Who Is A Follower Of Christ?

Jesus came into this world to be an example. He came here to show us the Father. He came here to take our sins upon Himself on the cross.

He came to destroy the works of the devil.

While He went about His ministry doing these things, He gathered up followers along the way. These followers He called “disciples,”

READ: Luke 14:25-33

Now large crowds were going along with Him; and He turned and said to them, “If anyone comes to Me, and does not hate his own father and mother and wife and children and brothers and sisters, yes, and even his own life, he cannot be My disciple. Whoever does not carry his own cross and come after Me cannot be My disciple.

There are many religions practiced by people around the world today.

• Christianity - The largest religion, centered on the teachings of Jesus Christ.

• Islam - Followers of Muhammad, emphasizing the Five Pillars of faith.

• Hinduism - A diverse belief system with a variety of gods and practices, primarily in India.

• Buddhism - Founded by Siddhartha Gautama, focusing on the Four Noble Truths and the Eightfold Path.

• Judaism - One of the oldest monotheistic religions, centered on the covenant between God and the Hebrew people.

• Sikhism - A faith that combines elements of Hinduism and Islam, founded by Guru Nanak in the 15th century.

Millions of people worship in one of the listed religions. But when we examine the leaders or founders of those religions, we find only one that claims its founder is still alive.

All the others were mere human beings and eventually died and were buried, never to rise from the grave and live again.

Their eternity is sealed, and their teachings have been in vain – worthless with no power or promise of life after death.

Christianity – composed of followers of Jesus Christ – is a major force in the world today.

And, among the Christians, the ones who really count are those who truly follow Christ, rather than a man-made order of religion.

When we find a true disciple, there is almost no limit to what God can – and will – do through that person.

How can we recognize a true follower of Christ?

What does a true follower of Christ look like? Do they all look alike?

What are the characteristics of a Christ follower?

A true follower of Christ can be seen in three characteristics.

When all three of these characteristics are present in a person’s life, that person is a true follower of Christ.

So, let’s identify and answer the question: Who is a true follower of Christ?

1.   A true follower of Christ is one who is identified with the person of Jesus Christ. That person is willing to openly admit that he/she belongs to Christ.

That person will live Romans 10:9-10: “If you confess with your mouth Jesus as Lord and believe in your heart that God raised Him from the dead, you will be saved.”

I read of a businessman who had just become a Christian; he was a business associate with one of the elders of that church. He asked that elder why he had never shared Christ and salvation in Him with him.

2.   To deny yourself means – among other things – to be identified with Christ.

3.   When should we be identified with Christ?

a.   When is it popular among our friends and relatives?

b.   When it is unpopular among our friends and relatives?

c.   When it seems to be the right thing to do.

d.   When it doesn’t seem to be the right thing to do.

4.   We identify with Christ when we openly share with others that Jesus Christ is our life. We give God glory and praise for His presence in our lives. We are happy to share the joy that we because we identify with Christ.

Another answer to the question “Who is a follower of Christ” is:

A follower of Christ is obedient to the Word – the Scriptures – God’s Word found in our Bibles.

In John 8:31 we hear Jesus saying: “If you continue in My Word, then you are truly disciples of Mine,”

So, we are to hear what God has to say to us, and then to do it!

Sam Shoemaker wrote in his book “Extraordinary Living for Ordinary Men” this: “Christians, who are half-committed are half-happy.”

And I would add that they don’t know the reason why they cannot find full happiness and peace.

Total happiness comes from having a total commitment to Christ. A half-committed Christian is a Christian in name, but not in their relationship with God as Father and Jesus Christ as Lord.

Obedience is necessary for stability in our walk with Christ.

Notice how Jesus concluded His greatest sermon – the Sermon on the Mount – Matthew 7:24ff.

 ” Therefore, everyone who hears these words of Mine and acts on them, may be compared to a wise man who built his house on the rock.”

On the other hand, the man who hears the Word and does not obey is considered to be a foolish man.

The one significant difference between these two men is this – Obedience to the Word vs Ignoring the Word.

What does a true disciple of Christ do?

He finds out what the Bible says, and that is what he does.

He starts where he is --- and he grows as he begins living his life guided by the Holy Spirit and the Word.

He simply puts into practice in daily living what he has heard and learned from the Scriptures.

A third answer to the question: “Who is a true follower of Christ? is this:

A true follower of Christ is one who is bearing fruit in the work of Christ. John 15:8 tells us:

“My Father is glorified by this, that you bear much fruit, and so prove to be My disciples.”

There are two kinds of fruit to bear:

1.   The fruit of character – What we are:

the fruit of the Spirit as Paul writes about in Galatians 5:22-33: “But the fruit of the Spirit is: love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, self-control; against such things there is no law.”

2.   Secondly, there is the fruit by way of influencing the lives of others for Christ – What we do:

Leading others to Christ – showing them the way to salvation in Christ.

By those two kinds of fruit, we have evidence that we are filled with the Spirit.

     Ask yourself some questions this morning.

          Am I a true follower of Christ?

Am I willing to openly admit that I know Jesus Christ and that I identify with Him?

          Am I willing to openly admit that I belong to Jesus Christ?

          Am I trying to be obedient to the Word of Christ in my everyday life?

Am I bearing fruit in the work of Christ by way of Christ-like character and by influencing the lives of others around me so that they also become followers of Jesus Christ as Lord of their lives?