Undoubtedly, it is not out of place for someone to ask why he should follow Jesus.
Generally in life, we would love to know what we stand to gain before setting out to do certain things.
Similarly, getting to know why we should follow Jesus will help us in making the decision to do so.
In this article, we will get to explore the reasons we should follow Jesus.
Moreover, we would also look into the consequences of not following him. We believe this piece will bless you in no small measure.
What are the 13 Great Benefits of Following Jesus?
Jesus is the Son of God. He is the savior of the world. Those who accept His salvation are required to follow Him. It is indispensable.
Apostle Paul reiterated this in one of His epistles to the believers at Corinth. He said: Be ye followers of me, even as I also am of Christ. (1 Corinthians 11:1).
Since it is important for believers to follow Jesus, let see the major benefits it brings.
Related: Spending Time with God: Top 13 Proven Benefits.
The top 13 great benefits of following Jesus are:
- Salvation and all its benefits
- Unhindered Access to God
- Divine Wisdom through Christ
- Uncommon Perfect Peace
- Divine Protection
- Divine Healing and Health
- Supernatural Provisions
- Grace and Mercy
- Ability to hear God’s voice
- Freedom
- Privilege of praying to God and getting answers
- Ability to do exploits for God’s Kingdom
- Eternity
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How do these things happen?
Salvation:
It was out of love that God sent His son to us. Jesus came to this world for our sake.
As a result, He died for our sins. They buried Him but He resurrected. All of these happened so he could save the whole world from sin and death.
Therefore, everyone can now enjoy the salvation that Jesus has purchased for us. Truly, it is so amazing to become a child of God based on what Christ has done.
Though sin is deadly, we could not save ourselves from sin. However, we have now received the forgiveness of sins, through Christ. This is a fundamental benefit of following Jesus.
Unhindered Access to God:
God has always longed to have a relationship with us. Unfortunately, this was not possible because of man’s sinful nature. We could not go into the presence of God.
However, following Jesus takes away that barrier. We can now enter into God’s presence with boldness. Things have changed. Now, we have UNHINDERED access to the Father. This is just so beautiful.
Divine Wisdom Through Christ:
It is amazing that Christ has been made wisdom unto those who are His own. Therefore, a major benefit of following Jesus is divine wisdom. By this wisdom, we can navigate through life wisely.
This is a type of wisdom that is different from mere human wisdom. It is a special type of wisdom that we can only have access to when we follow Jesus.
Uncommon Perfect Peace:
Life is full of troubles. Hence, every man’s heart seeks true peace. As a result of this, people turn to different things or people so as to find peace. Yet, there is no true peace in the world.
It is only found in Christ. Jesus told the disciples that He offers the kind of peace that this world cannot afford. Therefore, we have access to this uncommon, perfect peace by following Jesus.
Divine Protection:
As a result of what Christ has done, we have become God’s children. Normally, we expect earthly fathers to protect their children. In the same vein, children of God can enjoy God’s protection.
God cares for us and He would therefore not want any evil to befall us. Thus, there is divine protection for us as we follow Jesus.
6. Divine healing and Health:
When Jesus was alive, He was usually healing people. This shows His compassion for the sick and His ability to heal them. Similarly, as children of God, we know we have access to divine healing.
As we follow Jesus, we trust in God’s power to heal us of sicknesses or diseases. God is able to heal us of any sickness no matter what it is.
Supernatural Provision:
At different points in our lives, we do have some needs or the other. We might be able to meet some of those needs on our own. Yet, we can as well enjoy God’s supernatural provisions.
God is a provider and He has the ability to meet our needs supernaturally. Following Jesus gives us the opportunity of enjoying God’s supernatural provisions.
Grace and Mercy:
Grace and Mercy have been available to us for our benefit. The Bible admonishes us to come to the throne of Grace. One, we will obtain God’s mercy. Two, we will find the grace to help us in time of need.
God is ready to help us no matter what we might be going through. A follower of Jesus has the opportunity to enjoy God’s grace and mercy. In fact, it is even by God’s grace that we got saved. Therefore, God’s grace and mercy us from all other people.
Ability to hear God’s Voice:
It is not everybody that can hear God’s voice. Only those who follow Jesus can hear him. Jesus himself says, My sheep hear my voice, and I know them, and they follow me. (John 10:27)
Thus, as true followers of Jesus we have the opportunity to hear His voice and have Him lead us. We are able to recognize His voice and understand what He is saying to us. Indeed, this is a great privilege, by being a follower of Jesus.
Freedom:
Jesus said it is those whom He sets free that shall be free indeed. Jesus is the truth. So, he said those who know the truth shall be set free. In addition, the Bible tells us more about this in Colossians 1:13. We have been delivered from the power of darkness. We have been set free. Now, we are in God’s Kingdom.
