The Teachings of Jesus

How to Be Saved

Lesson #5 for August 2, 2014

Scriptures: [Luke 5:27-32; 13:1-5; 14:25-27; Matthew 22:2-14; Zechariah 3:1-5; John 8:30-31][i].

1.    This lesson starts with a very auspicious title! From the teachings of Jesus primarily, can we learn the steps necessary for salvation? When speaking to Nicodemus, one of the spiritual leaders of the Israelites, Jesus referred back to an experience the Israelites had near the end of their wanderings through the wilderness. After nearly 40 years of having all their needs met miraculously by God, they were still complaining about the food and the water! So, God decided to take away some of the protections and blessings He had provided and see how they would respond. He stopped protecting them from the deadly snakes that inhabited that area. (Deuteronomy 8:15ii) When many of them started to die from snake bites, Moses was instructed to produce a bronze snake and place it on a cross. Why did God ask him to do that? A bronze snake cannot do anything. How was that different from an idol? Some of the Israelites doubted the snake’s ability to have any effect on their disease; so, they did not look at the snake, and they died. Those who went and looked in faith were healed. (See Patriarchs and Prophets 430.)

2.    If we take a look with our mind’s eye at our wonderful Savior’s dying on the cross and understand what was happening there, could it give us eternal life? Would that be magic?

3.    Read [Psalms 14:3; Ecclesiastes 7:20; 1 Kings 8:46; Romans 3:10,23; 1 John 1:9-10]iii. It should be painfully obvious that throughout Scripture we are told that we are all sinners; and thus, without a miraculous change, we are doomed to die. Satan hopes to so blind us spiritually that we cannot or even will not look to the cross. (John 9:40-41iv) Jesus responded by saying: “People who are well do not need a doctor, but only those who are sick. I have not come to call respectable people to repent, but outcasts.” (Luke 5:31-32[v], GNB) The Pharisees were willfully blind because they believed that they were righteous and did not need any help. The tax collectors and sinners who went to Matthew’s feast recognized their need and were helped.

4.    How many Christians today really recognize their spiritual need? Do we just give lip service to the idea that we are sinners? Jesus had a hard time teaching even His disciples that the Pharisees’ behavior could not earn eternal life for them. What about us?

5.    For hundreds of years, the Christian church has taught the idea that in the judgment God will balance our good deeds against our bad deeds; and if the good deeds outweigh the bad deeds, we can be saved. Jesus categorically rejected that idea. We cannot earn salvation. He told us that only the Holy Spirit working in our minds and transforming us from unrepentant sinners into followers of Jesus-repentant disciples-can possibly bring eternal life. (John 16:7-11vi)

6.    Unfortunately, in Revelation John described that the final church in history-the Laodicean church of our day-while thinking it is rich and well-off and has everything it needs, is actually “poor, naked, and blind.” (Revelation 3:16-18vii) Could that really be true about us?

7.    Only the Holy Spirit can produce a change in us that will bring salvation. Fortunately, God is a perfect Physician. The Holy Spirit has never lost a case of a person who honestly and sincerely asks for help. The lost will be lost because they do not think they need any help.

8.    But, recognizing our need is not the only thing necessary. Biblical repentance includes three things: 1) We must first recognize our own sinfulness; then, 2) We must recognize the damaging effects of sin and be truly sorry for the sin itself and not just sorry about the results of the sin; and 3) We must really desire to stop sinning. One of the saddest stories in Scripture is the story of Judas who had every imaginable privilege and opportunity. Even after spending years with Jesus, he thought he knew what was good for himself and for Jesus better than God did. (Matthew 27:34viii) Later, he was sorry for the results but not sorry for his sin.

9.    John the Baptist, Jesus, and the disciples all started their messages to the crowds with an appeal to repent. [(Matthew 3:2; 4:17; Mark 6:12; Acts 2:38; 3:19)]ix What does it mean to repent? To repent is to change direction. If we refuse to give up our sins, the inevitable result will be death.

“Sin pays its wage-death.” [(Romans 6:23; Luke 13:1-5)][x] But, a clear understanding of God’s plan for our lives and a recognition of His goodness leads to repentance. (Romans 2:4)

We do not repent in order that God may love us, but He reveals to us His love in order that we may repent.—Ellen G. White, Christ’s Object Lessons, p.189.1. [Bold type is supplied.]

