BECOMING LIKE CHRIST

You were created to become like Christ.
From the very beginning, God’s plan has been to make you like His Son, Jesus.
When the first disciples choose to follow Jesus, they didn’t understand all the implications of their decision. They simply responded to Jesus’ invitation. That’s all you need to get started: DECIDE to become a disciple.

We are not meant to remain as children…but to grow up in every way into Christ” EPHESIANS 4:14-15.
“For from the very beginning God decided that those who came to him…should become like his Son…”
ROMANS 8:29.
“…that you may become mature Christians and may fulfill God’s will for you”
COLOSSIANS 4:12b.

DISCIPLE was Christ’s favorite word for those who followed Him. The Greek word for disciple, ‘mathetes’, is used 269 times in the Gospels and Acts. It means a ‘taught’ or ‘trained’ one.
DISCIPLESHIP is the process of becoming like Christ.
DISCIPLE was Christ’s favorite word for those who followed Him. The Greek word for disciple, ‘mathetes’, is used 269 times in the Gospels and Acts. It means a ‘taught’ or ‘trained’ one.

I. THE DISTINGUISHING MARKS OF A DISCIPLE

A. A disciple is a Christian who is involved in the word of God on a continual basis.
“[JESUS] You are truly my disciples if you keep obeying my teachings. And you will know the truth and the truth will set you free” John 8:31-32.

B. A disciple is one who lays down his life for others.
“[JESUS] So now I am giving you a new commandment: Love each other. Your love for one another will prove to the world that you are my disciples” John 13:34-35.
“ And here is how to measure it – the greatest love is shown when people lay down their lives for their friends” John 15:13.
We give up certain rights. We may have to sacrifice money, time, and possessions in order to love others better.



C. A disciple is one who abides daily in a fruit-bearing union with Christ.
“Remain in me and I will remain in you. For a branch cannot produce fruit if it is severed from the vine, and you cannot be fruitful apart from me…Those who remain in me, and I in them, will produce much fruit” John 15:4-5.
“[JESUS] The harvest is so great, but the workers are so few. So pray to the Lord who is in charge of the harvest; ask him to send out more workers for his fields” Matthew 9:37-38.

D. A disciple must carry his cross in order to follow Jesus.
“And you cannot be my disciple if you do not carry your own cross and follow me” Luke 14:27.

The world desperately needs DISCIPLES. We can help reach the world – that great harvest!


II. THE BASIC RESPONSIBILITIES OF A DISCIPLE
Once you decide to follow Christ, there are basic responsibilities and basic qualities.
“Timothy, my dear son, be strong with the special favor God gives you in Christ Jesus. You have heard me teach many things that have been confirmed by many reliable witnesses. Teach these great truths to trustworthy people who are able to pass them on to others.
Endure suffering along with me, as a good soldier of Christ Jesus. And as Christ’s soldier, do not let yourself become tied up in the affairs of this life, for then you cannot satisfy the one who has enlisted you in his army. Follow the Lord’s rules for doing his work, just as an athlete either follows the rules or is disqualified and wins no prize. Hardworking farmers are the first to enjoy the fruit of their labor. Think about what I am saying. The Lord will give you understanding in all these things” 2 TIMOTHY 2:1-7

A. GROW
“Be strong in the grace that is in Christ Jesus” (2:1)
The verb ‘grow’ is present and imperative. It is a command. It is in the present tense. Meaning, we should continue to grow, to remain strong, as growth is a continuing process.
Physical growth is painful, and so is spiritual growth. It is never easy.





FACTS ABOUT SPIRITUAL GROWTH:

1. IT’S NOT AUTOMATIC.
“You have been Christians a long time now, and you ought to be teaching others, but instead you have dropped back to the place where you need someone to teach you all over again the very first principles in God’s Word. You are like babies who can drink only milk, not old enough for solid food. And when a person is still living on milk it shows he isn’t very far along in the Christian life, and doesn’t know much about the difference between right and wrong. He is still a baby-Christian!” HEBREWS 5:12-13.

Spiritual growth is not automatic. It takes an intentional commitment. You must want to grow, decide to grow, make an effort to grow, and persist in growing.

Spiritual maturity is a gradual, progressive development that will take the rest of your life.

2. IT IS A PROCESS.
You are a work in progress. Your spiritual transformation in developing the character of Jesus will take the rest of your life, and even then it won’t be completed here on earth. It will only be finished when you get to heaven or when Jesus returns. At that point, whatever unfinished work on your character is left will be wrapped up.
As long as we live, we’ll never reach the point where we can say, ‘I have arrived!’
ONCE WE STOP GROWING, WE STOP LIVING!
“Continue to grow in the grace and knowledge of our Savior Jesus Christ” 1 PETER 3:18.

3. IT TAKES DISCIPLINE.
“Train yourself to be godly” 1 TIMOTHY 4:7.
Like an athlete, we need discipline in order to grow spiritually.
Spiritual growth involves CHANGE. In every change there is fear or loss; and in every loss there is pain.
Spiritual growth is hard work. It takes time.


When God wants to make a mushroom, He does it overnight, but when He wants to make a giant oak, He takes a hundred years. Great souls are grown through struggles and storms and seasons of suffering.



B. MULTIPLY
“And the things you have heard me say in the presence of many witnesses entrust to reliable men who will also be qualified to teach others” (2:2).
Paul urges Timothy to entrust to men who can be trusted the teachings he received so that they too could teach others.
“[JESUS] Therefore, go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and the Son and the Holy Spirit. Teach these new disciples to obey all commands I have given you. And be sure of this: I am with you always, even to the end of the age” MATTHEW 28:19-20.
WE ARE CALLED NOT ONLY TO BE A DISCIPLE, BUT ALSO TO MAKE DISCIPLES.

“IF YOU ARE PLANNING FOR A YEAR, PLANT GRAIN; IF YOU ARE PLANNING FOR A DECADE, PLANT TREES; IF YOU ARE PLANNING FOR A CENTURY, PLANT MEN” (Chinese proverb).

We should be bearing not only spiritual children but also grandchildren and great grand children, continually reaching out for souls to witness and disciple.
“I tell you that in the same way there will be more rejoicing in heaven over one sinner who repents…” LUKE 15:7.

GROW, THEN MULTIPLY! IF YOU DON’T MULTIPLY, YOU BEGIN TO EXPIRE!