disciple (Greek)
a learner (from a root math, indicating thought accompanied by endeavor or discipline); In contrast to didaskalos, a teacher; hence it denotes one who follows or conforms to another’s teaching.
disciple (Greek)
  1. a learner i.e. pupil;
  2. one who follows another’s teaching;
  3. more than a pupil, also an adherent to the teaching and life of the teacher, hence spoken of as imitators.

In our study of the Church of Jesus Christ, and especially the local aspect of that Church, we see that one of the major purposes of the local church is to provide what's needed by and to aid Believers as they become disciples of Christ. Remember, becoming a Child of God through faith in Christ is not the same as being a disciple or imitator of Christ. All disciples of Christ, in the sense we are using the word, are Children of God, but not all children of God are disciples.

The process of becoming a third stage disciple of Christ is described by many terms and illustrations in the Bible. Any Biblical term or process that helps the Believer become more like Christ, and less like fallen mankind is an integral part of the discipling process. As we look at the information from the many references to the discipling process, accumulate it, reconcile and harmonize that information, we can then see the total picture of God's plan of discipleship.

As we follow the Biblical trail of discipleship by examining many passages and many different subjects, it is easy to lose our perspective as to the foundation upon which we are building. So let's take a little time to comply with the Biblical command of placing line upon line and precept upon precept, and reestablish our direction, and the context of our study. If one of the major tasks of the local church is to make disciples (Matthew 28:19-20), then we must know or at least have some background of what Biblical discipleship really is. For our foundation passage of discipleship, we have chosen Hebrews 11-13.

Hebrews 12:1-14 Therefore we also, since we are surrounded by so great a cloud of witnesses, let us lay aside every weight, and the sin which so easily ensnares us, and let us run with endurance the race that is set before us, 2 looking unto Jesus, the author and finisher of our faith, who for the joy that was set before Him endured the cross, despising the shame, and has sat down at the right hand of the throne of God. 3 For consider Him who endured such hostility from sinners against Himself, lest you become weary and discouraged in your souls. 4 You have not yet resisted to bloodshed, striving against sin. 5 And you have forgotten the exhortation which speaks to you as to sons: "My son, do not despise the chastening of the Lord, nor be discouraged when you are rebuked by Him; 6 For whom the Lord loves He chastens, and scourges every son whom He receives." 7 If you endure chastening, God deals with you as with sons; for what son is there whom a father does not chasten? 8 But if you are without chastening, of which all have become partakers, then you are illegitimate and not sons. 9 Furthermore, we have had human fathers who corrected us, and we paid them respect. Shall we not much more readily be in subjection to the Father of spirits and live? 10 For they indeed for a few days chastened us as seemed best to them, but He for our profit, that we may be partakers of His holiness. 11 Now no chastening seems to be joyful for the present, but grievous; nevertheless, afterward it yields the peaceable fruit of righteousness to those who have been trained by it. 12 Therefore strengthen the hands which hang down, and the feeble knees, 13 and make straight paths for your feet, so that what is lame may not be dislocated, but rather be healed. 14 Pursue peace with all men, and holiness, without which no one will see the Lord:

There is no way we can completely review Hebrews 11-13. Nor is there any way we can fully review this portion of Hebrews 12. Let's take a hop, skip and jump through this portion looking at some key words and phrases that will help us summarize the passage.

2 Corinthians 4:7 But we have this treasure in earthen vessels, that the excellence of the power may be of God and not of us.

This review is needful if we are to understand our current passage, in which we are told that God puts His light inside earthen vessels (Believers) so that the light of the glorious gospel will shine upon a world darkened by sin. However, we know, through the use of our human eyesight, that this earthen vessel on the table in front of us will not allow light of any kind to shine through it. It is opaque.

Based on our physical observation, we would conclude that:

The second and third statement are true, the first statement is not.

1 Corinthians 2:9 But as it is written: "Eye has not seen, nor ear heard, nor have entered into the heart of man the things which God has prepared for those who love Him."

It is true, we can't see or understand the deep things of God by human means.

1 Corinthians 2:14 But the natural man does not receive the things of the Spirit of God, for they are foolishness to him; nor can he know them, because they are spiritually discerned.

It is also true that there is much more to this subject of discipleship than we can see by a surface reading.
As a matter of fact, most information in the epistles deal with the subject of becoming an imitator of Christ, or what we have termed discipleship. Therefore, it is needful for us to look at many passages, harmonize that information and review it often so it will become a part of our thinking. The Bible tells us that as we think in our hearts or minds so we are. Therefore, it must be our purpose to think spiritually so that we can understand the deep things of God, and we think spiritually by comparing Scripture with Scripture according to 1 Corinthians 2. On with our review of Hebrews 12.

