How to Follow Jesus and Learn Christ as the Lord's Disciple

 

How to Follow Jesus and Learn Christ as the Lord's Disciple

Matthew 4:19 Jesus said to them, “Come, follow me, and I will make you fishers of men.”

Matthew 4:20 Immediately they left their nets and followed him.

Ephesians 4:20 But you have not learned Christ in this way;

Ephesians 4:21 If you had truly heard him and been taught in him as he is in reality,

Romans 8:29 For God also predestined those he foretold to be conformed to the image of the Son of God, so that he might be the firstborn among many brothers.

Ephesians 3:21 To him be glory in the church and in Christ Jesus, throughout all generations, for ever and ever. Amen. 

Item	Integrated Content
Meaning	To be Christ's disciple is not merely to believe in Him, but to follow Him, learn Him, live Him, and reproduce Him. According to "the reality which is in Jesus" (Eph. 4:20–24)—the actual condition of Jesus' God-man living recorded in the four Gospels—we experience Christ as the first God-man so that we may become His organic reproduction and duplication, expressing Him corporately in the church and ultimately in the New Jerusalem.
Reason	God's eternal purpose is not merely to save sinners but to gain a corporate company of trained God-men who are conformed to the image of Christ (Rom. 8:29), built together as the Body of Christ, and expressing God's glory (Eph. 3:21).
Illustration	A student following a teacher; sheep following the Shepherd; branches abiding in the vine; children imitating the Father; a mirror reflecting Christ's glory; a prototype being duplicated; a king being constituted by reading God's law (Deut. 17); eating food until it becomes our constitution.
Explanation	Learning Christ is not outward imitation but inward constitution. Through the Spirit, the God-man living of Jesus recorded in the Gospels is wrought into us, so that His individual living becomes the corporate living of the Body of Christ.
Way	1. Abide in the Lord's word (John 8:31; 15:7). 2. Pray-read the Word and hear the Spirit speaking (Eph. 6:17–18; Rev. 2–3). 3. Be reconstituted daily by God's Word (Deut. 17; 2 Tim. 3). 4. Eat Christ (John 6:57,63) until Christ replaces us. 5. Be awakened every morning to be taught by the Lord (Isa. 50). 6. Learn Christ's meekness and humility (Matt. 11). 7. Learn the secret of contentment (Phil. 4). 8. Learn mercy and shepherding (Matt. 9). 9. Observe how Jesus lived and spoke (John 16; 20). 10. Deny the self and live by the Father (John 5). 11. Be constituted through spiritual patterns and examples.
Result	Renewed mind; transformed life; denial of the natural life; God-man living; rest to the soul; sweet humanity; victory over Satan, sin, and death; living Christ; building up the church.
Purpose	To produce a corporate God-man, the reality of the Body of Christ, expressing God's glory and fulfilling His eternal economy, consummating in the New Jerusalem.
Relationship	Believe in Christ → Follow Christ → Learn Christ → Eat Christ → Be Constituted with Christ → Live Christ → Reproduce Christ → Build up the Body of Christ → Express God's Glory → New Jerusalem.
Biblical Examples	Peter: left everything to follow Christ (Matt. 4). The Twelve: observed Jesus for three and a half years. Mary: sat at the Lord's feet to learn (Luke 10). Paul: learned the secret of Christ (Phil. 4). Timothy: followed Paul's pattern (2 Tim. 3). The Lord Jesus: denied Himself and lived by the Father (John 5).
Practical Application	Have morning revival daily; pray-read the Word; renew the mind; turn to the spirit in every situation; deny the self; seek the Father's will; enjoy Christ as spiritual food; live in meekness and humility; shepherd others; receive perfecting through spiritual patterns; practice the church life.
Ministry Burden	The ministry of Witness Lee emphasizes that the church is not for producing naturally good people but for supplying life and training believers to become God-men. The goal is not merely doctrinal teaching but the constitution of Christ into His believers through the Spirit, the Word, and proper patterns, producing the corporate God-man.
Prophesying Guidance	Speak concerning: (1) Following and learning Christ as His disciple;  (2) Eating Christ until He replaces us;  (3) Being trained daily through the Word and the Spirit to become God-men; (4) Becoming Christ's corporate expression for the building up of the church and the glory of God.
Conclusion	A genuine disciple does not merely imitate Jesus outwardly but receives Christ as life inwardly; not becoming a better natural person, but becoming a God-man constituted with Christ, expressing Him corporately in the Body and ultimately in the New Jerusalem.
Overview of Related Scriptures	Becoming Christ's Disciple            Matthew 5:1; 28:19 Learning Christ & Renewing the Mind  Ephesians 4:20–24; Romans 12:2 Abiding in the Word           John 8:31–32; John 15:7 Eating and Enjoying Christ             John 6:35, 57, 63; Jeremiah 15:16 Being Reconstituted by God's Word      Deuteronomy 17:18–20; 2 Timothy 3:15–17 Being Taught Every Morning        Isaiah 50:4–5, 10–11 Learning Meekness and Humility            Matthew 11:28–30 Learning Mercy and Shepherding           Matthew 9:12–13 Learning the Secret of Contentment      Philippians 4:11–13 Denying the Self and Living by the Father         John 5:19, 30 The Spirit Leading into Reality     John 16:13; 20:22 The Body of Christ and God's Glory        Ephesians 3:21; Revelation 21:11 Being Conformed to Christ            Romans 8:29; Philippians 3:10; Philippians 1:21

