What Is The Primary Characteristic Of Being A Disciple Of Jesus Christ?

(Many of the links in this article redirect to a specific reviewed product. Your purchase of these products through affiliate links helps to generate commission for Christian.net, at no extra cost. Learn more)

The Call to Follow Jesus

The primary characteristic of being a disciple of Jesus Christ is answering the call to follow Him. This call is not just a casual invitation; it is a radical, life-altering decision to leave behind our old ways and walk in the footsteps of Jesus. It requires a deep commitment and a willingness to prioritize Him above all else. When Jesus called His disciples, He didn't just ask them to believe in Him from a distance; He asked them to walk with Him, learn from Him, and become like Him. This call to follow Jesus is the foundational characteristic of discipleship, setting the stage for everything else that follows.

1. Radical Obedience: The call to follow Jesus demands radical obedience. It means being willing to leave behind our comfort zones, our desires, and even our plans, in order to pursue His will wholeheartedly. This obedience is not always easy, but it is essential in the life of a disciple.

2. Sacrificial Commitment: Following Jesus requires a sacrificial commitment. It means being willing to lay down our lives, our ambitions, and our selfish desires for the sake of His kingdom. This level of commitment is a defining trait of true discipleship.

3. Personal Relationship: The call to follow Jesus is an invitation to a personal relationship with Him. It goes beyond mere adherence to a set of rules or religious practices; it is about walking closely with Him, talking to Him, and allowing Him to transform our hearts.

4. Counting the Cost: Jesus Himself emphasized the importance of counting the cost of following Him. It involves understanding that being His disciple may bring challenges, persecution, and even suffering. However, the reward of knowing Him and being known by Him far outweighs any earthly cost.

5. Continuous Learning: Following Jesus means being a lifelong learner. It involves a commitment to continually grow in knowledge and understanding of His teachings, His character, and His ways. This learning process is integral to the journey of discipleship.

In essence, the call to follow Jesus is the primary characteristic of being His disciple. It encompasses radical obedience, sacrificial commitment, a personal relationship, counting the cost, and continuous learning. As His followers, we are called to walk in His footsteps, imitate His love, and live out His teachings in every aspect of our lives.

Surrendering to His Will

Surrendering to the will of Jesus is a fundamental aspect of being His disciple. It involves yielding our own desires, plans, and ambitions to align with His divine purpose. This surrender is not a one-time event but a daily, ongoing choice to submit to His lordship in every area of our lives. It requires humility, trust, and a deep conviction that His plans are always better than our own. Surrendering to His will means acknowledging that He knows what is best for us and being willing to follow His lead, even when it may not align with our own understanding.

Key Aspects of Surrendering to His Will:

1. Humility and Trust: Surrendering to Jesus' will requires humility to acknowledge that He is the ultimate authority and trust that His plans are for our good. It involves letting go of pride and self-reliance, and instead, relying on His wisdom and guidance.

2. Yielding Control: It means relinquishing control and allowing Jesus to take the lead in our lives. This involves surrendering our careers, relationships, finances, and every aspect of our being to His divine authority.

3. Seeking His Guidance: Surrendering to His will involves seeking His guidance through prayer, meditation on His Word, and being sensitive to the leading of the Holy Spirit. It means being open to His direction and being willing to obey, even when it challenges our own desires.

4. Embracing His Timing: Surrendering to Jesus' will also entails embracing His timing. It involves being patient and trusting that His timing is perfect, even when it may not align with our own timelines and expectations.

5. Letting Go of Fear: It means letting go of fear and anxiety about the unknown, and instead, trusting that He holds the future in His hands. Surrendering to His will brings a sense of peace and assurance that He is in control, regardless of the circumstances.

Surrendering to the will of Jesus is a continual process that requires intentional daily choices. It is an essential characteristic of discipleship, as it reflects a heart that is fully committed to following Him and allowing His purposes to be fulfilled in and through our lives.

Embracing His Teachings

Embracing the teachings of Jesus is a vital aspect of being His disciple. It involves not only acknowledging His words but also internalizing them and allowing them to shape our beliefs, attitudes, and actions. Jesus' teachings are found in the Gospels and encompass a wide range of topics, including love, forgiveness, humility, compassion, and the kingdom of God. Embracing His teachings requires a willingness to align our lives with the principles He taught and to live them out in practical ways.

Key Aspects of Embracing His Teachings:

1. Wholehearted Acceptance: Embracing His teachings involves wholeheartedly accepting them as the ultimate truth and standard for living. It requires a genuine belief in the authority and relevance of His words for our lives today.

2. Lifestyle Alignment: It means aligning our lifestyle with His teachings. This includes living a life of love, forgiveness, and compassion, as well as seeking justice and righteousness in our interactions with others.

3. Practical Application: Embracing His teachings goes beyond mere intellectual assent; it involves practical application. It means actively seeking to apply His teachings in our daily decisions, relationships, and responses to various situations.

