The Eighth Mark of a True Disciple of Jesus

A true disciple helps suffering, needy Christians

A true disciple helps suffering and needy Christians. Jesus teaches this plainly in Matthew 25:31–46:

“^{31} When the Son of Man comes in his glory, and all the angels with him, then he will sit on his glorious throne. ^{32} Before him will be gathered all the nations, and he will separate people one from another as a shepherd separates the sheep from the goats. ^{33} And he will place the sheep on his right, but the goats on the left.

^{34} Then the King will say to those on his right, ‘Come, you who are blessed by my Father, inherit the kingdom prepared for you from the foundation of the world. ^{35} For I was hungry and you gave me food, I was thirsty and you gave me drink, I was a stranger and you welcomed me, ^{36} I was naked and you clothed me, I was sick and you visited me, I was in prison and you came to me.’

^{37} Then the righteous will answer him, saying, ‘Lord, when did we see you hungry and feed you, or thirsty and give you drink? ^{38} And when did we see you a stranger and welcome you, or naked and clothe you? ^{39} And when did we see you sick or in prison and visit you?’

^{40} And the King will answer them, ‘Truly, I say to you, as you did it to one of the least of these my brothers, you did it to me.’

^{41} “Then he will say to those on his left, ‘Depart from me, you cursed, into the eternal fire prepared for the devil and his angels. ^{42} For I was hungry and you gave me no food, I was thirsty and you gave me no drink, ^{43} I was a stranger and you did not welcome me, naked and you did not clothe me, sick and in prison and you did not visit me.’

^{44} Then they also will answer, saying, ‘Lord, when did we see you hungry or thirsty or a stranger or naked or sick or in prison, and did not minister to you?’

^{45} Then he will answer them, saying, ‘Truly, I say to you, as you did not do it to one of the least of these, you did not do it to me.’ ^{46} And these will go away into eternal punishment, but the righteous into eternal life.” (ESV)

Notice three things in this parable.

1. Jesus identifies with his believing brothers and sisters to such a degree that what we do to them we do to him.

This harmonizes with what Jesus said to the apostle Paul when he confronted him on the road to Damascus and said, “Why are you persecuting me?” (Acts 9:4) not why are you persecuting my disciples. Thus, what we do to other Christians displays are true stance toward Jesus Christ.

2. This sounds like an argument for works-righteousness and self-righteousness, if it were taken out of context from the rest of what Jesus says and what the rest of the New Testament says.

This parable agrees with what James 2 says about true, living faith always resulting in good works:

“What good is it, my brothers, if someone says he has faith but does not have works? Can that faith save him? If a brother or sister is poorly clothed and lacking in daily food, and one of you says to them, ‘Go in peace, be warmed and filled,’ without giving them the things needed for the body, what good is that? So also faith by itself, if it does not have works, is dead.” James 2:14–17 (ESV)

The gospel teaches that regeneration leads to good works, not vice versa:

“By grace you have been saved through faith. And this is not your own doing; it is the gift of God, not a result of works, so that no one may boast. For we are his workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand, that we should walk in them.” Ephesians 2:8–10 (ESV)

3. Jesus specifies in this parable that we perform these good works for our fellow Christians.

In this parable Jesus does not teach about what we do for non-believers; he speaks only of what we do for fellow believers. (This is not to say we should not help all who suffer, whether they are a Christian or non-Christian. See Galatians 6:10.)

Verse 40 says the King will answer the merciful, ‘Truly, I say to you, as you did it to one of the least of these my brothers, you did it to me.’

In Matthew, “brothers” always means spiritual kin.

Note, he is referring to Christians. “brothers” and “least of these”

Moreover, the phrase “least of these,” is the superlative of “little ones,” which in Matthew always refers to disciples. For example, “Whoever gives one of these little ones even a cup of cold water because he is a disciple, truly, I say to you, he will by no means lose his reward.” Matthew 10:42

Similarly, Matthew 18:6, 10, 14, says: “^{6}Whoever causes one of these little ones who believe in me to sin, it would be better for him to have a great millstone fastened around his neck and to be drowned in the depth of the sea…. ^{10} See that you do not despise one of these little ones. For I tell you that in heaven their angels always see the face of my Father who is in heaven…. ^{14} It is not the will of my Father who is in heaven that one of these little ones should perish.”

The worst imaginable surprise

In each parable of Matthew 25, people regarded themselves as acceptable to God, but on Judgment Day God rejects them. None are true disciples of Jesus, for true disciples will be received into heaven.

This interpretation of the third parable of Matthew 25 agrees with the teaching of 1 John 3:16–19:

“By this we know love, that he laid down his life for us, and we ought to lay down our lives for the brothers. But if anyone has the world’s goods and sees his brother in need, yet closes his heart against him, how does God’s love abide in him? Little children, let us not love in word or talk but in deed and in truth. By this we shall know that we are of the truth and reassure our heart before him.” (ESV)

Conclusion

So, Matthew 25 and 1 John 3 state unequivocally that a true Christian will have compassion on his brothers and sisters in Christ who are in need, and if he continuously closes his heart to needy Christians he simply is not truly born again, and thus not a true disciple of Jesus. Showing compassion to needy Christians is a necessary mark showing that Jesus lives in you and that you love Jesus in your brothers and sisters.

So, what should you do if you do not have compassion on needy Christians and suffering Christians?

The first thing you need to do is not to go out and work harder. Rather, the first thing you need to do is get your heart right with God. You need to become a good tree rather than a bad tree. You need to truly surrender your life to God and determine to obey him in all things.

You need to fully embrace Jesus Christ as your only hope, great love, and ultimate treasure. You will love needy humans when you deeply love Jesus. You need to repent of your love of the world and of money, and replace those loves with the love of Jesus. You need to stop believing merely with intellectual ascent in certain truths about Jesus, and make him the center of your life. You need to die to yourself and the world.

When you do that, compassion will flow naturally, because Jesus will be there giving you a heart of love in place of selfishness.

April 1, 2024March 30, 2024

The Seventh Mark of a True Disciple of Jesus

True disciples are faithful managers of their kingdom responsibilities

The parable of the talents

The parable of the talents, which we read in Matthew 25:14–30, is shocking. Our challenge is to do it full justice and not explain it away.

