Who Will Follow Jesus?

Are you following Jesus?

Have you ever wondered why there are so many religious denominations who call themselves Christians? There are many practices of worship. We all believe we are Christians. When Christ died on the cross, he prayed to our Father in heaven;"I do not pray for these alone, but also for those who will believe in Me through their word; "that they all may be one, as You, Father, are in Me, and I in You; that they also may be one in Us, that the world may believe that You sent Me."And the glory which You gave Me I have given them, that they may be one just as We are one: "I in them, and You in Me; that they may be made perfect in one, and that the world may know that You have sent Me, and have loved them as You have loved Me. John 17:20-23. Is it as though our Savior's prayer has failed,or is it in reality mankind who has failed to follow the will of GOD? The Old Testament is full of examples of Israel following after other gods. Jeremiah the prophet, explains GOD complaint of his people. . "My people have been lost sheep. Their shepherds have led them astray; they have turned them away on the mountains." Jeremiah 50:6. Has mankind changed so completely since our Savior returned to heaven after his death on the cross? Paul the apostle wrote the church in Ephesians 4:4-6; There is one body and one Spirit, just as you were called in one hope of your calling; one Lord, one faith, one baptism; one God and Father of all, who is above all, and through all, and in you all. If it is true that there is only one body of Christ, the church, then how does someone know that he is following GOD’s will? Perhaps the Word of GOD can tell us the true path to follow. It has not changed. It continues to call sinners to eternal life in Christ. Our Savior reminds us in Matthew 7:13-14; "Enter by the narrow gate; for wide is the gate and broad is the way that leads to destruction, and there are many who go in by it. "Because narrow is the gate and difficult is the way which leads to life, and there are few who find it." Are we listening closely to what Jesus has to say? Mankind has always wanted to take the easy road in his toil on this earth. We are vunerable to taking someone elses word because they are sincere. We can be sincerely wrong as well. Our Lord explains many sincere people will be suprised they fell short of God's expectations on judgement day. ; "Not everyone who says to Me, 'Lord, Lord,' shall enter the kingdom of heaven, but he who does the will of My Father in heaven. "Many will say to Me in that day, 'Lord, Lord, have we not prophesied in Your name, cast out demons in Your name, and done many wonders in Your name?' "And then I will declare to them, 'I never knew you; depart from Me, you who practice lawlessness!' Matthew 7:21-23. Peter the apostle speaking to the Jews reminded them of the proclamation GOD made regarding his Son in Acts 3: 22-23. "For Moses truly said to the fathers, 'The Lord your God will raise up for you a Prophet like me from your brethren. Him you shall hear in all things, whatever He says to you. 'And it shall be that every soul who will not hear that Prophet shall be utterly destroyed from among the people. For some reason man has always had a difficult time listening closely to GOD. Is not Jesus worthy of our close attention or are we also following lost shepherds?

How should we listen to men who teach the Word?

Paul warned the church at Corinth for following the teaching of any one apostle versus another. And yet the apostles of the first century church were inspired prophets of GOD's Word. ; Now I plead with you, brethren, by the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, that you all speak the same thing, and that there be no divisions among you, but that you be perfectly joined together in the same mind and in the same judgment. For it has been declared to me concerning you, my brethren, by those of Chloe's household, that there are contentions among you. Now I say this, that each of you says, "I am of Paul," or "I am of Apollos," or "I am of Cephas," or "I am of Christ." Is Christ divided? Was Paul crucified for you? Or were you baptized in the name of Paul 1 Corinthians 1:10-13. Are we so different today or is this the reason for all the division in the Christian world? Paul explained what going beyond the written Word of the Bible causes in the church; 1 Corinthians 4:6. Now these things, brethren, I have figuratively transferred to myself and Apollos for your sakes, that you may learn in us not to think beyond what is written, that none of you may be puffed up on behalf of one against the other. Even today men follow the teachings of other men because they are leaders in the church, excellent speakers, or they are considered to be men with good hearts. No other men ever had more authority than the apostles of Christ except Christ. Paul warned the church at Corinth not to choose one apostle’s message versus another man’s message. Paul praised the Jews at Berea because they questioned his New Testament message in Acts 17:11; ; These were more fair-minded than those in Thessalonica, in that they received the word with all readiness, and searched the Scriptures daily to find out whether these things were so. Notice! The Jews at Berea returned to the Word of GOD to determine if Paul was telling them the truth. Are we so trusting (or foolish) that we will trust our eternal life to the wisdom of other men? Perhaps mankind today lacks the faith that Jesus Christ so urgently wanted us to have. If we really believed the message of Christ, we would study his Word as if our life depends on it. (It does.) We should not be so ready to take the word of other men even though we may trust them. They may have trusted others who are not so worthy of trust. We have no way of knowing. Jesus tells us by what standard we shall be measured in John 12:46-48; "I have come as a light into the world, that whoever believes in Me should not abide in darkness."And if anyone hears My words and does not believe, I do not judge him; for I did not come to judge the world but to save the world. "He who rejects Me, and does not receive My words, has that which judges him-- the word that I have spoken will judge him in the last day.

