The Call of the Disciple – The Call to Commitment
By George J. Matranga
“But God demonstrates His own love toward us, in that while we were still sinners, Christ died for us.” Rom. 5:8. Almighty God proved His great love for us by sending His only Son, Jesus Christ, to make restitution for mankind’s sinful and hopeless condition. Jesus entered the dimension of earth from heaven to reconcile man back to God. In obedience to His Father’s will, the sovereign Lord Jesus Christ became the first missionary on a divine mission from heaven. This was the original ‘mission impossible’ that only God could make possible. Christ and Christ alone was the One commissioned by God for our redemption – freedom from the curse of sin. Our justification – freedom from the guilt of sin. And, our sanctification – freedom from the blemish of sin. I Cor. 1:30
In due time God sent His Son to be the Savior of the world and to redeem mankind from his sins.
The mission of the Lord Jesus Christ, through His birth, death, and resurrection, was heaven’s eternal solution for man’s dilemma. He overcame the barrier of sin, between God and His creation, caused by the fall of man. God’s justice as a righteous judge demands the death of sinners and justice must be served. God’s compassionate heart as a loving Father desires our justification so love intervened. His great plan of salvation for the world was an act of His infinite love, grace, and mercy. God’s remedy: the blood and the cross! “…and by Him to reconcile all things to Himself, by Him, whether things on earth or things in heaven, having made peace through the blood of His cross.” Col. 1:20
In His first coming to the earth (first advent), Jesus Christ was the humble Servant who declared to the world the very nature, heart, and words of the Almighty God. John 1:18 In His second advent, He will return as the victorious King taking vengeance on those who do not know God and upon those who refuse to obey the gospel of Christ. II Thes. 1:7-10
By the way of the cross, Jesus became the eternal sacrifice by which God poured out His wrath caused by sin on the body of His Son. By the way of His resurrection, Jesus provided mankind with eternal life in God as He defeated the power of sin, death and satan. Christ’s expiatory death fulfilled every demand of God’s Holy Law; and the righteousness, justice and holiness of God were fully satisfied (Propitiation). Jesus released us from sin’s captivity by the payment of His blood…our pardon price. Our union with Christ on the cross frees us from the power of the law of sin in our lives. Rom. 8:2 Therefore, by faith in Christ’s atoning Blood (Atonement), the believer is restored back to fellowship with God and now stands acquitted from the impending judgment on fallen man – eternal separation from God. John 3:36 This message of the Good News has made the way to the kingdom of heaven accessible for all those who will believe on the name of the Lord Jesus Christ. Rom. 10:9-10,13
Christ purified us by His blood for God’s own special possession.
In His earthly ministry, Jesus was a man with a mission. He was totally consecrated and committed to His Commander-in-Chief – God the Father – and carried out His Father’s will in absolute obedience and submission. “For I have come down from heaven, not to do My own will, but the will of Him who sent Me.” John 6:38 Jesus claimed to do nothing of Himself. He learned by first-hand experience as He was taught by God how to victoriously and successfully complete His mission. John 5:19-20 He never bowed the knee to compromise but stood up boldly for the honor of God. Jesus had an ironclad will to complete the work God had commissioned Him to finish.
The passion Jesus Christ had for God moved Him with compassion for God’s people. His zeal for the Father was completely misunderstood by those who did not love nor know God. Nonetheless, the supernatural works Christ performed were evidence of His authority from heaven and they authenticated the claims of His Deity and divine mission. John 5:36 He proved His Lordship in both heaven and earth.
Jesus had constant communion and fellowship with His Father. He invaded this dark world as the light of truth in order to turn man’s heart back to peace and fellowship with God. His motivation was love and His strategy was wisdom which He used to defeat every dimension of the powers of darkness. The heart of Jesus’ ministry was to glorify the Almighty God of heaven and earth and to bring honor to His name. John 17:1-5 Through the atoning work of the cross of Christ and by faith in His name, mankind can once again have an intimate and personal relationship with their heavenly Father. This is the heart of the gospel of Christ and the message of His followers.
Likewise, every believer in Christ is called to be a disciple of Christ. Every Christian is commissioned to be sent out as Ambassadors for Christ to a lost and dying world…it is the call of the disciple. Mark 16:15-20 His mission is to pierce the darkness with the light of truth.
The disciple of Christ is a uniquely chosen vessel specifically called to do a specialized work. He must be totally devoted to Christ as Christ is devoted to him – crucified to the world and committed to the gospel. Gal. 2:20 As a faithful follower of Jesus Christ, he knows that before he can command, he must first commit. Before he can lead, he must know how to follow. And, before he is commissioned, he must learn to submit.
The call of the disciple is the call to commitment.The call of the disciple is to be a soldier of the cross. He is keenly aware that the church is in a battle with the kingdom of darkness. He’s armed for spiritual warfare – guarding himself from being entangled with the affairs of this temporal life. “You therefore must endure hardship as a good soldier of Jesus Christ. II Tim. 2:4 The true disciple realizes his commitment is that of total obedience to the will of God. He strives to walk in the narrow way. His hand is gripped to the plow and his eyes fixed on Christ!
The call of the disciple is the call to consecration. He leads a life of prayer. His faithfulness to Christ is seen in his faithfulness to the body of Christ. The disciple desires to be empowered with the Holy Ghost to impact his generation with the love of God. He is wise as a serpent and harmless as a dove in the midst of a decadent and perverse generation. He is cunning yet never crooked. He acts with discretion, never with deception. He devises prayerful plans and never has devious hands. He seeks to be faultless, never false. Matt. 10:16
The call of the disciple is to be like Jesus. He hungers and thirsts for righteousness. His convictions are non-negotiable…he’s not for hire. His heart’s desire is to have a walk worthy of His Lord’s kingdom and to be well pleasing in His sight. I Thes. 2:12 His every move is to honor God. The disciple’s vision and burden is to free and take back all those held captive by satan’s schemes. Yet, foremost, his first love, chief joy and greatest treasure is His Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ. Eph. 3:19
Finally, the call of the disciple is to be dressed and ready for the return of his Master. In the meantime, the disciple of Jesus Christ remains a humble servant of God. He is the salt of the earth and the light of the world.