Come, follow Jesus!
(the real Jesus)

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The Gospel
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Come Follow Jesus - the real Jesus

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Jesus said, "Come, follow me."
How can you follow Jesus?
"But I'm a sinful person, not fit to be a follower of Jesus!"
Your new life as a follower of Jesus
Find fellowship with other followers of Jesus
Your prayer life
Know your Bible
Your service to God
"Jezebel" in the churches
"If we deliberately keep on sinning . . ."
Why believe the Bible?
Who is Jesus?
What did Jesus teach?
What is life really all about
Angels and demons
Gray areas, mysteries and religious authorities
What Jesus revealed about life after death
'But my relatives won't like it if I follow Jesus!'
Watching for Christ's return
How I came to follow Jesus: the testimony of David A. Reed
Why this book?
Dedication, copyright, ISBN & Scripture references
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Come, follow Jesus! (the real Jesus)
online edition of the book by David A. Reed
The Gospel in simple terms for nonbelievers and new believers.
How to become a follower of Jesus Christ, and live as Jesus commanded

Home  |   Jesus said, "Come, follow me."  |   How can you follow Jesus?  |   "But I'm a sinful person, not fit to be a follower of Jesus!"  |   Your new life as a follower of Jesus  |   Find fellowship with other followers of Jesus  |   Your prayer life  |   Know your Bible  |   Your service to God  |   "Jezebel" in the churches  |   "If we deliberately keep on sinning . . ."  |   Why believe the Bible?  |   Who is Jesus?  |   What did Jesus teach?  |   What is life really all about  |   Angels and demons  |   Gray areas, mysteries and religious authorities  |   What Jesus revealed about life after death  |   'But my relatives won't like it if I follow Jesus!'  |   Watching for Christ's return  |   How I came to follow Jesus: the testimony of David A. Reed  |   Why this book?  |   Dedication, copyright, ISBN & Scripture references

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Your service to God

 


 


When Jesus calls us to follow him, he calls us to a life of service.  Jesus himself set the example.  He came from his Father’s throne in heaven, entitled to receive worship and obedience from humans . . .

when he brings in the firstborn into the world he says, ‘Let all the angels of God worship him.’”    —Hebrews 1:6

. . . but he put aside his glory, humbled himself and served others, setting an example for us to follow.

Have this in your mind, which was also in Christ Jesus, who, existing in the form of God, didn’t consider equality with God a thing to be grasped, but emptied himself, taking the form of a servant, being made in the likeness of men. And being found in human form, he humbled himself, becoming obedient to death, yes, the death of the cross.”                                                      —Philippians 2:5-8


Should we shrink back from some humble form of service God may call us to?  During the years before embarking on his three-year ministry of preaching and working miracles, Jesus evidently worked for years in his foster father Joseph’s carpentry shop.  How could we think ourselves above menial tasks, when Jesus was even willing to do a household servant’s job, washing the feet of his disciples?

Jesus, knowing that the Father had given all things into his hands, and that he came forth from God, and was going to God, arose from supper, and laid aside his outer garments. He took a towel, and wrapped a towel around his waist. Then he poured water into the basin, and began to wash the disciples’ feet, and to wipe them with the towel that was wrapped around him.  . . . he said to them, ‘. . . If I then, the Lord and the Teacher, have washed your feet, you also ought to wash one another’s feet.’ —John 13:3-5, 12, 14


So, in our church or place of Christian fellowship, we should gladly accept any service that God may call on us to perform.  There are many ways to help in the church.  Paul wrote,

“And in the church God has appointed first of all apostles, second prophets, third teachers, then workers of miracles, also those having gifts of healing, those able to help others, those with gifts of administration, and those speaking in different kinds of tongues.” —1 Corinthians 12:28 NIV


One Christian woman cited as a good example was Tabitha or Dorcas, whom the Apostle Peter resurrected after she fell sick and died.  She was in the habit of making articles of clothing and giving them to poor widows who, in ancient Roman society, struggled to survive, depending on the charity of others:

“Now there was at Joppa a certain disciple named Tabitha, which when translated, means Dorcas. This woman was full of good works and acts of mercy which she did. It happened in those days that she fell sick, and died. When they had washed her, they laid her in an upper room.  As Lydda was near Joppa, the disciples, hearing that Peter was there, sent two men to him, imploring him not to delay in coming to them.  Peter got up and went with them. When he had come, they brought him into the upper room. All the widows stood by him weeping, and showing the coats and garments which Dorcas had made while she was with them.” —Acts 9:36-39


Jesus views such good works and acts of mercy done to his followers as if they were done to him personally:

“‘“. . . I was hungry, and you gave me food to eat. I was thirsty, and you gave me drink. I was a stranger, and you took me in. I was naked, and you clothed me. I was sick, and you visited me. I was in prison, and you came to me.”

“‘. . . “Lord, when did we see you hungry, and feed you; or thirsty, and give you a drink? When did we see you as a stranger, and take you in; or naked, and clothe you?  When did we see you sick, or in prison, and come to you?”

“‘. . . “Most certainly I tell you, inasmuch as you did it to one of the least of these my brothers, you did it to me.”’”                                                                         —Matthew 25:35-40


Such good works and acts of service do not earn us our salvation, of course—salvation is a free gift from God through Jesus Christ—nor do they offset sinful conduct.  Jesus warned that those who persist in sinning and doing evil will not be able to claim entrance into heaven by citing their service to God:

“‘Not every one who says to me, “Lord, Lord,” shall enter the kingdom of heaven, but he who does the will of my Father who is in heaven.  On that day many will say to me, “Lord, Lord, did we not prophesy in your name, and cast out demons in your name, and do many mighty works in your name?”  And then will I declare to them, “I never knew you; depart from me, you evildoers.”’” —Matthew 7:21-23 RSV


Good works of Christian service do not earn us our salvation, but rather when God gives us the free gift of salvation it is our duty to respond by doing good:

“For we are God's workmanship, created in Christ Jesus to do good works, which God prepared in advance for us to do.” —Ephesians 2:10 NIV


So, as followers of Jesus we have a responsibility to do good works—it is expected of us. 


One of the greatest works is to carry out the great commission of bringing the Gospel message to others.  Before ascending to heaven, Jesus said,

“‘Go, and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, teaching them to observe all things that I commanded you.’” —Matthew 28:19-20


We may not all be called to be teachers or evangelizers, but we can all tell others what Jesus has done for us—our personal testimony of being saved from our sins and having our lives turned around by our Lord and Savior.  After healing a man and rescuing him from a terrible life,

Jesus sent him away, saying, ‘Return to your house, and declare what great things God has done for you.’ He went his way, proclaiming throughout the whole city what great things Jesus had done for him.”         —Luke 8:38-39


We can do the same when relatives or work mates or neighbors notice that we have changed after becoming followers of Jesus.  We can tell them what Jesus has done for us, and thus introduce them to the Gospel message.


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