Our message today is entitled “Count the Cost of Following Jesus.” Let’s begin by answering the question, what does it mean to follow Jesus? In Jesus’ day, to follow Jesus was to literally walk with Him down the road. But what does it mean to follow Jesus today, when He is no longer physically with us? To follow Jesus begins by believing in Him.
John 3:16 (ESV) “For God so loved the world, that he gave his only Son, that whoever believes in him should not perish but have eternal life.
To believe in Jesus means much more than believing Jesus is the son of God. To believe in Jesus is to entrust your life to Him, to acknowledge Him as your Lord. To follow Jesus thus means to believe in Him, to obey His commands and to follow His example. Jesus taught His disciples and us that there are three marks or experiences that Jesus commanded those who wanted to follow Him to embrace.
We’ve talked about the first already, which was to believe in Jesus. To believe in Jesus is to trust Jesus to forgive your sins and save you by faith alone. Let’s move on to the next two marks of a follower of Jesus.
Matthew 28:19 (ESV) Go therefore and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit,
This verse gives us the second mark of a disciple or follower of Jesus. A disciple is to be water baptized after believing. Not only is water baptism commanded by Jesus, He gave us an example by being baptized by John the Baptist. Water baptism for followers of Jesus is not optional, it is commanded by Jesus.
Luke 24:49 (ESV) And behold, I am sending the promise of my Father upon you. But stay in the city until you are clothed with power from on high.”
The promise of the Father is the baptism in the Holy Spirit, which gives the new believer power to follow Jesus. The disciples were commanded, not to go out on their mission in life until they received the necessary power. The first 120 disciples were baptized in the Spirit on the day of Pentecost as they followed Jesus’ instructions to pray for the Holy Spirit. Many others received Spirit baptism as we read through the book of Acts. Again receiving Spirit baptism is following Jesus’ example, as He was Spirit baptized at His water baptism to receive power. This then is the third mark of a follower of Jesus.
These three marks, faith, water baptism and Spirit baptism are God’s initiation of a person being born again and saved. They are God’s way of preparing disciples to carry out His mission in their lives. But there is much more for disciples to learn to obey.
Matthew 28:20 (ESV) teaching them to observe all that I have commanded you. And behold, I am with you always, to the end of the age.”
A follower of Jesus is someone who obeys Jesus, in these first three marks and all the rest of Jesus’ instructions. So, let’s learn some more about counting the cost of following Jesus.