Hebrews 12:1-3 Therefore we also, since we are surrounded by so great a cloud of witnesses, let us lay aside every weight, and the sin which so easily ensnares us, and let us run with endurance the race that is set before us, 2 looking unto Jesus, the author and finisher of our faith, who for the joy that was set before Him endured the cross, despising the shame, and has sat down at the right hand of the throne of God. 3 For consider Him who endured such hostility from sinners against Himself, lest you become weary and discouraged in your souls.

In this great passage on discipleship, we have emphasized some things Believers are to do if they are to experience the beneficial results of spiritual discipline. The therefore of Hebrews 12:1 tells us that based on and following the example of the saints of faith in Hebrews 11, we are to lay aside every weight that ensnares or impedes our progress in the process of discipleship.

In our present study, we have not yet examined these weights. However, these weights are in addition to the next phrase, and the sin that ensnares us. These weights do not fall into the category of what we commonly call sins, but instead they are anything, even good things, that stand in the way or hold us back from accomplishing the process of discipleship. If God, in His Word, has told us to lay something aside, then the laying aside of those things would not be legalistic. As we have seen in so many passages, there are things Believers are to put aside or stop doing, and there are things we're to start doing.

The putting aside of these things will not make the Believer holy or righteous, it only makes it possible for God's holiness to be seen through the conduct of that Believer. Some of those things we are to put aside are sins, and some of those put aside things may be good things that keep us from accomplishing the better things. Once we have rid ourselves of the things that hinder, whether they be sins or just activities that would slow us down, we then, and only then are to run with endurance the race set before us.

Sad to say, many Christians have never taken the first step of discipleship, that of being holy in their conduct by laying aside the hindering things. Therefore, they haven't even walked onto the race track. These Believers may have studied the art of spiritual racing. They may have sat under the teaching of the best racers, like the Apostle Paul. These may even have the right shoes and warm-up jackets. These Believers may even look and sound like a spiritual runner. Listen, my Friend! You aren't a runner or even in the race until you are on the track, and have taken the first strides of holiness.

run (Greek)
to run or walk hastily; in reference to a special service in which one continues to move along quickly to accomplish the task and receive the reward. to accomplish this task may involve extreme peril which requires the exertion of all one's effort to overcome.

The model or example we are to follow for our running is none less than Jesus. Jesus has already run the race and successfully competed it. Jesus is also the One Who authored or laid out the course of our race. Not only is Christ the planner of the race, He is literally the essence of the race, and without Him there would be no race at all. Without looking to Christ, we have no ability to start running, or continue the race. We are to look to Jesus as our example. The Greek word for looking has special meaning, far more intense than our English word looking.

looking (Greek)
to turn the eyes away from other things and fix them on something else; to consider attentively by staring at until it is experienced
consider (Greek)
to think over, ponder or consider by weighing or comparing

In this race of being holy as God is holy, we are to look to Jesus. We are to turn our eyes away from some things, and fix or lock our eyes on Christ. We are to have our sights set on Christ at all times, and with such intensity that we experience or become like the object we are looking at, in this case Christ and the promises of God. In our conduct, we will become like that which we look at, or what we fill our minds with, or fix our minds on.

Some Believers' gaze is so fixed on the things of the world that they don't have time to glance in Christ's direction. Even when they do go some place like church, where minds are directed towards Christ for a little while, they are in a hurry to get it over, because they have things of the world they want to get at, or they are so tired from the world's activities of the night before that they can't fix their gaze on Christ. I've noticed that I have a hard time concentrating on the things of Christ when I'm checking the back of my eye lids for cracks. Now, maybe it's different with you.

When our gaze is fixed on Christ, no matter what else we see, it will be filtered through our vision of Who Christ is and what He has done, or what He has promised to do. When we see the things of the world from an eternal spiritual perspective, we see those worldly things according to, and in the light of eternal and spiritual values. On the other hand, when our gaze is fixed on the things of the world, we see the eternal and spiritual things according to, and in light of temporal and carnal values.

This is a little like offering a 3 year old a five dollar bill while he stands outside of the ice cream shop, and it's 100 in the shade. Then, you tell this 3 year old that he can spend the five bucks for ice cream, or he can invest in the stock market so he will have funds for college in 16 years. Now., I wonder what choice this three year old will make? Maybe, this illustration also applies to 33 year olds, and 55 year olds, and 99 year olds. Therefore, the need for assistance and guidance as the Believer makes choices in the discipleship process.