10.    When sinners begin to recognize their true condition and turn around and ask for divine help for salvation, the Holy Spirit comes to their aid because Jesus says: “If you can believe, all things are possible to him who believes.” (Mark 9:23xi, NKJV).

11.    Read Romans 14:23.xii That verse teaches us that it is a faith-relationship with God that brings us closer and closer to Him; sin takes us further and further away from Him. If we think something is wrong and we do it anyway, it damages us. Thus, it would be correct to say that sin and faith are opposites. Luke 8:12 tells us that the Devil understands this clearly and will do anything possible to prevent us from recognizing this truth. So, what is a faith relationship with God?

Faith is just a word we use to describe a relationship with God as with a Person well known. The better we know Him, the better the relationship may be.

Faith implies an attitude toward God of love, trust, and deepest admiration. It means having enough confidence in God based on the more-than-adequate evidence revealed to be willing to believe what He says as soon as we are sure He is the One saying it, to accept what He offers as soon as we are sure He is the One offering it, and to do what He wishes as soon as we are sure He is the One wishing it without reservation for the rest of eternity. Anyone who has such faith would be perfectly safe to save. That is why faith is the only requirement for heaven.

Faith also means that, like Abraham and Moses, God’s friends, we know God well enough to reverently ask Him, “Why?”—Spoken many times by A. Graham Maxwell.

People who ask questions are seeking to understand.

12.    Paul told the Philippian jailer that faith, in fact, is the only requirement for salvation. (See Acts 16:31xiii.) Faith is a very personal relationship with Jesus which grows through Bible study, prayer, and witnessing until we come to understand Him and love Him. (John 6:69; 1:12; 17:3xiv)

13.    So, how does that actually work out in human experience? Having faith in Jesus means that when we are tempted: 1) We stop and think about what Jesus taught; (What if Eve had said, “Let me ask God first”?); and then, 2) We believe that what He said is really for our best good; and then, 3) We choose to do His will instead of our own. That is not easy for sinful, selfish human beings. But, we can do it. And God promises eternal life to those who do it. (John 6:40xv)

14.    It is only the enlightenment of the Holy Spirit that allows us to see what is wrong with sin and what is right with salvation/righteousness and how that relates to God’s judgment. (John 16:8xvi) After wooing us from our sinful state, He awakens in us knowledge of our real spiritual status and then convicts us of sin. This may be one of the few times when guilt is a good thing-assuming it leads us to make changes.

15.    Let us be very clear: Without repentance and turning from our sins, there is only death in our future. If we refuse to repent and give up our old sinful ways, redemption is impossible.

16.    After spending a full year in Galilee healing, teaching, and preaching, Jesus culminated His activities there by feeding the 5000-and that was just counting the men! But, when they came seeking Him the next morning for more of His special food, He disappointed them by saying: “For what my Father wants is that all who see the Son and believe in him should have eternal life. And I will raise them to life on the last day.” (John 6:40xvii, GNB)

17.    On another occasion, a sinful woman, Mary Magdalene, poured an expensive bottle of perfume on Jesus and kissed His feet, wiping them with her hair. Jesus said to her, “Your sins are forgiven.” (Luke 7:48xviii, GNB) And then He went on to say: “Your faith has saved you; go in peace.” (Luke 7:50xix, GNB)

18.    But, does faith save us? No! It is Jesus who saves us. Faith is just a description of our relationship with Him which brings about that salvation.

19.    Jesus healed a number of people with the words: “Your faith has made you well.” [(Matthew 9:22; Mark 10:52; Luke 17:19]xx, NKJV). We need to recognize two important things: 1) The word for healing in these verses also means to be saved. In other words, Jesus was saying, “Your faith has saved you.” But, 2) It is not our action of faith that accomplishes things; instead, it is God’s response to our faith. God is the One who does it.

20.    It is important to notice that point because when we pray at the bedside of a seriously ill or even dying patient and that person does not suddenly become well, we must not conclude it is because of our lack of faith. We must always be humble enough to pray, asking for God’s will to be done. God may see things quite differently from what we do at the moment.

21.    Read Matthew 5:20xxi. Don’t you think the Jewish people in Jesus’s day were shocked when He said: “I tell you, then, that you will be able to enter the Kingdom of heaven only if you are more faithful than the teachers of the Law and the Pharisees in doing what God requires”? (GNB) But, just like the Pharisees in Jesus’s day if we do “good works” to be seen of men, it will not produce the kind of change in us that is required for salvation.

