by Sean Finnegan
According to Jesus no one should call him “Lord” if he or she does not do what he says. In other words, Christ says he wants followers not merely believers. Although hippie Jesus, one-and-done Jesus, American Jesus, prosperity Jesus, poverty Jesus, and part-time Jesus all vie for all attention, we encounter the real Jesus in the Gospels, which have confidence in today because of the massive number of manuscripts that have survived from antiquity. Following Jesus has massive benefits as well, including eternal life, forgiveness of sins, life transformation, and ultimate meaning for your life. The reasons not to follow Jesus pale in comparison. As a result, doesn’t it make sense to take the next step, to confess Jesus as Lord and begin following his teachings?
Two requirements of Christianity
- Believe gospel
- Follow Jesus
What it means to follow Jesus
- Calling Jesus “Lord” means doing what he says (Luke 6:46-49)
- Resisting the temptation to fashion a Jesus to suit our desires
- Getting at the real Jesus through Scripture
Reasons to follow Jesus
- Eternal life (Matthew 19:27-30)
- Forgiveness (Ephesians 1:7-8)
- Transformation (Matthew 11:28-30)
Reasons not to follow Jesus
- Too much commitment
- Don’t want to be called a Jesus freak
- Don’t believe it is true
Taking the next step