To truly understand the nature of the call to discipleship, we must unpack what it is and what it is not. The call to discipleship is one to follow a master. This was not a call to simply physically follow, but one to become a trainee or student of the master, following them in teaching and action. This was not a new practice Jesus created but one already established in the culture. That is why the disciples knew what they were signing up for (in initial practice) when they answered Jesus’ call. For this reason, the call must be distinguished from the call to salvation. It is a call to learn and follow. The call to make Christ Lord is one that regards right standing with God the Father and has to do with Christ’s substitutionary sacrifice being applied to impute His righteousness in the stead of the sinner. The call to follow Jesus in discipleship has more to do with the way one patterns their life. This distinguishment is made here to highlight an unfortunate trend in Christianity.
Many claim (or live in such a way as to claim) that salvation only changes their eternal destination or standing with God and that Christ’s love, grace, and mercy allow them to live on credit, so to speak. They regard discipleship as optional or simply for spiritual enrichment. However, salvation has two distinguishable but inseparable aspects; repentance and faith. We are saved by faith, but repentance is an evidence that our faith is being put into action. This is addressed well in James 2:14-26. Therefore, the call to salvation is always a call to discipleship. One’s desire to “live like Jesus” or be a “good Christian” does not necessarily indicate regeneration has taken place though. Some desire the benefits of Jesus without desiring to be in relationship and intimate fellowship with Him. There are those who want Heaven but don’t desire to live in His presence on earth. Similarly, there are those who treat Jesus as a guru and attempt to live like Him and according to His teachings, yet never enter into salvation by grace alone, through faith alone, in Christ alone. While these would call themselves disciples of Christ, they have only transformed externally and have not been made a new creation in Christ as Paul teaches in 2 Corinthians 5:17. This is basic behavior modification and is not born out of a desire to know and serve the Son of the living God. These have not experienced life-changing discipleship because they have not answered the life-giving call to follow Jesus. In light of this, we must come to understand that the call to discipleship is one into deeper fellowship with Jesus. This fellowship has the two-fold purpose of the believer knowing Jesus more and in turn, becoming more like Him.
This call is seen in Matthew 9:9. Here Jesus simply sees a tax collector and says, “Follow me.” It says that Matthew “got up and followed Him.” John’s gospel account records the calling of Philip in a similar manner, noting that Jesus saw Philip and said to him, “Follow me.” (John 1:43) The Gospel of Mark records the calling of James and John, though it does not say that Jesus told them to follow Him. It simply says that Jesus called to them and they left their father in the boat and they followed Him (Mark 1:19-20). Luke’s gospel account gives greater detail of the calling of Peter, Andrew, and the sons of Zebedee but the result is the same, they followed Jesus (Luke 5:1-11).
This was a call to deep relationship and study. The answering of this call would lead to salvation and discipleship. The important takeaway here is that we are called to salvation and discipleship. We will not experience salvation and be excused from discipleship. We cannot attempt discipleship and assume salvation. Jesus’ call to follow Him beckons us to place faith in Him for salvation and this results in a lifetime of radical submission and service to Him. To pursue authentic discipleship, there must be a yielding to the Master. Just like the twelve He called during His earthly ministry, we too are to drop everything and deny ourselves (our old way of living), take up our cross (accept the death of our old self) and follow Him (Matthew 16:24, Luke 9:23). Have you answered the call?
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