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“Go therefore and make disciples of all the nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit.” (Matthew 28:19 NKJV)
The word “disciples” appears in the New Testament 269 times, and the word “believers” or “believer” appears only four times (Acts 5:14, 1 Tim. 4:12, 6:2, 2 Cor. 6:15).
That suggests that the Church’s purpose, calling, and mission is not to make “believers” of the people but to make them “disciples” of Christ. It also shows the difference between being a mere believer and a disciple of Christ.
In Part 1 of this piece, we began to examine what many people have mistaken as true Christian Discipleship but which is not.
First, Discipleship is not the New Birth Experience
While the New Birth Experience is an instant spiritual experience, Discipleship is a lifelong spiritual journey or progressive transformation into Christlikeness in every aspect.
Discipleship is not a one-time but a lifetime commitment to Christ. It is a spiritual journey from a “self-centered life” to a “Christ-centered life.”
Second, Discipleship is not a Bible Course or Program
Discipleship is not a program but a personal, intimate, and loving relationship with the Lord Jesus Christ. Discipleship is not attending and graduating from a Theological Seminary, Bible College, or Leadership Class.
Though Discipleship certainly involves studying or learning from God’s Word, a mere acquisition of mental or intellectual knowledge about Jesus Christ does not make anyone a disciple of Christ.
Let us now consider more things we have wrongly assumed to be Discipleship.
Third, Discipleship is not Church Confirmation or Church Ordination
While it is excellent and helpful for a believer to belong to a church, local assembly, or fellowship, your commitment to a church must not be mistaken for your commitment to Christ.
It is possible to carry a church membership card and be actively involved in church activities yet not know Christ personally and intimately or follow Christ daily or closely (John 3:9-12).
It is good to be trained, ordained, or set apart in the Church to perform specific duties or functions. However, being an ordained minister is not the same as being a disciple of Christ.
Many ordained ministers of God today are preoccupied with ministering to the people and carrying out religious rites, functions, or services. Still, unfortunately, they are not preoccupied with ministering to the Lord Jesus and becoming increasingly like Him (Acts 13:1-3).
Fourth, Discipleship is not Doing Ministry or Christian Service
Discipleship is not primarily about doing but about being like the Lord Jesus Christ; not about working for the Lord Jesus Christ, but about walking with the Lord Jesus Christ; and not about living for the Lord Jesus Christ, but about letting the Lord Jesus Christ live in you and through you (Gal. 2:20).
While active involvement in ministry works or commitment to Christian services is good, it is not the same as Discipleship. Discipleship cannot be measured by Christian service but by Christlikeness!
You cannot determine your progress in Discipleship by your works for the Lord Jesus Christ but by your walk with the Lord Jesus Christ.
Neither can you measure your progress in Discipleship by how much you have studied, read, or learned about the Lord Jesus Christ, but rather by how much you have transformed into Christlikeness in your conduct or character (Luke 10:39-42).
Fifth, Discipleship is not Mentoring or Coaching
Mentoring and Coaching are development techniques and helpful relationships aimed at helping individuals achieve their personal or career dreams, goals, and pursuits.
Mentoring or coaching primarily aims to boost self-confidence, promote self-awareness, encourage self-development, enhance skills, or increase knowledge and thus increase work performance. They are undoubtedly good, helpful, and beneficial but differ from Discipleship.
Unlike Mentoring and Coaching, the primary goal of Christian Discipleship is Christlikeness!
The Lord Jesus said, “A disciple is not above his teacher, but everyone who is perfectly trained will be like his teacher.” (Luke 6:40 NKJV).
The focus of Biblical Discipleship is not self-development or self-enhancement but self-crucifixion. True Discipleship is not about improving self but denying self. The daily pursuit of a true disciple of Christ is: “He must increase, but I must decrease.” (John 3:30 NKJV).
Beloved, while you may attend a Discipleship School or Course for a limited period, Discipleship itself is a lifelong relationship and a daily walk with the Lord Jesus Christ.
Although Discipleship has a definite starting point (the New Birth experience), it continues throughout the believer’s lifetime.
The disciple’s complete transformation into Christlikeness will only occur when he sees the Lord Jesus Christ face to face when He returns physically.
1 John 3:2 – NKJV
2 Beloved, now we are children of God; and it has not yet been revealed what we shall be, but we know that when He is revealed, we shall be like Him, for we shall see Him as He is.
If true Christian Discipleship is not the same as experiencing the New Birth, attending Bible School, Church Confirmation and Ordination, doing Christian services, or mentoring and Coaching, what is true Christian Discipleship?
Find out in the following piece!
Prayer:
Dear Holy Spirit, teach and help me to prioritize and focus on knowing Christ and becoming like Christ increasingly above anything else in this life, in Jesus’ name. Amen.
Preserving the Faith of the Apostolic Generation.
Eniyekpemi Fidelis Oyinpreyebi.
AWH, Blogs.
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