 

Spiritual Sequence

Step	Spiritual Progression
1	Believe into Christ and be baptized as His disciple (Matt. 28:19).
2	Abide in the Lord's Word (John 8:31).
3	Pray-read the Word and hear the Spirit's speaking (Eph. 6; Rev. 2–3).
4	Be renewed in the spirit of the mind (Eph. 4:23).
5	Be reconstituted with God's Word (Deut. 17).
6	Eat and enjoy Christ daily (John 6).
7	Deny the self and live by the Father (John 5).
8	Live Christ's meekness, humility, mercy, and contentment (Matt. 11; Matt. 9; Phil. 4).
9	Become Christ's organic reproduction and duplication.
10	Build up the Body of Christ and express God's glory (Eph. 3:21).
11	Consummate in the New Jerusalem (Rev. 21).

 

Spiritual Core Relationship

The Organic Progression

Follow Christ → Learn Christ → Eat Christ → Be Replaced by Christ → Live Christ → Reproduce Christ → The Corporate Christ → The New Jerusalem

The Divine Process

The Word + The Spirit → Renewal → Constitution → God-man Living → Body Life → God's Eternal Expression

One Prophesying Summary

To be the Lord's disciple is to abide daily in His Word, hear the Spirit's speaking, eat and enjoy Christ until He replaces our natural life, live the God-man life, become His organic reproduction, and express the corporate Christ for the building up of the church, ultimately consummating in the New Jerusalem.

 

*Please refer to the April 2026 Summer Training, Part One: Disciples, Believers, Saints, and Christians.

 

Disciple vs. Believer vs. Saint vs. Christian - A Comprehensive Integrated Comparison Table

 

Disciple vs. Believer vs. Saint vs. Christian - A Comprehensive Integrated Comparison Table

Central Vision: 

Disciples emphasize following and learning; believers emphasize living by faith; saints emphasize sanctification and transformation; Christians emphasize living Christ and manifesting Christ. 

