The Cost of Discipleship

The concept of baptism serves as a metaphor for the transformative experience of accepting Christ’s call to discipleship. Contrary to viewing baptism as an offering from humans to God, it is actually an invitation extended by Christ to humanity. It symbolizes a profound shift in one’s relationship with the world: When baptized, individuals “pass into the ownership of Christ” (231), marking a complete rupture with worldly affiliations. This “breach” is not initiated by human will but orchestrated by Christ, making the baptized individual his “own possession.” Baptism parallels the concept of following Christ, symbolizing the irrevocable change in the disciple’s life. This process is inherently passive; one submits to the call, experiences spiritual death, and rises anew. The Holy Spirit, conferred during baptism, guarantees the ongoing presence of Christ in the believer’s life. The concept of baptism also includes the principle of justification from sin; one is released from the bonds of sin through the experience of spiritual death in baptism. Lastly, the sacrament’s finality and irrevocability make it a serious undertaking not to be administered lightly, especially in the case of infant baptism.

The Body of Christ is a theological framework for understanding the Church and individual Christian experience. Communion with Christ is maintained through inclusion in this collective spiritual entity, emphasized as a gathering of many distinct members, each serving unique functions. Importantly, every member’s individuality gains true significance only within the collective unity of the Church. This unity is facilitated by the Holy Spirit, who establishes fellowship among members and connects them to Christ.

Baptism is a pivotal rite, incorporating individuals into this new humanity that Christ embodies. It’s not just a spiritual but also a bodily fellowship, covering the entire scope of human experience. The Church thus acts as Christ’s living presence on Earth, transcending the limitations of being a mere institution. It is the fulfillment of Old Testament prophecies about the temple of God, establishing a new framework where God and man find mutual acceptance and peace.

Further, the Church carries a shared obligation to suffer, picking up where Christ’s earthly suffering left off. This suffering is seen not as a burden but as a divine privilege, a form of grace that allows believers to share in Christ's glory and suffering. Overall, the Church stands as the living temple of God, a spiritual body that partakes in Christ’s life, offering a miraculous blend of unity and diversity, suffering and glory in its fellowship.

At its core, the Church is viewed as the tangible, bodily manifestation of Christ on Earth, necessitating physical space, structure, and order. These elements find expression through sacraments like baptism and the Lord’s Supper, as well as apostolic preaching. Church offices and organizational structures are seen as divinely ordained, albeit adaptable, as long as they remain true to their original function. Corruption and heresy are warned against, underscoring the need for integrity in maintaining the Church’s mission.

Christian fellowship is another central theme, defined by a community life oscillating between the Word and sacraments. The Church is not just a spiritual entity but extends into the mundane aspects of everyday life. Baptism serves as a rite of passage that fully integrates an individual into this Christian community, blurring distinctions between the spiritual and the material. Moreover, traditional social roles are redefined within the Church, as all are seen as members of the Body of Christ, negating distinctions of gender, social status, or nationality.

Regarding engagement with worldly authorities, the text emphasizes a posture of subordination and service, reflecting Christ’s own approach. This is not a blanket endorsement of worldly powers but a specific call for Christians to live righteously, regardless of the actions of secular authorities. The Christian’s primary responsibility is to God’s will, and engagement with society provides an opportunity for critique and transformation of worldly values. However, when worldly demands conflict with the Church’s space, Christians must be willing to suffer for their faith.

Lastly, the tension Christians face when living in a secular world increasingly at odds with Christian values is discussed. Christians can engage in worldly activities, but their participation is distinct from that of non-believers and guided by a focus on higher spiritual realities. Christians are sojourners, conscious of the transitory nature of their earthly existence and looking forward to their ultimate home in heaven.

The community of disciples of Christ, known as the Ecclesia Christi, is a distinct but worldly entity devoted to achieving holiness, mirroring God’s own perfect separation from sin. This pathway to righteousness is uniquely accessible through faith in the death and resurrection of Jesus Christ. Within this community, two theological concepts are paramount: justification and sanctification. Justification is the initial step that aligns an individual with God’s righteousness, while sanctification is an ongoing process focused on moral purity and separation from worldly temptations.

Sanctification is a collective endeavor within the visible Church, serving as an “unbreakable seal” that sets individual believers and the Church apart from the world. This separation also confers upon the Church certain responsibilities, even of a political nature. Immoral behaviors, such as engaging in “whoredom” or covetousness, are viewed as corrosive elements that can taint the community, warranting excommunication.

The tension between human sinfulness and the aspiration for holiness is a constant theme. The community is not comprised of perfect individuals but of those striving for virtue, which is evidenced by love, joy, peace, and other fruits of the Spirit that are considered gifts from God. Church discipline is essential in maintaining this virtuous cycle, incorporating practices like baptism, Holy Communion, and confession and proceeding from private admonitions to excommunication as a last resort. Importantly, these disciplinary actions are not aimed at ostracization but at guiding the individual back to the path of righteousness. Governed by scriptural guidelines, the Church’s ultimate goal through all these processes is the eternal salvation of its members, a journey that continues until the final judgment day.

Humanity, originally created in God’s image, lost its divine semblance due to Adam’s disobedience, and subsequent human efforts to regain this image only led to further distortion. The solution is the Incarnation of Jesus Christ, who restores God’s image in humanity, providing a “metamorphosis” of the whole human nature. This transformation isn’t about adhering to doctrine but a state of being where Christ literally lives in one’s heart. As individuals grow closer to Christ, they are conformed to his image, experiencing a transformative journey from “glory to glory” (303). This transformation is not just an ideal but an active, divine work in the believer. Through embodying Christ’s Incarnation, crucifixion, and resurrection, followers recover their “true humanity” and find reconciliation with God and all of humanity. The transformation also translates into action, enabling followers to emulate Christ’s life and teachings. Rather than focusing on oneself, the ultimate aim is to become an imitator of God, leading to a life of single-minded discipleship. By being conformed to Christ’s image, one is enabled to “walk even as he walked” and “love as he has loved” (304), underscoring the importance of this transformation for both personal spirituality and ethical action.