Receiving Jesus—Becoming a Follower

Receiving Jesus

It’s become too common to treat Jesus as a kind of afterlife insurance, a sinner’s prayer we sell to secure a heavenly eternity. The emphasis on ‘faith alone’, which, while true, often overshadows the complex, beautiful journey of actually following Jesus’ way of love. We’ve prioritized intellectual doctrine over practical application, turning us into armchair theologians instead of disciples. We become experts at pointing out sin, but struggle to extend the kind of love Jesus modeled. It’s like we’re studying a map but never start the journey. How do we truly walk as a disciple of Jesus?

Luke 6:37 – ³⁷ “Do not judge, and you will not be judged; do not condemn, and you will not be condemned. Forgive, and you will be forgiven; (NRSV)

John 14:15 – ¹⁵ “If you love me, you will keep my commandments. (NRSV)

Joel Willitts cautions us in using terms such as ‘receiving Jesus’ or ‘accepting Jesus’ by pointing out:

what you discover is that receiving Jesus isn’t a passive, easy believism. In fact, it is equivalent to entrusting yourself to following after, to leaving something behind and taking up a new way of life. The way in which this idea of “receive” gets played out in the pages of the story is that Jesus intends for people to leave their life and follow after Him, and that is the mark of receiving. So it’s no easy believism; it’s not just some passive reception. It’s actually a change of behavior. It’s a change of lifestyle. It’s a change of direction, from following one thing, or one person, or one philosophy, or one opinion to fully being devoted to Christ.^[1]

As I’ve discussed in another article, pursuing Christ is inherently transformative. It’s about more than just belief; it’s about bearing authentic fruit that mirrors the source of our desires. If we’re truly walking the way of Jesus, our lives should reflect a tangible aspect of His nature.

Ephesians 2:8-10 – ⁸ For by grace you have been saved through faith, and this is not your own doing; it is the gift of God— ⁹ not the result of works, so that no one may boast. ¹⁰ For we are what he has made us, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand to be our way of life. (NRSV)

While salvation is by faith alone, genuine faith will always result in sanctification and a life characterized by growth and good works.[2]

What is the Path of Jesus?

Matthew 7:21–23 – ²¹ “Not everyone who says to me, ‘Lord, Lord,’ will enter the kingdom of heaven, but only the one who does the will of my Father in heaven. ²² On that day many will say to me, ‘Lord, Lord, did we not prophesy in your name, and cast out demons in your name, and do many deeds of power in your name?’ ²³ Then I will declare to them, ‘I never knew you; go away from me, you evildoers.’ (NRSV)

People who claim to know him, who even perform powerful acts in his name, are told, “I never knew you.” These aren’t unbelievers; they are active participants in church, perhaps even serving in the mission field. This passage isn’t about the ‘lukewarm’ believer—it’s about those who misunderstand religious performance for genuine connection and transformation. Jesus emphasizes that true discipleship is found in obedience to the Father’s will, not just in impressive religious acts.

Matthew 7:17, 20 – ¹⁷ In the same way, every good tree bears good fruit, but the bad tree bears bad fruit. ²⁰ Thus you will know them by their fruits. (NRSV)

R. France states, “It is thus predominantly an ethical metaphor, based on the assumption that true loyalty to God will issue in appropriate behavior by his people.”^[3]

Matthew 22:37-40 – ³⁷ He said to him, “ ‘You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart, and with all your soul, and with all your mind.’ ³⁸ This is the greatest and first commandment. ³⁹ And a second is like it: ‘You shall love your neighbor as yourself.’ ⁴⁰ On these two commandments hang all the law and the prophets.” (NRSV)

Jesus tells us that all the law and the prophets, the entire framework of faith, hang on these two commandments: love God and love your neighbor. They’re not separate entities, but intertwined expressions of the same divine love. It’s a reminder that true faith isn’t just about deep devotion, but also about broad compassion. We can’t claim to love God, whom we haven’t seen, if we don’t love our neighbor, whom we see every day (1 John 4:20).

It’s easy to say we love God, but how does that translate into loving the person who cuts us off in traffic, votes for a different political party, or our neighbor who holds different beliefs, inside or outside of our faith tradition? This is where the rubber meets the road. Love isn’t just a feeling; it’s a choice, a daily practice. Are we willing to let these two commandments shape every aspect of our lives? Can we set aside judgement and self-righteousness (moral superiority)?