22.    In the plan of salvation, our ultimate goal should be to do what is right because it is right—not just because it is pleasing to God. In heaven, everyone will do what is right because it is right.

The man who attempts to keep the commandments of God from a sense of obligation merely-because he is required to do so-will never enter into the joy of obedience. He does not obey. When the requirements of God are accounted a burden because they cut across human inclination, we may know that the life is not a Christian life. True obedience is the outworking of a principle within. It springs from the love of righteousness, the love of the law of God. The essence of all righteousness is loyalty to our Redeemer. This will lead us to do right because it is right-because right doing is pleasing to God. Christ’s Object Lessons 97.3-98.0 (1900).

A sullen submission to the will of the Father will develop the character of a rebel.

By such a one service is looked upon as drudgery. It is not rendered cheerfully, and in the love of God. It is a mere mechanical performance. [If he dared, such a one would disobey. His rebellion is smothered, ready to break out at any time in bitter murmurings and complaints.] Such service brings no peace or quietude to the soul.—MS 20, 1897 (MR # 970); Signs of the Times, July 22, 1897 par. 11 -section in [. . .] omitted in That I May Know Him p. 120.4; 12MR 236.1.

All true obedience comes from the heart. It was heart work with Christ. And if we consent, He will so identify Himself with our thoughts and aims, so blend our hearts and minds into conformity to His will, that when obeying Him we shall be but carrying out our own impulses. The will, refined and sanctified, will find its highest delight in doing His service. When we know God as it is our privilege to know Him, our life will be a life of continual obedience. Through an appreciation of the character of Christ, through communion with God, sin will become hateful to us. Desire of Ages 668.3.

23.    Jesus gave us an interesting parable in Matthew 22:2-14xxii. When the people whom the king had invited to his feast refused to come, he sent his servants into the highways and byways to compel people to come. He provided for them wedding garments appropriate for the occasion. But, when he came to visit his guests, he discovered there was a man who did not have on the proper wedding garment. And what did he do? The man was thrown out. And what did that wedding garment represent? [(See Isaiah 61:10; Zechariah 3:1-5.)]xxiii

What is the robe that Christ offers? This robe “is the righteousness of Christ,

His own unblemished character, that through faith is imparted to all who receive Him as their personal Saviour.”. . .

By His [Jesus’s] perfect obedience He has made it possible for every human being to obey God’s commandments. When we submit ourselves to Christ, the heart is united with His heart, the will is merged in His will, the mind becomes one with His mind, the thoughts are brought into captivity to Him; we live His life.

This is what it means to be clothed with the garment of His righteousness.

Then as the Lord looks upon us He sees, not the fig-leaf garment, not the nakedness and deformity of sin, but His own robe of righteousness, which is perfect obedience to the law of Jehovah. (Christ’s Object Lessons 310-311.4.) [Content in brackets and bold type are supplied.]

24.    Whatever “good” or “righteousness” that we can produce is nothing more than filthy rags. (Isaiah 64:6)

25.    The Holy Spirit gives us this gift-the righteousness of Christ-as daily we are being changed as we practice giving Him access to our minds and our thoughts. We are not asked to make the changes ourselves because we cannot. We give the Holy Spirit access to our thoughts, and moment by moment He guides and directs our ways if we allow Him to do so.

26.    However, that calls for crucifixion on the part of our sinful selves. [(Matthew 4:20-22; Mark 10:28; Luke 5:28; John 8:30-31; Luke 14:25-27)]xxiv That is not easy for us. Please note that the phrase to hate in biblical language means to love less. Compare Matthew 10:37xxv.

27.    Has being a Christian cost you anything?

We can no more repent without the Spirit of Christ to awaken the conscience than we can be pardoned without Christ.—Ellen G. White, Steps to Christ, p. 26.

28.    In every step of the process of transformation from being a selfish sinner to being a disciple of Christ, the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit are active. They help us to recognize our need, to recognize where our help comes from, and to actually make the changes necessary. See Steps to Christ pp. 26-27.

29.    Some people are naturally self-deprecating. They have feelings of doubt, guilt, and worthlessness. Other people are just the opposite. They tend to think that they are the best people around. How does Christianity address the needs of these two groups?

