“For God so loved the world, that he gave his only Son, that whoever believes in him should not perish but have eternal life.” John 3:16
What does it mean to follow Jesus?
In a world that reveres leadership, who wants to be a “follower”? We believe it really depends on who you’re following.
Following Jesus means believing He is who He said He is, and joining the pursuit to become like Him, First and foremost, we look to God to lead all of us - even leaders - are followers. It’s who we’re shaped to be, and following is what shapes us into who we become. Who do you want to become more like? That’s who you’re following. Being a follower of Jesus means joining the pursuit to become more like Him - knowing Him better, learning from Him, and living like Him.
Who is God?
God is Holy: set apart from and greater than anything and everyone. He existed before anything and created everything. He’s everywhere at the same time and in control of it all, no matter how large the scope or small the detail. He is perfect: He has no flaws and doesn't make mistakes.
Who Am I?
You are created by God. He created people to have a close relationship with them but the first man and woman He created made a choice that defied the instructions He’d given them. This was the first sin - the first of millions that every one of us commit against God. It instantly severed the relationship between people and God. Even though God still loved people, He couldn't compromise His holiness by tolerating or overlooking our sin. In turn, because we’re imperfect, we can’t “make up for” our offenses. Our sinfulness ruins even our best efforts. Thankfully, God loves us so much that He created a way for us to be reconnected with Him as if we had never sinned. In God’s plan, He can still have relationship with us without compromising His holiness. That plan is Jesus.
Who is Jesus?
Jesus Christ is God’s Son. As part of God’s plan to reconcile us to Himself, Jesus was born into the world as a human baby, lived a perfect life because He was God in human form, taught that He alone was the way to God, and died the terrible death of crucifixion, paying the penalty for our sin. Saving us with His grace cost God the life of His Son - far more than the cost required of us. Though this payment was permanent, Jesus’ death was not. Three days after Christ was crucified, God raised Him from the dead, just as all who choose to follow Jesus Christ will be raised to spend eternity with God.
How can I follow Jesus?
Jesus’ instruction to everyone He taught was, “follow Me.” What does that look like? It means recognizing a personal need for God, and trusting in Jesus Christ alone as God’s single way to have relationship with us. It means acknowledging that we can’t please God through our own efforts, accepting Jesus’ sacrifice on our behalf, doing our best to follow Jesus’ teaching and example, and allowing Him to transform us to become like Him.