Only those who follow Jesus can have this freedom. We are no longer in bondage. Freedom accrues to us by following Jesus.
Privilege of Praying to God and getting Answers:
Prayer is indispensable in communicating with God. However, this opportunity is not for everybody. Only the children of God who are following Jesus can pray to God.
We can pour out our hearts to him and expect answers in return. Prayer helps to accomplish many things. It is a great privilege that we enjoy as followers of Jesus.
Ability to do Exploits for God’s Kingdom:
The followers of Jesus are not ordinary. They are endued with the power of God. Thus, they can do great things for God. In Mark 16:17 – 18, Jesus mentioned some of the supernatural exploits we can do, as His followers.
Jesus said in Matthew 4:19 – Follow me, and I will make you fishers of men. Thus, as followers of Jesus, we can reach out to other lives and get them saved. We have the ability of the Holy Spirit, we can shine as light in this world. By doing this, we will bring glory to God. Really, this is a great benefit of following Jesus.
Eternity:
This world is not our home. There is a place for us after this world. Since we have received eternal life, we have the ability to live with God for ever. God so loved the world that He gave us His only Son. Those who believe in Him shall not perish but have everlasting life.
By this everlasting life, the followers of Jesus can enjoy eternity with God. This is the ultimate part of following Jesus. It is such an awesome experience that we eagerly await.
Not following Jesus leads to :
Bondage of Sin:
No one can save himself from sin unless He accepts Jesus. Thus, those who do not follow Jesus remain in their bondage of sin. For any man to be saved from sin, He needs Jesus.
Romans 10:9 – 10 tells us — If you declare with your mouth, Jesus is Lord, and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved. For it is with your heart that you believe and are justified, and it is with your mouth that you profess your faith and are saved.
Being Under Condemnation:
Jesus Christ said that those who do not believe Him are condemned. He that believeth on him is not condemned: but he that believeth not is condemned already, because he hath not believed in the name of the only begotten Son of God. (John 3:18).
Furthermore, the Bible shows us in Romans 8:1 that There is therefore now no condemnation to them which are in Christ Jesus, who walk not after the flesh, but after the Spirit.
Therefore, those who are not followers are unfortunately under condemnation. However, when they choose to accept Him and follow Him, they will be set free.
Lack of True Peace:
In John 14:27, Jesus said: Peace I leave with you, my peace I give unto you: not as the world giveth, give I unto you. Let not your heart be troubled, neither let it be afraid. Those who are not followers of Jesus miss out on this perfect peace offered by Christ.
Living without the Holy Spirit:
Only those who are followers of Jesus can have the Holy Spirit. Those who are not following Jesus are unable to benefit from the gift of the Holy Spirit. This renders them powerless and helpless in life.
Eternal Perdition:
For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life. (John 3:16) It is by believing and following Jesus that one can have eternal life. Else, one would perish.
The ultimate deadly consequence of not following Jesus is eternal perdition. As a result, it is too costly not to be a follower of Jesus.
How to be a Good follower of Jesus.
First of all, being a follower of Jesus starts with being born again. You have to believe that Jesus Christ came to save the sinners. So, if you are yet to accept him, you are still a sinner but the good news is, He loves you and He has provided a way of salvation for you.
Jesus Christ came to die for your sins. He was buried and He resurrected, to give you a new life. He requires you to come to Him in faith so He could save you. Your own good works cannot save you. It is by Grace through faith in Christ that you can be saved.
In summary, the way to get saved is shown in Romans 10:9 — …If thou shalt confess with thy mouth the Lord Jesus, and shalt believe in thine heart that God hath raised him from the dead, thou shalt be saved.
After getting saved, some of the ways by which you can be a good follower of Jesus are:
- Studying the word of God (this includes the Bible and other Bible-based Christian books)
- Listening to Bible-based Sermons
- Following Jesus’ example in the Bible
- Praying Always
- Fellow shipping with the brethren
- Loving others
- Committing everything about your life to Him
- Following God’s leading in your life always
- Preaching the Gospel, etc.
By choosing to follow Jesus, one is doing oneself a whole lot of God. However, following Jesus involves making certain commitments.
Therefore, we should not be found wanting in our duty post. Through the help of the Holy Spirit, seek to live a life pleasing unto God.
Choose to follow Christ, no matter what it takes. Remember the words of our Lord Jesus Christ in Matthew 6:33.
He said: But seek ye first the kingdom of God, and his righteousness; and all these things shall be added unto you. As you commit yourself to follow Christ, the other things shall follow you.
