So Many Wonderful Reasons!
But before we answer that question, it would be helpful to first explain what a follower of Jesus Christ is:
A follower of Christ is a disciple, someone who has placed their faith in Him as Savior, and chosen to devote their life to learning and walking according to His ways. A follower of Christ is someone who is committed to glorifying His name and serving Him in advancing His Kingdom. A follower of Christ is someone who has a new Master, a new direction in life, a new purpose for living. They find true life, both in this life and in the next. The life of a follower of Christ is governed by the Word of God, known as the Bible:
“My sheep hear My voice, and I know them, and they follow Me.” (John 10:27)
“If you continue in My word, you are truly My disciples. Then you will know the truth, and the truth will set you free.” (John 8:31-32 – BSB)
“So whether you eat or drink or whatever you do, do it all to the glory of God.” (1 Corinthians 10:31 – BSB)
“I am the light of the world. Whoever follows Me will never walk in the darkness, but will have the light of life.” (John 8:12 – BSB
Now we can answer the question:
Why Become A Follower of Christ?
1. He is our Authority
➤ God exists in three Persons: Father, Son and Holy Spirit. As the Son of God, Jesus is a member of this Holy Trinity:
“As soon as Jesus was baptized, He went up out of the water. Suddenly the heavens were opened, and He saw the Spirit of God descending like a dove and resting on Him. And a voice from heaven said, “This is My beloved Son, in whom I am well pleased!” (Matthew 3:16-17 – BSB)
“But what about you?” Jesus asked. “Who do you say I am?” Simon Peter answered, “You are the Christ, the Son of the living God.” Jesus replied, “Blessed are you, Simon son of Jonah! For this was not revealed to you by flesh and blood, but by My Father in heaven. (Matthew 16:15-17 – BSB)
➤ He is the King of kings and Lord of lords:
“And He has a name written on His robe and on His thigh: KING OF KINGS AND LORD OF LORDS.” (Revelation 19:16 – BSB)
2. He requires submission to His Authority
➤ Everyone is to give honor to Him:
“Furthermore, the Father judges no one, but has assigned all judgment to the Son, so that all may honor the Son just as they honor the Father. Whoever does not honor the Son does not honor the Father who sent Him.” (John 5:22-23 – BSB)
➤ Everyone will bow before Him—either willingly (followers) or unwilling (those who refuse to follow):
“As a result God highly exalted him and gave him the name that is above every name, so that at the name of Jesus every knee will bow – in heaven and on earth and under the earth – and every tongue confess that Jesus Christ is Lord to the glory of God the Father. (Philippians 2:9-11 – NET)
3. He will judge those who are not willing to submit to His authority:
➤ Day of Judgment:
Jesus said: “There is a judge for the one who rejects Me and does not receive My words: The word that I have spoken will judge him on the last day.” (John 12:48 – BSB)
4. There are many wonderful blessings and rewards for following Christ:
➤ We’re reconciled to God
“For if, when we were enemies of God, we were reconciled to Him through the death of His Son, how much more, having been reconciled, shall we be saved through His life!” (Romans 5:10 – BSB)
➤ We have peace with God:
“Therefore, since we have been declared righteous by faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ.” (Romans 5:1– NET)
➤ We have peace in our souls:
“Come to Me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest. Take My yoke upon you and learn from Me; for I am gentle and humble in heart, and you will find rest for your souls.” (Matthew 11:28-29 – BSB)
➤ We become children of God:
“But to all who did receive Him, to those who believed in His name, He gave the right to become children of God.” (John 1:12 – BSB)
➤ We have eternal life:
“I have written these things to you who believe in the name of the Son of God, so that you may know that you have eternal life.” (1 John 5:13 – BSB)
➤ We have Heaven to look forward to:
“But our citizenship is in heaven, and we eagerly await a Savior from there, the Lord Jesus Christ.” (Philippians 3:20 – BSB)
➤ We become a new creation in Christ:
“Therefore if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation. The old has passed away. Behold, the new has come!” (2 Corinthians 5:17 – BSB)
➤ We have the indwelling presence and power of Christ:
“I have been crucified with Christ, and I no longer live, but Christ lives in me. The life I live in the body, I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave Himself up for me.” (Galatians 2:20 – BSB)
➤ We have personal fellowship with God:
“We proclaim to you what we have seen and heard, so that you also may have fellowship with us. And this fellowship of ours is with the Father and with His Son, Jesus Christ.” (1 John 1:3 – BSB)
➤ We have a new purpose for living:
“And He died for all, that those who live should no longer live for themselves, but for Him who died for them and was raised again.” (2 Corinthians 5:15 – BSB)
“Therefore, my brothers and sisters, you also died to the law through the body of Christ, so that you may belong to another—to Him who was raised from the dead, in order that we may bear fruit for God.” (Romans 7:4)
