Practical discipleship is about knowing the God of Light (Part Five)

From the desk of Dr. Robert L. Taylor, Th.D., Bible Expositor & Teacher. The goal of discipleship is that of knowing the God of Light (1 John 2:3-11). John says, “The one who says he abides in Him ought himself to walk in the same manner as He walked” (1 John 2:6). What does it mean to abide in Christ? The place of development for John’s idea is Jesus’ teaching in John 15:1-8. This passage concerning the vine and its branches can correctly be understood as a metaphor that’s symbolic of the relationship between a disciple and his Lord. This is made very clear by the words that conclude the vine/branch teaching: “My Father is glorified by this, that you bear much fruit, and so prove to be My disciples” (John 15:8). The question is, does every Christian abide in Jesus? The answer is no! Unlike the salvation relationship, the relationship of a disciple to his Teacher can be lost. How do we know? Jesus said, “If anyone does not abide in Me, he is thrown away as a branch and dries up; and they gather them, and cast them into the fire and they are burned” (John 15:6). In other words, the disciple must remain in the Teacher/disciple relationship just as the branch must abide in the Vine (John 15:4). To be “thrown away as a branch” speaks of losing the Teacher/disciple relationship, not to lose salvation. The claim of abiding in Jesus can be verified only by a Christlike lifestyle! The person who remains in the Teacher/disciple relationship will “walk in the same manner” as Jesus walked. How do we know? Because Jesus said His disciples would “bear much fruit, and so prove to be My disciples.” (John 15:8). Bearing much fruit that glorifies the Father equates to “walking in the same manner as Jesus walked” (1 John 2:6). Let me conclude with these words. A Christlike walk, the highest distinction open to a disciple, is NOT reached the moment one is born again. It requires time for teaching and instruction so that one’s heart is prepared to act on what has been learned. The one who abides as a disciple is one who has learned and is learning to live like Christ. Be encouraged!