Defining Discipleship
Step One - Repentence

If discipleship is a word that is in vogue, repentence is not. It is not a feel-good term. Repentence is one of those words which cuts. Deeply. It impliesthat our starting place is not good. That there are bad things in our lives that need to be dealt with. Unfortunately, any honest discussion of discipleship has to start with repentence for the simple reason that this is where the gospels start.

It is right there in Mark 1 verse 4, Matthew 3: 2 and Luke 3:3. Before Jesus's ministry starts, there is John. And John's message is repentance:

So John the Baptist appeared in the wilderness, preaching a baptism of repentance for the forgiveness of sins

Mark 1: 4 (NIV)

In case we are in any doubt of the importance of this, Mark's gospel shows us quite clearly that Jesus' message was the same as John's

After John was put in prison, Jesus went into Galilee, proclaiming the good news of God. ‘The time has come,’ he said. ‘The kingdom of God has come near. Repent and believe the good news!’

Mark 1: 14-15 (NIV)

It is the message the Jesus own disciples preached when he sent them out (Mark 6: 12) and that Peter preached as his first sermon after Jesus's ascension (Acts 2: 38).

Repentence is a prequisite for discipleship. It is the starting place.

What does repentace look like?

In the words of John the Baptist we are to produce fruit in keeping with repentence. In Luke's gospel his message is simple and not entirely popular.

To the crowd he says:

Anyone who has two shirts should share with the one who has none, and anyone who has food should do the same

Luke 3: 11 (NIV)

To the tax payers:

Don’t collect any more than you are required to

Luke 3: 13 (NIV)

And to the soldiers:

Don’t extort money and don’t accuse people falsely—be content with your pay

Luke 3: 14 (NIV)

Jesus message is similar. To the rich man he says

Go, sell everything you have and give to the poor, and you will have treasure in heaven. Then come, follow me

Mark 10: 21 (NIV)

To the woman caught in adultery he says

Go and sin no more

John 8: 11 (NIV)

In his famous sermon on the mount he says

I tell you that unless your righteousness surpasses that of the Pharisees and the teachers of the law, you will certainly not enter the kingdom of heaven

Matthew 5: 20 (NIV)

In other words, in the teaching of both John and Jesus there is an expectation of a change in behaviour before we follow him. A turning away from wrong and a turning towards God.

Repentence is not salvation

Now, please, at this point do not get me wrong. Neither Jesus, or John ever says that salvation comes through this turning away. It is not our good works, or even our absence of bad deeds which saves us. Jesus makes it very clear that salvation comes through his gift alone:

For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life. For God did not send his Son into the world to condemn the world, but to save the world through him. Whoever believes in him is not condemned, but whoever does not believe stands condemned already because they have not believed in the name of God’s one and only Son.

John 3: 16-18 (NIV)

But even in these words to Nicodemus he indicates that a change of life is needed

Very truly I tell you, no one can see the kingdom of God unless they are born again

John 3: 3 (NIV)

Repentence then is a first step. A deliberate choice to turn from the ways of the world towards the ways of God. It is on repentence that true disipleship is founded

Take Action

• Have you repented? Are there things that you need to turn away from?
• Have you told those you are discipling of the need to repent?
• Take some time to review this session. What will you do in response?
• Who will you share this with?