It only makes sense when we understand what Jesus teaches overall about his true disciples: the result of true, living faith is ongoing growth as a true disciple.

The following parable of Jesus reveals another facet of the kind of ongoing growth that Jesus says is the necessary and inevitable result of being a true disciple of his: true disciples are faithful managers of their kingdom responsibilities.

The parable

In the previous verses, Jesus has been teaching about his Second Coming. Then Matthew 25:14–30 says, “For it will be like a man going on a journey, who called his servants and entrusted to them his property. [15] To one he gave five talents, to another two, to another one, to each according to his ability. Then he went away.

[16] He who had received the five talents went at once and traded with them, and he made five talents more. [17] So also he who had the two talents made two talents more. [18] But he who had received the one talent went and dug in the ground and hid his master’s money.

[19] Now after a long time the master of those servants came and settled accounts with them. [20] And he who had received the five talents came forward, bringing five talents more, saying, ‘Master, you delivered to me five talents; here, I have made five talents more.’

[21] His master said to him, ‘Well done, good and faithful servant. You have been faithful over a little; I will set you over much. Enter into the joy of your master.’

[22] And he also who had the two talents came forward, saying, ‘Master, you delivered to me two talents; here, I have made two talents more.’

[23] His master said to him, ‘Well done, good and faithful servant. You have been faithful over a little; I will set you over much. Enter into the joy of your master.’

[24] He also who had received the one talent came forward, saying, ‘Master, I knew you to be a hard man, reaping where you did not sow, and gathering where you scattered no seed, [25] so I was afraid, and I went and hid your talent in the ground. Here, you have what is yours.’

[26] But his master answered him, ‘You wicked and slothful servant! You knew that I reap where I have not sown and gather where I scattered no seed? [27] Then you ought to have invested my money with the bankers, and at my coming I should have received what was my own with interest.

[28] So take the talent from him and give it to him who has the ten talents. [29] For to everyone who has will more be given, and he will have an abundance. But from the one who has not, even what he has will be taken away.

[30] And cast the worthless servant into the outer darkness. In that place there will be weeping and gnashing of teeth.’”

That severe ending

First, do not let that ending be lost on you. Do true Christians end up in a place described as “outer darkness”? Is heaven a place where there is “weeping and gnashing of teeth”? Of course not. So, this can only be hell. And the person called “the worthless servant” can only be someone who falsely believed he was a follower of Jesus, only to discover on Judgment Day he is rejected.

Why the rejection?

He is rejected because his faith was not a living and true faith. True faith in Jesus results in growing obedience to him, and this parable shows that one area of growing obedience will always include the faithful managing of one’s responsibilities received from Jesus.

Those responsibilities are symbolized by the “talents.” In this parable, talents are not human abilities like playing music or excelling in sports, but rather a talent “was a monetary unit worth about 20 years’ wages for a laborer,” according to the notes in my ESV Bible.

Therefore, the three servants in the parable were given huge responsibilities. The worthless servant who did nothing profitable with his single talent squandered what could have been gained by investing $1.2 million (based on an average annual salary of $60,000).

Six responsibilities

What kind of kingdom responsibilities does Jesus give his followers?

In general, the New Testament presents six areas of responsibility.

1. Spiritual gifts and abilities. See Romans 12:5-8.

2. Time. See Ephesians 5:15–17 and Exodus 20:9–10.

3. Money. See Luke 16:10–13.

4. People, such as family, fellow church members, neighbors. See 1 Timothy 5:8, 1 Corinthians 12:25.

5. The work of the Lord through his church. See 1 Corinthians 15:58; Colossians 3:23–24; Ephesians 4:11–16.

6. The gospel. See Philippians 4:3 and Mark 13:10.

Wicked? Really?

Another element of this parable that can shock us is the adjectives the master uses to describe the servant who failed: “You wicked and slothful servant!” (ESV) “You wicked, lazy servant” (NIV). My guess is that many Christians would not be ready to describe someone who seriously drops the ball as wicked.

But many verses elsewhere in the Bible agree with this assessment. When asked what the most important commandment is, Jesus answered, “You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind and with all your strength.” This is a commandment, and it tops the list. Ignoring God’s commandments is wicked.

Here are a number of other Scriptures that teach the seriousness of the sin of laziness, negligence, omission, and irresponsibility.

In Luke 16:10, Jesus said, “One who is faithful in a very little is also faithful in much, and one who is dishonest in a very little is also dishonest in much.”

In Luke 12:48, Jesus said, “Everyone to whom much was given, of him much will be required, and from him to whom they entrusted much, they will demand the more.”

In Luke 9:62 Jesus said, “No one who puts his hand to the plow and looks back is fit for the kingdom of God.” That is strong language that raises high the standard of a Christian worker. He does not say that they are unfit to do kingdom work; he says they are unfit for the kingdom—period.

In Matthew 12:30 (ESV) Jesus says, “Whoever is not with me is against me, and whoever does not gather with me scatters.” In other words, if you are not picking the corn and throwing it in the cart, it is as though you are taking handfuls of corn that has already been harvested and scattering it on the ground.

The harmfulness of a slack hand

How can this be? If someone does not pitch in and help, how is it that they are hindering the work of Jesus? Proverbs 18:9 says, “Whoever is slack in his work is a brother to him who destroys” (ESV)

For example, on a soccer team, if a defenseman is lazy, their opponent will notice that and attack that defenseman at every opportunity, and as a result get quality shots on the goal again and again. The team with one lazy defenseman will lose.

In a car manufacturing company, if one worker on the assembly line is careless, the cars produced could be unsafe, cause accidents and deaths, and require a recall that would cost the company tens of millions of dollars. The company could become uncompetitive as a result and eventually go out of business, resulting in all the employees losing their jobs.

