You are familiar with Jesus’ words to the Jews who believed Him, “If you abide in My word, you are My disciples indeed. And you shall know the truth, and the truth shall make you free…” (John 8:31-32). These words create what amounts to a litmus test to establish discipleship.
Let’s define a couple of terms. The first is litmus test. It is “a test for acidity or alkalinity using litmus.” Litmus is a dye that is added to paper, that when touched by acidic liquid turns red, and when touched by alkaline liquid turns blue. It is completely reliable and definitive. As such, the phrase “litmus test” has come to mean a test that decisively indicates a particular nature.
The word disciple as defined in the Greek New Testament, (math?t?s) is “a learner or pupil” (Strong and Thayer). It is used as a description of those who have become Christians, as they have accepted Jesus as their Savior and Teacher. While Saul and Barnabas worked with the church in Antioch early in the Apostle’s ministry, Luke tells us, “…And the disciples were first called Christians in Antioch” (Acts 11:26).
With these truths in hand, we state the obvious, you can’t be a Christian unless you are indeed a disciple of Jesus, and the only way to indeed be a disciple of Jesus is to abide in His word. This simple phrase, “If you abide in My word, you are My disciples indeed” is a litmus test, indicating our true nature. Are we Christians or are we not?
Most in the world today who call themselves Christians are not. We know this because we can look at the test. Just as you can look at the color that litmus paper turns to determine if a liquid is acidic or alkaline, you can examine the teaching of God’s word to determine if someone is a disciple of Christ.
The next time that someone tells you that doctrine is not important; when you hear that God does not care how you worship, or serve, or what your moral behavior is; you can be assured they either don’t know there is a litmus test, or don’t care.
The pH balance for a swimming pool should be in the 7.4 to 7.6 range, slightly alkaline. Water that is too acidic stings the eyes, and corrodes metal. Water that is too alkaline becomes cloudy and inhibits the ability for chlorine to kill germs, bacteria and algae.
To be effective and useful as a disciple of Christ, knowing and obeying (abiding) in the word is required. We learn as pupils what God wants us to do (from His word), and then we do it. That is what a Christian is!
