Acts 5:32, "God gives the Spirit to those who obey Him," meaning that the Holy Spirit is bestowed upon individuals who actively follow and adhere to God's commands. We should never leave the word obey out, obeying is an action of love.
For a man may say to you, “You and I have faith; I have works. Show me your faith without works, and I shall show you my faith by my works.”
Revelation 14:12 - Here is the patience of the saints: here are they that keep the commandments of God, and the faith of Jesus.
I think taking up my cross and following Him is walking in a manner worthy of Him. To not let sin against me produce sin in me. To be unoffend-able. To be able to live out and say when I am hurt “Father forgive them, they don’t know what they’re doing.” To walk in love. To no longer regard ANY man according to what I see on the outside; rather to view that person through the blood stained cross, where their offenses, and the record of debt that stood against them, (and my own!) were nailed and cancelled.
But I do see where it can mean to many who don’t understand, something much more surface.
I'm gonna say 'nah' this time, Jack. There is no way to describe being a Christian that hasn't been - or couldn't be - subverted. It's GOOD to warn people to think carefully about what we say, and to point out how "following Jesus" might mean something other than entire consecration... but it's not so good to undermine an apt description simply because somebody misuses it.
Jesus invited Andrew and his buddy to "come and see." As you point out, after they came and saw, Jesus told them to "follow me." When trying to explain what being a true believer is, "follow Jesus" is as apt as any description, and better than most. 🤟
As I said, it's a Scriptural term. But it's been loaded down with so much baggage by people who have hijacked it that we need to be explicit about what we mean and make sure submission isn't left out.
Acts 5:32, "God gives the Spirit to those who obey Him," meaning that the Holy Spirit is bestowed upon individuals who actively follow and adhere to God's commands. We should never leave the word obey out, obeying is an action of love.
For a man may say to you, “You and I have faith; I have works. Show me your faith without works, and I shall show you my faith by my works.”
Revelation 14:12 - Here is the patience of the saints: here are they that keep the commandments of God, and the faith of Jesus.
I think taking up my cross and following Him is walking in a manner worthy of Him. To not let sin against me produce sin in me. To be unoffend-able. To be able to live out and say when I am hurt “Father forgive them, they don’t know what they’re doing.” To walk in love. To no longer regard ANY man according to what I see on the outside; rather to view that person through the blood stained cross, where their offenses, and the record of debt that stood against them, (and my own!) were nailed and cancelled.
But I do see where it can mean to many who don’t understand, something much more surface.
I'm gonna say 'nah' this time, Jack. There is no way to describe being a Christian that hasn't been - or couldn't be - subverted. It's GOOD to warn people to think carefully about what we say, and to point out how "following Jesus" might mean something other than entire consecration... but it's not so good to undermine an apt description simply because somebody misuses it.
Jesus invited Andrew and his buddy to "come and see." As you point out, after they came and saw, Jesus told them to "follow me." When trying to explain what being a true believer is, "follow Jesus" is as apt as any description, and better than most. 🤟
As I said, it's a Scriptural term. But it's been loaded down with so much baggage by people who have hijacked it that we need to be explicit about what we mean and make sure submission isn't left out.