Indeed, “Whoever is slack in his work is a brother to him who destroys.” (Proverbs 18:9 ESV)

Good stewards

The apostle Paul clearly understood the seriousness of being a steward and manager in God’s sight. He wrote in 1 Corinthians 4:1–5: “{1} This is how one should regard us, as servants of Christ and stewards of the mysteries of God. {2} Moreover, it is required of stewards that they be found faithful. {3} But with me it is a very small thing that I should be judged by you or by any human court. In fact, I do not even judge myself. {4} For I am not aware of anything against myself, but I am not thereby acquitted. It is the Lord who judges me.”

1 Peter 4:10 commands true believers, “As each has received a gift, use it to serve one another, as good stewards of God’s varied grace.”

And finally, probably the most shocking verse of all is Jeremiah 48:10: “Cursed is the one who does the LORD’S work negligently” (NASB20). That is exactly what happened in the parable told by Jesus in Matthew 25.

The error of trusting in our works

How does this harmonize with the gospel of justification by grace alone, in Christ alone, through faith alone? It would be a grave error for people to read this article and conclude they need to work hard to earn their salvation, piling up good works and religious activity to merit heaven. No one can earn God’s acceptance by faithful stewardship and management of God’s gifts.

Ephesians 2:8–10 shows us the relationship between the free gift of salvation and our responsibility to be faithful stewards. It says, “By grace you have been saved through faith. And this is not your own doing; it is the gift of God, not a result of works, so that no one may boast. For we are his workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand, that we should walk in them.”

So, God created us for good works, but they result from justification rather than being the grounds of justification. Our only righteousness and merit before God is that which comes to us from Christ. But when God regenerates us, he recreates us for the purpose of good works and faithful management of the many resources he bestows on us.

Paul writes in his letter to his protégé Titus: Christ “gave himself for us to redeem us from all lawlessness and to purify for himself a people for his own possession who are zealous for good works…. The saying is trustworthy, and I want you to insist on these things, so that those who have believed in God may be careful to devote themselves to good works. These things are excellent and profitable for people…. And let our people learn to devote themselves to good works, so as to help cases of urgent need, and not be unfruitful.” (Titus 2:14; 3:8, 14)

What should a negligent believer do?

If you have been failing at your responsibilities before God, what should you do?

It is possible that you have never truly been converted. A true conversion to God includes repentance, surrender, and the full embrace of Jesus as your Lord, so that you abide in his words and follow them.

Then you need to repent of the wickedness of unfaithfulness just as you would repent of any other kind of sin. Do not simply try to do more; rather, confess your sin and trust that Jesus died on the cross for your failure. Then turn away from the sin of laziness and negligence. Commit yourself to be a devoted follower of Jesus. Become a true disciple in every respect. Learn from him daily and weekly by devoted reading of Scripture. Let your faith come alive by doing what Jesus commands. Start loving God with all your might.

This will be a life of greater joy and significance than you have ever known.

March 18, 2024March 15, 2024

The Sixth Mark of a True Disciple of Jesus Christ

True disciples are spiritually awake and ready for the return of Christ

Criteria

To determine for this series the marks of a true disciple of Jesus Christ, I used three criteria:

1. Jesus explicitly names the mark as a characteristic of true disciples. For example, see John 8:31.

2. Jesus teaches that anyone who lacks the mark will be excluded from the kingdom of God, rejected by him, or viewed by him as not his child. For example, see Matthew 25:1–13 below.

3. Jesus teaches the mark as a fundamental command. For example, see Luke 22:19.

In Matthew 25, Jesus teaches three parables that fit the second criteria. The failures described in these three parables focus on people who are supposed Christians but who have a fatal flaw. People who have true faith in Jesus and true love for him do not fail in these ways.

In Matthew 25:1–13 Jesus says:

“Then [that is, when Jesus comes again to the earth in glory] the kingdom of heaven will be like ten virgins who took their lamps and went to meet the bridegroom. ⁽²⁾ Five of them were foolish, and five were wise. ⁽³⁾ For when the foolish took their lamps, they took no oil with them, ⁽⁴⁾ but the wise took flasks of oil with their lamps.

“⁽⁵⁾ As the bridegroom was delayed, they all became drowsy and slept. ⁽⁶⁾ But at midnight there was a cry, ‘Here is the bridegroom! Come out to meet him.’ ⁽⁷⁾ Then all those virgins rose and trimmed their lamps.

“⁽⁸⁾And the foolish said to the wise, ‘Give us some of your oil, for our lamps are going out.’ ⁽⁹⁾But the wise answered, saying, ‘Since there will not be enough for us and for you, go rather to the dealers and buy for yourselves.’ ⁽¹⁰⁾And while they were going to buy, the bridegroom came, and those who were ready went in with him to the marriage feast, and the door was shut.

“⁽¹¹⁾Afterward the other virgins came also, saying, ‘Lord, lord, open to us.’ ⁽¹²⁾But he answered, ‘Truly, I say to you, I do not know you.’

“⁽¹³⁾Watch therefore, for you know neither the day nor the hour.”

Spiritually awake

The parable’s takeaway is clear: True disciples are spiritually awake and always ready for the return of Christ. Jesus pictures this readiness with the lamps of his day, which were bowls containing oil and a wick. The lamp burned oil just as a candle today burns wax.

The burning lamp pictures spiritual life, authentic devotion to God, seeking the Lord, zeal for the Lord, earnestness about the things of God. As we might say today, this person is on fire for God.

Where has the fire gone?

The opposite is a heart that has cooled to the things of God. For example, recall the Lord’s familiar warning to the church of Laodicea:

“I know your works: you are neither cold nor hot. Would that you were either cold or hot! So, because you are lukewarm, and neither hot nor cold, I will spit you out of my mouth. For you say, I am rich, I have prospered, and I need nothing, not realizing that you are wretched, pitiable, poor, blind, and naked.” (Revelation 3:15–17, ESV)

By saying, “I will spit you out of my mouth,” Jesus vividly communicates a coming rejection that must be averted by repentance. This is not something Jesus would say about a real Christian. So, these Laodiceans must overcome complacency. Their hearts must return to a burning devotion to their Savior. If not, they are shown to be false disciples who lack true, living, saving faith.

