A Christian disciple should look similar, to how they looked in the Bible. Our culture and technology have changed quite a bit but God (Hebrews 13:8) has not and neither should the core actions and hearts of his disciples.
Jesus revealed his requirements for discipleship in Mark 8:34-38, Luke 9:23-24 and Matthew 16:24-26. In this depiction we can discern what a Christian disciple looks like and what is required of them. Christ Jesus said:
“Whoever wants to be my disciple must deny themselves and take up their cross and follow me. For whoever wants to save their life will lose it, but whoever loses their life for me and for the gospel, will find it. What good is it for someone to gain the whole world, yet forfeit their soul? Or what can anyone give in exchange for their soul? If anyone is ashamed of me and my words in this adulterous and sinful generation, the Son of Man will be ashamed of them, when he comes in the Father’s glory with the holy angels.” Mark 8:34-38
Christ Jesus’ requirement of discipleship is recorded in 3 of the Gospels, with the book of Mark having more details. Magnifying each line will give us a fuller understanding of what a Christian Disciple looks like and the requirement, to be one.
Whoever wants to be my disciple must:
1. Deny themselves and take up their cross and follow me.-. Your sinful old nature (your old ways before you gave your life to Christ Jesus) was put to death when you accepted Him as your Lord and Savior. You must refuse your old nature’s way of living your life. Metaphorically speaking, you are to crucify that old nature, fleshly desires and your need to control your life, to the cross. There on the cross, it is dead and you are to choose to deny it, every day. Let nothing get in the way of your walk with Christ Jesus. Your daily goal is to follow in the way of Christ and how he lived his life. Tip: Walking in the power of Holy Spirit enables us to deny ourselves, take up our crosses and follow Christ successfully. Acts 1:8
2. For whoever wants to save their life will lose it, but whoever loses their life for me and for the gospel will save it- In these texts, life has a double meaning. The life referred to here can be natural (flesh and blood) and spiritual (the spiritual part of yourself, which is eternal). For those not willing to give their life to Christ Jesus, wishing to live their natural life any way they choose, will in fact, lose their life spiritually. When you accepted Christ Jesus as your Lord and Savior, he purchased you with his blood and you were given a new and glorious life, in Christ Jesus. This gift, freed you of the spiritual death you surely would have received for your sins. This new life, produces a new nature, like the nature of Christ Jesus. (Ephesians 2:3-8) This new life is manifested both in the natural and the spirit. Your reward for surrendering your life to Christ, is this precious new life to be lived now and eternally. Tip: Your spiritual life is your truest life because it lives on forever. Begin to keep your spiritual life in the forefront of your mind. Christ Jesus did! John 14:1-3
3. What good is it for someone to gain the whole world, yet forfeit their soul? For what can anyone give in exchange for their soul? – Gaining things in this world, is not offensive to God but it is how you attain and value them that very much concerns God. If the acquisition of wealth, status, fame or power and their importance to you, get in the way of your walk with Christ. Then it is a sin and you need to walk away from it. Sounds harsh, but losing your soul is much harsher. Your soul is literally the most valuable possession you will ever have and there is no substitute. Tip: Learn what God wants you to acquire and value in this life by reading the Bible. As you read, ask the Holy Spirit to reveal this to you and then choose it. You will often find that God has already planted in you the very thing that you desire. Matthew 6:33
4. If anyone is ashamed of me and my words in this adulterous and sinful generation, the son of man will be ashamed of them when he comes in his Father’s glory, with his holy angels.- Where this is self explanatory, on a natural level, on a spiritual level it is a more demanding request. Naturally, if you are ashamed of representing Christ Jesus and his words in your world whether it be at work, play, socially or anywhere else, Jesus will be ashamed of you, when he returns. But just wearing a crucifix, going to worship on Sunday and saying “Praise God” is not enough representation. This request must cut all the way down to the heart(spirit) of you. So hanging with the wrong crowd, living a destructive lifestyle, making decisions that harm yourself or others, or not actively coming against sin, are all ways that declare spiritually you are ashamed of Christ and his words. Tip: To walk in unashamed victory with Christ is both a passive and aggressive pursuit. You must be conscious in all your ways to acknowledge Christ in your world. Proverbs 3:6
As a Christian disciple, we should imitate the ways, desires and goals of Christ Jesus. By doing this, we will be transformed in our walk with Christ, as his disciple. This transformation is a day to day journey. You will notice your change, as you no longer desire you old sinful ways and begin to enjoy and want the things of God, in your life. In reading the New Testament, we find this similar transformation happen to the ordinary men and women who chose to be disciples, of Christ Jesus. They, lived, suffered, healed, raised the dead, cast out demons, had joy, peace in abundance, prospered and grew the body of Christ all in the name of Christ Jesus. This is what a Christian disciple should look like, today. But how do we get there?
