06/15/20 HOW TO FOLLOW CHRIST — One thing that bothers me is the casual way some (well-intentioned?) believers try to paraphrase  and oversimplify the salvation process. Instead of the ABC’s of being saved, one Easter I preached on the ABC…XYZs of salvation, using all 26 letters!

There is a short, biblical, accurate “formula” in Luke 9:23 (CSB) “Then He said to them all, ‘If anyone wants to follow after Me, let him deny himself, take up his cross daily, and follow Me.’” A couple of weeks after the “911” terrorist attacks, I preached on that verse. I contrasted the two sides in our war against terrorism: first, the terrorists were willing to give their lives for their cause, indeed, planning and scheduling their own deaths; second, most of us were disgruntled to be so inconvenienced as we were forced to stand in line at airport security checks! Surely seriously committed soldiers defeat casual, complaining, inconvenienced ones every time!

Following Jesus demands a truly serious commitment. In the verse above He outlines a 3-step progression: DENY, DEFY, RELY. Each serious follower of Christ first needs to DENY “Self”—that part of us that is sinful, worldly and concerning with only our own personal comforts, needs, wants and preferences. When our “Self” shouts, “I want that and I want it now!”, we need emphatically to say “NO!” Second we need to DEFY Death! That doesn’t mean we should play in traffic, daring anyone or anything to harm us; it means we need to respond to God’s prompting without fear. Finally we need to RELY primarily on God, Jesus and the Holy Spirit—NOT our own schemes, strategies and strengths. Godly projects demand God’s guidance, providence and dynamic power! “D-D-R,” DENY, DEFY, RELY—That’s what Jesus Himself says it means to follow Him.