Item	Disciple	Believer	Saint	Christian
Meaning	One who follows Christ and learns Christ	One who lives by the faith of the Son of God	One separated and sanctified unto God	A Christ-man who lives Christ
Reason	Christ called us to follow Him	We believed into Christ and received His life	God separated us unto Himself	Christ lives in us and is expressed through us
Illustration	A student learning from his Master	A branch abiding in the vine	A sanctified vessel in God's house	A living expression of Christ
Explanation	Learns Christ according to the reality that is in Jesus	Lives by the divine faith that Christ imparts	Positionally sanctified and dispositionally being sanctified	Lives Christ in daily life and magnifies Him
Result	Renewed, transformed, and constituted with Christ	Lives God, expresses God, and ministers God to others	Possesses a holy nature and bears God's image	Glorifies God and manifests Christ
Purpose	To become Christ's reproduction and duplication	To become the new creation in Christ	To be a holy vessel for God's purpose	To build up the Body of Christ and consummate the New Jerusalem
Relationship	Walks with Christ	United with Christ by faith	Belongs wholly to God	One with Christ in organic union
Biblical Examples	The Twelve disciples; Mary sitting at the Lord's feet	The believers in Rome and Galatia	The saints in Corinth and Ephesus	The believers in Antioch; the Apostle Paul
Practical Application	Abide in the Lord's word, deny the self, follow Him daily	Live by faith instead of feelings	Allow the Holy Spirit and the Word to sanctify us daily	Live Christ in family life, work, and the church life
Ministry Burden	Learn Christ rather than merely learning doctrines	Live by faith instead of the natural life	Experience continual sanctification and transformation	Become Christ's corporate expression on earth
Prophesying Guidance	Emphasize following Christ, learning Christ, and being trained by Him	Emphasize that faith is Christ Himself infused into us	Emphasize sanctification in position and in disposition	Emphasize living and magnifying Christ for God's glory
Conclusion	A disciple is one being trained in life.	A believer is one who receives and lives by the divine life.	A saint is one who is being sanctified and transformed.	A Christian is one who lives and expresses Christ.
Overview of Related Scriptures	Matthew 5:1 Matthew 28:19 John 8:31–32 John 15:7 Matthew 11:28–30 Ephesians 4:20–24 Isaiah 50:4–5	John 3:16 Romans 1:17 Romans 10:17 Galatians 2:20 Galatians 5:6 1 Corinthians 6:17 2 Corinthians 5:17 Hebrews 11:6 Hebrews 12:2	Romans 1:7 1 Corinthians 1:2 Hebrews 13:12 1 Thessalonians 5:23–24 2 Thessalonians 2:13 Ephesians 5:26 1 Corinthians 6:11	Acts 11:26 Acts 26:28 1 Peter 4:16 Philippians 1:20–21 Galatians 2:20 1 Corinthians 6:20 1 Corinthians 10:31 Acts 20:24

 

The Spiritual Sequence

Order	Identity	Spiritual Work	Ultimate Outcome
1	Disciple	Follow Christ and learn Christ	Constituted as a God-man
2	Believer	Believe into Christ and live by faith	Become a new creation
3	Saint	Be sanctified and transformed	Become holy in nature
4	Christian	Live and magnify Christ	Build up the Body of Christ and consummate the New Jerusalem

 

The Spiritual Formula

Follow Christ → Believe into Christ → Be Sanctified by Christ → Live Christ → Express Christ Corporately → Consummate in the New Jerusalem

or more briefly:

Following → Believing → Sanctification → Living Christ → Corporate Expression → New Jerusalem

The Intrinsic Relationship

Identity	The Fundamental Question It Answers
Disciple	Whom do I follow every day?
Believer	By whom do I live every day?
Saint	To whom do I belong every day?
Christian	Whom do I express every day?

Thus,

• A Disciple emphasizes the way (following Christ).
• A Believer emphasizes the life (living by faith).
• A Saint emphasizes the nature (being holy).
• A Christian emphasizes the expression (living Christ).

These four titles are not four different kinds of people, but four progressive aspects of the same regenerated believer in God's economy.

The Burden of the Ministry

• God is not merely seeking people who believe in Christ.
• Neither is He seeking only students of biblical doctrine.
• Nor is He satisfied merely with objectively sanctified saints.
• God's ultimate desire is to obtain Christ-men—people who live Christ as His corporate expression.

Therefore:

• A disciple is trained.
• A believer receives and lives by the divine life.
• A saint is sanctified and transformed.
• A Christian lives and magnifies Christ.

These four aspects together fulfill God's eternal economy.

One-Sentence Prophesying Summary

A disciple follows Christ and learns Christ; a believer lives by the faith of Christ; a saint is sanctified and transformed by Christ; and a Christian lives and magnifies Christ, becoming His corporate expression for the building up of the Body of Christ and the ultimate consummation of the New Jerusalem.

Ultimate Conclusion

In God's New Testament economy, the four titles—Disciple, Believer, Saint, and Christian—do not describe four different classes of people but four progressive stages of the same regenerated believer's spiritual experience.

As disciples, we follow Christ and learn Him according to the reality that is in Jesus. As believers, we receive and live by the faith of the Son of God. As saints, we are positionally sanctified and continually being sanctified in our disposition. As Christians, we live Christ and magnify Him in our daily living through our organic union with Him.

This divine progression produces the reality of the Body of Christ, expresses God's glory corporately, and ultimately reaches its consummation in the New Jerusalem, God's eternal and universal expression.

 

*Please refer to the April 2026 Summer Training, Part One: Disciples, Believers, Saints, and Christians.