4. Transformed Thinking: His teachings call for a transformation of our thinking. It involves renewing our minds to align with His perspective on life, morality, and the values of the kingdom of God.

5. Teachability and Obedience: Embracing His teachings requires a teachable spirit and a willingness to obey. It involves being open to correction, instruction, and guidance as we seek to live according to His principles.

Embracing the teachings of Jesus is not just about acquiring knowledge; it is about allowing His words to permeate our hearts and minds, leading to a transformation in how we think, speak, and act. As His disciples, we are called to be doers of the Word, not just hearers, and to reflect His teachings in our daily lives.

Serving Others in His Name

Serving others in the name of Jesus is a core characteristic of being His disciple. It involves selflessly meeting the needs of others, demonstrating love, compassion, and humility, and doing so with the motivation of reflecting the heart of Jesus to the world. This aspect of discipleship is not merely an option but a commandment given by Jesus Himself, who exemplified servanthood throughout His earthly ministry. Serving others in His name is an outward expression of the inward transformation that occurs in the lives of His followers, and it is a tangible way to impact the world with the love of Christ.

Key Aspects of Serving Others in His Name:

1. Selfless Attitude: Serving others in His name requires a selfless attitude, putting the needs of others above our own desires and preferences. It involves a willingness to sacrifice time, resources, and personal comfort for the well-being of those we serve.

2. Compassionate Action: It entails taking compassionate action to alleviate the suffering and struggles of others. This can manifest in various forms, such as feeding the hungry, clothing the naked, visiting the sick, and caring for the marginalized and oppressed.

3. Humble Service: Serving in His name involves humble service, devoid of pride or seeking recognition. It means performing acts of service with a humble heart, acknowledging that it is an honor to serve others as an expression of love for Jesus.

4. Empowering Others: It includes empowering others to thrive and succeed. This can be achieved through mentorship, education, advocacy, and providing opportunities for personal and spiritual growth.

5. Reflecting Christ's Love: Serving others in His name is ultimately about reflecting the love of Christ to the world. It is a tangible way to demonstrate His love, grace, and mercy to those in need, pointing them to the redemptive power of the gospel.

Serving others in the name of Jesus is not limited to specific acts of charity or kindness; it encompasses a lifestyle of selfless love and compassion. As His disciples, we are called to be His hands and feet in a world that desperately needs His transformative love. This aspect of discipleship is a powerful testimony to the reality of Christ's presence and impact in the lives of His followers.

Bearing Fruit in His Kingdom

Bearing fruit in the kingdom of Jesus Christ is a fundamental aspect of discipleship. It involves producing tangible evidence of spiritual growth, transformation, and the outworking of God's purposes in the lives of His followers. The concept of bearing fruit is deeply rooted in the teachings of Jesus, where He emphasized the importance of a fruitful life that glorifies God and impacts the world. As disciples of Jesus, bearing fruit in His kingdom is not optional but an essential demonstration of the authenticity of our faith and the transformative power of His gospel.

Key Aspects of Bearing Fruit in His Kingdom:

1. Spiritual Growth and Character Development: Bearing fruit in His kingdom begins with the internal transformation of the heart and character. It involves growing in virtues such as love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control, as outlined in the Scriptures. This spiritual growth is evidenced by a life that increasingly reflects the nature and character of Jesus Christ.

2. Impactful Witness and Evangelism: Bearing fruit extends to the outward expression of our faith through impactful witness and evangelism. It involves sharing the gospel with others, making disciples, and leading people to a personal relationship with Jesus. The fruit of evangelism is seen in the lives transformed by the saving knowledge of Christ and the expansion of His kingdom through the proclamation of the good news.

3. Acts of Compassion and Justice: Bearing fruit in His kingdom includes engaging in acts of compassion and justice that address the needs of the marginalized, oppressed, and vulnerable in society. This may involve feeding the hungry, providing shelter for the homeless, advocating for the voiceless, and working towards societal transformation that reflects the values of God's kingdom.

4. Disciple-Making and Mentoring: It encompasses the reproduction of disciples who, in turn, bear fruit in their own lives and spheres of influence. This involves investing in the spiritual growth and development of others, mentoring and equipping them to become mature followers of Jesus who, in turn, bear fruit in their own lives and communities.

5. Fruit of the Spirit: Bearing fruit in His kingdom also involves manifesting the fruit of the Spirit, as described in Galatians 5:22-23. This includes love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control. These qualities are evidence of the indwelling presence of the Holy Spirit and the transformative work of God in the lives of His disciples.

Bearing fruit in the kingdom of Jesus Christ is a multifaceted expression of authentic discipleship. It encompasses both the internal transformation of the heart and the outward demonstration of God's love, truth, and power in the world. As His disciples, we are called to bear fruit that glorifies God, impacts others, and contributes to the advancement of His kingdom on earth.