If our gaze is not turned from non-essentials and fixed on essentials, in this case Christ and being like Him in Holiness, the important things of life, to us, will be the things of immediate gratification. To have future benefit requires laying aside some of the immediate gratification (this part of discipline is not pleasant at the time), and fixing our gaze on the eternal and spiritual. To have our gaze fixed on Christ, may, no, it will demand that we lay aside some of the garbage of television, the magazine stands and the stuff from a lot of other garbage pits.

Oh, yes, in Christ, you have the right to do those things, they won't send you to Hell. But you also have the freedom not to do them. Unless, you are willing to use your freedom in Christ so you are not bound to the things of the world, you will, like the three year old, spend all your eternal resources on temporal things that are passing away. These truths were introduced to us in Hebrews 11, then Hebrews 12 enjoined those truths on Believers as a present reality.

Hebrews 11:24-27 By faith Moses, when he became of age, refusedto be called the son of Pharaoh's daughter, 25 choosing rather to suffer affliction with the people of God than to enjoy the passing pleasures of sin, 26 esteeming the reproach of Christ greater riches than the treasures in Egypt; for he looked to the reward. 27 By faith he forsook Egypt, not fearing the wrath of the king; for he endured as seeing Him who is invisible.

Notice, Moses laid aside some things, and set his gaze on other things. He laid aside his right, and a very good right it was, that of being the grandson of an earthly king v.24. Hebrews 11:25-26 brings out that Moses set His gaze on suffering and reproach, rather than enjoying the passing pleasures, because he was looking to the reward. Not looking for the reward, but to the reward. Doing these things with the right motive, changed his perspective, his direction of living and his ability to accomplish the spiritual purpose set before him. Moses lost his fear of the wrath of a king, because he could now see that which others could not see. He could see the deep things of God v.27.

Hebrews 11:13-16 These (Old Testament saints of faith) all died in faith, not having received the promises, but having seen them afar off were assured of them, embraced them, and confessed that they were strangers and pilgrims on the earth. 14 For those who say such things declare plainly that they seek a homeland. 15 And truly if they had called to mind that country from which they had come out, they would have had opportunity to return. 16 But now they desire a better, that is, a heavenly country. Therefore God is not ashamed to be called their God, for He has prepared a city for them.
assured (Greek)
to persuade by bringing about a change of mind by the influence of reason and moral consideration.
embraced (Greek)
signifies to draw to oneself, hence to greet, salute, welcome; It also signifies to bid farewell, a salutation or farewell was generally made by embracing and kissing; It can also signify the possibility of delay. In Romans 16 this Greek word is used 21 times.
confessed (Greek)
to speak the same thing; to assent, be in accord, agree with; denotes, (a) to confess, declare, admit (b) to confess by way of admitting one's guilt of what one is accused of, this as the result of inward conviction (c) to declare openly by way of speaking out freely, such confession being the effect of deep conviction of facts.

These saints of faith in Hebrews 11 had their gaze fixed on the things of God. These saints saw the things of God, and knew they were a great way off. Yet, what they saw of the things of God assured or persuaded them. This persuasion was the result of reason and moral consideration, and it brought about further action. These Old Testament Saints embraced the things of God. This embracing was a little different than we might do, today.

Today, most Believers want instant access to all the blessings of God. We pray, and we want immediate health, wealth, protection or whatever. Somehow Believers seem to think that God is running a catalog retail store with same day service, rather than an Eternal Plan with some things dependent on the progression of that plan. Even though these Old Testament Saints did not have all the Biblical information we have today, they knew this fact, and willingly lived and died waiting for the blessing. We see that truth in the Greek meaning of the words used, as well as in their conduct as brought out by the context.

These saints saw the promises, and even though they were yet far away, they had they minds changed from human viewpoint to divine viewpoint through reason and moral consideration. They embraced those promises, bidding them farewell knowing that there would be a delay in receiving them. These Old Testament saints confessed openly, speaking the same thing as God and agreeing with Him. They spoke out openly by life and word. The confession of their deep conviction was based on the promises of God. All of that is seen from the meaning of the Greek words employed in describing their actions. Now let's look at some of those actions, themselves.

