What does it mean to be a disciple of Jesus?
Not many years after Jesus resurrected, the small population of His disciples spread across the world, where they took with them the good news of salvation in Christ. Luke records in Acts 11:26, that at Antioch, they were first called “Christians,” an apt description of how their lives mirrored Christ’s. As at 2023, 31% of the Earth’s population identifies as Christian*. But what does it mean to be a Christian, a disciple of Jesus?
Firstly, a disciple of Christ believes that Jesus is exactly who He says He is—Lord! That He is the Son of God, sent because of the love of God, to die for the creation of God, bearing their sins. And that He resurrected, providing eternal life to all who believe in Him (John 3:16).
Romans 10:9-10 “If you declare with your mouth, “Jesus is Lord,” and believe in your heart that God raised Him from the dead, you will be saved. For it is with your heart that you believe and are justified, and it is with your mouth that you profess your faith and are saved.”
Romans 10:9-10 offers a beautiful representation of just how accessible salvation is for every person because of the ultimate sacrifice that Jesus Christ made for humanity. It is as simple as “if you declare with your mouth…and believe in your heart!”
— So is that it? —
The simple answer is yes, albeit with some layers to uncover. It is helpful to think about what kind of life this declaration and belief that Paul writes of in Romans 10 ought to lead to. Should there be any fruit in our lives to show for it, or do we just remain the same?
In Luke 6:46, Jesus says, “why do you call me Lord, Lord, and do not do what I say?” From this, it is evident that Jesus expects that those who will declare with the mouth, “Jesus is Lord,” will do what He says. Thus, a true disciple of Christ lives their life according to the teachings of Christ.
When Jesus called His first disciples, He asked them to follow Him. Colossians 2:6 says, “And now, just as you accepted Christ Jesus as your Lord, you must continue to follow him.”
But how can we follow someone we have not seen? How do we live by the teachings of Christ if we don’t even know what they are?
It follows that to live according to the teachings of Christ, a true disciple of Christ ought to study the scriptures and submit to sound teaching of scriptures. The heart posture of a disciple of Jesus is to know Him more and more; to constantly learn of and from Him by staying close to Him through His Word; to be empowered by the Holy Spirit to live everyday as Christ has commanded.
While we are not saved by what we do, what we profess to believe in ought to influence what we do, and this influence happens as we submit to our Lord’s teaching.
A mature disciple of Christ has counted the cost and is willing to deny self for the sake of following Christ (Luke 14:28-33, Matthew 16:24). This requires a firm understanding that you have been crucified with Christ, it is no longer you who lives, but Christ who lives in you, and that your life is now lived by faith in and to the glory of Christ (Galatians 2:20).
Therefore, such a person no longer aspires to live life in pursuit of their own desires, on their own terms, and based their own standards of righteousness, but they live to follow God’s plans and purposes for their life.
This is such a SOLID way to live! Jesus said that anyone who hears His teachings and practices them is like a wise person building their house on a strong foundation. When the storms of life come, the person will remain standing firm because of a strong foundation rooted in the love and wisdom of God (Matthew 7:24-25).
…and one more thing
Christ’s disciples make other disciples. If you truly know what it means to be a disciple, like the earliest Christians, you will share the gospel and be interested in the growth of other followers of Jesus.
*Data from World Population Review (2023)