“Therefore, my beloved brothers and sisters, be steadfast, immovable—always devoting yourselves completely to the work of the Lord, because you know that your labor in the Lord is not in vain.” (1 Corinthians 15:58)
➤ We have the joy of Christ:
“I have told you these things so that My joy may be in you and your joy may be complete.” (John 15:11– BSB)
➤ We have a fulfilling life:
“I have come that they may have life, and have it in all its fullness.” (John 10:10 BSB)
➤ Jesus reveals Himself to us:
“Whoever has My commandments and keeps them is the one who loves Me. The one who loves Me will be loved by My Father, and I will love him and reveal Myself to him.” (John 14:21– BSB)
➤ God answers our prayers (not always as we anticipate):
“If you remain in Me and My words remain in you, ask whatever you wish, and it will be done for you.” (John 15:7 – BSB)
➤ We have our needs met:
“And my God will supply all your needs according to His glorious riches in Christ Jesus.” (Philippians 4:19 – BSB)
➤ We’re given victory over sin and addictions:
“So I say, walk by the Spirit, and you will not gratify the desires of the flesh.” (Galatians 5:16 – BSB)
“I can do all things through Christ who gives me strength.” (Philippians 4:13 – BSB)
“But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control. (Galatians 5:22-23 – BSB)
➤ We’re given direction for our lives:
“Trust in the LORD with all your heart, and do not rely on your own understanding; in all your ways acknowledge Him, and He will direct your paths.” (Proverbs 3:5-6)
➤ We’re given wisdom for life:
“For the LORD gives wisdom; from His mouth come knowledge and understanding. He stores up sound wisdom for the upright; He is a shield to those who walk with integrity.” (Proverbs 2:6-7 – BSB)
➤ Truth is revealed to us:
“So He said to the Jews who had believed Him, “If you continue in My word, you are truly My disciples. Then you will know the truth, and the truth will set you free.” (John 8:31-32 – BSB)
➤ God extends compassion and comfort during hard times:
“Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of compassion and the God of all comfort, who comforts us in all our troubles, so that we can comfort those in any trouble with the comfort we ourselves have received from God.” (2 Corinthians 1:3-4 – BSB)
➤ We’re given enabling power to serve Christ:
“For it is God who works in you, both to will and to work according to his good purpose.” (Philippians 2:13)
“Now to Him who is able to do immeasurably more than all we ask or imagine, according to His power that is at work within us” (Ephesians 3:20 – BSB)
“I pray that out of the riches of His glory He may strengthen you with power through His Spirit in your inner being. (Ephesians 3:16)
➤ Eternal rewards are given for living for Christ:
“Do not store up for yourselves treasures on earth, where moth and rust destroy, and where thieves break in and steal. But store up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where moth and rust do not destroy, and where thieves do not break in and steal.” (Matthew 6:19-20 – BSB)
“Blessed are you when people insult you, persecute you, and falsely say all kinds of evil against you because of Me. Rejoice and be glad, because great is your reward in heaven; for in the same way they persecuted the prophets before you.” (Matthew 5:11-12 – BSB)
➤ We have the return of Christ to look forward to:
“But our citizenship is in heaven, and we eagerly await a Savior from there, the Lord Jesus Christ.” (Philippians 3:20 – BSB)
“Men of Galilee,” they said, “why do you stand here looking into the sky? This same Jesus, who has been taken from you into heaven, will come back in the same way you have seen Him go into heaven.” Acts 1:11– BSB)
➤ God will resurrect us in an immortal body:
“So will it be with the resurrection of the dead: What is sown is perishable; it is raised imperishable. It is sown in dishonor; it is raised in glory. It is sown in weakness; it is raised in power. (1 Corinthians 15:42-43 – BSB)
“But our citizenship is in heaven, and we eagerly await a Savior from there, the Lord Jesus Christ, who, by the power that enables Him to subject all things to Himself, will transform our lowly bodies to be like His glorious body.” (Philippians 3:20-21 – BSB)
➤ We will have eternal joy in the presence of God:
“And I heard a great voice out of the throne saying, Behold, the dwelling place of God is with humanity, and He will dwell with them, and they will be His people, and God Himself will be with them, and be their God. He will wipe away every tear from their eyes, and death will be no more, neither will there be mourning or crying or pain—for the former things are passed away. And He who is seated on the throne said, ‘Behold, I make all things new. And he said, write: for these words are faithful and true.’” (Revelation 21:3-5)
Requirement For Becoming a Follower of Christ
There’s nothing more wonderful than following the Lord Jesus Christ. There’s no greater honor than being identified with the Creator and Ruler of the universe. There’s nothing more important than being in a right relationship with Almighty God.
