In Lord Lord, Part 1, I gathered a hefty list of characteristics of someone who is following Jesus. Once a person believes and puts their trust in Jesus, and has that born again experience, how then does one stay put with him? The characteristics of one on the narrow road from Part 1 were basically just from the Gospels. Part 2, I’ll start in on the rest of the New Testament.
We know there is now no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus. But how do you know if you remain IN Christ Jesus unless you examine yourself. In Philippians we are told to work out our own salvation with fear and trembling. We are told that the fear of God is the beginning of wisdom. I think this working out of our salvation goes hand and hand with the examining oneself. The fear makes sense because the consequences for being wrong about your salvation are so incredibly severe.
The list was rather daunting. Philippians also explains, “...for it is God who is at work in you, both to desire and to work for His good pleasure.” In Ephesians we are told, “For we are His workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand so that we would walk in them.” God has given us this amazing gift: the Holy Spirit living in us. “Do not quench the Spirit,” is the instruction for us from 1 Thessalonians. What is the work of the Holy Spirit we don’t want to quench?
But the Helper, the Holy Spirit, whom the Father will send in my name, he will teach you all things and bring to your remembrance all that I have said to you.
When the Spirit of truth comes, he will guide you into all the truth, for he will not speak on his own authority, but whatever he hears he will speak, and he will declare to you the things that are to come.
For no prophecy was ever produced by the will of man, but men spoke from God as they were carried along by the Holy Spirit.
But you will receive power when the Holy Spirit has come upon you, and you will be my witnesses in Jerusalem and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the end of the earth.
But when the Helper comes, whom I will send to you from the Father, the Spirit of truth, who proceeds from the Father, he will bear witness about me.
But we ought always to give thanks to God for you, brothers beloved by the Lord, because God chose you as the firstfruits to be saved, through sanctification by the Spirit and belief in the truth.
Likewise the Spirit helps us in our weakness. For we do not know what to pray for as we ought, but the Spirit himself intercedes for us with groanings too deep for words.
He teaches us all things, helps us remember Jesus’ words, guides us in all truth, declares the things that are to come, gives power to be witnesses, bears witness about Jesus, sanctifies us, intercedes for us. Our good works really are God working in us. But we are warned not to interfere with this work, and to abide in Christ our savior. Our abiding in Christ isn’t like some wet noodle, limp and lifeless. Many verses speak of it as running a race:
Therefore, since we are surrounded by so great a cloud of witnesses, let us also lay aside every weight, and sin which clings so closely, and let us run with endurance the race that is set before us,
Do you not know that in a race all the runners run, but only one receives the prize? So run that you may obtain it. Every athlete exercises self-control in all things. They do it to receive a perishable wreath, but we an imperishable. So I do not run aimlessly; I do not box as one beating the air. But I discipline my body and keep it under control, lest after preaching to others I myself should be disqualified.
Do you not know that in a race all the runners run, but only one receives the prize? So run that you may obtain it.
Looking to Jesus, the founder and perfecter of our faith, who for the joy that was set before him endured the cross, despising the shame, and is seated at the right hand of the throne of God.
I have fought the good fight, I have finished the race, I have kept the faith. Henceforth there is laid up for me the crown of righteousness, which the Lord, the righteous judge, will award to me on that Day, and not only to me but also to all who have loved his appearing.
I press on toward the goal for the prize of the upward call of God in Christ Jesus.
Continuing with the characteristics of a Jesus Follower:
* They are baptized with the Holy Spirit. (Acts 1: 5)
* They are refreshed from the presence of the Lord. (Acts 3:19)
* They are blessed. (Acts 3:26)
* They do not lie to the Holy Spirit. (Acts 5:3)
* They do not put the Spirit of the Lord to the test. (Acts 5:9)
* They obey God rather than men. (Acts 5:29)
* They do not resist the Holy Spirit (Acts 7:51)
* They receive forgiveness of sins by believing in Jesus. (Acts 10:43)
* They are granted repentance that leads to life. (Acts 11:18)
* They are called Christians. (Acts 11:26)
* They are freed from all things through Jesus. (Acts 13:39)
* They are filled with joy and the Holy Spirit. (Acts 13:52)
* They enter the kingdom of God through many tribulations. (Acts 14:22)
* They have their hearts cleansed by God through faith. (Acts 15:9)
* They abstain from things contaminated by idols. (Acts 15:20)
* They refrain from acts of sexual immorality. (Acts 15:20)
* They don’t eat things that have been strangled nor blood. (Acts 15:20)
* They have repentance toward God and faith in Jesus. (Acts 20:21)
* They are on guard for themselves and the whole flock. (Acts 20:28)
* They are alert for wolves in sheep’s clothing. (Acts 20:29-31)
* They are built up by the word of His grace..(Acts 20:32)
* They have an inheritance among those who are sanctified. (Acts 20:32)
* They would rather give than receive. (Acts 20:35)
* They turn from darkness to the light. (Acts 26:18)
* They are beloved of God, called as saints. (Romans 1:7)
* They live by faith. (Romans 1:17)
* They do not suppress the truth. (Romans 1:18)
* They honor Him as God and give thanks. (Romans 1:21)
* They avoid all unrighteousness: wickedness, greed, evil, envy, murder, strife, deceit, malice, gossiping, slander, hating God, insolence, arrogance, boasting, inventing evil, disobedience to parents; being without understanding, untrustworthy, unfeeling, and unmerciful. (Romans 1:29-31)