30.    Is it important to recognize why Jesus died? Did Jesus die to pay for our sins? Or, did His death teach us the consequences of sin? The righteousness which the Holy Spirit can bring to us may be free, but it is not cheap. Heaven risked everything to make it available to us. Are we willing to give up anything for Jesus? What does it mean to take up your cross and follow Him? In your own life, can you recognize the various steps that are being discussed in this lesson? Having claimed salvation and yet recognizing your own failures as Paul did in Romans 7, can you still rejoice?

31.    How can we reach out to others who are total nonbelievers and convince them that carrying a cross is the right thing to do?

32.    Why do you think Jesus used the example of a marriage festival to describe salvation? It is a little hard to see how carrying a cross has something to do with a marriage festival! But, the imagery of marriage is important to our understanding of Christianity. You cannot be partly married or halfmarried; you are either married or not married. What does that tell us about salvation? And where does the church of Laodicea generally fit on the spectrum?

33.    The disciples of Jesus abandoned everything and followed Him. And in the end, they did it gladly. Most of them ended up martyrs. Are we prepared to follow Jesus in that same way?

© 2014, Kenneth Hart, MD, MA, MPH. Permission is hereby granted for any noncommercial use of these materials. Free distribution of all or of a portion of this material such as to a Bible study class is encouraged.

Info@theox.org

Last Modified: June 3, 2014

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The Teachings of Jesus - #5 - page 4 of 4

i-Luke 5:27 After this, Jesus went out and saw a tax collector named Levi, sitting in his office. Jesus said to him, "Follow me." 28 Levi got up, left everything, and followed him. 29 Then Levi had a big feast in his house for Jesus, and among the guests was a large number of tax collectors and other people. 30 Some Pharisees and some teachers of the Law who belonged to their group complained to Jesus' disciples. "Why do you eat and drink with tax collectors and other outcasts?" they asked. 31 Jesus answered them, "People who are well do not need a doctor, but only those who are sick. 32 I have not come to call respectable people to repent, but outcasts."

Luke 13:1 At that time some people were there who told Jesus about the Galileans whom Pilate had killed while they were offering sacrifices to God. 2 Jesus answered them, "Because those Galileans were killed in that way, do you think it proves that they were worse sinners than all other Galileans? 3 No indeed! And I tell you that if you do not turn from your sins, you will all die as they did. 4 What about those eighteen people in Siloam who were killed when the tower fell on them? Do you suppose this proves that they were worse than all the other people living in Jerusalem? 5 No indeed! And I tell you that if you do not turn from your sins, you will all die as they did."

Luke 14:25 Once when large crowds of people were going along with Jesus, he turned and said to them, 26 "Those who come to me cannot be my disciples unless they love me more than they love father and mother, wife and children, brothers and sisters, and themselves as well. 27 Those who do not carry their own cross and come after me cannot be my disciples.

Matthew 22:2 "The Kingdom of heaven is like this. Once there was a king who prepared a wedding feast for his son. 3 He sent his servants to tell the invited guests to come to the feast, but they did not want to come. 4 So he sent other servants with this message for the guests: "My feast is ready now; my steers and prize calves have been butchered, and everything is ready. Come to the wedding feast!' 5 But the invited guests paid no attention and went about their business: one went to his farm, another to his store, 6 while others grabbed the servants, beat them, and killed them. 7 The king was very angry; so he sent his soldiers, who killed those murderers and burned down their city. 8 Then he called his servants and said to them, "My wedding feast is ready, but the people I invited did not deserve it. 9 Now go to the main streets and invite to the feast as many people as you find.' 10 So the servants went out into the streets and gathered all the people they could find, good and bad alike; and the wedding hall was filled with people. 11 "The king went in to look at the guests and saw a man who was not wearing wedding clothes. 12 "Friend, how did you get in here without wedding clothes?' the king asked him. But the man said nothing. 13 Then the king told the servants, "Tie him up hand and foot, and throw him outside in the dark. There he will cry and gnash his teeth.' " 14 And Jesus concluded, "Many are invited, but few are chosen."

Zechariah 3:1 In another vision the Lord showed me the High Priest Joshua standing before the angel of the Lord. And there beside Joshua stood Satan, ready to bring an accusation against him. 2 The angel of the Lord said to Satan, "May the Lord condemn you, Satan! May the Lord, who loves Jerusalem, condemn you. This man is like a stick snatched from the fire." 3 Joshua was standing there, wearing filthy clothes. 4 The angel said to his heavenly attendants, "Take away the filthy clothes this man is wearing." Then he said to Joshua, "I have taken away your sin and will give you new clothes to wear." 5 He commanded the attendants to put a clean turban on Joshua's head. They did so, and then they put the new clothes on him while the angel of the Lord stood there.

