Grace Community Church, Arlington, TX

Matthew 4:19a Jesus said to them, “Follow Me..”

FOLLOW – That’s our part…just follow.

ME – That’s His part…He’s the leader.

Where are we going when we follow Him? To Him!

Following Jesus can be illustrated by a 3-legged stool. There are 3 characteristics that Scripture says are evident in the lives of Jesus followers. You cannot rest securely on a one-legged or even a two-legged stool.. You need all three legs!

1. A Follower of Jesus BELIEVES the truth about Him. His nature, His exclusivity, and His return.

The Church early on had to deal with these issues, and the early Church Councils of the 4th and 5th centuries AD met to define the theological foundation for Christianity. In 325 AD the Council of Nicaea met in what is now modern day Turkey to wrestle with the question of the nature of Jesus, which was being challenged by a church leader called Arius who taught that Jesus was a created being, not divine by nature. The result was the Nicene Creed.

We believe in one God,
the Father almighty,
maker of heaven and earth,
of all that is, visible and invisible.

We believe in one Lord, Jesus Christ,
the only-begotten Son of God,
begotten from the Father before all ages,
God from God, Light from Light,
true God from true God,
begotten, not made,
of one essence with the Father;
through him all things were made; for us and for our salvation
he came down from heaven;
by the power of the Holy Spirit
he became incarnate from the Virgin Mary
and was made man;
for our sake also he was crucified under Pontius Pilate;
he suffered death and was buried;
on the third day he rose again
in accordance with the Scriptures;
he ascended into heaven
and is seated at the right hand of the Father;
he will come again in glory to judge the living and the dead
and his kingdom will have no end.

We believe in the Holy Spirit,
the Lord, the giver of life,
who proceeds from the Father;
with the Father and the Son he is worshiped and glorified;
he has spoken through the prophets.

We believe in one, holy, catholic, and apostolic church.
We confess one baptism for the forgiveness of sins.
We look for the resurrection of the dead,
and the life of the age to come.

2. A follower of Jesus, because of what he or she believes now about Jesus, LOVES Him.

Remaining/Abiding in the love of Christ means that we love Him in such a way that we draw our very spiritual vitality from Him. Love is the sap that flows from the Vine to the branch and through the branch, giving it life, and bearing spiritual fruit.

This Love is characterized by a reverence and awe of God that puts us on our faces before him in holy fear. Jesus calls us friends, but we are NOT equals! Our God is a Consuming Fire! (Heb. 12:28, 29)

This Love is characterized by an understanding of how lost and hopeless we were apart from Christ, and how much He suffered to take on our sin.

This Love is characterized by a daily realization and rejoicing in what His salvation has done.

Is there something that is diluting your love and devotion for Christ? And making your passion for Him just one of several equal passions in your life? Give it up!

3. A follower of Jesus, in response to what he or she Believes, and motivated by Love, OBEYS His Commands.

Jesus’ teaching is clear. If we abide, remain, in His love we will obey what He tells us – His commandments.

And what are His commandments? They are clearly laid out in Scripture, here are three of them that are key ;

A) Repent.

B) Love one another.

Obeying Jesus is all about Love, not trying to keep some list of behaviors out of obligation or duty.

C) Go and make disciples (more followers!). Of all peoples, all over the earth.