An Authentic Disciple

New Living Translation - Colossians 1:6

This same Good News that came to you is going out all over the world. It is bearing fruit everywhere by changing lives, just as it changed your lives from the day you first heard and understood the truth about God’s wonderful grace .

Helps Word Study:

Bearing fruit - fertile, metaphorically, to bear, bring forth, deeds: thus of men who show their knowledge of religion by their conduct. Bring forth a crop.

Growing/increasing/changing Lives-
auksánō – properly, grow (increase); become greater in size (maturity, etc.). 837 /auksánō ("to grow") is key to authentic discipleship. Indeed, the Lord requires non-stop progress (development) in the life of faith.

Truth - Divine truth revealed to man; reality as opposed to illusion; what is true in any matter under consideration. Thy Word is Truth.

Grace - (preeminently used of the Lord's favor – freely extended to give Himself away to people (because He is "always leaning toward them").

New American Study Bible - Colossians 1 vs 6
(The gospel) which has come to you, just as in all the world also it is constantly bearing fruit and increasing, even as it has been doing in you also since the day you heard of it and understood the grace of God in truth;

So, after reading and pondering this verse and the Greek meanings of God's Word, this is the statement I came away with....

An authentic disciple will, upon hearing and understanding the Good News, the Word of God, which is The Truth, will be fertile and have results of non stop growth, progress and maturity in his life of faith toward God, knowing that God is Himself, always leaning toward us to help us.

That suggests, to me, that if I am not bearing fruit and growing in maturity in my life of trust and confidence toward God that I am not likely hearing or understanding the truth, which is God"s Word.

Likely, this is why Paul prays in Colossians 1:9-10

So we have not stopped praying for you since we first heard about you. We ask God to give you complete knowledge of his will and to give you spiritual wisdom and understanding. Then the way you live will always honor and please the Lord, and your lives will produce every kind of good fruit. All the while, you will grow as you learn to know God better and better.

Additionally, John explains true discipleship in 

John 8:31-32....

So, Jesus was saying to those Jews who had believed Him, “If you continue in My word, then you are truly disciples of Mine; and you will know the truth, and the truth will make you free.” 

Notice the word of qualification (IF) and the progression of these statements ...... if, continue, then....if you are truly a disciple of Jesus there are qualifications and a progression. Following that pattern will make you free. You will be fertile and you will be growing in your life of faith with God's aid. He is always leaning toward us favorably to assist us, but we must do our part.

Please ponder these scriptures and truly be an authentic disciple of Christ. Then your life will be changing, you will be growing toward maturity, Freedom And Productivity!!!!