Tending the fire

This is the theological framework for what Jesus exhorts elsewhere: “Stay dressed for action and keep your lamps burning, and be like men who are waiting for their master to come home from the wedding feast, so that they may open the door to him at once when he comes and knocks.” (Luke 12:35–36, ESV)

Jesus commands his disciples to keep their lamps burning. This is not an optional exercise for super spiritual Christians; rather, it is the necessary activity of true disciples. We are responsible to keep our lamps burning. True faith is a burning faith.

So how do you keep your lamp burning? You make a priority out of the fundamentals, which include the following:

1. Read the Bible and pray daily. Meditate on Scripture prayerfully during the spaces in your schedule. In your devotional time with God, meditate on why you treasure him, and worship him for it.

2. Be involved in church weekly. Note, I did not say attend church weekly. It is easy to become complacent and assume all is well with your soul just because you show up to church every week. If we hear the Bible preached but do not put it into practice through love and service, we become what James calls a forgetful hearer (James 1:25). Listening to the Word of God but ignoring it is spiritually deadly. We can deceive ourselves to think we are right with God when we are not. So, we must participate in church, serve in church, fellowship with other believers and build relationships and help others grow.

3. Spread the gospel and make disciples. Every Christian can and should participate in the Great Commission. You need not have a degree from a Bible college to be involved in the work of the Lord as a Christian who is on fire for God and cares about lost souls and immature believers.

4. Repent of the love of the world. Spiritual fire cannot coexist with worldly compromise.

Takeaway

True disciples are spiritually awake and ready for the return of Christ.

March 4, 2024February 29, 2024

The Fifth Mark of a True Disciple of Jesus

True disciples bear the fruit of love

True disciples bear the fruit of love

Love is the inevitable fruit of true, living faith in Jesus Christ.

The apostle John says this unequivocally: “Beloved, let us love one another, for love is from God, and whoever loves has been born of God and knows God. Anyone who does not love does not know God, because God is love.” (1 John 4:7–8, ESV)

Thus, the person who lacks love does not have living faith in Jesus, is not a disciple of Jesus, and is not a Christian, no matter what he claims.

Christian stalwarts?

This is so even if people show many other signs of faith. Notice the impressive list of qualifications of church members in the ancient city of Ephesus, who nevertheless were on the verge of being rejected by Christ. In Revelation 2:2–5, Jesus warns them:

“I know your works, your toil and your patient endurance, and how you cannot bear with those who are evil, but have tested those who call themselves apostles and are not, and found them to be false. I know you are enduring patiently and bearing up for my name’s sake, and you have not grown weary. But I have this against you, that you have abandoned the love you had at first. Remember therefore from where you have fallen; repent, and do the works you did at first. If not, I will come to you and remove your lampstand from its place, unless you repent.”

Hatred

On the other end of the scale, the sin of persistently hating another Christian is a sign of being a person who is in the darkness rather than the light:

First John 2:9–11 says, “Whoever says he is in the light and hates his brother is still in darkness. Whoever loves his brother abides in the light, and in him there is no cause for stumbling. But whoever hates his brother is in the darkness and walks in the darkness, and does not know where he is going, because the darkness has blinded his eyes.”

This is a level of darkness incompatible with a true Christian.

The apostle John confirms this in 1 John 3:14–15: “We know that we have passed out of death into life, because we love the brothers. Whoever does not love abides in death. Everyone who hates his brother is a murderer, and you know that no murderer has eternal life abiding in him.”

The sinner’s ultimate question

A Bible expert once asked Jesus the most important question pointblank: What must I do to be saved? Luke 10:25–28 says:

“Behold, a lawyer stood up to put [Jesus] to the test, saying, ‘Teacher, what shall I do to inherit eternal life?’ He said to him, ‘What is written in the Law? How do you read it?’ And he answered, ‘You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your strength and with all your mind, and your neighbor as yourself.’ And he said to him, ‘You have answered correctly; do this, and you will live.’”

Does this mean a person can be saved by obeying the two most important commands of the Law without receiving Jesus? No, the rest of the New Testament makes that clear. No one can perfectly keep these commandments, and therefore everyone needs the salvation that comes through faith in Christ (Romans 3:10–26).

Nevertheless, Jesus’ response to the man’s question reveals the sure mark of having eternal life: love for both God and people.

As the apostle John confirms: “By this we know that we have come to know him, if we keep his commandments. Whoever says ‘I know him’ but does not keep his commandments is a liar, and the truth is not in him” (1 John 2:3–4, ESV)

Further confirmation

If you need further confirmation that love is the essential sign of true and living faith in Jesus, read on:

The apostle John writes: “(10) By this it is evident who are the children of God, and who are the children of the devil: whoever does not practice righteousness is not of God, nor is the one who does not love his brother. (11) For this is the message that you have heard from the beginning, that we should love one another. … (16) By this we know love, that he laid down his life for us, and we ought to lay down our lives for the brothers. … (23) And this is his commandment, that we believe in the name of his Son Jesus Christ and love one another, just as he has commanded us. (24) Whoever keeps his commandments abides in God, and God in him.” (1 John 3:10–11, 16, 23–24 ESV)

In John 15:8–17, Jesus said: “(8) By this my Father is glorified, that you bear much fruit and so prove to be my disciples. (9) As the Father has loved me, so have I loved you. Abide in my love. (10) If you keep my commandments, you will abide in my love, just as I have kept my Father’s commandments and abide in his love…. (12) “This is my commandment, that you love one another as I have loved you. (13) Greater love has no one than this, that someone lay down his life for his friends. (14) You are my friends if you do what I command you…. (17) These things I command you, so that you will love one another.”

In John 13:34–35, Jesus said, “A new commandment I give to you, that you love one another: just as I have loved you, you also are to love one another. By this all people will know that you are my disciples, if you have love for one another.”

Conclusion

Without question, love is the inevitable fruit of true, living faith in Jesus Christ—faith that receives him as Lord, Savior, and ultimate treasure.

If your love is lacking, what you need to do is not to try harder to love others; rather, you need to truly receive Christ as Lord, Savior, and ultimate treasure. Repent of your sins. Then give yourself to loving him. Ask him to pour his love into your heart through the Holy Spirit. And out of love for him, obey his command to love your neighbors and your fellow believers as yourself.