However, there’s a requirement for becoming a follower of Christ that we must meet, and that’s forgiveness of sin:
“And He (God) commanded us to preach to the people and to testify that He (Jesus) is the One appointed by God to judge the living and the dead. All the prophets testify about Him (Jesus) that everyone who believes in Him receives forgiveness of sins through His name.” (Acts 10:42-43 — BSB)
To join with Christ, He requires us to accept the provision that God has made for the forgiveness of our sins. He will not accept anyone who is still in their sins. You see, every one of us are sinners in the eyes of God. Sin separates us from God. Sin is a wall that stands between us and God:
“But your iniquities have separated you from your God, and your sins have hidden His face from you, so that He will not hear.” (Isaiah 59:2)
This wall must be removed before we can become one of His followers and enjoy all the wonderful blessings that God has for us in Christ. Forgiveness of sin removes the wall. It’s through Jesus that we obtain this forgiveness—thus bringing us into a right relationship with God.
Sin consists of such things as: taking God’s name in vain, lust, adultery, sex outside of marriage, hatred, greed, selfishness, pride, rape, murder, stealing, disobedience to parents, drunkenness, covetousness, cruelty, idolatry (anything that takes God’s place as more important than us), etc.
God’s Word, the Bible, tells us that if we are guilty of even one sin, it’s as though we had broken all of God’s commandments:
“Whoever keeps the whole law but stumbles at just one point is guilty of breaking all of it.” (James 2:10 – BSB)
So no matter how “good” we are, the result of one sin is the same as a whole lifetime of sin. Therefore, we all need forgiveness.
TO OBTAIN FORGIVENESS OF OUR SINS, THERE ARE CERTAIN THINGS WE MUST UNDERSTAND AND BELIEVE:
1 — That we are all sinners in the eyes of God, and therefore, separated from Him:
“There is no one righteous, not even one….for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God.” (Romans 3:10,23 – NIV)
2 — That God is just and must punish sin. If we die in our sins we will face God’s judgment for those sins:
“For the wages of sin is death…” (Romans 6:23 – NIV)
“But because of your stubbornness and your unrepentant heart, you are storing up wrath against yourself for the day of God’s wrath, when his righteous judgment will be revealed. God “will repay each person according to what they have done.” (Romans 2:5-6 – NIV)
Jesus said, “And these will depart into eternal punishment.” – (Matthew 25:46 – NET)
3 — That God loves us and has provided a way out—that it’s only through His one and only Son that we can have forgiveness of our sins and eternal life in His presence:
“For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life.” (John 3:16 – NIV)
“All the prophets testify about him that everyone who believes in him receives forgiveness of sins through his name.” (Acts 10:43 – NIV)
“And this is the testimony: God has given us eternal life, and this life is in his Son. Whoever has the Son has life; whoever does not have the Son of God does not have life.” (John 5:11-12 – NIV)
4 — That Jesus died on the cross for our sins (taking upon Himself the punishment we deserve) and rose from the dead—thereby, providing the way of forgiveness and the way to God:
“But God demonstrates his own love for us in this: While we were still sinners, Christ died for us.” (Romans 5:8 – NIV)
“…that Christ died for our sins according to the Scriptures, that he was buried, that he was raised on the third day according to the Scriptures.” (1 Corinthians 15:3-4 – NIV)
“He himself bore our sins” in his body on the cross, so that we might die to sins and live for righteousness; ‘by his wounds you have been healed.’” (1 Peter 2:24 – NIV)
5 — That because of our sinful condition, there’s nothing we can do to earn forgiveness, but is a gift of God’s grace:
“For it is by grace you have been saved, through faith—and this is not from yourselves, it is the gift of God—not by works, so that no one can boast.” (Ephesians 2:8-9 – NIV)
“…but the gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord.” (Romans 6:23 – NIV)
6 — That forgiveness of sins and a right relationship with God is obtained by placing our faith in the Lord Jesus—trusting Him alone for the forgiveness of our sins and eternal life.
