In John 1:9-14 Jesus, during His earthly visitation “was the true Light which gives light to every man coming into the world. He was in the world, and the world was made through Him, and the world did not know Him. He came to His own, and His own did not receive Him. But as many as received Him, to them He gave the right to become children of God, to those who believe in His name: who were born, not of blood, nor of the will of the flesh, nor of the will of man, but of God. And the Word became flesh and dwelt among us, and we beheld His glory, the glory as of the only begotten of the Father, full of grace and truth.”
I read of a parent speaking out at a local government School District Board Meeting against a mandate to teach her Elementary School child using Critical Race Theory and Gender Identify curriculum. A School Board member asked on what basis she was asking for exemption. When the parent told the Board Member that the teaching went against her deeply held Christian faith, the Board Member told her to change her religion. The Lord Jesus explains in John 3:19-20 saying: “And this is the condemnation, that the light has come into the world, and men loved darkness rather than light, because their deeds were evil. For everyone practicing evil hates the light and does not come to the light, lest his deeds should be exposed.” There are too diametrically opposed worldviews clashing today: The biblical worldview based upon the holy Word of God and the fallen mankind’s godless naturalistic worldview; also known as “faith verses unbelief”.
To be a follower of Jesus goes beyond the material physical and mental capacities of the natural man; it involves a sanctifying transformational conversion of the soul, being born again by the Holy Spirit through the repentance, believing in and receiving Jesus Christ as Savior and Lord by faith as a gift from God. The Lord said, “Behold, I make all things new.” To be sanctified by the Holy Spirit is defined as: (1) In a general sense, to be cleansed, purified by the blood of Christ and made holy. (2) To be separated and, set apart from the God-rejecting world system and appointed to a holy, sacred or religious use for the kingdom of God. (3) To be purified in soul; to be prepared for divine service, and for partaking of holy things. (4) To separate from the secular humanistic world, ordained and appointed to the work of redemption and the government of Christ’s church. (5) To be cleansed from corruption; to be purified from sin; to be made holy, detaching the affections from the fallen world and its defilements, and exalting them to a supreme love to God.
The Greek word here for “follow me” In Matthew 16:24 is “akoloutheō” meaning “to join one as a disciple, become or be his disciple, properly, to be in the same way with; follow”. Repent, leave, believe and cleave to Christ. In John 8:31-32 Jesus said, “If you abide in My word, you are My disciples indeed. And you shall know the truth, and the truth shall make you free.” The Greek word in this passage for “disciple” is “mathētēs” meaning a learner, pupil, student, follower. Jesus gave a message to all who reject God and His Plan of salvation in John 10:26-28 stating, “But you do not believe, because you are not of My sheep, as I said to you. My sheep hear My voice, and I know them, and they follow Me. And I give them eternal life, and they shall never perish; neither shall anyone snatch them out of My hand.” Jesus Christ is Lord.
Seek God. Follow Jesus!
In Christ, Brian
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