February 19, 2024February 14, 2024

The Fourth Mark of a True Disciple of Jesus Christ (continued)

True disciples grow

Continued from the last post on why true disciples grow

4. A true disciple fights daily against sin.

True disciples are not complacent or apathetic about their sins. They are not perfect or sinless, but they are never okay with sinning. They confess it sincerely to God and determine to turn away from it in the future.

False Christians, on the other hand, say they believe in Jesus, but they have accepted certain sins in their lives and have no intention of repenting. They still love certain sins and still love the world.

Galatians 5:16–25 describes the struggle that true disciples wage against sin:

“I say, walk by the Spirit, and you will not gratify the desires of the flesh. For the desires of the flesh are against the Spirit, and the desires of the Spirit are against the flesh, for these are opposed to each other, to keep you from doing the things you want to do. But if you are led by the Spirit, you are not under the law.

“Now the works of the flesh are evident: sexual immorality, impurity, sensuality, idolatry, sorcery, enmity, strife, jealousy, fits of anger, rivalries, dissensions, divisions, envy, drunkenness, orgies, and things like these. I warn you, as I warned you before, that those who do such things will not inherit the kingdom of God.

“But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, self-control; against such things there is no law. And those who belong to Christ Jesus have crucified the flesh with its passions and desires. If we live by the Spirit, let us also keep in step with the Spirit.”

Application: If you look at your life and see no transformation happening, then you need to ask yourself: Am I content with sin? Am I resisting it, and not just the grosser sins but worldliness of any kind? As Scripture says, “Since we have these promises, beloved, let us cleanse ourselves from every defilement of body and spirit, bringing holiness to completion in the fear of God.” (2 Corinthians 7:1, ESV).

5. A true disciple regularly beholds the Lord through worship.

The apostle Paul wrote, “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)

Paul is not describing a literal vision of the Lord, but rather our thoughts about his ways and works. Paul says thinking true thoughts about God transforms us into his image.

And so, for example, thinking about the love of God as revealed at the cross of Jesus makes us more loving. Thinking about the patience of God as revealed in his forbearance with Israel over many centuries makes us more patient.

This is why attending church and worshiping God changes your life (if you do not harden your heart). This is why reading the Bible meditatively transforms you, for nothing reveals more about God than his Scriptures.

Application: If you look at your life and see no transformation happening, then you need to ask yourself: am I conducting a regular devotional life of worship, thanksgiving, prayer and communion with the Lord?

6. True disciples intentionally lean into growth.

They work on their faith. They read the Bible and other books. They use a spiritual journal. They are disciplined about having a daily devotional time with God and weekly church involvement. They discuss their spiritual lives with other Christians. They have spiritual goals. Disciples have discipline.

The apostle Peter wrote, “For this very reason, make every effort to supplement your faith with virtue, and virtue with knowledge, {6} and knowledge with self-control, and self-control with steadfastness, and steadfastness with godliness, {7} and godliness with brotherly affection, and brotherly affection with love. {8} For if these qualities are yours and are increasing, they keep you from being ineffective or unfruitful in the knowledge of our Lord Jesus Christ. {9} For whoever lacks these qualities is so nearsighted that he is blind, having forgotten that he was cleansed from his former sins. {10} Therefore, brothers, be all the more diligent to confirm your calling and election, for if you practice these qualities you will never fall. {11} For in this way there will be richly provided for you an entrance into the eternal kingdom of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ.” (2 Peter 1:5–11, ESV)

Application: If you look at your life and see no transformation happening, then you need to ask yourself: Am I making every effort to grow in godliness? Do I work as hard at growing spiritually as I do on my job?

Continued next time

February 5, 2024February 2, 2024

The Fourth Mark of a True Disciple of Jesus

True disciples grow

True disciples grow. True disciples bear the fruit of changed lives. They are becoming more like Jesus every year.

For true disciples this is inevitable. It begins immediately upon their repentance toward God and their faith in Christ, and it continues until their last day on the earth.

There are at least eight reasons for the certainty of growth in Christlikeness for his true disciples. Let’s look at just three today.

1. True disciples have the Holy Spirit living within

True disciples are actually united with the third member of the Trinity, with God himself. That will change you! This is not just you trying to make some resolutions and be a better person. This is not just you trying harder. This is not just you on a good day. This is almighty God, the Holy One giving you the thoughts, desires, motivations, feelings, understanding, and wisdom to live a good and godly life.

Therefore, you can do this, not because you can do this but because God is more than able to help you grow and overcome sin and take on the beautiful character and ways of Jesus Christ.

Galatians 5:22–23 says, “The fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, self-control.”

Romans 8:13–14 says, “If you live according to the flesh you will die, but if by the Spirit you put to death the deeds of the body, you will live. For all who are led by the Spirit of God are sons of God.”

Application: So, if you look at your life and see no transformation happening, then you should ask yourself: Am I walking in the Holy Spirit and seeking his guidance in my life, as is normal behavior for a true disciple?

A true disciple tries to walk in the Holy Spirit. A true disciple follows the leading of the Holy Spirit. A true disciple intentionally conforms to the character of the Holy Spirit as revealed in Galatians 5:22–23.

2. A true disciple has Jesus Christ living within

Scripture says that not only do you have the third member of the Trinity living within you and united with your human spirit, but you also have the second member of the Trinity living within you. That of course is Jesus Christ. You can be like Jesus in character because you have Jesus himself living in and through you! You’re not thinking this stuff up. You’re not trying to imagine what a Christian lives like. You actually have Jesus living his life through you.

That’s why growth in Christlikeness is inevitable for a true disciple of Jesus.

The apostle Paul wrote, “I have been crucified with Christ. It is no longer I who live, but Christ who lives in me. And the life I now live in the flesh I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave himself for me.” (Galatians 2:20 (ESV)

2 Corinthians 13:5 says, “Do you not realize this about yourselves, that Jesus Christ is in you?”

Application: If you look at your life and see no transformation happening, then you need to ask yourself: Am I trusting in Jesus day by day? Am I trusting in him to live in me? Am I walking by faith? Am I through prayer carrying on my relationship with Jesus throughout the day? Have I died to sin and my flesh and this world, and am I alive instead to Jesus?

