A Believer or A Disciple?

Hello again,
My thoughts of the last few days have been running in the area of understanding better the differentiation (if any) of the person being a "believer" in Christ, and/or a "disciple" of Christ.

I had several questions,

1. Are believers synonymous with disciples?

2. Are all believers disciples?

3. Are all disciples believers?

4. Does it make any difference, and if so why?

5. Curious thing to read is the passage in the Gospel of Luke 14:25-33, talking about who is worthy of being a disciple or not.

One response that I received from a dear friend was that as for believers being synonymous with disciples, even Satan believes but does not relinquish his life to the Lordship of Jesus Christ. And that not all believers are disciples for the very reason stated for question #1. Are all disciples believers? Yes, apparently they are according to the one response (I agree). What difference does it make? Surrendering our lives to Christ's Lordship.

What of the passage that states, "whosoever believeth shall have eternal life"(KJV)? Does that confuse what we mean by "believe"? What exactly do we talk about when we say "believe"? Can we believe two completely diametrically opposed thoughts, and yet both be true? Or must one be false? The gospel we are told is so simple even a child can understand it, and yet the gospel is so complex that even the most learned scholar cannot in two lifetimes plumb the depths of its riches.

Can we know the meaning of what it takes to "believe" and what it means to be a "disciple"? Yes, I believe we can, and we shall explore that further in the next post.

Until then,
Peace & Grace in God's Most Holy Name,
Bro. Jon