Hebrews 11:37-12:1 They were stoned, they were sawn in two, were tempted, were slain with the sword. They wandered about in sheepskins and goatskins, being destitute, afflicted, tormented-- 38 of whom the world was not worthy. They wandered in deserts and mountains, in dens and caves of the earth. 39 And all these, having obtained a good testimony through faith, did not receive the promise, 40 God having provided something better for us, that they should not be made perfect (complete) apart from us. 12:1 Therefore we also, since we are surrounded by so great a cloud of witnesses, let us lay aside every weight, and the sin which so easily ensnares us, and let us run with endurance the race that is set before us,

Notice how the context also bears out the same truths as seen in the meaning of the Greek words. Their firm and deep conviction was translated into real human action by things they did do and did not do. Their conduct testified to their deep internal conviction. Most of us would not be willing to even turn off the TV for our convictions, let alone be willing to be stoned, sawn in two, slain with the sword, be destitute, afflicted, tormented, etc., all that just for our spiritual convictions? You've got to be kidding! 

Based on your willingness to have your convictions defined by your conduct, 
how many of you would find your name in the list of faithful ones
if another Hebrews 11 were to be written about the saints of 1999

Also notice, they were willing to be engaged in this type of costly physical conduct. They were willing to suffer for their convictions even though they would not receive the spiritual goodies (the promises) in this life time. These saints suffered fully realizing that God had something better for us, as Believers, who were come after them. They had the realization that their Spiritual completeness would not be a reality apart from the New Testament Believers. Many of us would give up a lot, and suffer a great deal to gain some of this world's goods for me and mine, but to sacrifice for others in the Body of Christ, well that's a different story!

John 15:13 Greater love has no one than this, than to lay down one's life for his friends.
Hebrews 12:3-11 For consider Him who endured such hostility from sinners against Himself, lest you become weary and discouraged in your souls. 4 You have not yet resisted to bloodshed, striving against sin. 5 And you have forgotten the exhortation which speaks to you as to sons: "My son, do not despise the chastening of the Lord, nor be discouraged when you are rebuked by Him; 6 For whom the Lord loves He chastens, and scourges every son whom He receives." 7 If you endure chastening, God deals with you as with sons; for what son is there whom a father does not chasten? 8 But if you are without chastening, of which all have become partakers, then you are illegitimate and not sons. 9 Furthermore, we have had human fathers who corrected us, and we paid them respect. Shall we not much more readily be in subjection to the Father of spirits and live? 10 For they indeed for a few days chastened us as seemed best to them, but He for our profit, that we may be partakers of His holiness. 11 Now no chastening seems to be joyful for the present, but grievous; nevertheless, afterward it yields the peaceable fruit of righteousness to those who have been trained by it.

In Hebrews 12:10-11 we have the main reason for the discipling process. It is through the discipling process that we become partakers of His holiness. At salvation, we received the Holy Spirit. Therefore, we received God's holiness and righteousness, because we received the Holy Spirit, and the Holy Spirit is holiness and righteousness. That is a basic and elementary Biblical truth. However, often we forget to harmonize and reconcile this basic truth with other Biblical teachings. Now that we are saints or holy ones through the new birth, how does God's holiness, which we received as a gift at salvation, become holiness demonstrated in our daily conduct?

2 Peter 1:3-4 as His divine power has given to us all things that pertain to life and godliness, through the knowledge of Him who called us by glory and virtue, 4 by which have been given to us exceedingly great and precious promises, that through these you may be partakers of the divine nature, having escaped the corruption that is in the world through lust.
partaker (Greek)
a sharer or an associate; to have all things in common; to be a partner or companion.

In 2 Peter, we are told that we become partakers of His divine nature through the use of His precious promises or the Word of God. Once again, this is not talking about receiving Salvation, but living the Christian life after salvation. However, the Greek word for partaker in Hebrews 12 is vastly different from the Greek word translated partaker in 2 Peter 1. In 2 Peter the Greek word translated partakers has the meaning of being a sharer of, or in association with.

Hebrews 12:10 For they indeed for a few days chastened us as seemed best to them, but He for our profit, that we may be partakers of His holiness.
partaker (Greek)
to participate; to take food.

That seems to be a nice little bland definition. It might be bland until you realize that it is from the root of this Greek word we have such words as metamorphism, metabolism and many more. These words have the thought of participation and assimilation of elements in such a manner that the elements become a vital part of the object doing the assimilating. Metamorphism has to do with change from one form to another, while metabolism has to do with change in growth and health. I know, that is an over simplification, but it gives us the general idea and the basic differences.

We understand, well, maybe we don't understand, but we know about metabolism within plant life, or the human body. In a very simplistic explanation, the body takes in a substance or element that is not native to the body, such as a carrot. Then starts a process that is out of this world in which that carrot becomes a vital functioning component of the body.

