THE ULTIMATE DISCIPLE

(Becoming Like Christ)
God’s ultimate plan for us is that we would live with Him in paradise forever, in glorified immortal bodies, in the new heavens and the new earth wherein dwells righteousness (Rev 21). We will resemble Christ, His eternal Son, and live and reign with him forever. Many Scriptures attest to this truth (1 Jn 3:2; Rev 3:21). We are even to sit with him on His throne, and walk on the streets of gold in the golden city of New Jerusalem! Unbelievable? No wonder the Bible declares that “eyes have not seen, ears have not heard, neither has entered the hearts of men, the things that God has prepared for those who love Him” (Isa 64:4).
God’s awesome plans for mankind are not fully revealed in the Old Testament, but they are seen in snatches of events here and there, and in the writings of some of the prophets. In Genesis we see that God made man ”in His image and likeness.” It was for a purpose, for a plan that God had in mind for our glory… Then further in Genesis we see Enoch translated into glory, without seeing death. And this should tell us something! And much later we see Elijah taken up to heaven by horsemen and chariots of fire!
Abraham was promised a heavenly city with eternal foundations, built by God Himself; and Moses speaks of a Book of life written by God with names of those found worthy to inherit glory and immortality.
However, it is in the New Testament that we find greater revelation of God’s plans for mankind through the coming of Christ, God’s eternal Son, into the world. He promised His disciples (and all Believers) that “…in the regeneration, when the Son of man shall sit in the throne of His glory, ye also shall sit upon twelve thrones, judging the twelve tribes of Israel…” (Matt 19:28-30). Through the writings of His apostles and Paul, Christ makes manifest the events at resurrection and rapture, and our glorious translation into glory. We will see God, and live in His temple forever, as His sons and daughters, enjoying the glories of His kingdom forever!! We shall have immortal bodies, and live in unspeakable splendor!
But who may qualify for these things? God is all righteous, thrice-holy, awesome, a consuming fire, dwelling in the light that no man can approach unto. And we are all as an unclean thing, sin-laden, full of wickedness. How can mortal man that wallows in sin dwell with the all-holy immortal God? Suffice it to say here that the death of Christ, and His shed blood on the cross of Calvary has brought us close to God, and abolished all our sins. Through Christ we have become accepted as beloved sons of God, and our names have been written in the Book of life in heaven. Christ bore our sins, and his righteousness was imputed to us through our faith in him. Thus we are saved by grace through faith in the accomplished sacrifice of Christ. But is that all? Has God finished His work in us?
Do all who call Jesus, “Lord, Lord,” now become automatic candidates of heaven? What about the matter of holiness and godliness without which no man shall see the Lord? (Heb 12:14). What about growth in grace? What about the Lord’s warning that all those who wish to inherit heaven must pass through the narrow gate, not the wide gate that leads to destruction?... What all these mean is that, though saved by grace, there is more work that the Holy Spirit wants to do in the recipients of grace to make us fit for heaven. That is what “The Ultimate Disciple” is all about.
God’s Work of Grace and Transformation
Having accomplished all that was done at the cross for us, (He made the full final payment for all our sins forever), and having risen from the dead for us, God has not finished His work in us. He comes to take His abode in us, by His Holy Spirit, in order to work out His righteousness in us, and deliver us from our vile nature. God’s intention is not only to declare us righteous by faith, but also He intends to make us righteous by grace. He comes to work in us, to transform us, and make us become like His Son, Jesus Christ, in our character and conduct. That is why the Scriptures admonish us to “work out your own salvation with fear and trembling, for it is God that works in you both to will and to do of His own pleasure” (Phil 2:12-13). God is working in us by His Spirit to subdue and destroy our old carnal and sinful nature. When He finishes with us we shall become pure like gold (Job 23:10). His intention is to make us holy, as He is holy… for without holiness, no man shall see the Lord (Heb 12:14). God’s work in us is preparing us to become like Christ so that we can live with him, and reign with him forever.
Disciples Model Christ
God’s work-plan is that we should understudy the life of Christ as revealed in the Scriptures, and yield to the nudging and leadership of His indwelling Spirit, and thereby grow into the image of Christ. We are to manifest Christ in our world and become his ambassadors through the teaching and empowerment of the Holy Spirit who indwells us.
Before the foundation of the world God had foreknown us and predestined us to this new life in Christ. But before this glorious transformation can be effected, we must willingly allow God to destroy our old nature through the work of the Spirit. This is not an easy task, but it is mandatory for us, because the Scriptures declare that if we continue in the flesh we shall die, but if we mortify (crucify) the flesh, we shall live (Rom 8:13). And as far as God is concerned, the outcome of the battle for Christ-like life in us is sure, because He lives in us to perfect what He started. All we need to do is yield to His Spirit in obedience. This is what Discipleship is all about: Understudying the life of Christ that we might live like him, and become the ultimate disciples, modeling Christ in our generation.
Discipleship
The process by which we are transformed into Christ’s very nature and character is called “Discipleship.” It is a rigorous training of the Spirit of God, effected through our obedience, and study of the Christlife, through much prayers, and effectual use of God’s word, Christ’s blood for daily cleansing of our sins, and through fellowship with God and with other Believers. It is God’s stated will that we will finally “come in the unity of the faith and of the knowledge of the Son of God, unto a perfect man, unto the measure of the stature of the fullness of Christ” (Eph 4:11-13). God wants each of us to grow into the exact replica of His Son in character, righteousness, integrity, honour and in every virtue. This gracious feat is arrived at as we diligently apply ourselves in studying the life and teachings of Christ, and grow into the fullness of his grace. A field left to itself does not grow into a garden of roses. It needs to be cultivated, sown, tended, purged, pruned and well cared-for. Then it will grow and blossom; and so do we also grow into His likeness, through Discipleship.
The Attributes of Christ
In the Ultimate Disciple we shall study twenty-seven vital attributes of Christ’s life and character, including his wisdom, righteousness, sinless life, power, faith, love, zeal, humility, and other virtues. It is instructive to note that “though he were a Son, yet learned he obedience by the things which he suffered. we too are called to follow His steps, so that we may be glorified together with him. Difficult Areas

Our walk with God is not an all-smooth ride without bumps and shakings. There are seasons of hardships, temptations and trials, as well as seasons of prosperity, peace and excitement. There are issues that often cause us to stumble, and our adversary the devil is always lurking around to try and trip us and accuse us. Such issues as money, sex, unlawful fleshly lusts, marital problems, worldliness, and others, are his ready tools. But as we look up to Christ, the author and finisher of our faith, we are more than conquerors.