You must follow Jesus to be saved!

This is absalutely true for it is written...

If any man will come after me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross, and follow me. (Matthew 16:24)

It is written again...

Whosoever will come after me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross, and follow me. (Mark 8:34)

It is written yet again...

And he said to them all, if any man will come after me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross daily, and follow me. (Luke 9:23)

You better realize that if your not following Jesus Christ you don't belong to him. (Matthew 10:38, Luke 14:27) Jesus said...

My sheep hear my voice, and I know them, and they follow me (John 10:27).

     If you make Jesus your personal savior but you don't obey him, he is not your saviour neither is he your LORD because salvation is only promised to those that obey him (Hebrews 5:9, Acts 5:32). If you want to be saved you need to repent of all your sins and turn completely to Christ (Acts 2:38, John 8:11, Romans 6, Joel 2:12-13). This means sacrificing everything to Jesus and making him LORD of your entire life. Now if you don't want to do this then I'm sorry your are not worthy of Christ (Matthew 10:38, Luke 14:27). You need to sacrifice all your worldly pleasures and entertainment and give your free time over to Christ. Now I'm not saying forsake your friends and family but everything that has nothing to do with Christ needs to go because this clouds your vision of the LORD and cause spiritual blindness (Distraction => Drifiting => fall away). The bible says commit your works unto the LORD (Proverbs 16:3). The above verses tell you to do what I just told you here.

     JESUS SAID TO DENY YOURSELF, TAKE UP YOUR CROSS, AND FOLLOW HIM! The sheep are those who obey and follow Christ and he gives them eternal life.

And I give unto them eternal life; and they shall never perish, neither shall any man pluck them out of my hand. (John 10:28)

     Now this verse does not promise eternal security but simply states that no man can pluck you out of the hand of God but the bible teaches and Christ himself that you can fall away many different ways (Matthew 13, Mark 4, Luke 8, Acts 1:25, Hebrews 6:6, 2 Peter 3:17, Acts 5, Galations 5:4). The bible says Christ can keep you from falling (Jude 1:24) but you have to abide in him through the spirit (Romans 8, John 15). Now if you haven't received the Holy Ghost your not saved (Romans 8:9) and need to obey Acts 2:38 and the gospel.

There was a person who asked Jesus what to do to inherit eternal life in the gospel. Notice what the LORD's answer was here...

Matthew 19:16-21

16 And, behold, one came and said unto him, Good master, what good thing shall I do, that I may have eternal life?

     17 And he said unto him, why callest thou me good? there is none good but one, that is, GodL but if thou wilt enter into life, keep the commandments.

     He said keep the commandments... notice he didn't ask, "did you keep the commandments?" He asked him to keep the commandments (Present tense) because in Ezekiel it says if a sinner turns from all his transgressions and does that which is right he shall surely live. (Ezekiel 18)

18 He saith unto him, Which? Jesus said, Thou shalt do no murder, Thou shalt not commit adultery, Thou shalt not steal, Thou shalt not bear false witness,

19 Hounor thy father and thy mother: and, Thou shalt love thy neighbor as thyself.

20 The young man saith unto him, All these things have I kept from my youth up: what lack I yet?

     21 Jesus said unto him, If thou wilt be perfect, go and sell what thou hast, and give to the poor, and thou shalt have treasure in heaven: and come and follow me.

     Jesus said follow me. Now when you look at the question that was asked it was what shall I do to inherit eternal life. Jesus concluded his answer with follow me. Christ said my sheep hear my voice and they follow me. He gives them eternal life. Notice in Matthew 25 how there is a seperation of the sheep and the goats. Notice that the goats were disobediant to the LORD's commandment, love your neighbor as yourself. Every time someone who belongs to Christ, who really needs help, asks and you ignore them you did it to Christ himself. The gospel teaches alot about sacrifice and following Jesus in relation to belonging to him which means salvation. LORDSHIP SALVATION IS ONE OF THE MAIN MESSAGES OF THE GOSPEL! IT'S ALL OR NOTHING, NOT 99%, OR 75%, OR 50%, 100% EVERYTHING!

     That which was heard from the beggining! Thou shalt love the LORD thy God with all thine heart, and with all thy soul, and with all thy might. THIS IS THE FIRST AND GREAT COMMANDMENT! (Deuteromy 6:5, Matthew 22:37, Mark 12:30, Luke 10:27)

THE BIBLE SAYS WORK OUT YOUR OWN SALVATION WITH FEAR AND TREMBLING (Phillipians 2:12).