Discussion Jumpstarter
Study leader reference - not a definitive answer
Question 2
The speaker says many Christians assume “commandments” were for Moses/Old Testament and are surprised Jesus “gave any commandments to obey”; what view of God and the gospel is exposed by that assumption, and how does it collide with Jesus’ framing of discipleship as obedience to his commands?
Another way to ask: Many Christians think “commandments” were only for the Old Testament, so Jesus’ commands surprise them. What does that show about how they see God and the gospel, and how does it clash with Jesus saying discipleship means obeying him?
Discussion Jumpstarter
Direct Answer
The transcript suggests this assumption exposes a “law vs. Jesus” view where grace means no commands and no cost, as if obedience belongs to Moses, not Christ. It collides with Jesus’ own definition of discipleship: making disciples includes *teaching obedience to everything he commanded*, and Luke 14 says without certain costly obediences a person “cannot be my disciple.”
- He describes the mindset: Jesus’ commands were “something for the Old Testament…with Moses…in the law.”
- He ties discipleship directly to obedience: “What is it that we’re to be taught?… ‘All things that he commanded.’ Christ doesn’t leave us guessing.”
- He says modern Christianity would be “hard-pressed” to find Christians who can “list the commands of Christ.”
- He contrasts common gospel messaging: “Christ paid it all… doesn’t cost us anything,” with Jesus’ words: “it’s going to cost us everything to follow him.”
- In Luke 14 he repeatedly stresses Jesus’ phrase “cannot be my disciple,” grounding discipleship in real obedience (hate/priority, cross-bearing, forsaking all).