What Is A Disciple?

That’s the whole point of being a disciple of Jesus: we imitate Him, carry on His ministry, and become like Him in the process.

Yet somehow many have come to believe that a person can be a “Christian” without being like Christ. A “follower” who doesn’t follow. How does that make any sense? Many people in the church have decided to take on the name of Christ and nothing else. This would be like Jesus walking up to those first disciples and saying, “Hey, would you guys mind identifying yourselves with Me in some way? Don’t worry, I don’t actually care if you do anything I do or change your lifestyle at all. I’m just looking for people who are willing to say they believe in Me and call themselves Christians.” Seriously? No one can really believe that this is all it means to be a Christian. But then why do so many people live this way?

It appears that we’ve lost sight of what it means to be a follower of Jesus. The concept of being a disciple isn’t difficult to understand, but it affects everything.

How Does One Become a Disciple?

Read Eph 2.

What’s your testimony?

I believe that every professing follower of Christ should be able to give a quick, 1-minute account of how they became a Christian. It’s the old elevator pitch technique.

"…but in your hearts honor Christ the Lord as holy, always being prepared to make a defense to anyone who asks you for a reason for the hope that is in you; yet do it with gentleness and respect, [16] having a good conscience, so that, when you are slandered, those who revile your good behavior in Christ may be put to shame."

1 Peter 3:15-16 ESV

In addition to one’s personal testimony, it’s also imperative to be able to provide a succinct scriptural roadmap to Jesus. After all, He Himself claimed to be “The Way, The Truth, and The Life”.

Bought With A Price.

The problem is, many in the church want to “confess that Jesus is Lord,” yet they don’t believe that He is their master. Do you see the obvious contradiction in this?

The call to be a disciple of Jesus Christ is open to everyone, but we don’t get to write our own job description. If Jesus is Lord, then He sets the agenda. If Jesus Christ is Lord, then your life belongs to Him. He has a plan, agenda, and calling for you. You don’t get to tell Him what you’ll be doing today or for the rest of your life.

Or do you not know that your body is a temple of the Holy Spirit within you, whom you have from God? You are not your own, [20] for you were bought with a price. So glorify God in your body.

1 Corinthians 6:19-20 ESV

Motivated by Love.

But don’t get the impression that following Jesus is all about joyless sacrifice. More than anything else, following Jesus boils down to two commands, which He said were the most important commandments in the Old Testament Law:

"Teacher, which is the great commandment in the Law?" [37] And he said to him, "You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind. [38] This is the great and first commandment. [39] And a second is like it: You shall love your neighbor as yourself. [40] On these two commandments depend all the Law and the Prophets."

Matthew 22:36-40 ESV

Following Jesus is not about diligently keeping a set of rules or conjuring up the moral fortitude to lead good lives…

This approach to discipleship can lead to legalism, and rote ritualism, which was where the Pharisees were.

The top spectrum of pride is arrogance and an over inflated sense of self-worth. Most often, it is condescending towards others to elevate oneself.

But pride can also lead a person to descend into despair and self-loathing. The constant effort to perform, that always falls short, results in a perception of failure.

Both arrogance and despair focus on self, which is the core of pride.
Both rely on self to achieve the righteousness that can only come through Jesus Christ.
Arrogance says “I can do it myself”.
Despair says “It’s impossible.”

Motivated by Love (2)

…It’s about loving God and enjoying Him.

In the Old Testament, we have this provision for a slave who has been set free, but voluntarily remains a slave to their master because they love them:

"If your kinsman, a Hebrew man or woman, is sold to you, then he shall serve you six years, but in the seventh year you shall set him free. [13] When you set him free, you shall not send him away empty-handed. [14] You shall furnish him liberally from your flock and from your threshing floor and from your wine vat; you shall give to him as the LORD your God has blessed you. [15] You shall remember that you were a slave in the land of Egypt, and the LORD your God redeemed you; therefore I command you this today. 

[16] It shall come about if he says to you, 'I will not go out from you,' because he loves you and your household, since he fares well with you; 

[17] then you shall take an awl and pierce it through his ear into the door, and he shall be your servant forever. Also you shall do likewise to your maidservant.

Deuteronomy 15:12-17 NASBS

Remember 1 Corinthians 6:19-20 above? We were bought with a price and are not our own.