3. True disciples die to themselves and their sinful natures daily and renew their minds according to the Word of God

Romans 12:1–2 says, “I appeal to you therefore, brothers, by the mercies of God, to present your bodies as a living sacrifice, holy and acceptable to God, which is your spiritual worship. Do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewal of your mind, that by testing you may discern what is the will of God, what is good and acceptable and perfect.

Here we see two of the powerful elements at work in the life of a changed person. All who choose deliberately to die to self and sin, will in union with Jesus in his death on the cross experience enormous change in their lives. In Romans 12:1–2 this is called presenting yourself to God as “a living sacrifice.” That is, you choose to die. You choose to say no to temptation and sinful habits and selfish desires and worldly ways. It is as simple and powerful as that: No!

Galatians 5:24 says, “Those who belong to Christ Jesus have crucified the flesh with its passions and desires.”

What gives you the power to do that is your union with Jesus in his death on the cross. Therefore, once again it is not just you trying to say no to something in the natural, but it is the power of the cross of Jesus mediated in your life by the power of the Holy Spirit; so that when you say no, your no has supernatural authority!

Moreover, compound that with the Word of God renewing your mind according to eternal truth and reality. We cannot fully grasp the power of God’s Word to change our mind, heart, and spirit.

“For the word of God is living and active, sharper than any two-edged sword, piercing to the division of soul and of spirit, of joints and of marrow, and discerning the thoughts and intentions of the heart.” (Hebrews 4:12)

This again is a divine power at work in those who are true disciples. It is at work because true disciples are abiding in the Words of God, as Jesus said in John 8:31: “If you abide in my word, you are truly my disciples.”

Application: If you look at your life and see no transformation happening, then you need to ask yourself: Am I deliberately and consciously dying to my sinful nature every day? Or am I letting my sinful nature rule my life? Am I deliberately renewing my mind through daily attention to Scripture, to think God-pleasing thoughts, or am I thinking in a worldly manner?

Continued next time

January 22, 2024January 20, 2024

The Third Mark of a True Disciple of Jesus

True disciples abide in the words of Jesus

Jesus said, “If you abide in my word, you are truly my disciples” (John 8:31)

Do you want to be a real disciple of Jesus? That is, do you want to be an authentic Christian, rather than a Christian in name only? Do you want to have an assurance that your sins are forgiven and you have eternal life?

According to this verse that is not possible unless you abide in his word. Jesus says if you abide in his word, you are truly his disciple. That means if you do not abide in his Word, you are not his disciple. Can someone who is not a disciple of Jesus legitimately call himself a Christian?

Abiding

Webster’s dictionary defines abide as: “to remain stable or fixed in a state,” “to continue in a place.”

My wife and I have been living in the same apartment since 2009. We are staying; we are remaining; we are abiding.

If over the course of his childhood a boy listens closely to his father and learns eight important life maxims from him, and he lives by those truths all the days of his life, he is abiding in his father’s word.

More than 35 years ago I learned from an author named Haddon Robinson a method of studying the Bible and developing a biblical sermon that I still use today. I am abiding in Haddon’s method.

Abiding in the words of Jesus means reading or listening to them, learning them, and learning to obey them.

Many people are willing to assent to the truths about Jesus, but they do not take his words seriously. They are not intent on changing their life to obey him. They are not intent on surrendering their will to him. They are not intent on sincerely repenting of sin. They are not growing in heartfelt love for him.

Others have some desire to follow Jesus, but they are casual and lazy about the words of Jesus. They scarcely read the Bible. They do not go to church to hear sermons. Or if they listen to sermons or read the Bible, they do not put the words into practice.

At the feet of Jesus

Luke 10:38–42 says, “Now as they went on their way, Jesus entered a village. And a woman named Martha welcomed him into her house. And she had a sister called Mary, who sat at the Lord’s feet and listened to his teaching. But Martha was distracted with much serving. And she went up to him and said, ‘Lord, do you not care that my sister has left me to serve alone? Tell her then to help me.’ But the Lord answered her, ‘Martha, Martha, you are anxious and troubled about many things, but one thing is necessary. Mary has chosen the good portion, which will not be taken away from her.’”

Mary was an avid listener. She was abiding in the words of Jesus. Jesus said such listening “is necessary.”

You do the same thing today when you read the Bible and attend church. You should do so consistently. You should abide in the Bible, in church meetings, and smaller Bible studies.

You do the same as Mary when you abide in the word daily and weekly, not just once or twice a month. If you are reading the Bible or attending church just now and then, it is hard to make the case that you are abiding in the words of Jesus, that you are taking them as seriously as you take your daily meals.

To lose interest in God’s words is to have lost interest in him. On the human plane, if one has no interest in hearing someone else’s words, then it is obvious there is no affection and no desire to know the other person.

What about people who are illiterate or have some other factor that keeps them from being able to read or hear the Bible?

Well, we are not saved by reading the Bible or going to church; we are saved through faith in Christ and his atoning work on our behalf on the cross. God holds us accountable for what we know and what we are able to do.

True faith results in an abiding focus on the Lord’s words

Even if you have read the Bible cover to cover before, interpreting and applying the Bible is a lifelong project. You cannot read it once and know it. Interpreting and applying the Bible is a pursuit deeper and wider than exploring all the oceans of the world.

Memorize and meditate on the Scriptures. Read books and commentaries on Scripture. Listen to sermon podcasts. Talk about it with others who take the Bible seriously.

Still, abiding in the words of Jesus is about more than interpreting and applying them; it is about fellowshipping with God through his words, knowing his presence, and experiencing him speaking to you through his written words. Abiding in the Scriptures is about having your faith in his promises strengthened more and more.

Living faith (see James 2:17) in Jesus is the kind of faith that sincerely believes in and receives him for who he is: one’s Lord and God. To believe in him as Lord and God and at the same time to ignore and unrepentantly disobey his words is hypocrisy and self-deception. It denies the claim that one has saving faith.

