Radical

Radical

There is nothing more radical than being a Christian. Being a Christian means following Jesus—being His disciple. Most people think they are Christians when they believe in the forgiveness of sins. Of course, that is how it should be, for He made us alive together with Him by having forgiven us all our trespasses. Col. 2:13. However, forgiveness of sins is not the same as discipleship, even though it is natural for the person who has been made alive together with Him that he also follows Him who has sanctified us with His own blood. Heb. 13:12.

After we have been sanctified with His own blood, we are exhorted to “go forth to Him, outside the camp, bearing His reproach.” Heb. 13:13. There, outside together with Him, is where discipleship begins. Acts 11:26. Jesus says to those who are coming to Him: “If anyone comes to Me and does not hate his father and mother, wife and children, brothers and sisters, yes, and his own life also, he cannot be My disciple. And whoever does not bear his cross and come after Me cannot be My disciple.” Luke 14:26-27.

If we want to be Jesus’ disciples, then none but Jesus alone must have authority over us. “Or do you not know that as many of us as were baptized into Christ Jesus were baptized into His death?” Rom. 6:3. Anything less will not do if we are to partake of divine nature and “be conformed to the image of His Son, that He might be the firstborn among many brethren.” Rom. 8:29; 2 Pet. 1:4.

You will not experience transformation if you do not want to be as radical as this: namely, to die. You will not be molded into the Master’s likeness. This is the reason behind all the disputes about what is sin or is not sin. These disputes fall away if you are willing to die.

If you want to be a Christian without dying, the result is religiosity. The world is full of religiosity, as Paul points out: “But know this, that in the last days perilous times will come . . . having an appearance of godliness, but denying its power. And from such people turn away!” 2 Tim. 3:1-5.

This is also what is required if you want to remain undefiled: to turn away from all those who have an appearance of godliness, because they do not want to stop sinning. They want to have their sins forgiven and go to heaven when they die, but they do not want to die during their lifetime, and so they never stop sinning. Therefore there can be no fellowship with such people.

“This is a faithful saying: For if we died with Him, we shall also live with Him.” 2 Tim. 2:11.

They all want to live with Him. They love the promises, but they explain away the conditions. By doing that, they deceive themselves and others. No one prepares himself for battle unless the trumpet gives a clear sound. If we are to give a clarion call and help people to come to a life of victory, we ourselves must be decisive and clear about this: without being dead with Him we cannot live together with Him. We cannot be His disciples without forsaking everything and hating our own life! But, then we can be! Then we become a new creation. We partake of divine nature and become one.