earth is a different matter.
20 And Jesus saith unto him, The foxes have holes, and the birds of the heaven have nests; but the Son of man hath not where to lay his head. (Matthew 8:20, ASV).

Consider the lavish lifestyle of Christ
Lu 2:7* And she brought forth her firstborn son; and she wrapped him in swaddling clothes, and laid him in a manger, because there was no room for them in the inn.
Lu 2:12* And this is the sign unto you: Ye shall find a babe wrapped in swaddling clothes, and lying in a manger.
Lu 2:16 And they came with haste, and found both Mary and Joseph, and the babe lying in the manger.
2Co 8:9* For ye know the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ, that, though he was rich, yet for your sakes he became poor, that ye through his poverty might become rich.

Throughout his ministry Christ was poor
Mt 8:20* And Jesus saith unto him, The foxes have holes, and the birds of the heaven have nests; but the Son of man hath not where to lay his head.

Paul's Blessing on earth
1Cor 4:11* Even unto this present hour we both hunger, and thirst, and are naked, and are buffeted, and have no certain dwelling-place;
12* and we toil, working with our own hands: being reviled, we bless; being persecuted, we endure;
13* being defamed, we entreat: we are made as the filth of the world, the offscouring of all things, even until now.

I have heard many people (including preachers) equate obedience to God's will with size of the congregation and financial prosperity. If this were true then Paul and even Christ was in sin. How many missionaries are close to starving and place their live in jeopardy for Christ's sake.

This warning to followers is in all four gospels by Luke puts it best when he says :
Lu 9:23* And he said to them all, If any man will come after me, let him DENY himself, and take up his CROSS daily, and follow me.

To Deny ones self is not to park the old Ford on the street to make room for the new Cadillac God is suppose to put in your driveway. The CROSS you are to carry is not giving up the old life style you had. If you are lusting after your old life style (drinking, women, parties etc), then you need to return to redemption, purification, and sanctification. You are not giving up something that you have no desire for. The CROSS we are to carry is the persecution and trials we are put though as a result of our walk with Jesus.

As a personal reason for being in ministry is that I LOVE Jesus. Without the love all else is in vain. Yes their are riches stored in heaven but they are worthless with out love. All the good that I do here on earth has the value of a pile of compost or dung. He has blessed me with the HOLY SPIRIT as a guide and comforter. I could not make it through a day without his guidance. The fact that he loves me in return is all the assurance I need, for he is faith and righteous in all he does. Any reward that the Lord chooses to give me will be in heaven, the earth is my proving ground.

As Paul has said (Mike's paraphrase) If following Jesus is more than you can comprehend then follow me (a fellow human capable of error) as I follow Jesus. As you grow in his name then focus on him and his will for you.

Music
Page1 Kieth Green- Oh Lord, You're Beautiful http://greeting-cards-4u.com/platinum6/music/files/NSO/ccm/kiethgreen_ohlordyer.mid
page2 Kietrh Green- You are the One http://greeting-cards-4u.com/platinum6/music/files/NSO/ccm/kiethgreen_youarethe1.mid
page3 Kieth Green- Rushing Wind http://greeting-cards-4u.com/platinum6/music/files/NSO/ccm/keithgreen_rushingwind.mid