What Does It REALLY Mean to Follow Christ

Hypocrisy! You see it everywhere. People SAY one thing, but LIVE entirely different. No where is that more obvious (and damaging) than with those who claim to be followers of Christ. 

I shared the following scriptures with a friend from church who was frustrated with some of his co-workers. They all SAID they were believers, but they just didn’t see the relevance of going to church, tithing or doing other similar things most mature Christians consider a “normal” part of their walk with God. They were content to only believe. Their philosophy was as long as you believe in “the Man upstairs” everything is fine. Really? Is that ALL there is to it?

James 2:19 NLT says, “You say you have faith, for you believe that there is one God. Good for you! Even the demons believe this, and they tremble in terror.”

So obviously following Christ means more than just acknowledging the existence of a Divine Being.

Thus the inspiration for this blog.

The problem most people make is they don't truly understand the word believe. To believe in Jesus means to trust, to place confidence in and to be committed to Him. Commitment produces the byproduct of obedience. In other words, if I REALLY trust Him, then I will OBEY Him.

Matt. 7:21 NLT
Not everyone who calls out to me, ‘Lord! Lord!’ will enter the Kingdom of Heaven. Only those who actually do the will of my Father in heaven will enter.

Matt. 7:21 The Message
"Knowing the correct password—saying 'Master, Master,' for instance— isn't going to get you anywhere with me. What is required is serious obedience—doing what my Father wills.

Matt. 15:8
These people honor me with their lips, but their hearts are far from me.

James 2:14, 17 NLT
What good is it, dear brothers and sisters, if you say you have faith but don’t show it by your actions? Can that kind of faith save anyone? So you see, faith by itself isn’t enough. Unless it produces good deeds (obedience), it is dead and useless.

Titus 1:16 NLT
Some people claim they know God, but they deny him by the way they live.

Titus 1:16 The Message
They say they know God, but their actions speak louder than their words.

I want to be clear, we are NOT saved by our good works or acts of obedience, but we are saved to do good works. Salvation is more than just a cheap prayer that doesn't impact our entire lives. True salvation revolutionizes the way we live. It prompts our obedience. That doesn't mean we're perfect, or we don't have issues or struggles, but salvation produces a heart change that desires to please and follow God no matter what the cost. IF that is NOT the heart of someone who professes to believe, they probably need to revisit the Cross.