Is there a difference between just believing in Jesus and living totally for Him? Where do you think you are in your journey as a Spirit-filled believer? What can you do to receive all of what Christ has for you?
Jesus sets out a challenge in the Gospel of John.
“Whoever loves his life loses it, and whoever hates his life in this world will keep it for eternal life. If anyone serves me, he must follow me; and where I am, there will my servant be also. If anyone serves me, the Father will honour him.” John 12:25-26 (ESV)
In the previous verse, Jesus has just spoken about His upcoming death; that He will give up His life so that sin can be overcome, and spiritual fruit can flourish.
In verse 24 we see that Jesus’ death precedes fruitfulness in the spiritual. Now, Jesus turns his attention to the disciples; what Jesus has to say is so important that this statement is repeated in each of the gospels (Matt 16:25, Mark 8:35, Luke 17:33).
For anyone to be a believer, Jesus calls for a belief in simple truths:
- What He has done for us on the cross.
- Who He is, the son of God.
- To trust in Him to keep His promise of eternal life.
As a believer we are justified when we accept Christ as saviour (Rom 10:9-10); Jesus paid the price for us and this is in the past tense – we have been justified.
Discipleship is a lifelong journey
Now Jesus lays out the conditions of how to be a disciple, since all who believe in Christ are saved, but not all are disciples. Becoming a disciple is a lifelong process of sanctification, in the present tense.
Jesus puts a finger on things that are wrong in our life and how we respond to this is the result of our discipleship. There is a cost to moving from being a believer to a disciple. The future is glorification with Christ, but first we have to live in the here and now (Rom 8:16-17).
Jesus will call us to give up something as we submit to His Lordship in our lives but we know that God will replace this with a more fulfilling life in Him (Ps 16:11). Praise God that we are not to do this under our own strength, but in the power of the Spirit. We are instructed to walk in faith as disciples and walk by the Spirit (Gal 5:16).
Paul provides us with practical ways of living as a disciple: each of the books he writes contains our position in Christ in the first half followed by a ‘therefore’ detailing how to understand the power we have in the Spirit to apply to living as a disciple. For example, the first half of Ephesians is about belief while the second half gives guidance on behaviour.
Discipleship is a choice
Being a believer is about one simple commitment to believe; being a disciple involves many ongoing commitments. Most of Paul’s writings address the challenges one faces living a life serving Christ.
We need to ask the question “have I become a disciple?” Are we prepared to endure with Christ through all that life brings, and the trials that Father will allow us to go through? From Paul’s second letter to Timothy, we know having a lasting relationship will bring its rewards and honour from God, resulting in degrees of authority reigning with Jesus once he returns (2 Tim 2:12).
In John 12:25 Jesus lays down conditions for being a disciple, and suggests that it is possible to stop being a disciple. Jesus here is talking to his disciples and telling the believers, if you love the things of this world then you cannot be a disciple. To do so will bring a life of regret for the abundant life we could have had serving Christ; a wasted life.
Jesus says instead we should hate our lives in the world. The word hate here is the same as the word in Luke 14:26 about hating your parents and is often misunderstood. The Greek word here means ‘choice’, that in not choosing to do what the world, or a parent, says in favour of what Jesus tells you to do is the sign of being a disciple. Making the choice to follow Jesus and His way will lead to eternal life.
‘Eternal life’ is a broad term and here the meaning includes the ultimate experience you can have in this life as in John 10:10, living life here on earth to the full. This is a promise only given to believers.
We face challenges today from the world’s view of life: the common perspective is live life the way you want to and get the most out of the world for yourself. Being a disciple of Christ is the opposite to the world’s thinking. Living for self will never bring you into the joy of being a disciple.
Discipleship is a promise
In John 12:26 Jesus concludes by telling His believers that if we want to serve Christ, we must follow Him. This is different to believing in order to become saved; this is taking things further in a relationship with Jesus and calls for an obedience of His Word.
The warning the Bible tells us is that some will obey the call to be a disciple, but many will not (1 Cor 3:1-4). Here Paul is speaking to believers who have not progressed in their journey of becoming disciples.
We have a promise from God if we continue in the life of a disciple, choosing to follow Him, obeying by the power of the Spirit and enthroning Jesus above everything else: the Father will honour us.
What a thing to aim for, to be honoured by the Almighty God.
Where are you in your call to follow and serve Jesus? As always, we have a personal choice, and this echoes the words of Joshua:
“And if it is evil in your eyes to serve the Lord, choose this day whom you will serve, whether the gods your fathers served in the region beyond the River, or the gods of the Amorites in whose land you dwell. But as for me and my house, we will serve the Lord.” Joshua 24:15 (ESV)