* They are justified as a gift by His grace through the redemption which is in Christ Jesus. (Romans 3:24)
* They, having been justified by faith, have peace with God through Jesus Christ (Romans 5:1)
* They celebrate in hope of the glory of God. (Romans 5:2)
* They celebrate in their tribulations. (Romans 5:3)
* They also celebrate in God through our Lord Jesus Christ, through whom they have now received the reconciliation. (Romans 5:11)
* They have been baptized into Christ’s death. (Romans 6:3)
* They have been buried with Him through baptism. (Romans 6:4)
* They walk in the newness of life. (Romans 6:4)
* They are in the likeness of Him in His resurrection. (Romans 6:5)
* Their old self was crucified with Him. (Romans 6:6)
* They are no longer slaves to sin. (Romans 6:7)
* They are alive to God in Jesus Christ. (Romans 6:11)
* They do not allow sin to reign in their mortal bodies nor obey its lusts. (Romans 6:12)
* They present themselves to God as those who are alive from the dead. (Romans 6:13)
* They present their body’s parts as instruments of righteousness for God. (Romans 6:13)
* They are not under law but under grace. (Romans 6:14)
* They are slaves to righteousness. (Romans 6:17)
* They present their body’s parts as slaves to righteousness, resulting in sanctification. (Romans 6:20)
* They receive the gracious gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord. (Romans 6:23)
* They were put to death in regard to the Law through the body of Christ. (Romans 7:4)
* They can now belong to another, to Him who was raised from the dead. (Romans 7:4)
* They can now bear fruit to God. (Romans 7:4)
* They have been released from the Law, having died to that by which they were bound, so that they serve in newness of the Spirit and not in oldness of the letter. (Romans 7:6)
* They are not condemned who are in Christ Jesus. (Romans 8:1)
* They do not walk according to the flesh but according to the Spirit. (Romans 8:4)
* They set their minds on things of the Spirit. (Romans 8:5)
* They have life in their mortal bodies through His Spirit who dwells in them. (Romans 8:11)
* They are under obligation to the Spirit rather than the flesh. (Romans 8:13)
* They put to death the deeds of the body by the Spirit. (Romans 8:13)
* They have not received a spirit of slavery, leading to fear again. (Romans 8:15)
* They have received a spirit of adoption as sons and daughters by which they cry out, “Abba! Father!” (Romans 8:15)
* They are children of God. (Romans 8:16)
* They are heirs of God. (Romans 8:17)
* They are fellow heirs with Christ. (Romans 8:17)
* They suffer with Christ so they may be glorified with Him. (Romans 8:17)
* They have the first fruits of the Spirit. (Romans 8:23)
* They wait eagerly for their adoption as sons and daughters, the redemption of their bodies. (Romans 8:23)
* They hope, and through perseverance wait eagerly for their salvation. (Romans 8:24-25)
* They know that God causes all things to work together for good to those who love God, to those who are called according to His purpose. (Romans 8:28)
* They are predestined to become conformed to the image of His Son. (Romans 8:29)
* They are called, justified and glorified. (Romans 8:30)
* Not tribulation, nor trouble, nor persecution, nor famine, nor nakedness, nor danger, nor sword will separate them from the love of God. (Romans 8:35)
* They overwhelmingly conquer in all these thing through Him who loved us. (Romans 8:36)
* Neither death, nor life, nor angels, nor principalities, nor things present, nor things to come, nor powers, nor height, nor depth, nor any other created thing will be able to separate them from the love of God that is in Christ Jesus. (Romans 8:38)
* They subject themselves to the righteousness of God. (Romans 10:3)
* They confess with their mouth Jesus as Lord, and believe in their heart that God raised Him from the dead. (Romans 10:9)
* They believe with the heart, resulting in righteousness. (Romans 10:10)
* They confess with the mouth, resulting in salvation. (Romans 10:10)
* They present their bodies as a living and holy sacrifice, acceptable to God, which is their spiritual service of worship. (Romans 12:1)
* They are not conformed to this world. (Romans 12:2)
* They are transformed by the renewing of their minds. (Romans 12:2)
* They prove what the will of God is, that which is good and acceptable and perfect. (Romans 12:2)
* They do not think more highly of themselves than they ought to think; but think so as to have sound judgment. (Romans 12:3)
* They have a measure of faith allotted by God. (Romans 12:3)
* They have gifts that differ according to the grace given to them. (Romans 12:6)
* They use their gifts properly. (Romans 12:6)
* Their love is free from hypocrisy. (Romans 12:9)
* They detest evil. (Romans 12:9)
* They cling to what is good. (Romans 12:9)
* They are devoted to one another in brotherly love. (Romans 12:10)
* They give preference to one another in honor. (Romans 12:10)
* They are not lagging behind in diligence. (Romans 12:11)
* They are rejoicing in hope. (Romans 12:12)
* They are fervent in spirit. (Romans 12:11)
* They are serving the Lord. (Romans 12:11)
* They are persevering in tribulation. (Romans 12:12)
* They are devoted to prayer. (Romans 12:12)
* They contribute to the needs of the saints. (Romans 12:13)
* They practice hospitality. (Romans 12:13)
* They bless and do not curse those who persecute them. (Romans 12:14)
* They rejoice with those who rejoice. (Romans 12:15)
* They weep with those who weep. (Romans 12:15)
* They are of the same mind toward one another. (Romans 12:16)
* They are not haughty in mind. (Romans 12:16)
* They associate with the lowly. (Romans 12:16)
* They are not wise in their own estimation. (Romans 12:16)
* They do not repay evil with evil. (Romans 12:17)
* They respect what is right in the sight of all people. (Romans 12:17)
* They are at peace with all people, as in as much as it depends on them. (Romans 12:18)
* They don’t take revenge, but leave it to the wrath of God. (Romans 12:19)
* They do not overcome by evil, but overcome evil with good. (Romans 12:21)
