Discipleship: Epilogue

The following is the final note from my father’s work on Discipleship.

““Come to Me, all who are weary and heavy-laden, and I will give you rest. Take My yoke upon you and learn from Me, for I am gentle and humble in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. For My yoke is easy and My burden is light.”” (Matthew 11:28–30, NASB 95)

Too long many churches have lulled the people to sleep with the false assumption that “salvation” is all that is required to guarantee one all the glories of Christ’s Kingdom, and all the fullness of the incredible joint heirship with Christ in His coming rulership of all the kingdoms of this world. Thank God that in His unfathomable love He has provided a simple way of deliverance from death and the provision of eternal life through Christ’s substitutionary sacrifice on our behalf. But that is the first step to the ultimate that God has for us. Otherwise, Why Jesus’ call to Discipleship?

All of us begin our Christian experience as “newborn babes” in Christ (1 Peter 2:2). But like any normal natural father, our Heavenly Father expects us to grow up. Only as we heed the call to be fully disciplined by Jesus, through His word and Spirit, can we grow to become like our Lord.

“A pupil (disciple) is not above his teacher; but everyone, after he has been fully trained, will be like his teacher.”  Luke 6:40 (NASB version)

Although works are involved, discipleship is not a “system of works.” It is a commitment to cultivating a personal relationship with Jesus until we “know” Him in such intimacy that His love captivates and motivates us to make Him our all in all; thus increasingly releasing His Spirit to work within.

by J. Leland Earls