Discipleship Evangelism - Level 1 - Lesson 7 - Commitment

Summary

In this video, the speaker discusses the importance of true commitment in following Jesus, drawing an analogy to marriage. He highlights that just as a person wouldn't marry only for benefits like cooking or cleaning, a true relationship with Jesus requires accepting Him fully, not just His blessings. The speaker emphasizes that salvation is about receiving Christ Himself, not just His roles or actions. Using biblical references, he calls viewers to examine their own commitment to Christ, encouraging a deep, lifelong relationship that goes beyond superficial faith.

Takeaways

• 😀 Commitment to Christ is about embracing His person, not just the benefits He offers.
• 😀 Jesus calls us to consider the cost of discipleship and not to make a superficial profession of faith.
• 😀 The analogy of marriage illustrates how Jesus desires full commitment from us, not just for what He can do for us.
• 😀 Like building a building, following Christ requires thoughtful consideration and a decision to complete the journey.
• 😀 The gospel is about Christ Himself, not just His roles or benefits.
• 😀 A genuine relationship with Jesus is like a marriage, where we embrace His full person and all that He represents.
• 😀 Jesus does not want us to only seek His blessings; He wants us to accept Him in totality, just as a spouse accepts their partner.
• 😀 Faith in Christ should focus on His person, not just the atonement, the cross, or His lordship separately.
• 😀 We are called to receive Christ fully, not just a part of Him, in order to be transformed and made children of God.
• 😀 The act of receiving Christ is compared to entering into a marriage, where we are united with Him for life, embracing both His person and His benefits.

Q & A

What is the central theme of the script?

The central theme of the script is the concept of true commitment to Christ, emphasizing that it goes beyond merely accepting His benefits and requires embracing His entire person.

Why does the speaker refer to Luke 14 in the context of commitment?

Luke 14 is referenced because it contains Jesus' teaching on commitment, where He advises people to count the cost before following Him, illustrating that following Christ requires a serious and deliberate commitment.

What does the story 'Do You Take This Woman as Your Personal Cook?' illustrate?

The story illustrates that a true relationship, whether in marriage or with Christ, requires embracing the person fully and not just accepting what they can offer. In the case of the marriage, the bride wants to be loved for who she is, not just for her services.

What does the speaker mean when he says that people often focus on Christ's benefits?

The speaker suggests that many people focus on the benefits of following Christ, such as salvation and blessings, without fully embracing and committing to Him as a person.

How does the speaker connect salvation with a relationship to Christ?

Salvation is described as a relationship with Christ, not just about receiving benefits like atonement or grace. The emphasis is on receiving Christ Himself, not just His offices or actions.

What is A.W. Tozer's point about the object of saving faith?

A.W. Tozer points out that the true object of saving faith is not Christ's offices (Savior, Lord, etc.) or specific benefits (atonement, priesthood), but Christ Himself, in His entirety.

How does the speaker relate marriage to the commitment required in the Christian faith?

The speaker compares the commitment required in the Christian faith to the commitment in marriage, where one must embrace the whole person, not just certain aspects. A true relationship with Christ involves a full, lifelong commitment, similar to how one embraces a spouse in marriage.

What biblical verse does the speaker reference to support the idea of receiving Christ?

The speaker references John 1:12, which states that 'as many as received Him, to them gave He the power to become the sons of God,' emphasizing the importance of receiving Christ, not just His benefits.

What does the speaker mean by 'counting the cost' in relation to following Christ?

'Counting the cost' means carefully considering the implications of following Christ, understanding that it requires a full commitment, not just a superficial or partial acceptance.

What is the significance of the comparison between taking a wife and following Christ?

The comparison highlights that true commitment to Christ is like a marriage: it involves embracing His whole person, not just the benefits He provides. Just as one cannot take a spouse only for their cooking or service, one cannot follow Christ solely for the benefits He offers.