John 8:30 Many who heard Jesus say these things believed in him. 31 So Jesus said to those who believed in him, "If you obey my teaching, you are really my disciples;

ii-Deuteronomy 8:15 He led you through that vast and terrifying desert where there were poisonous snakes and scorpions. In that dry and waterless land he made water flow out of solid rock for you.

iii-Psalms 14:3 But they have all gone wrong; they are all equally bad. Not one of them does what is right, not a single one.

Ecclesiastes 7:20 There is no one on earth who does what is right all the time and never makes a mistake.

1 Kings 8:46 "When your people sin against you - and there is no one who does not sin - and in your anger you let their enemies defeat them and take them as prisoners to some other land, even if that land is far away,

Romans 3:10 As the Scriptures say: "There is no one who is righteous, 23 everyone has sinned and is far away from God's saving presence.

1 John 1:9 But if we confess our sins to God, he will keep his promise and do what is right: he will forgive us our sins and purify us from all our wrongdoing. 10 If we say that we have not sinned, we make a liar out of God, and his word is not in us.

iv-John 9:40 Some Pharisees who were there with him heard him say this and asked him, "Surely you don't mean that we are blind, too?" 41 Jesus answered, "If you were blind, then you would not be guilty; but since you claim that you can see, this means that you are still guilty."

v-Luke 5:31 Jesus answered them, "People who are well do not need a doctor, but only those who are sick. 32 I have not come to call respectable people to repent, but outcasts."

vi-John 16:7 But I am telling you the truth: it is better for you that I go away, because if I do not go, the Helper will not come to you. But if I do go away, then I will send him to you. 8 And when he comes, he will prove to the people of the world that they are wrong about sin and about what is right and about God's judgment. 9 They are wrong about sin, because they do not believe in me; 10 they are wrong about what is right, because I am going to the Father and you will not see me any more; 11 and they are wrong about judgment, because the ruler of this world has already been judged.

vii-Revelation 3:16 But because you are lukewarm, neither hot nor cold, I am going to spit you out of my mouth! 17 You say, "I am rich and well off; I have all I need.' But you do not know how miserable and pitiful you are! You are poor, naked, and blind. 18 I advise you, then, to buy gold from me, pure gold, in order to be rich. Buy also white clothing to dress yourself and cover up your shameful nakedness. Buy also some ointment to put on your eyes, so that you may see.

viii-Matthew 27:34 There they offered Jesus wine mixed with a bitter substance; but after tasting it, he would not drink it.

ix-Matthew 3:2 "Turn away from your sins," he said, "because the Kingdom of heaven is near!"

Matthew 4:17 From that time Jesus began to preach his message: "Turn away from your sins, because the Kingdom of heaven is near!"

Mark 6:12 So they went out and preached that people should turn away from their sins.

Acts 2:38 Peter said to them, "Each one of you must turn away from your sins and be baptized in the name of Jesus Christ, so that your sins will be forgiven; and you will receive God's gift, the Holy Spirit.

Acts 3:19 Repent, then, and turn to God, so that he will forgive your sins. If you do,

x-Romans 6:23 For sin pays its wage - death; but God's free gift is eternal life in union with Christ Jesus our Lord.

Luke 13:1 At that time some people were there who told Jesus about the Galileans whom Pilate had killed while they were offering sacrifices to God. 2 Jesus answered them, "Because those Galileans were killed in that way, do you think it proves that they were worse sinners than all other Galileans? 3 No indeed! And I tell you that if you do not turn from your sins, you will all die as they did. 4 What about those eighteen people in Siloam who were killed when the tower fell on them? Do you suppose this proves that they were worse than all the other people living in Jerusalem? 5 No indeed! And I tell you that if you do not turn from your sins, you will all die as they did."

xi-Mark 9:23 Jesus said to him, "If you can believe, all things are possible to him who believes."

xii-Romans 14:23 But if they have doubts about what they eat, God condemns them when they eat it, because their action is not based on faith. And anything that is not based on faith is sin.

xiii-Acts 16:31 They answered, "Believe in the Lord Jesus, and you will be saved - you and your family."

xiv-John 6:69 And now we believe and know that you are the Holy One who has come from God."

