Discipleship & Holiness (#1)
(Matthew 16:21-26)
(*delay reading the text*)
Let us begin this next series of What We Believe & Why We Believe It by establishing from the outset this one truth that we all must accept: It is God’s will that Christians are to be holy! Before the foundations of this world was laid, God purposed that Christians were to be holy and without blame (Eph. 1:Before the foundations of this world was laid, God purposed that Christians were to be holy and without blame (Eph. 1:4) - "…He chose us in Him before the foundation of the world, that we should be holy and without blame before Him in love…" God continues His call unto holiness - Paul the Apostle tells us that God saved us in order to make us holy (2 Tim. 1:9) - "…who (God) has saved us and called us with a holy calling, not according to our works, but according to His own purpose and grace which was given to us in Christ Jesus before time began…"
Peter writes (1 Peter 1:15 & 16) - "…as He who called you is holy, you also be holy in all your conduct, because it is written, ’Be holy, for I am holy.’"
No Bible believing Christian doubts the importance of holiness! Yet, the question remains: "What exactly is holiness?" Although answers to this question abound, many of the answers leave people mystified and confused. Perhaps the easiest way to understand holiness is to examine the life of the holiest human to ever live: Jesus Christ!
When examining John 1:1, we read that Jesus is called "the Word." The importance of this is clear; God chooses to communicate to us His will for our lives by using just one conveyance: Words! Therefore, Jesus became the living Example, the living Word from God for us to emulate!
John further tells us in John 1:14: "…the Word became flesh and dwelt among us, and we beheld His glory, the glory as of the only begotten of the Father, full of grace and truth." Jesus came into this world as God-man (incarnation) for the express purpose of revealing to mankind what the Father is like! (John 1:18) - "No one has seen God at any time. The only begotten Son, who is in the bosom of the Father, He (Jesus) has declared Him." And, since God is holy, Jesus displays through His life what holiness is like. Therefore, we may say that holiness, as it is expressed by redeemed mankind, is Christ-likeness!
To be holy is to be Christ-like; to be holy in thought, word and deed is to be Christ-like in thought, word and deed. To have a holy heart is to have a heart like Jesus. To be holy in our attitudes, ambitions and activities, is to be Christ-like in our attitudes, ambitions and activities. In short, to be Christ-like necessitates having the mind of Christ! (Phil. 2:5-8) - "Let this mind be in you which was also in Christ Jesus, who, being in the form of God, did not consider it robbery to be equal with God, but made Himself of no reputation, taking the form of a bondservant, and coming in the likeness of men. And being found in appearance as a man, He humbled Himself and became obedient to the point of death, even the death of the cross."
Jesus left us an example that we should follow in His steps. He was and is totally obedient to the Father. He humbled Himself, renouncing all selfish ambitions or considerations, and did the will of the Father even though it cost Him His life. (1 Peter 2:21 & 22) - "For to this you were called, because Christ also suffered for us, leaving us an example, that you should follow His steps: ’Who committed no sin, Nor was deceit found in His mouth…’" (quote from Isa. 53:9)
But remember: Holiness begins in a person’s life the moment he/she is born again. His/her sinful past is forgiven and he/she is made a new creature (2 Cor. 5:17) - "…if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation; old things have passed away; behold, all things have become new." This is Christ-likeness begun!
Christ-likeness continues to develop as the new Christian grows in grace and in the knowledge of the Lord Jesus Christ. When the believer becomes aware of the presence of inherited depravity (carnality) in his/her life, and learns that his/her heart can be completely cleansed of inbred sin and filled with divine love through the sanctifying work of the Holy Spirit, he/she walks in the light and receives this work by faith; this is called being "sanctified wholly." (1 Thess. 5:23) - "…may the God of peace Himself sanctify you completely; and may your whole spirit, soul, and body be preserved blameless at the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ."
It is after a Christian is entirely sanctified that progress in Christ-likeness is the greatest. The impediment to Christ-likeness (inherited depravity) is cleansed and the subsequent filling with the Spirit enables the Christian to develop as he/she should in the Christ-like qualities of the fruit of the Spirit (Gal. 5:22 & 23) - "… the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, longsuffering, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, self-control…"
Now, this (in a nut-shell) is What We Believe & Why We Believe It when it comes to holiness and a second work of sanctifying grace. What do we believe in? Holiness and the sanctifying grace of God. Why do we believe it? Because it is God’s will and it is found in His Word!
But, I would like to start us off right; I would like to an analyze what this means in a more practical approach. Maybe you are saying right now: "Bro. Gary, I know I’m saved; I’ve asked Jesus to forgive me of my sinful past and I am doing my best to walk in every ray of light as the Lord shows me. But, I still have a problem with fierce anger…with managing my time so I can pray effectively…with a pull to things that I know are not good for a Christian to feast upon!" Or, maybe you are saying: "Bro. Gary, I do not have a clear realization of my walk with God. I do not have a moment of time in my past when I asked Jesus to forgive me and come into my life."
