To Follow Jesus

To follow Jesus…

"Then said Jesus unto his disciples, If any man will come after me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross, and follow me." - Matthew 16:24 

How do we follow Jesus?

Jesus denied Himself. 

"Saying…not my will, but thine, be done." - Luke 22:42 

Jesus took up His cross and was crucified.

"And he bearing his cross went forth into a place…where they crucified him..." - John 19:17-18 

Jesus was buried.

"And laid it [His body] in a sepulchre that was hewn in stone..." - Luke 23:53 

Jesus was resurrected.

"He is not here, but is risen…" - Luke 24:6 

Then what?

Jesus was a witness.

"To whom also he shewed himself alive after his passion by many infallible proofs, being seen of them forty days, and speaking of the things pertaining to the kingdom of God:" - Acts 1:3 

Then,

"He was taken up; and a cloud received him out of their sight." - Acts 1:9 

How do we follow Jesus?

We deny ourselves.

"Denying ungodliness and worldly lusts [sinful pleasures]..." - Titus 2:12 

We crucify our sinful nature by repentance.

"Knowing this, that our old man [old sinful self] is crucified with him..." - Romans 6:6 (Also: Galatians 5:24, 6:14.)

We are buried by baptism in the name of Jesus.

"We are buried with him by baptism..." - Romans 6:4 (Also: Colossians 2:12).

We are resurrected by the Holy Ghost. (The glory of the Father).

"That like as Christ was raised up from the dead by the glory of the Father, even so we also should walk in newness of life." - Romans 6:4 

Summary so far:

"Repent, and be baptized every one of you in the name of Jesus Christ for the remission of sins, and ye shall receive the gift of the Holy Ghost." - Acts 2:38 

Then what?

We are witnesses.

"But ye shall receive power, after that the Holy Ghost is come upon you: and ye shall be witnesses unto me..." - Acts 1:8 (Also: 2 Corinthians 5:19-20)

"This I say then, Walk in the Spirit, and ye shall not fulfil the lust of the flesh." - Galatians 5:16 

Then,

"Then we which are alive and remain shall be caught up together with them in the clouds, to meet the Lord in the air: and so shall we ever be with the Lord." - 1 Thessalonians 4:17