What does it really mean to follow Christ? Frequently, hearers of Christian preaching are told they may receive eternal life if they will but “repeat a little prayer” after the speaker. The preacher then prays a prayer, asking the hearer to repeat after him and, if done sincerely, the hearer is told he will go to heaven when he dies.
Is this method biblical? Is there someplace in the Bible where one reads about getting into heaven simply by praying a certain prayer? What Scripture does indicate is that people were carefully presented the full Gospel message, a message including the call for total surrender of one’s life to Christ.
Jesus speaks of total surrender in passages such as Luke 14:25-33 where He turns to a large crowd and provides three conditions to be met by those wishing to be Christians, true Christ-followers. He adds that if a person fails to meet any one of these three conditions, he or she “cannot be My disciple (26; 27; 33).” Here’s the passage:
25 Now great multitudes went with Him. And He turned and said to them, 26 “If anyone comes to Me and does not hate his father and mother, wife and children, brothers and sisters, yes, and his own life also, he cannot be My disciple. 27 And whoever does not bear his cross and come after Me cannot be My disciple. 28 For which of you, intending to build a tower, does not sit down first and count the cost, whether he has enough to finish it— 29 lest, after he has laid the foundation, and is not able to finish, all who see it begin to mock him, 30 saying, ‘This man began to build and was not able to finish’? 31 Or what king, going to make war against another king, does not sit down first and consider whether he is able with ten thousand to meet him who comes against him with twenty thousand? 32 Or else, while the other is still a great way off, he sends a delegation and asks conditions of peace. 33 So likewise, whoever of you does not forsake all that he has cannot be My disciple.
What are the three conditions of following Christ?
First, one must love Jesus Christ more than anyone or anything else.
This is the meaning behind the Hebrew idiom requiring one to “hate his father and mother, wife and children…and his own life (verse 26).” Jesus does not ask a Christian to literally hate his family as this would contradict other Scriptures such as the 5th Commandment. Rather, one is to love Christ so much that all other love by comparison looks like hate. This is an immense love!
The second condition for discipleship requires the Christian to be totally loyal to Christ, even to death.
This is the meaning behind the phrase “Whoever does not bear his cross and come after Me cannot be My disciple (verse 27).” In our day, the cross may be regarded as little more than a beautiful piece of jewelry, but in Jesus’ day the cross was a symbol of cruel execution under the Roman empire. To “bear one’s cross” meant to die to oneself daily and be prepared to die physically for one’s faith.
The third condition is total abandonment of all one has for Christ.
Jesus says in verse 33, “Whoever of you does not forsake all that he has cannot be My disciple.” This does not require one to sell all possessions or take a vow of poverty as the Bible speaks elsewhere of saving and providing for one’s family. This does mean, however, that if called to give up everything, one is willing to do so.
Given these conditions one understands why Jesus encourages would-be followers to “count the cost” of discipleship. Following Christ is more than “praying a little prayer.” Just as a builder or battlefield commander thinks carefully through his or her immediate plans (verses 28-32), so men and women should carefully consider the cost of following Christ. It is not a decision to be made hastily–and yet, the cost of not following Christ is far greater!
What About You?
- How can an “invitational prayer” to receive Christ be used biblically?
- Have you personally met–and are daily meeting–the above conditions?
- With whom can you use this passage when sharing the gospel this week?
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