“And we all, with unveiled face, beholding the glory of the Lord, are being transformed into the same image from one degree of glory to another. For this comes from the Lord who is the Spirit.” 2 Corinthians 3:18 (ESV)
Christian discipleship doesn’t start with the idea that we should work at self-improvement to be better people. It starts with the supernatural idea that in conversion we have literally taken on a new nature in Christ.
The Bible tells us that we are made in the very image of God, but in the fall mankind became separated from him. Every person born after the fall of mankind is not only born into the curse that Adam and Eve caused when they sinned but also are born enemies of God.
“For if while we were enemies we were reconciled to God by the death of his Son, much more, now that we are reconciled, shall we be saved by his life.” Romans 5:10 (ESV)
This is why the gospel is so paramount in Christian discipleship, because it is through what Christ accomplished on the cross that we are saved from the destruction that will befall all of God’s enemies. Understanding who we were before Christ helps us see through the proper perspective how desperately we need him and how unqualified and utterly unable we are to change ourselves.
Merriam-Webster defines disciple as this: One who accepts and assists in teaching the doctrine of another. Discipline comes from disciples, the Latin word for pupil, which also provided the source of the word disciple. Being a disciple has a lot to do with discipline. This concept makes perfect sense to us when we are talking about any other area of personal growth but for some reason many reject it when it comes to being a Christian.
Many of us have been taught that being saved by grace means that any form of effort on your part is legalistic works and should be rejected, but this simply isn’t true. Now please don’t misunderstand me, I am not saying our works have anything to do with salvation. Salvation is a gift given by the grace of God alone, through faith in Christ alone. I am not talking about you adding to your salvation or even that you can cause yourself to grow.
I am simply saying that the Bible tells us to deny ourselves and follow Jesus. Not simply walk after him, but to strive to be like him in every area of our life. This is impossible to achieve without the power of the Holy Spirit. God has a way of life he commands us to live, but he also provides the power through his Spirit to live it out.
Being a disciple means to live a life as prescribed by the teaching of the teacher. Being a disciple of Jesus isn’t an event, it is a lifelong conditioning process, and in Christian theology we call this process sanctification—a lifelong process in which we are set apart from the world for God’s holy use.
In sanctification, we are being purified from the stain of sin and are being conformed to the very image of the one who is purifying and saving us, Christ Jesus. The Bible compares our lives to a vase being made on a potter’s wheel or gold that is refined by fire as it is repeatedly put into the flame, each time removing a little more impurity.
This is a process that is repeated over and over again until no impurity is left. Sanctification will be working sin and impurity out of our lives until the day we die and are made perfect in glorification.
When talking about the conditioning of the Christian life it’s hard to find a better example than an Olympic athlete. People who compete at this level are very disciplined; they are disciples of their craft. They don’t just show up and compete, they live it.
Every part of their life becomes consumed and affected by their goal: to win their event. From a very young age most begin training, with daily exercise and strict dieting. They give up a lot of pleasures that other people enjoy because their life is fixated on winning a gold medal.
The coach tells them to run and they run; the coach tells them to do drills and they do drills; the coach prescribes a particular diet and they must abide by it. The athlete must trust that their coach and trainers know what they are talking about because they are experts and have experience and proven success. But none of the diets, training and practice matter if the athlete doesn’t do it.
Following Christ means that we die to an old life and take on an entirely new life. The Christian life is a life of discipline and sacrifice, but like the Olympic athlete we are motivated by what the Scripture tells is the prize: being free from sin and spending eternity in the presence of our Lord.
Christ is the reward. This is where the trouble starts for many people. They are striving toward something they don’t actually see as worthy. If we don’t see Christ himself as worthy of what we lay down in this life, we don’t really see Christ at all. Christ is worthy of all the praise, worship and adoration we could ever bestow on him and he is worth abandoning everything else for.
The apostle Paul uses this same familiar imagery in his first letter to the Corinthians as he explains the dedication it takes to be a follower of Christ and what it takes to achieve the prize:
“Do you not know that in a race all the runners run, but only one receives the prize? So run that you may obtain it. Every athlete exercises self-control in all things. They do it to receive a perishable wreath, but we an imperishable.
So I do not run aimlessly; I do not box as one beating the air. But I discipline my body and keep it under control, lest after preaching to others I myself should be disqualified.” 1 Corinthians 9:24-27 (NIV)
All other treasures fade and pale in comparison to the eternal beauty of our savior Jesus. He deserves all the glory and all the honor we can bestow on him. This is why making the gospel about anything other than Christ alone is so disgraceful. So, as we are made alive in Christ in salvation, in sanctification we begin day-by-day to conform to his image.
In Christ,
Pastor Joshua
Joshua West is a pastor, evangelist, and author. He is also director of the World Challenge Pastors Network.