Worship and revere GOD only!

People in religious groups through out the ages have chosen to worship, and pray to other men, women, their spirits and even lifeless idols. Our Savior, Jesus Christ, explained in Matthew 4:10; "You shall worship the Lord your God, and Him only you shall serve." Even today men readily bow their knee before other men as if they were GOD. The apostle Peter would not let Cornelius bow his knee before him in reverence. As Peter was coming in, Cornelius met him and fell down at his feet and worshiped him. But Peter lifted him up, saying, "Stand up; I myself am also a man." Acts 10:25-26. Today as in the past men claim spiritual titles such as Father, or Reverend. Jesus directly condemned such practices in Matthew 23: 5-12; ; "But all their works they do to be seen by men. They make their phylacteries broad and enlarge the borders of their garments."They love the best places at feasts, the best seats in the synagogues, "greetings in the marketplaces, and to be called by men, 'Rabbi, Rabbi.' "But you, do not be called 'Rabbi'; for One is your Teacher, the Christ, and you are all brethren. "Do not call anyone on earth your father; for One is your Father, He who is in heaven. "And do not be called teachers; for One is your Teacher, the Christ."But he who is greatest among you shall be your servant. "And whoever exalts himself will be humbled, and he who humbles himself will be exalted." Some men even believe they have the authority to change the Word of GOD. No man has ever had the authority to change the meaning of the Word of God. The grass withers, the flower fades, but the word of our God stands forever." Isaiah 40:8. It is as complete and unchanging as his love for us. Do you really love the Lord? Then you will believe and keep his Word. Jesus answered and said to him, "If anyone loves Me, he will keep My word; and My Father will love him, and We will come to him and make Our home with him. "He who does not love Me does not keep My words; and the word which you hear is not Mine but the Father's who sent Me. John 14:23-24. What about prayer? Jesus specifically teaches us how to pray in Luke 11:2; So He said to them, "When you pray, say: our Father in heaven, hallowed be Your name. Your kingdom come. Your will be done on earth as it is in heaven. Jesus gave no other directions to us in the Bible, and man should not assume he can change the teachings of Christ. Prayers to the spirits of dead men and women are in vain and offends GOD.

Is Man Made Worship acceptable to GOD?

Is worship offered from a good heart acceptable to GOD, even when it is not according to GOD's Word? Jesus explained to the Jews why it was not proper to worship GOD in a way designed by man in Matthew 15: 8-9; "These people draw near to Me with their mouth, and honor Me with their lips, but their heart is far from Me. And in vain they worship Me, teaching as doctrines the commandments of men. Worship offered some other way than that which is taught specifically by the New Testament is worth nothing to GOD. GOD knows those who love Him. We know that we have come to know him if we obey his commands. The man who says, "I know him," but does not do what he commands is a liar, and the truth is not in him. But if anyone obeys his word, GOD’s love is truly made complete in him. This is how we know we are in him: I John 2:3-5.

Who will you follow?

If we truly want to follow Jesus we will follow the Word of GOD, after all Jesus is the living Word of God. In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. He was in the beginning with God. John 1:1-2. We will not be mislead by others who teach without insuring it comes from the New Testament of Jesus Christ. Jesus Christ is the only one worthy to be followed.

All references are from the New King James version of the Bible. ©1982.

Greet one another with a holy kiss. The churches of Christ greet you. Romans 16:16.

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