What it Means to Follow Jesus.
To figure this question out, we must go back to what Jesus and his earliest followers said. Jesus knew following him would be difficult, and the writers of the New Testament give us tangible ways to begin following Jesus.
And they also tell us what’s at stake. There is not only Heaven and Hell to think about, but how can I stop living in Hell and start living a piece of Heaven now? Jesus’ first followers talked about life without Jesus as darkness, hopelessness, and pain. They talk about life with Jesus as light, hope, and freedom. It’s possible to follow Jesus and know a piece of heaven in your life now.
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Following Jesus is simple, not easy.
Jesus told his disciples, “If any want to become my followers, let them deny themselves and take up their cross and follow me. For those who want to save their life will lose it, and those who lose their life for my sake, and for the sake of the gospel, will save it” (Mark 8:34-35). Choosing to follow Jesus is starting a new life, one that puts away the things that strangle life in favor of Jesus, the author of life.
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We choose to follow Jesus by getting baptized.
Jesus commanded his followers to teach people to follow him and to baptize them in the name of the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit (Matthew 28:19). Baptism rescues us from our old way of life (1 Peter 3:21). It sets us on a path to the new (Romans 6:4). (If you were baptized a long time ago and feel a need to restart your commitment to Jesus, there are ways to do this that meet you where you are. Talk to Fr. Jason for more details.)
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We live the new way of life in the Church.
It’s tough to have Jesus without his Body, the Church. Paul, one of Jesus’ early followers, says that because of baptism, “we, who are many, are one body in Christ, and individually we are members one of another” (Romans 12:5). Taking part in a local church feeds our souls and equips us to lead this simple (but not easy!) life of following Jesus. At Holy Spirit, we help you on your journey by providing opportunities for worship, service, and spiritual formation, all aimed at helping you follow Jesus more closely and experience a piece of Heaven on earth.
And that’s what this life leads to. We get to experience deep down that God loves us. Jesus died and rose again for us. The Holy Spirit comes to live in us when we are baptized. As we embrace following Jesus, we get to put away our old destructive habits and put on new habits of faith, hope, and love. We experience freedom in our lives. We heal broken relationships. We get to help others find a new and enriching way of life. And ultimately, we are promised an eternal life of love with God.
So, take the next step in following Jesus: start coming (back) to church.