TRANSFORMED THROUGH BEHOLDING THE GLORY
Paul’s second letter to the Corinthians captures the essence of New Testament discipleship in a powerful and transformative way. In 2 Corinthians 3:18, we read: ‘And we all, with unveiled face, beholding the glory of the Lord, are being transformed into the same image from one degree of glory to another. For this comes from the Lord who is the Spirit.’
Discipleship, as outlined here, commences with the collective act of God’s people beholding the glory of God in the face of Jesus. This model of discipleship is deeply rooted in biblical tradition and calls us to reevaluate our modern methods of discipleship.
It is crucial to understand that discipleship is not merely about acquiring information. While learning is an essential part of the process, true discipleship goes beyond the mere acquisition of knowledge. It is about being transformed through the knowledge we gain, becoming more and more like the Lord we behold.
Similarly, discipleship should not be reduced to mere behavior modification. While our actions are significant and can reflect our relationship with the Lord, behavior alone is not the ultimate goal. The aim is to become like Jesus, to reflect His character and nature, rather than merely mimic His actions.
In essence, the primary goal of discipleship is to showcase the image of God within us, just as Jesus did during His earthly ministry. While we can never fully replicate the fullness of Jesus’ revelation, God desires a people who increasingly resemble Him. Therefore, any approach to discipleship that deviates from this goal is out of alignment with the biblical model.
DISCIPLESHIP THAT IGNITES FASCINATION
The power of beholding lies in its ability to produce fascination, and fascination is a catalyst for transformation. Consider the example of a young man in love. He may have been advised by various individuals to change certain habits or adopt specific disciplines, yet their pleas often go unheeded. However, when he becomes captivated by the beauty of a woman, his entire life undergoes a remarkable transformation. He willingly embraces new disciplines, reorients his priorities, and becomes passionately focused on a future with the one he loves. Fascination with her fuels his transformation and ultimately leads to a deeper level of imitation and, possibly, lifelong commitment through marriage.
Fascination has a remarkable power to produce transformation and imitation. This principle applies to various aspects of life, whether it’s a newfound hobby, a sport, or any other interest. When individuals become captivated by something, they willingly invest their time, resources, and energy in it, often to the bewilderment of others who don’t share the same fascination.
This principle serves as a cornerstone for biblical discipleship. We are called to behold the beauty of God, become fascinated by Him, and joyfully reorient our lives to draw closer to Him and become a part of His people. Just as a lack of delight and fascination can lead to a stagnant marriage, so can a lack of fascination with God hinder our discipleship journey. Discipleship that centers around knowledge or behavioral change without fostering fascination falls short of the true biblical model.
THE POWER OF CORPORATE BEHOLDING
While personal beholding is significant, it is equally essential to behold God collectively. Beholding Jesus together is not only crucial but also a fundamental aspect of the Christian life, which should be lived in community. As the saying goes, “Jesus is not a polygamist.” He desires a single, corporate bride, a people who have been collectively shaped to be His companions.
Since God does not reveal all of Himself to a single individual, some aspects of His character and will can only be encountered through others in the body of Christ. This reality emphasizes the importance of beholding Him together and living in the image of what we have seen. To facilitate this, churches must create a consistent rhythm of corporate beholding, ensuring that all corporate ministry leads to beholding.
TRANSFORMATION AS THE ULTIMATE GOAL
It is crucial to understand that God did not become a man to improve our lives but to make us like Him. Any approach to discipleship that falls short of transformation into God’s likeness is not authentic, biblical discipleship. The church may lose its way when it consists of gifted and dedicated individuals who are not captivated by the beauty of God and are not actively pursuing transformation into His image.
Transformation should be the primary objective of discipleship, as it leads to becoming more like God. When we behold Jesus, transformation becomes our primary goal, displacing any worldly notion of success. The Bible never promised us success in this world, and God’s definition of success differs significantly from the world’s definition. We must be prepared to embrace situations that may seem “unsuccessful” by worldly standards, as God can use even our failures to transform us.
WHAT YOU BEHOLD YOU WILL BECOME
The principle that humans become what they behold is deeply ingrained in human experience. We naturally imitate those we perceive as beautiful or valuable, as this principle governs our behavior. Therefore, the central focus of our teaching and ministry should always be the revelation of Jesus as the fullness of God made known through a man. If we do not behold Him, we will not become like Him.
Parents, educators, worship leaders, and ministers must take this principle to heart. It is not enough to teach knowledge or good behavior. The focus should be on teaching the knowledge of God in the person of Jesus, leading others to behold His beauty, and, in turn, inspiring transformation. Transformation is the ultimate goal of discipleship.
In conclusion, biblical discipleship begins with beholding the glory of the Lord, collectively and personally. It ignites fascination, fosters imitation, and ultimately leads to transformation into the likeness of God. Let us re-evaluate our methods of discipleship, focusing on fascination with God, corporate beholding, and the ultimate goal of transformation. What we behold, we will become, so let us fix our gaze on the glory of the Lord and be transformed into His image.”
A.F.O.S.O.M., an anonymous contributor, involve with MFAM, helping Unreached People Group (Southeast Asia) Believers be connected with other authentic believers and helping to strengthen their faith. A.F.O.S.O.M transitioned from Islam to Christianity when he was 16, he attends a Singapore charismatic church, and writes for ‘Beholding Messiah‘ blog.
This article is my personal notes that I read from the book “Discipleship begins with Beholding” by Samuel Whitefield.
