Following Jesus
I pray that you will read and think about the truths below from the Bible and how they might apply to your life.
What It Means to Follow Jesus
What do you think about when you hear the name of Jesus? Many have heard of Jesus, but few really know Him. How can we know a man who walked the earth over 2,000 years ago? Jesus wasn’t just any man. He was God’s Son who came to earth to make a way for us to re-connect with the One True Living God, whose name is Yahweh.
An ancient book called the Bible pointed to His coming. It was written by men and inspired by God to record our creation, why our world experiences so much brokenness and pain, and God’s plan to rescue us through His Son, Jesus. Jesus didn’t come to be the center of a religious system or simply improve our lives here on earth, but so everything could be made right with God for those who are His.
God’s Purpose
The Bible says we were created in the image of God Genesis 1 for an intimate, dependent relationship where we honor and glorify Him 1 Peter 2:9 as our Creator, Provider, and Sovereign Leader. Jesus is the visible image of God who created everything Colossians 1:16 and came to earth to call people to follow Him Mark 1:17.
Because He created everything, He owns and rules over it and has ultimate authority over our lives. We owe Him our loyalty, worship, and obedience.
Our Problem
The Bible tells us that we are all guilty of rebelling against our Creator, Yahweh. This doesn’t mean that we can’t do morally good things. But we choose to live independent of God’s leadership, ignore His commands and prohibitions, and fail to live up to His holy standard of perfection.
The Bible calls this sin Romans 3:10-12, 23. God’s penalty for sin is eternal judgment, death, and separation from Him Romans 6:23; Ezekiel 18:4.
God’s Provision
Because of His love, God sent His Son, Jesus, as our rescuer to pay the penalty for our sin and give us eternal life John 3:16. Jesus came to earth, lived a sinless life, and was crucified on a cross so that those who place their faith in Him as their sacrifice can be saved from God’s eternal judgment Romans 5:8-9.
He was resurrected three days later, proving He was our Rescuer who satisfied God’s demand for justice, providing forgiveness for those who place their faith in Him alone Romans 3:26.
Our Response
Jesus calls us to repent, believe, and follow Him. True faith in Jesus is always demonstrated by repentance. Repentance is more than agreeing that we have sinned or simply confessing sins.
It is not enough to believe the facts about Jesus, because even demons believe in God James 2:19, but they do not love or trust Him. True repentance includes a change of mind, heart, and direction that results from the Spirit of God working in us.
We turn from trusting in ourselves or anything else for forgiveness and instead embrace the rule and reign of Jesus over our lives with complete reliance and trust in Him alone Mark 1:14-16; Acts 14:15. True belief results in a heart that loves, follows, and obeys Jesus, displaying God’s grace to those around us 2 Corinthians 7:10-11; Ephesians 2:10.
There is no special formula to start following Jesus. Humble yourself, admit you need Him, repent, and call on Him to be your Rescuer. Start following Him today.
How to Begin
- Pray - Talk to God. Ask Him for help and listen to Him through His Word.
- Read the Bible - Study the context. Who is writing? Who are they writing to? What are they saying? Is there a command, prohibition, or promise?
- Apply - Ask how what you read applies to your life today.
- Find a Church - Find a church that faithfully teaches the Bible. Visit tms.edu/find-a-church.
If you have questions or would like to talk, reach out at doug@swatradio.com.