In the previous post we looked at the new reality God has in Christ brought us into: a whole new nature that we had not known or experienced before – 2 Corinthians 5:17
Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation. The old has passed away; behold, the new has come.

This new reality described in scripture as the new person or a new creation has to now naturally lead to a new way of living. A behavioural shift has to follow as a result of this new reality.

Before moving on though and as a matter of first importance, we must understand that the old nature is well and truly gone, done away with in Christ. The way the old has been taken out and gotten rid off is through none other than crucifixion on the cross. Jesus’ factual crucifixion embodied yours and mine too. Here are some representative verses from the scriptures affirming this truth:

And those who belong to Christ Jesus have crucified the flesh with its passions and desires.
Galatians 5:24

We know that our old self was crucified with him in order that the body of sin might be brought to nothing, so that we would no longer be enslaved to sin.
Romans 6:6

I have been crucified with Christ. It is no longer I who live, but Christ who lives in me.
Galatians 2:20 (Paul’s statement here is not exclusive to him but applies to all who are in Christ).

These are truths we need to sink our teeths deep into.

Just as there is no question about Christ’s crucifixion, so too with us – our crucifixion is not a matter of debate. The only question is whether one is in Christ or not, whether one has put their faith and trust in Christ’s person and works for their salvation.

The old has been decisively and comprehensively dealt with, i.e. taken out for good and for good reason too – to liberate us from its domination before coming to Christ. Romans 6:6 We know that our old self was crucified with him in order that the body of sin might be brought to nothing, so that we would no longer be enslaved to sin.

The only way to neutralise its enslaving power over us was to take it out and take it out is what God successfully accomplished for us all on the cross – for you and for me: For the death he died he died to sin, once for all, but the life he lives he lives to God (Romans 6:10). Christ died to sin once but for all, on behalf of all of us. For this reason Paul follows this truth up with a clear exhortation to view ourselves differently in light of this truth – So you also must consider yourselves dead to sin and alive to God in Christ Jesus (Romans 6:11). And this is what Paul himself did as detailed by him in Galatians 2:20 – I have been crucified with Christ. It is no longer I who live, but Christ who lives in me. And the life I now live in the flesh I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave himself for me.

When you understand the old is gone and that the struggles you are now faced with are with the shell of what once was, your attitude changes completely. Your energy is now directed at building the new rather than tearing down the old – because it has already been torn down and comprehensively dismantled on the cross.

Many of us rush into behavioural changes or reforms without truly coming to terms with and understanding the extent of Christ’s achievements on the cross and the nature of this new reality in Him. We struggle to walk according to our calling precisely because we have not taken the time and made the space in our lives to deep these truths and appreciate the full extent of Christ’s achievements on the cross on our behalf. In our desire to fit in we rush to be and look like others without grasping the full repercussions of God’s achievements on the cross on our behalf which are critical for living out His calling. We don’t take time to allow these truths to sink in and be firmly embedded in our spirits from where living out the calling becomes natural and very easy.

The truth is, you cannot wing the Christian life.

You cannot wing discipleship. Hence the reason why the Lord Jesus’ first lesson to would-be disciples was the following – So Jesus said to the Jews who had believed him, “If you abide in my word, you are truly my disciples, and you will know the truth, and the truth will set you free.” (John 8:31-32 )

This is the ABC of discipleship.

Jesus simply called for an abiding, sitting and residing in His word. Jesus called for the willingness and space to do that and nothing else of those who’d be His disciples. One of the two things authentic discipleship is wholly unthinkable without is this intentional space and openness for His Word in the lives of those who’d be His disciples. You have to learn to permanently live in the words of Christ in order to come into knowledge of the truth if you are to discover true freedom. It is only in abiding (i.e. remaining/staying permanently planted) in the words of Christ that we can truly identify as His disciples and go on to discover the truth that leads to our freedom – from the shackles that hold us back from godly living.

It is imperative that we also understand the flipside of The Lord’s words – if there is NO remaining in the words of Christ we are neither true disciples (but fake ones!) nor will we ever come to a knowledge of the truth that sets us free but will continue to live a lie. Discipleship is only authentic if one stays connected to Christ’s teachings like a branch to a tree. Continuously following Christ’s words leads to discovering truth, whereas the lack of truth allows falsehoods to persist.

The key then and the starting point is here – getting to grips with and developing a life of abiding in the words of Christ. This is the most basic of discipleship lessons, Christ’s own, lesson number one from which none of us will ever graduate this side of heaven. It is the most fundamental and foundational of discipleship lessons on which all others build. This then is where we all need to start – by doing the basics right.

The importance of getting the basics right can never be overstated.

The path to doing anything correctly is by always getting the basics right first.

Doing the basics right demonstrates one’s intentionality and determination to achieve their intended goals.