“Therefore, since we have been justified through faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ.” (Romans 5:1 – NIV)
“Whoever believes in the Son has eternal life, but whoever rejects the Son will not see life, for God’s wrath remains on them.” (John 3:36 – NIV)
“I write these things to you who believe in the name of the Son of God so that you may know that you have eternal life.” (1 John 5:13 – NIV)
WE ARE A NEW CREATION IN CHRIST
“Therefore if anyone is in Christ, this person is a new creation; the old things passed away; behold, new things have come!” (2 Corinthians 5:17 – NASB)
“Jesus replied, ‘Very truly I tell you, no one can see the kingdom of God unless they are born again.’” (John 3:5 – NIV)
In Christ we’re literally born again (spiritually) as a new creation. We’re given a new nature, a new heart, a new life and a wonderful new purpose for living. We have a King who has supreme rule. He watches over us and directs our way in life as we serve to advance His kingdom. Being in a right relationship with God is truly life-changing.
WHAT WE HAVE TO LOOK FORWARD TO
“But our citizenship is in heaven. And we eagerly await a Savior from there, the Lord Jesus Christ, who, by the power that enables him to bring everything under his control, will transform our lowly bodies so that they will be like his glorious body.” (Philippians 3:20-21 – NIV)
As followers of Christ, we have Heaven to look forward to. We will dwell in the Eternal Kingdom forever and ever. Not only that, but we will dwell there in a glorified body in the likeness of Christ’s body! Our resurrection will be in the likeness of His resurrection. His resurrection to life is what guarantees our resurrection to life.
You’re only one step away from Heaven. Take that step of faith in Christ today.
JESUS INVITES YOU TO COME
“Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you and learn from me, for I am gentle and humble in heart, and you will find rest for your souls.” (Matthew 11:28-29 – NIV)
This is personal between you and the Lord Jesus. If your heart is ready, take a moment to express your faith in Him as your Lord and Savior, thanking Him for all He did for you in providing for your salvation.
WHAT WILL YOU DO?
The one requirement for becoming a follower of Christ is having forgiveness of our sins. Knowing that it’s impossible for us to do anything to earn this forgiveness, Jesus had to make provision for this requirement Himself. That is what His death and resurrection was all about. He took our place in paying the penalty for our sins. He shed His blood for us so we could come into a right relationship with God. Sin separates us from God, but the cross brings us together with Him through the forgiveness that Christ provides through faith in Him, trusting Him as our Lord and Savior.
Through Christ we can enjoy all the wonderful blessings that God has to offer us, including eternity in Heaven where there will be no more pain or suffering or hardship of any kind. There is no greater peace than knowing that our eternity is safe in God’s hands. But while in this life there is no greater honor and no greater reward than following the Lord Jesus Christ, who suffered so much on our behalf.
What reason could you possibly have for not becoming a follower of Christ?
A SUGGESTED PRAYER
Since we’re saved by grace through faith, prayer isn’t necessary. God is more interested in what our heart tells Him. However, there’s nothing more natural than sharing our heart with the One we’re placing faith in—thanking Him for what He did for us:
Dear Lord Jesus, I believe that You are the Son of God, that you died on the cross for my sins and rose from the dead. Thank You for all that you suffered in providing for my salvation. I place my faith in You for the forgiveness of my sins and eternal life. I ask that You would enable me to live my life for You and for your glory from this day forward. Amen
Jesus said, “My sheep hear My voice; I know them, and they follow Me.” (John 10:27 – NIV)
