Evidences of True Discipleship

What does it mean to be a true disciple of Christ, and how does this display itself in our interactions within the church and the world? Chris Law emphasizes the significance of love as an identifier of a true disciple, as stated by Jesus in John 13:35. This love, however, is not the type casually thrown around in society today, but rather a biblical love that serves as evidence of discipleship within the local church. Law points out that the New Testament spends considerable time discussing love, not just towards the world, but specifically within the church, where it often portrays the most substantial impacts. Despite the hurt and disappointment people have encountered due to a lack of love in the church, Law states that Christ's expectation is for love to be the beautiful picture of discipleship that the world sees. He also mentions that unity within the church and our spiritual unity in Christ result in prayers for one another and carrying each other's burdens, further evidencing true discipleship. At the core of it all, however, is reliance on Christ's work for salvation. 1 John 4:7-8 (NKJV): 'Beloved, let us love one another, for love is of God; and everyone who loves is born of God and knows God. He who does not love does not know God, for God is love.'