The Divine Nature and the process of Discipleship
Walking in Authority and Christlike Maturity
The Christian journey is not merely a pursuit of knowledge, it is an invitation to transformation, a daily walk into the likeness of Christ, empowered by His own divine nature. This we hear in the teachings of Jesus and the exhortations of the apostles, believers are called to more than knowing scriptures; they are called to live, a life of discipleship. This process is central to walking in the authority we have in Christ, walk like Him, talk like Him and do what He did.
In Matthew 28:18-20, often referred to as the Great Commission, Jesus speaks with clarity and finality to His disciples:
“All authority has been given to Me in heaven and on earth. Go therefore and make disciples of all the nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, teaching them to observe all things that I have commanded you; and lo, I am with you always, even to the end of the age.”
Here, Jesus declares the transfer of divine authority a commissioning of His followers to continue His mission on earth. This authority is not isolated; it is rooted in His identity as the Son of God and shared with all who follow Him. Discipleship, then, is the path by which all believers are conformed to His nature and empowered to walk in His footsteps.
Discipleship is the intentional and deliberate, transformation process of becoming like Jesus—
- mirroring His character,
- His quality of life,
- and walking in the authority He modelled.
It is not a matter of quoting scriptures but of a life shaped by imitation: “Be imitators of me, as I am of Christ” (1 Corinthians 11:1).
Discipleship is an intentional decision a daily resolve to grow in faith, to submit to the shaping of the Spirit, and to embrace the authority given to us by Christ.
It is a believer’s journey into Christlikeness, a gradual, sometimes challenging, but ultimately a rewarding transformation. Without discipleship, new believers often remain spiritually immature, stagnant or sometimes turn away from the faith.
The absence of intentional growth can result in a faith that is lukewarm or stagnated, as many remain spiritual infants believing themselves to be mature.
The Process of Discipleship: 2 Peter 1:1-9
The apostle Peter gives a detailed outline of discipleship in 2 Peter 1:1-9. He writes to those “who have obtained like precious faith...by the righteousness of our God and Saviour Jesus Christ,” reminding them that “His divine power has given to us all things that pertain to life and godliness, through the knowledge of Him...by which have been given to us exceedingly great and precious promises, that through these you may be partakers of the divine nature.”
Peter identifies the Christian life as a process, a journey of forming habits that reflect Christ’s character. This process is not passive but requires diligence—a conscious, consistent effort to add virtue upon virtue. He lists a progression of qualities that build upon one another:
- Faith
- Virtue
- Knowledge
- Self-control
- Perseverance
- Godliness
- Brotherly kindness
- Love
If these qualities abound, Peter assures, “you will be neither barren nor unfruitful in the knowledge of our Lord Jesus Christ.” Also makes it clear to us that if we lack these virtues we will be “shortsighted, even to blindness.”
Peter tells us that it is through God’s divine power believers receive:
- Right standing with God
- Shared blessings among the faithful
- Grace—God’s unmerited favour
- Peace with God
- Participation in the divine nature
As new creations, we have been given the power to operate in the same authority as Jesus, this we see in Jesus final statement as He is about to ascend to His father in heaven. Matthew 28:18-20
18 And Jesus came and spoke to them, saying, “All authority has been given to Me in heaven and on earth. 19 Go therefore and make disciples of all the nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, 20 teaching them to observe all things that I have commanded you; and lo, I am with you always, even to the end of the age.” Amen.
- Go therefore
- Make disciples
- Baptise them
- Teach them
Jesus’ commission is not only a call to mission but a transfer of authority. “All authority has been given to Me... Go therefore and make disciples...” The divine authority He possessed is entrusted to His disciples, who are not only to proclaim but be expression of His teachings, baptizing and teaching others to do likewise. We can only and truly express this nature as His disciples through discipleship. It is only through being discipled that believers can walk in the divine nature and authority, experiencing the fullness of life that comes from oneness with Christ.
The Same Works That I Did: John 14:12-14
In John 14:12-14, Jesus offers a remarkable promise:
“He who believes in Me, the works that I do he will do also; and greater works than these he will do, because I go to My Father. And whatever you ask in My name, that I will do, that the Father may be glorified in the Son.”
Faith in Christ secures eternal life, but discipleship opens the door to living victoriously walking in the authority and divine nature that Jesus exemplified. Those who neglect discipleship may still inherit salvation, but they miss the abundant life and fruitfulness available in Christ.
The Daily Practice of Discipleship: Building Christlike Habits
Discipleship is not a one-time event but a daily discipline. Peter admonishes believers to “give all diligence” to be meticulous, conscientious, and persistent in forming godly habits. This “working out” of salvation (Philippians 2:12-13) is not a striving for acceptance, but a response to God’s work within us. God desires our availability and cooperation as He shapes us from the inside out.
James emphasizes that faith without works is dead (James 2:19-20). It is not enough to say I am saved and a Christian, people should see the Christ we profess in us.
The Progression of Christlike Attributes
- Faith: The foundation of the believer’s relationship with God.
- Virtue: Behaviour reflecting high moral standards, a life that brings glory to God.
- Knowledge: Intimacy with God, understanding His character, His calling, and our identity in Christ.
- Self-control: Mastery over one’s emotions, desires, and actions. The story of Samson provides a good example, though anointed and knowledgeable, he lacked self-control, leading to his downfall.
- Perseverance: Steadfastness in the face of adversity. Elijah prayed until the rain came; Jesus endured the cross for the joy set before Him. Perseverance is a hallmark of spiritual maturity.
- Godliness: A life oriented toward God, reverencing Him in all things, not just as a Sunday ritual but as an everyday reality.
- Brotherly Kindness: Love and care for others, tangibly expressed through service and compassion. As Jesus said, “By this all will know that you are My disciples, if you have love for one another” (John 13:35).
- Love: The crowning and underpinning virtue. Paul declares, “Above all these things put on love, which is the bond of perfection” (Colossians 3:14). Love is both the motive and the measure of true discipleship.
Practical Outworking: Living as Disciples
Discipleship shows in the ordinary and the extraordinary daily choices, relationships, and responses. It is seen in persistent prayer, in forgiving others, in acts of kindness, in a heart that seeks after God’s will above self-interest.
Paul’s encourages in Philippians 2:12-13 to “work out your own salvation with fear and trembling” that our spiritual growth should be active and intentional. However, God supplies the power yet invites us to participate in this working. 13 for it is God who works in you both to will and to do for His good pleasure.
Likewise, in 2 Corinthians 13:5, believers are urged to examine themselves, to ensure that Christ lives in and through them.
5 Examine yourselves as to whether you are in the faith. Test yourselves. Do you not know yourselves, that Jesus Christ is in you? —unless indeed you are disqualified.
Christian maturity is not measured by the size of one’s ministry, but by the depth of one’s love and the consistency of one’s character.
In conclusion Peter tells us, in 2 Peter 1:8-9.
“If these things are yours and abound, you will be neither barren nor unfruitful in the knowledge of our Lord Jesus Christ. For he who lacks these things is shortsighted, even to blindness, and has forgotten that he was cleansed from his old sins”
The process of discipleship is the journey into divine nature—a pathway marked by diligence, grace, and ever-increasing Christlikeness. It is the privilege and calling of every believer to not only know about Christ but to walk in His steps, to bear His image, and to reflect His love and authority in every sphere of life.
May we, with all diligence, pursue the habits and virtues that lead to maturity, so that the world may see in us the radiant life of Christ, to the glory of God the Father.
