Why We Need to Be Discipled in the Gospel (Part 2)

Why we need to be Discipled in the Gospel (part two), by Jay Wegter

In part one of this article, we saw that when the believer is discipled in the gospel, he or she will live a life that is gospel-driven, grace-motivated, and Christ-dependent. By contrast, the gospel gap leaves us spiritually vulnerable. And when we are malnourished in the gospel, we find that we are too easily attracted to a ‘look at me’, pride of life approach in our motivations—these are characterized by:

• Imagined powers of self-differentiation (‘I can carry my own worth, value, and meaning, and I can set myself apart and above my fellow man by my own achievements’), “those who compare themselves by themselves are without understanding” (2 Cor 10:12)
• The habit of self-justification rather than biblical self-confrontation (Lu 16:15)
• Living for the attention, recognition, glory, honor and approval of others rather than living for God’s glory and approval (2 Cor 5:9; Jn 5:44)
• Controlled by the pride of life which says ‘by means of my achievements, I carry my own worth, importance, and meaning’ (1 Jn 2:15-17; 1 Cor 3:21; James 2:1-8; 3:14-18)

God has constructed us to find our happiness in Christ (Eph 3:14-21). The faculties of man’s soul are built for this purpose: the mind explains to the affections the worthiness of certain goals and objects of pursuit. The affections energize the will to go after those desires. The will chooses it priorities based upon one’s desires and affections. The conscience approves or condemns those choices. This is why Scripture meditation is the indispensable means of training the affections concerning our true treasure— our desires and affection determine our real priorities which determine our actions (Mt 6:19-21). Christ is calling all of His own to abide in Him by means of “His words” (Jn 15:7-12).

Now all of this has a corporate expression in the body of Christ. This is why fruit-bearing turns upon being discipled in the gospel—for the gospel keeps displaying Christ as our treasure—as our ‘Source Person’. That is how we keep closing the ‘gospel gap’, and living fruitfully for God’s glory.

*William Wilberforce, only son of Robert Wilberforce (1728–1768) and Elizabeth Bird (1730– 1798), was born in Kingston upon Hull on 24th August 1759. He was a prominent British social reformer who is probably best remembered for his contributions to the anti-slavery movement. He was the subject of the movie, Amazing Grace which gives a dramatic account of the decades-long battle he waged to end slavery in Britain. Some say that his campaign for abolition cost him the prime ministership, but helped rescue an oppressed people and a nation's character.