WHO IS JESUS?
Jesus is the Son of God in human flesh, who lived without sin over 2,000 years ago in and around Israel. He was a real person, with thousands of manuscripts and historical references to His life on earth. There is more evidence of His life, ministry, death, and resurrection than of any other person or event in ancient history.
Jesus came to earth to save us from our sin and rule in righteousness, as the Lord and Savior of the world. He fulfilled a unique mission: He taught God’s truth with authority, demonstrated God’s love, healed miraculously, sacrificed Himself by dying on a cross to pay for our sins, and rose again to life to assert His absolute power. He commissioned His followers to share His love and truth worldwide so all people may be saved and live a purposeful, everlasting life with Him.
Jesus was not merely a great teacher and moral leader, born in a stable and killed on a cross. Jesus is also God Himself, a Person of the Trinity (One God in three Persons: Father, Son, and Holy Spirit). Although He came to earth as a baby and lived a real human life for about 33 years, Jesus was always, is still, and will forever be, God. At the right time, He will return in divine glory for His people and bring eternal victory over evil!
WHY SHOULD I FOLLOW JESUS?
Jesus is “the way, the truth, and the life”—no one can live with God forever except through Jesus (John 14:6). He alone paid for our sins, to forgive us and free us. He came so that we “may have life and have it abundantly” (John 10:10). Moreover, Jesus has “all authority in heaven and on earth” (Matthew 28:18). Therefore, you should follow Jesus to respect the highest authority and to receive abundant and everlasting life—the life God has designed for each of us.
Life is more than success or happiness. Life has purpose and meaning, direction and hope, which Jesus alone provides, even when circumstances are difficult or discouraging. The world often misunderstands or misrepresents Jesus, confusing people and dissuading them from following Him. Yet we all long for a deeper experience in life, a higher calling, a sense of peace. That is why you should follow Jesus, because in Him alone we discover that new, better life. As you follow Jesus through the years, you will grow in wisdom, faith, hope, love, strength, and joy as you fulfill your divine mission. At times, the world will oppose you and all those who follow Jesus, but God will always sustain and reward you for your faithfulness!
HOW DO I FOLLOW JESUS?
To follow Jesus, you must first be saved from the consequences of your sin and turn your life over to the Lord. We cannot save ourselves, but thankfully God loves us so much that He made a way to forgive and save us. On His own initiative, God sent His only Son, Jesus, as the perfect sacrifice to die in our place and pay our penalty. Because our debt is now paid, God offers to forgive us and give us everlasting life through Jesus. We receive this gift of salvation through faith in Jesus alone, and in faith we respond by repenting of our sin, professing Jesus as our Lord and Savior, being baptized, and living a faithful life.
To live that faithful life daily is to follow Jesus. We must begin to know and love Jesus well enough to obey and imitate Him. We should be like Him and behave like Him—exhibiting godly character, abiding by godly standards, loving sacrificially, glorifying God, and inviting others to follow Jesus too.
We can learn more about Jesus and how to follow Him by studying the Bible, praying, joining a Bible-believing Christian church, and connecting with faithful Christian mentors who will help us grow. To learn more about following Jesus, please send us a message!