We often define Christians by what we BELIEVE, however, Christians are also defined by what we DO.  It's important that we not only believe like Christians but also act like Christians.  So, over the next few months we are going to take a look at how a Christian acts.  At the end of our series I hope that we will be more Christian in our behavior. Question:

Are you a Cultural Christian or a disciple of Jesus? What the difference?  A cultural Christian is someone who has grown up in the context of Christianity - celebrates Christmas & Easter, knows some Bible stories, tries to live out basic Christian values, & they may have been baptized or joined a church.   A disciple of Jesus is someone who is committed to follow him & do life his way. Someone who chooses to behave like Jesus whether they feel like it or not or whether they totally understand it or not. Today I invite you to make a decision to become a disciple of Jesus or renew a previous decision.

 

Anyone interested in being a disciple of Jesus must understand where discipleship begins.   It begins with God.

 

 A. God gives us Love   God gives us love NOT because we are loveable but because it is God’s nature to love. Love is at the central core of who God is. 1Jn 3:1 "How great is the love the Father has lavished (generous, plentiful, extravagant) on us…"  The love of God is awesome, it is  amazing! It is not dependent on our attractiveness, our goodness, our intelligence or our accomplishments. God loves us simply because he has chosen to! He loves us when we don’t feel lovely. He loves us when no one else loves us. Others may discard us, desert us, disregard us, dump us, divorce us, & discount us, but God will love us!

God is not impressed by our success or repulsed by our failure. He loves us just for being us.  Rich or poor. Failure or success. Beautiful or unattractive. Healthy or sick. Young or old. Smart or not so smart. God loves you! And, he loves you whether you love him back or not. My prayer for you is the same as the Apostle Paul’s prayer:  “…that you….will have the power to understand the greatness of Christ’s love—how wide & how long & how high & how deep that love is. Christ’s love is greater than anyone can ever know, but I pray that you will be able to know that love…”   God gives us love! But that not all he gives us.

 

 B. God gives us Grace   James 1:5 "God . . . gives generously to all without finding fault."    God is not only a lover but also a giver. He gives everlasting life, forgiveness, love, kindness, help, hope, & much more. One of the most frequent words in the NT is “grace”, which refers to the generosity of God. 2 Cor. 8:9 "you know the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ, that though he was rich, yet for your sakes he became poor, so that you through his poverty might become rich."   That’s the way God is. He is willing to become poor to give to us. He loves to be generous.

 

God’s greatest gift of grace is called salvation. This is when he saves us from our sin to give us eternal life. Eph. 2:8-9 "…it is by grace you have been saved, through faith & this not from yourselves, it is the gift of God-…..."

 

God’s love & grace for us is beyond our understanding. God forgives us when we don’t deserve forgiveness. God repeatedly gives us 2^nd & 3^rd & 100^th chances. God is kind to us when we ignore or disobey him. There are people against whom all of us would seek vengeance but God is good & generous to them.

 

There have been times when I have been too embarrassed to ask God for help. I’ve sinned the same sin that I’ve confessed over & over again. I’ve acted out of selfishness. I’ve taken for granted the blessings God has given to me. I’ve totally messed up. I’ve prayed & told God that I don’t deserve his forgiveness, I don’t deserve his help, I wouldn’t blame him for giving up on me. Then it is as if I hear God say, "I haven’t given up on you. I want to forgive you. I want to help you. I want what is best for you. I delight to be outrageously generous to you over & over again." God gives us love. God gives us grace.  And 3^rd God gives us Jesus.

 

Jesus is the person through whom we receive God’s love & grace. God the Father took the initiative to send Jesus to live, to die, & return to life to prove we to can have a personal relationship with God & experience eternal life.  Jesus is the way, the only way for us to experience God’s love & forgiveness. Rom 5:8 “But God demonstrates His love for us…while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us.”

 

God has given us love, grace & Jesus. Now it is our choice to accept or reject. Those who accept God’s love & grace, & follow Jesus are called disciples.

 

 A. Believing  - Discipleship requires believing. To be a disciple means   believing in Jesus Christ. It is believing the facts about Jesus. The simplest statement of fact to believe is in 1Cor.15:3-4, "Christ died for our sins according to the Scriptures, he was buried, he was raised on the third day according to the Scriptures."  Are you convinced Jesus is the Son of God who died on the cross & rose from the dead? If so that is a starting point.

 

But the truth is many people agree that Jesus lived & died, & some even agree to the fact of His resurrection. But, they have not turned from sin & chosen to follow Him!  

 

Believing involves turning from your sin, trusting in & following Jesus. Do you believe in Jesus? Have you turned from your sin? Have you made the decision to follow him?  In order to be a “disciple” you must be willing to turn from your sin, trust Jesus as Savior & Lord & receive him by personal invitation. If are a cultural Christian I am asking you to become a “disciple!”       Discipleship involves believing!

 

 B. Loving  - Discipleship is BELIEVING but it is also LOVING. Jesus called his disciples to the highest, greatest, most intense love when he said, "Love the Lord your God with all your heart & with all your soul & with all your mind." (Matt  22:37).

 

To be a “disciple” is to love Jesus. As a disciple of Jesus I often say, "Jesus I love you." When I hear others swear by using his name disrespectfully I feel myself getting defensive—because I love him. When I ignore him, displease him, disobey him, I feel lousy—because I love him. What he says & thinks & desires is important to me because I love him.

 

A disciple loves Jesus. We love Jesus when things go right & we love him when things go wrong. We just love him.

There is an astonishing benefit for those who love God. Rom 8:28 says, "We know that in all things God works for the good of those who love him, who have been called according to his purpose." God works for good in the lives of those who love him! Discipleship involves love.

 

To be a disciple of Jesus means that I obey him. I’m committed to doing life his way. As a disciple I choose to behave like Jesus whether I feel like it or not, whether I understand it or not, or agree with it. I obey what Jesus says about prayer, forgiving others, sexual activity, helping the poor, managing money, baptism, church involvement, treating other Christians with grace, & everything else.

 

If I regularly refuse to do what Jesus says, I’m not Jesus’ disciple.

The reality is that even the best of disciples don’t always do what they’re supposed to do. Does that mean that anyone who fails isn’t a disciple? No!  A disciple is someone who commits to listens & obeys & then spends a lifetime learning what that means.

 

Conclusion: Let’s put it all together. God gives us his love, grace & Jesus. We give Him our belief, love, & obedience.

 

There are some days when I think I am a disciple of Jesus. I believe Him, I love Him & I do what He asks me to do. There are other days when I’m not so sure. I have my doubts. I’m a lousy lover. I am prone to disobey. You know what that makes me? I guess that makes me a normal, human disciple. Not perfect, but one who is seeking to follow Jesus as Lord & Savior.

 

Whatever I have or haven’t been in the past, I choose to be Jesus’ disciple today & forever. Will you join me in that commitment? Will you confirm or reaffirm your commitment to believe, to love & obey Jesus?

 

Over the next several weeks we’re going to explore what it means to be Jesus’ disciple—but it must begin with a commitment to Him. I invite you to quietly bow your heads & close your eyes & talk to God.

Pray this short prayer: "God, I choose to be Jesus’ disciple. I believe in Jesus as my Savior from sin. I want to love Jesus with my heart, soul, & mind. I want to obey what you ask me to do. In Jesus’ name. Amen."

 

"Lord God, you have heard the prayers of our hearts. You have promised good to all who love & follow you. Accept our commitment. Teach us & transform us. Help become fully committed disciples of Jesus Christ. Amen."