Matthew 7:12 – ¹² “In everything do to others as you would have them do to you; for this is the law and the prophets. (NRSV)

The ‘Golden Rule’ is a powerful reminder that love isn’t passive. It’s active, empathetic, and tangible. We are called to step into someone else’s shoes and treat them with the same grace and dignity we desire. We see this beautifully illustrated in the story of the woman anointing Jesus’ feet.

Luke 7:46-50 – ⁴⁶ You did not anoint my head with oil, but she has anointed my feet with ointment. ⁴⁷ Therefore, I tell you, her sins, which were many, have been forgiven; hence she has shown great love. But the one to whom little is forgiven, loves little.” ⁴⁸ Then he said to her, “Your sins are forgiven.” ⁴⁹ But those who were at the table with him began to say among themselves, “Who is this who even forgives sins?” ⁵⁰ And he said to the woman, “Your faith has saved you; go in peace.” (NRSV)

She grasped the depth of her forgiveness and responded with overwhelming love. Jesus’ words reveal a profound truth: understanding forgiveness fuels love. Are we living with that kind of understanding?

Disciples of Living Faith

As James says, “So faith by itself, if it has no works, is dead.” He later states “I by my works will show you my faith.” (James 2:17, 18^b)

Think about the paralytic man, lowered through a hole in the roof. The paralytic’s friends didn’t just think Jesus could heal; they tore a roof apart to get him there.

Luke 5:20 – ²⁰ When he saw their faith, he said, “Friend, your sins are forgiven you.” (NRSV)

The healing that followed was a direct result of their faith-driven action, demonstrating that belief and action are intertwined in experiencing God’s grace.

Think about the woman with the bleeding. She wasn’t healed by correct doctrinal acuity, but by reaching out and touching Jesus.

Luke 8:44–46 – ⁴⁴ She came up behind him and touched the fringe of his clothes, and immediately her hemorrhage stopped. ⁴⁵ Then Jesus asked, “Who touched me?” When all denied it, Peter said, “Master, the crowds surround you and press in on you.” ⁴⁶ But Jesus said, “Someone touched me; for I noticed that power had gone out from me.” (NRSV)

It was faith with action, not just correct beliefs, that released power. This is a powerful picture of how true faith manifests. Yes, we’re saved by grace, not works (Ephesians 2:8). But authentic faith inevitably leads to action. If we truly understand the immensity of God’s grace, we’ll love generously. And that love will translate into obedience, which will produce good fruit. Faith without action is like a seed without soil—it never grows.

Genuine faith will always lead to action. Not that our works save us (Ephesians 2:8), but that our works show we have faith in our salvation. If we truly feel God forgave us much, then we will love much. If we love much, we will obey his commands. If we obey His commands, we will bear the fruit of good works. Therefore, we can conclude that if we have a genuine belief in Christ and the goodness of God, we will bear good fruit.

The Beatitudes—Living It Out

Blessed are the Peacemakers

Matthew 5:9 – ⁹ “Blessed are the peacemakers, for they will be called children of God. (NRSV)

This beatitude goes beyond simply avoiding conflict. Peacemaking is an active pursuit, a proactive effort to bring reconciliation and healing to broken relationships. It requires humility, empathy, and a willingness to forgive. True peacemakers are not passive; they actively work to bridge divides, mend hurts, and foster understanding. They are willing to step into difficult situations, not to escalate them, but to bring about resolution and restore harmony. This can be challenging, as it often requires confronting injustice and speaking truth to power, but the reward is great: being called children of God, reflecting God’s own character as the ultimate peacemaker.

Clinton Arnold points out that “The theme of “peace,” known by the grand Hebrew term šâlôm and the Greek term eirēnē, permeates the biblical record. It indicates completeness and wholeness in every area of life, including one’s relationship with God, neighbors, and nations. Making peace has messianic overtones (cf. “Prince of Peace” in Isa. 9:6–7), and true peacemakers are those who wait and work for God, who makes whole the division created by humans.”^[4]

Love Your Enemies

Matthew 5:44-45 – ⁴⁴ But I say to you, Love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you, ⁴⁵ so that you may be children of your Father in heaven; for he makes his sun rise on the evil and on the good, and sends rain on the righteous and on the unrighteous. (NRSV)

Perhaps one of the most challenging teachings of Jesus is to love our enemies. This isn’t a sentimental, wishy-washy kind of love. It’s a deliberate act of the will, a choice to respond to hatred and hostility with compassion and forgiveness. It’s recognizing the humanity even in those who wrong us, understanding that they too are children of God, deserving of love and redemption. Loving our enemies doesn’t mean condoning their actions or neglecting justice. It means refusing to let their negativity consume us, choosing instead to break the cycle of hatred and retaliation with acts of kindness and grace. It’s a radical call to transcend our natural instincts and reflect the boundless love of God.