John 1:12 Some, however, did receive him and believed in him; so he gave them the right to become God's children.

John 17:3 And eternal life means to know you, the only true God, and to know Jesus Christ, whom you sent.

xv-John 6:40 For what my Father wants is that all who see the Son and believe in him should have eternal life. And I will raise them to life on the last day."

xvi-John 16:8 And when he comes, he will prove to the people of the world that they are wrong about sin and about what is right and about God's judgment.

xvii-John 6:40 For what my Father wants is that all who see the Son and believe in him should have eternal life. And I will raise them to life on the last day."

xviii-Luke 7:48 Then Jesus said to the woman, "Your sins are forgiven."

xix-Luke 7:50 But Jesus said to the woman, "Your faith has saved you; go in peace."

xx-Matthew 9:22 Jesus turned around and saw her, and said, "Courage, my daughter! Your faith has made you well." At that very moment the woman became well.

Mark 10:52 "Go," Jesus told him, "your faith has made you well." At once he was able to see and followed Jesus on the road.

Luke 17:19 And Jesus said to him, "Get up and go; your faith has made you well."

xxi-Matthew 5:20 I tell you, then, that you will be able to enter the Kingdom of heaven only if you are more faithful than the teachers of the Law and the Pharisees in doing what God requires.

xxii-Matthew 22:2 "The Kingdom of heaven is like this. Once there was a king who prepared a wedding feast for his son. 3 He sent his servants to tell the invited guests to come to the feast, but they did not want to come. 4 So he sent other servants with this message for the guests: "My feast is ready now; my steers and prize calves have been butchered, and everything is ready. Come to the wedding feast!' 5 But the invited guests paid no attention and went about their business: one went to his farm, another to his store, 6 while others grabbed the servants, beat them, and killed them. 7 The king was very angry; so he sent his soldiers, who killed those murderers and burned down their city. 8 Then he called his servants and said to them, "My wedding feast is ready, but the people I invited did not deserve it. 9 Now go to the main streets and invite to the feast as many people as you find.' 10 So the servants went out into the streets and gathered all the people they could find, good and bad alike; and the wedding hall was filled with people. 11 "The king went in to look at the guests and saw a man who was not wearing wedding clothes. 12 "Friend, how did you get in here without wedding clothes?' the king asked him. But the man said nothing. 13 Then the king told the servants, "Tie him up hand and foot, and throw him outside in the dark. There he will cry and gnash his teeth.' " 14 And Jesus concluded, "Many are invited, but few are chosen."

xxiii-Isaiah 61:10 Jerusalem rejoices because of what the Lord has done. She is like a bride dressed for her wedding. God has clothed her with salvation and victory.

Zechariah 3:1 In another vision the Lord showed me the High Priest Joshua standing before the angel of the Lord. And there beside Joshua stood Satan, ready to bring an accusation against him. 2 The angel of the Lord said to Satan, "May the Lord condemn you, Satan! May the Lord, who loves Jerusalem, condemn you. This man is like a stick snatched from the fire." 3 Joshua was standing there, wearing filthy clothes. 4 The angel said to his heavenly attendants, "Take away the filthy clothes this man is wearing." Then he said to Joshua, "I have taken away your sin and will give you new clothes to wear." 5 He commanded the attendants to put a clean turban on Joshua's head. They did so, and then they put the new clothes on him while the angel of the Lord stood there.

xxiv-Matthew 4:20 At once they left their nets and went with him. 21 He went on and saw two other brothers, James and John, the sons of Zebedee. They were in their boat with their father Zebedee, getting their nets ready. Jesus called them, 22 and at once they left the boat and their father, and went with him.

Mark 10:28 Then Peter spoke up, "Look, we have left everything and followed you."

Luke 5:28 Levi got up, left everything, and followed him.

John 8:30 Many who heard Jesus say these things believed in him. 31 So Jesus said to those who believed in him, "If you obey my teaching, you are really my disciples;

Luke 14:25 Once when large crowds of people were going along with Jesus, he turned and said to them, 26 "Those who come to me cannot be my disciples unless they love me more than they love father and mother, wife and children, brothers and sisters, and themselves as well. 27 Those who do not carry their own cross and come after me cannot be my disciples.

xxv-Matthew 10:37 "Those who love their father or mother more than me are not fit to be my disciples; those who love their son or daughter more than me are not fit to be my disciples.

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