In Christian thinking, discipleship is often imagined as learning — adopting new habits, beliefs, and disciplines. But in Scripture, discipleship begins far deeper than behavior. Jesus tells Nicodemus in Gospel of John 3 that a person must be “born of the Spirit.” Before a disciple follows Christ, God creates a new capacity to know Him. The journey starts not with effort, but with new life.
This is why Jesus later tells the Samaritan woman in Gospel of John 4 that His gift becomes “a spring of water welling up to eternal life.” He is not offering inspiration that must be repeatedly refilled. He is placing an inner source. The disciple no longer survives on occasional spiritual moments; life with God begins flowing from within.
The Spirit then becomes the teacher. Jesus promises in Gospel of John 14 that the Spirit will remind and reveal Him. Growth is therefore not mainly collecting information about Christ, but seeing Him more clearly. Understanding moves from head to heart — and slowly to action.
Over time this inner life reshapes the person. Paul writes in 2 Corinthians 3 that believers are “transformed into the same image” by the Spirit. Change happens not by pressure but by exposure. As Christ becomes clearer, obedience becomes natural rather than forced.
Finally, the inner spring flows outward. In Acts of the Apostles 1, the Spirit empowers believers to witness. Mission is not an added burden; it is life overflowing.
Discipleship, then, is not mainly trying to live for Jesus.
It is Jesus continuing His life within a person.
The Christian life is not imitation — it is participation in a living presence that never runs dry.
Comments
Post a Comment