January 8, 2024January 6, 2024

The Second Mark of True Disciples of Jesus

True disciples devote themselves, absolutely and ultimately, only to Jesus

Jesus said: “Do not think that I have come to bring peace to the earth. I have not come to bring peace, but a sword. For I have come to set a man against his father, and a daughter against her mother, and a daughter-in-law against her mother-in-law. And a person’s enemies will be those of his own household. Whoever loves father or mother more than me is not worthy of me, and whoever loves son or daughter more than me is not worthy of me.” (Matthew 10:34–37, ESV)

Jesus speaks in these verses about those who live in a way “worthy” of him. To be worthy of Jesus is to respond to him in a way fitting to who he is and what he has done. Jesus is the eternal Son of God who became a man and suffered and died for our sins, enabling us to have forgiveness of sins and eternal life. Thus, we owe him everything. Therefore, true disciples devote themselves, absolutely and ultimately, only to Jesus.

Absolute and ultimate

Notice our devotion to Jesus must be absolute and ultimate. Absolute means “having no restriction, exception, or qualification” (Merriam-Webster Dictionary). Ultimate means “the best or most extreme of its kind: utmost” (Merriam-Webster).

So, our devotion to Jesus must define everything in our lives. It must precede and control any other devotion in our lives. In the terminology of card-playing, our devotion to Jesus must trump all other devotions.

When I initially wrote this principle, I mistakenly said our devotion must be exclusive. But Jesus does not call us to exclusive devotion to him. That would mean we have zero devotion to anyone else. The Bible, however, makes clear elsewhere that we are to be devoted to other important people and things. Romans 12:10 (LSB) says we should be “devoted to one another in brotherly love, giving preference to one another in honor.” God wants Christians to be devoted to one another. He wants husbands and fathers to be devoted to their wives and children, and wives to their husbands. He wants them to fulfill faithfully their responsibilities toward their dependents.

If our devotion to Jesus is absolute and ultimate, then these lesser devotions give way to whatever God’s will is for us. In other words, if Jesus tells me to do one thing and my employer asks me to do something opposed to that, then I must do what Jesus says. If my devotion to my boss were absolute and ultimate, then I would listen to him and ignore Jesus.

Your cross

Jesus said, “Whoever does not take his cross and follow me is not worthy of me. Whoever finds his life will lose it, and whoever loses his life for my sake will find it.” (Matthew 10:38–39)

To take one’s cross means to die to other desires. Taking your cross is similar to what people do who join the Marines. They give up their clothing, their style of dress, their hairstyle, their living situation, their job, even their ability to communicate when they want to their family and friends. They give up control of their own schedule. They give up control of what town and building they will live in. When you go into the military, you truly devote yourself to that branch of the military. You literally are willing to die for it.

Idols

God reveals himself in the Bible as a jealous God who will not be worshiped or valued alongside other gods or idols.

When God gave Israel the Ten Commandments, he said, “I am the LORD your God, who brought you out of the land of Egypt, out of the house of slavery. You shall have no other gods before me. You shall not make for yourself a carved image, or any likeness of anything that is in heaven above, or that is in the earth beneath, or that is in the water under the earth. You shall not bow down to them or serve them, for I the LORD your God am a jealous God” (Exodus 20:2–5, ESV)

The challenging words of Jesus in Matthew 10 are perfectly in keeping with what God said in Exodus 20 about being a jealous God. This is God’s nature, his very name and identity. He will not accept being belittled as less important than something in his creation, something infinitely inferior in power, wisdom, love, mercy, compassion, truth, goodness, life. God is infinitely superior in every imaginable way to everything in his creation. Since he created all, then everything that exists is inferior to him.

When God calls us to abandon our idolatry of created things, he is doing us the greatest favor possible, because he is infinitely greater and more good than anything he has created. He calls us to the abundant life for which we were created. God designed us to find maximum happiness in him. Any substitute is the poorest imaginable trade-off.

Substitutes

Substituting something else for Jesus hinders non-Christians from giving devotion to him in the first place. They love the things of this world and do not want to surrender them to the Lord. Rather than loving Jesus above all, what they love most are movies, sports, money, career, friends, shopping and possessions, cooking and eating, building the best body they can through exercise, the approval and acclamation of others, success, sexual pleasure and pornography, drugs, and partying.

Many things that stand in the way of devotion to Jesus are good things of this life that become bad things because they compete with God.

On the other hand, we can also refuse to devote our lives to Jesus because we cherish particular sins as absolute and ultimate. Last week I was evangelizing on the sidewalk, and two young ladies approached, holding hands. I announced what I normally do, “The Kingdom of heaven is near. God raised Jesus from the dead. There’s hope for everyone.”

One of the girls responded, “We’re gay.” In other words she understood correctly that her sin was a barrier to following Jesus, and if she were to devote herself to Jesus she had to leave behind homosexual practice.

Any sin can stand in the way of following Jesus: for example, living together outside of marriage, viewing pornography, stealing, living for money and greed, lying, envy and jealousy, hatred, bitterness and unforgiveness. When we choose to cling to a sin instead of following Jesus, we are refusing to devote ourselves to Jesus. We may want Jesus in our lives, but we want our sin more, or we want something we love in the world more.

Jesus is uncompromising about requiring absolute and ultimate devotion.

People can claim to be disciples and claim to be Christians, but if they have not devoted themselves absolutely and ultimately to Jesus, they are kidding themselves. They may be believers in a proposition, in an idea; they might give assent to a theological truth, just as someone can assent to the truth that the sky is blue, but they are not disciples. They might be the nicest people in town, morally upright in every way, but if they are not devoted to Jesus, then they are not worthy of Jesus and not true disciples. Very likely, they will not be saved unless they are confessing this fault and praying for forgiveness and seeking earnestly to grow into full devotion. If they do that, there is hope for them.

Jesus must not be an add-on to one’s life. He must be the center of devotion.

Prayer

Lord Jesus, I choose to have you as the highest aim and devotion of my life. You are my everything; you are my all. You are my Lord, and you alone are my Savior. I will not love any other person on earth the way I love you. I will not live for any other cause, pleasure, or experience; instead I will live for you. You will be my highest joy, and my relationship with you will be my highest priority. You alone are worthy of such devotion. Amen

December 25, 2023December 23, 2023

Merry Christmas!