Well, to the latter, I would say that this message is for you as I would say the same to the former. Because I wish to talk with you about DISCIPLESHIP & HOLINESS!
(*Refer to text*)
We need to take notice that Jesus’ requirements for discipleship do not compartmentalize the Christian life into separate religious categories. For example: You may have heard some folk say that after they were saved, they still had aspects of their lives "un-surrendered" unto the Lord. The way some talk about or explain their relationship with Jesus Christ sounds as if a full surrender unto the Lordship of Jesus Christ is optional. It is as if they are saying: "You can choose to obey some commands, but ignore (at least temporarily) other Scriptural commands."
Looking to our text, discipleship (which is imperative to living a true life of holiness) begins with the making of a decision -
I. There is a DECISION one must make. (vs. 24)
"…If anyone desires to come after Me…"
The decision to become a true disciple of Christ has eternal consequences. This decision can be characterized by three attributes:
A. It is to be an informed decision based upon the RECOGNITION of Jesus’ identity "…If anyone desires to come after Me…"
1) Jesus claims to be the "Way…" (John 14:6) - "…I am the way, the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through Me."
2) Jesus claims to be the "Christ…" (Matt. 16:16) - "Simon Peter answered and said, ’You are the Christ, the Son of the living God.’"
3) Jesus claims to be the One & only source of all growth and development in the Christian life. (John 15:5) - "I am the vine, you are the branches. He who abides in Me, and I in him, bears much fruit; for without Me you can do nothing."
4) Jesus claims to be the rightful Lord of His followers. (Luke 6:46) - "…why do you call Me ’Lord, Lord,’ and do not do the things which I say?" No one has the right to claim to belong to Jesus if they are not following all of His commands!
5) Jesus’ claims were all authenticated by His bodily resurrection from the dead!
To call Jesus "Lord," is to recognize Jesus’ true identity as the living Son of God, the only way to the Father, and the source of all spiritual life and growth! To call Jesus Lord of your life is to recognize His right and authority and control over EVERY aspect of your life! To call Jesus Lord of your life is to confess His right to complete control of your life!
B. It is to be an individual decision based upon the RECEPTION Jesus’ invitation. "…If anyone desires to come after Me…"
This invitation is open to all - No one is excluded! Yet, no one is compelled!
1) Titus 2:11 - "For the grace of God that brings salvation has appeared to all men…"
2) 2 Peter 3:9 - "The Lord is not slack concerning His promise, as some count slackness, but is longsuffering toward us, not willing that any should perish but that all should come to repentance."
3) 1 Timothy 2:4 - (God) "…who desires all men to be saved and to come to the knowledge of the truth."
C. It is to be an immaculate decision based upon the REQUIREMENT of commitment.
1) It is a commitment to preserve.
Jesus is not saying "Try following Me for a while to see if you like it." Jesus is clearly stipulating that His requirements for discipleship involves a call to full-time commitment! His call to follow involves a commitment to keep on following no matter where He leads, no matter who else is willing to follow, and no matter what happens to you as you follow.
2) It is a commitment to a person.
To follow Jesus is not the same thing as to follow a creed, a denomination, a doctrinal belief or even a local Church. To follow Jesus is to follow a Person who is the Son of God, the Lord of the Church. Discipleship demands that you establish a personal relationship with Jesus. Yet, there are some important things to remember about this relationship with Christ:
a. A personal relationship with Jesus is based upon COMMITMENT, not experience.
Commitment is a choice, not a feeling! It is a choice of your heart, mind and will. Commitment is the glue that holds a relationship together.
b. Your personal relationship with Jesus will be uniquely DIFFERENT from that of any other believer.
(2 Cor. 10:12) - "…we dare not class ourselves or compare ourselves with those who commend themselves. But they, measuring themselves by themselves, and comparing themselves among themselves, are not wise."
c. A personal relationship with Jesus will (must) grow through NURTURE or will be destroyed through neglect.
c. A personal relationship with Jesus, begun at the new birth, is strengthened and PURIFIED by entire sanctification.
As we looked at the experience and process of holiness, we noticed that it all begins at the new birth (born again). Then, we have found out that in order for one to be a candidate and recipient of a holy life, one must become a true disciple of Jesus Christ; this only comes by a decision; a decision that requires total commitment. This discipleship is not understood in terms of experience, but in terms of a personal relationship with the Lord Jesus Christ! Out of this relationship will come experiences. But, the focus must ever and always be upon the relationship we have obtained and must maintain with Jesus!
