Follow Jesus

Life’s Most Important Decision!

There are many important questions and decisions each of us makes in life. At the top of “Life’s Most Important Questions List” is the question of “God”. Does He exist? If so, what is He like? And, if God is real, “What is His plan and purpose for each of us?”

Perhaps you have been attending Kearney Evangelical Free Church. You have been listening to Sunday morning messages, learning about the Bible, understanding more about God and Jesus Christ. You have discovered that “Every Person Matters” to God. He loves you! He sent Christ to die for you! He has a plan and purpose for you!

Now you are considering the possibility of becoming a “Follower of Jesus”. If so, then please consider these five life-changing truths, which everyone needs to understand to become an authentic Christ-Follower.

What do I need to understand to follow Jesus?

GOD’S CHARACTER

Truth #1 – There is an All-Loving, All-Knowing, All-Powerful, Ever-Present, Always Righteous God, who cares about you and wants to have a personal relationship with you.

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. For God did not send his Son into the world to condemn the world, but to save the world through him.

John 3:16

This is love: not that we loved God, but that he loved us and sent his Son as an atoning sacrifice for our sins

1 John 4:10

OUR CONDITION

Truth #2 – In contrast to God, every person who has ever lived is flawed and imperfect. We have all made wrong choices and fallen short of God’s righteous will for our lives in the things we think, say, and do. No person who has ever lived has measured up to God’s perfect standard for right thinking, talking, and doing. The Scripture describes all our wrongs as “sin” – missing the “mark” of God’s will, as described in the Bible.

We all, like sheep, have gone astray, each of us has turned to his own way; and the Lord has laid on him the iniquity of us all.

Isaiah 53:6

There is not a righteous man on earth who does what is right and never sins.

Ecclesiastes 7:20

THE CONSEQUENCE

Truth #3 – The result of our wrong thoughts, words and actions is separation from God and death according to the Bible. The things we think, say, and do that fall short of God’s righteous will, become a “barrier” that keep us from having a relationship with Him, and experiencing the meaningful, purpose-filled life God wants us to experience.

For the wages of sin is death, but the gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord.

Romans 6:23

Therefore, just as sin entered the world through one man, and death through sin, and in this way death came to all men, because all sinned—

Romans 5:12

GOD’S SOLUTION

Truth #4 – The Bible makes it clear that God in His love for us and mercy toward us provided a solution for our condition and the consequence. God’s solution for our sin is found in Jesus Christ. Jesus is the Son of God who was sent to earth to be our Savior. Christ is the perfect God-man who willingly died on a cross for all our sin, so we do not have to be separated from God or experience spiritual death. God offers us new life in Christ because of Jesus’ death and resurrection. Jesus Christ is God’s only solution for our sin. Because of His death on the cross, you can now have a new relationship with God, discover God’s purpose for your life, and live eternally with Him forever!

God made him who had no sin to be sin for us, so that in him we might become the righteousness of God.

2 Corinthians 5:21

But God demonstrates his own love for us in this: While we were still sinners, Christ died for us.

Romans 5:8

OUR RESPONSE

Truth #5 – It is not enough to simply understand these first four life-changing truths with your mind. God asks us to respond personally with our will. It is vitally important to understand that we cannot do anything to earn the new life God offers us in Christ. In fact, it is impossible for any of us to think, say, or do enough right things to measure up to God’s perfect standard and therefore earn this offer of eternal, meaningful, purpose-filled life.

God offers us this life out of love by Grace alone. “Grace” is God doing for us in Christ what we cannot do for ourselves. There is nothing we can do to achieve this new life by the things we do, we can only receive it because of what Christ has already done. The way we receive this offer of new life is by faith. Faith is placing our trust in God and what He says. By faith we express our desire to accept His offer of new life in Christ. By faith we tell God we want His forgiveness for all our wrongs and want to turn away from our sin and live for Him, as we try to follow His will, as described in the Bible. This is how we begin to follow Jesus!

For it is by grace you have been saved, through faith — and this not from yourselves, it is the gift of God— not by works, so that no one can boast.

Ephesians 2:8, 9

Yet to all who received him, to those who believed in his name, he gave the right to become children of God — children born not of natural descent, nor of human decision or a husband’s will, but born of God.

John 1:12, 13

Would you be willing to Pray?

If your desire is to follow Jesus, then you can pray the following prayer and tell God you want to receive this new life He offers you. The important thing to remember as you pray is that is not the exact words you say, or the beauty of your prayer, but what you mean in your heart that matters to God.

Dear God,

I have read these five life-changing truths. I confess I am a sinner and I cannot earn your forgiveness or eternal life by what I do. I ask you to forgive me for all the wrong things I have thought, said, and done in my life. Please make me clean from sin by your grace. Jesus please come into my life and make me new from the inside out. I want to turn away from all my sin and follow you. Please be my Savior and the leader of my life. By faith I receive your forgiveness and the new life you offer me.

In Jesus Name,

Amen.

God’s Promise to you!

If you prayed this prayer and meant what you prayed, then please share this with one of the pastors or a friend at Kearney Evangelical Free Church! Take time to read the following verses and have confidence in God’s promise to you.

And this is the testimony: God has given us eternal life, and this life is in his Son. He who has the Son has life; he who does not have the Son of God does not have life. 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 5:11-13

That if you confess with your mouth, “Jesus is Lord,” and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved. For it is with your heart that you believe and are justified, and it is with your mouth that you confess and are saved.

Romans 10:9, 10

What do I need to do Next to Follow Jesus?

Following Jesus is more than just a one time prayer. It is a life long journey of getting to know God, growing deeper in Christ and becoming stronger in your faith. As God continues to change your heart then your ambitions, priorities and actions will also change. Here are some recommended steps you can take that will enable you to grow and follow Jesus consistently.

Attend our Sunday Morning Worship Services or C-20 regularly

In each of our weekly gatherings God’s truth is taught from the Scriptures. When you come to church you are exposing yourself to practical Biblical truth which God will use to make you stronger in your new faith and help you grow close to Christ. For more information on the times of our services or C-20 please contact: aaron@kearneyefree.com.

Join a Life Group!

It is impossible to grow in the Christian faith alone. The Christian life and our journey of following Jesus is a “team sport”. We need others to encourage us if we are going to not only survive but thrive in the Christian life. For more information about joining a small group of believers who are the journey of following Jesus please contact: todd@kearnyefree.com.

(308) 237-5968

info@kearneyefree.com

4010 7th Avenue Kearney NE 68847