The Word Biblical Commentary highlights, “The ethical standard of the kingdom calls the disciples to a much more radical love that includes even one’s enemies—the unrighteous and the evil.”^[5]

Humility and Authenticity in Giving and Prayer

Jesus also addresses the importance of humility and authenticity in acts of piety, specifically giving and prayer. He warns against performing these acts for outward show, seeking the praise of others rather than the approval of God.

Giving

Matthew 6:3-4^b– ³ But when you give to the needy, do not let your left hand know what your right hand is doing, ⁴ so that your giving may be in secret. (ESV)

True generosity flows from a heart of compassion, not a desire for recognition. It’s about giving sacrificially and discreetly, focusing on the needs of the recipient rather than our own ego. God sees the heart, and it is the heart, not the outward display, that matters.

In Matthew 25:35–40, we see that the righteous are unaware of their own good deeds.

Prayer

Matthew 6:6 – ⁶ But whenever you pray, go into your room and shut the door and pray to your Father who is in secret; and your Father who sees in secret will reward you. (NRSV)

Prayer is a personal communion with God, a pouring out of our hearts to our Creator. It’s not about impressing others with eloquent words or pious displays. True prayer is honest, intimate, and from the heart. It’s about connecting with God in the quietness of our own souls, seeking his guidance and strength.

Live It Out  

The Sermon on the Mount provides a roadmap for living a life of genuine faith. It’s a call to a radical transformation of the heart, a journey of embracing peacemaking, loving our enemies, and practicing humility and authenticity in all aspects of our lives. It’s a challenging path, but it’s the path that leads to true blessedness, to becoming children of God.

John Carroll gives a good summary, “In a world where the poor and not the wealthy are considered blessed, a world of status transposition, honor and power are not what they have seemed. In Jesus’ vision of things (in the world God rules), genuine power resides with those who, faced with evil, respond with unflinching, courageous, nonretaliatory kindness.”^[6]

Conclusion

Matthew 7:24 – ²⁴ “Everyone then who hears these words of mine and acts on them will be like a wise man who built his house on rock. (NRSV)

The true measure of belief is action. If we genuinely hold something to be true, it will inevitably influence how we live.

Our faith in God extends beyond mere knowledge acquisition, stressing that understanding biblical facts doesn’t automatically equate to godliness; rather, it’s the practical application of these teachings that leads to spiritual growth and blessings.[7]

Here’s the truth: following Jesus means putting down our swords—literally and figuratively. We choose peace, not violence. We give up trying to control people and start serving them instead. We stop hoarding money and start sharing it. And we let go of our need to look good, so we can speak the truth even when it’s uncomfortable. This is a tough road. This isn’t a passive faith; it’s a call to action. We’ll get pushback when we stand up for what’s right, defend those who are hurting, and challenge the powerful. Are we truly willing to embrace the way of Christ?

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^[1] Craig S. Keener et al., NT146 The Arrival of Christ and His Kingdom, Logos Mobile Education (Bellingham, WA: Lexham Press, 2016).

[2] Got Questions Ministries, Got Questions? Bible Questions Answered (Bellingham, WA: Logos Bible Software, 2002–2013).

^[3] R. T. France, The Gospel of Matthew, The New International Commentary on the New Testament (Grand Rapids, MI: Wm. B. Eerdmans Publication Co., 2007), 291.

^[4] Clinton E. Arnold, Zondervan Illustrated Bible Backgrounds Commentary: Matthew, Mark, Luke, vol. 1 (Grand Rapids, MI: Zondervan, 2002), 35.

^[5] Donald A. Hagner, Matthew 1–13, vol. 33A, Word Biblical Commentary (Dallas: Word, Incorporated, 1993), 135.

^[6] John T. Carroll, Luke: A Commentary, ed. C. Clifton Black and M. Eugene Boring, First Edition, The New Testament Library (Louisville, KY: Westminster John Knox Press, 2012), 152.

[7] David Bordon and Tom Winters, Life’s Simple Guide to God: Inspirational Insights for Growing Closer to God (New York, NY: FaithWords, 2009).