The most valuable thing you can do is to know God better. Nothing satisfies the soul more. Knowledge of God is the bread of your human spirit and the light of your mind. Everything else that is good in your life flows out of a correct, deep, experiential knowledge of God.

For those who want to know God better, Christmas brings deep celebration, for we celebrate God’s entry into the world in the person of Jesus Christ. Jesus is God’s greatest revelation of himself and his ways. As someone who wants to know God as deeply as you possibly can, the person of Jesus Christ is central.

So, over the Christmas holiday I urge you to meditate on what you learn about God through the events of the birth of Jesus Christ.

And throughout the year to come consider always reading some portion of one of the four Gospels every day. Meditate daily on the words and works of Jesus.

Currently the way I’m doing that is by reading a section of a Gospel chapter each day along with my other reading. So, I will read a single episode or a single teaching unit of Jesus rather than reading the entire chapter. As a result I pause and meditate on it longer.

May your knowledge of God be your highest joy this Christmas and in the year ahead!

United with you in Christ,

Craig Brian Larson

December 18, 2023December 16, 2023

The First Mark of True Disciples of Jesus

True disciples trust in Jesus for the forgiveness of sins, not in their own goodness or discipleship.

1. True disciples trust in Jesus for the forgiveness of sins, not in their own goodness or discipleship.

We start the marks of a disciple with a paradox. Throughout this series I will make the point that true faith in Jesus changes our lives dramatically. There are therefore unmistakable marks that follow this conversion. But this spiritual revolution in a person’s life begins only by placing all confidence in the proper place.

No one can become a Christian without first abandoning all confidence in their own merits to become acceptable in the sight of God. Our only way of becoming a true Christian is to put all our trust and confidence in Jesus Christ and his atoning work for us on the cross and the gift of his righteousness given to us by God’s grace alone. No one can earn salvation by being a good disciple. We must be true disciples, but we do not trust in ourselves or our discipleship.

As Romans 3:21-26 (ESV) says:

“(21) Now the righteousness of God has been manifested apart from the law, although the Law and the Prophets bear witness to it— (22) the righteousness of God through faith in Jesus Christ for all who believe. For there is no distinction: (23) for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God, (24) and are justified by his grace as a gift, through the redemption that is in Christ Jesus, (25) whom God put forward as a propitiation by his blood, to be received by faith. This was to show God’s righteousness, because in his divine forbearance he had passed over former sins. (26) It was to show his righteousness at the present time, so that he might be just and the justifier of the one who has faith in Jesus.”

Notice the crucial points made in these verses:

v. 21 – “the righteousness of God”

This refers to the righteousness that we have received from God. This refers to our righteous status in the sight of God. The point is that our righteousness before God is not something we establish ourselves by keeping the law, but rather it is a gift from God.

v. 22 – “the righteousness of God through faith in Jesus Christ”

How do we get this righteousness in God’s sight? Through faith in Jesus Christ. Not by being perfect disciples. Not by reading a certain number of Bible chapters every day. Not by doing our best to repent of every sin we can think of. No, we only gain righteousness through faith in Jesus Christ, for he alone paid the price for the sins we have already committed, and he alone lived a perfectly righteous life, and so when he gives us his righteousness as a gift it is a perfect righteousness. This perfect righteousness is what God sees when he looks at us and accepts us.

What an important point it is as we begin the marks of true disciples to recognize that we begin with the status of righteousness that comes through faith alone. That is the foundation on which we build our discipleship. It is only true faith in Christ that results in the marks of a true disciple. The marks of a true disciple can never result from willpower or religious exercise. No, true discipleship results from faith in Christ as our only hope of righteousness in the sight of God.

v. 23 – “all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God”

Since all have sinned all stand under judgment. This is why we need a savior. This is why no efforts on our own can save us, for we are guilty and flawed. We need the atoning work that Jesus performed on the cross to wipe away our sins and guilt.

v. 24 – “are justified by his grace as a gift, through the redemption that is in Christ Jesus”

Our only hope of being accepted by God is that he justifies us. To justify us means that he declares us to be righteous in his sight even though we have in ourselves been unrighteous. But God is just in declaring us to be righteous because Jesus is the atoning sacrifice for our sins. Therefore, being a good disciple cannot save us. We need Jesus as our atoning sacrifice, and we only get the salvation of Jesus through faith in him.

Justification is a gift from God, meaning we do not earn it by being good disciples. It is a gift that comes from God the moment we put our true faith in Jesus. Then we live the rest of our Christian lives expressing the life of Christ that is within by the power of his Holy Spirit to please him and do his will—but never to earn or merit our salvation.

Righteous living follows salvation it does not earn salvation. Righteous living is the result of the gift of righteousness.

vv. 24–25 “…Christ Jesus, whom God put forward as a propitiation by his blood, to be received by faith”

To propitiate means to satisfy God’s wrath. God’s wrath was propitiated by the blood of Christ that was shed on the cross. God’s wrath turns away from us because his wrath was poured on Jesus.

Your discipleship cannot satisfy the wrath of God; only the death of Jesus on the cross can satisfy the wrath of God that hangs over a person who has never repented and accepted Christ as Lord and Savior.

And how is this propitiation received? Again it is repeated in verse 25 that this gift is received by faith, not by works.

v. 26 “It was to show his righteousness at the present time, so that he might be just and the justifier of the one who has faith in Jesus.”

God shows his righteousness by making us righteous—that is, justifying us—through faith in Jesus. God did not just wipe away people’s sins without some basis. That is because he is a righteous and holy judge. The debt of sin had to be paid. And so, God did not give us the gift of righteousness for no reason; rather, he gave us the gift of righteousness because of what Jesus did on the cross, and because we place all our confidence in him not in ourselves, not in our good works and not in our discipleship. God is absolutely just in doing it this way. He wants all people in the world to see his perfect justice in the way he provides salvation.

Takeaway

And so, the first and most important mark of true disciples is they place all confidence in the gift of righteousness that comes through Jesus Christ, rather than in their own godliness and religious effort. This is what the New Testament calls the gospel, the good news.