We don't have carrots growing out of our ears, or floating around in our blood stream, but the elements of that carrot are made to participate in the vital function of the body and literally becomes one with the body. The body did not produce the carrot, the carrot cannot be seen in the eyes as nice orange thing with a green bushy top on it. But none the less, the very essence of that carrot is seen and demonstrated in the health and the function of the body.

Through that marvelous and complicated process that involves almost every system of the body and mind, the body is literally filled with the carrot, as we are to be filled with the Holy Spirit. No, the body is not packed full of carrots, but every aspect of the body is saturated or filled with the essence of that carrot.

In similar manner, through the discipling process we become partakers of His holiness. As the Believer does the things commanded by God, and stops doing the things that would hinder, plus, other things directed by God that we will see in the coming lessons, God's holiness is then seen by those in a darkened world through the Believer's holy conduct. In our passage in 2 Corinthians 4, concerning earthen vessels, Paul refers to the outward evidence of this process as our gospel.

2 Corinthians 4:3-4 But even if our gospel is veiled, it is veiled to those who are perishing, 4 whose minds the god of this age has blinded, who do not believe, lest the light of the gospel of the glory of Christ, who is the image of God, should shine on them.

There are a number of gospels mentioned in the Bible:

    In our passage of 2 Corinthians 4:3-4 we have:

The word gospel basically means good news, and from a Biblical standpoint, it most often has to do with good news that is from and originated with God.

Any Biblical gospel has to do with the redemptive process of God for mankind. Except for "a different gospel", and "any other gospel", each of the before mentioned gospels have to do with a different aspect of God's redemptive program and process. Paul's gospel was the good news that God, through Christ, redeemed Paul who was the chiefest of sinners according to his own confession. (If Paul was the chiefest of sinners., then I'm chiefer.) Our gospel is basically the same as Paul's gospel. We have been redeemed by God's grace, and my friend that is good news. The circumstance of our gospel may be different than Paul's, but the essence of both are the same.

In the passage of 2 Corinthians 4, Paul talks about several aspects of the light of Christ's glorious gospel shining through our gospel to a darkened world. To fully explore these facts will take several lessons, but let me summarize what we have seen today, and project our thinking a little into what we will see.

As Believers, we have this light of the glorious gospel in our being, because we have been redeemed and the Holy Spirit is dwelling within us. For those in the darkness of sin to come to Christ, they need to see this light of God's glorious gospel shining through us to them. But God says that the Believer is like an earthen vessel in which the light of the gospel of Christ cannot shine through because of the weakness of the flesh.

The flesh is weak in the spiritual sense. The flesh is dead spiritually, that's about as weak as anything can get. Therefore, it cannot respond in any spiritual manner. It is impossible for spiritual light to shine through a spiritually dead vessel. However, through the discipling process, we can become partakers of, or metabolize His holiness within our being. By this process of discipleship, His holiness is metabolized into every aspect of our being, or we have become filled with the Spirit.

When this happens, the gospel of Christ becomes a very part of our being, and is then seen in our conduct by others as our gospel. It is the same gospel of Christ, but now it has been personalized, and has become a very part of our every move and thought. When we are partakers of His holiness, the darkened world can see the truth of the gospel at work or living out through our earthen vessel .

Philippians 2:12-13 Therefore, my beloved, as you have always obeyed, not as in my presence only, but now much more in my absence, work out your own salvation with fear and trembling; 13 for it is God who works in you both to will and to do for His good pleasure.

We are to work out that which we already have, not work for something we need to get.

2 Corinthians 3:2-3 You are our epistle written in our hearts, known and read by all men; 3 you are manifestly an epistle of Christ, ministered by us, written not with ink but by the Spirit of the living God, not on tablets of stone but on tablets of flesh, that is, of the heart.

The things of God, even the gospel of Christ, are foolishness to the world, and they cannot understand them. But when the gospel is metabolized or, we become partakers of His holiness through discipleship, this internal gospel, is then lived out in our conduct, and we become external epistles of the internal gospel read and understood by spiritually darkened mankind.

Being partakers of His holiness through discipleship does not make a different earthen vessel out of us. We all still have our quirks, funny noses and bald heads, but when the holiness of God has been metabolized into every aspect or living, and the holiness of God is being lived out in our conduct, then a darkened world will see the light of the glorious gospel.

They may accept it. 
They may reject it. 
They may strike out against it.
The response of the spiritually darkened world is not our responsibility.
But how we live in holiness is our responsibility!
© Clyde White, Austin TX, 1998