God calls us to go and make disciples of all nations. “Therefore, go and make disciples of all nations, baptising them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit.” (Matthew 28:19). How can we know HOW to make disciples of all men if we don’t first know WHAT a disciple is?

Jesus says three things, “Narrow is the gate, and difficult is the way which leads to life, and there are few who find it.” (Matthew 7:14). “Salvation” is entering by the “narrow gate” (of repentance). “Discipleship“, on the other hand, is the “difficult way” (of obedience). “If you love Me you will obey Me.” (John 14:15). “If you hold to my teaching, you are really My disciples. Then you will know My truth and the truth shall set you free.” (John 8:31-32). Discipleship is the “difficult way” to being set free. That we may find life and life abundantly (John 10:10). And there are “few who find“ it because not many are taught about discipleship, but only about entering the “narrow gate” of salvation.

Acts says, “You have made known to me the ways of life; You will make me full of joy in Your presence.’” — ‭‭Acts‬ ‭2:28‬‬‬. The purpose of salvation is to enter the narrow gate. The purpose of discipleship is to make known to me the ways of life. So that having made known the way to me, by those ways, I may FIND (for few find it) and KNOW the fullness of joy which is? “Your presence”.

Salvation comes first, and is about entering the “narrow gate”. Discipleship comes after, and is about finding the “difficult way“ to the fullness of the joy that is His presence. For God has promised that He is a faithful rewarder of those who diligently seek Him (Hebrews 11:6). And You shall seek Me and you shall [what?] FIND Me “if” you seek Me with all your heart (Jereremiah 29:13). For Jesus IS the way and the truth that leads to life. For He IS the way and the truth and the life (John 14:6). To what? To the Father. “I am the way, and the truth and the life. No one comes to Father except through Me.”

Discipleship is the process by which the life and purity of the incorruptible seed gifted at salvation (1 Peter 1:23) is wrought out in our souls as a PROCESS of “step-by-step washing and sanctification” unto purity and holiness that follows the pattern of “from glory to glory”, so that having been made pure, we may enter the joy of the presence of the Father. For only the pure of heart shall see Him (Matthew 5:8). And to see Him, we need to enter His presence. But to enter His presence, we need to be pure of heart.

Whereas salvation takes place “in an instant“ at a POINT IN TIME, by receiving Jesus as “Saviour“, discipleship takes place “as a process“ OVER TIME, by receiving Jesus as “Lord”. Many have received Him and relate to Him as Saviour. Not many receive Him and relate to Him as Lord. For that is the difficult way. And few find it. And it’s called discipleship. “Therefore let all the house of Israel know assuredly that God has made this Jesus, whom you crucified, both Lord and Christ.”” (Acts 2:36).