Listen to and Follow Jesus

[Christsfreeservant]

At that time the Feast of the Dedication took place at Jerusalem; it was winter, and Jesus was walking in the temple in the portico of Solomon. The Jews then gathered around Him, and were saying to Him, “How long will You keep us in suspense? If You are the Christ, tell us plainly.” Jesus answered them, “I told you, and you do not believe; the works that I do in My Father’s name, these testify of Me. But you do not believe because you are not of My sheep. My sheep hear My voice, and I know them, and they follow Me; and I give eternal life to them, and they will never perish; and no one will snatch them out of My hand. My Father, who has given them to Me, is greater than all; and no one is able to snatch them out of the Father’s hand. I and the Father are one.” (John 10:22-30 NASB1995)​

If we are Jesus’ sheep, we are his followers (his disciples). By faith in Jesus Christ, which is not of our own doing, but which is gifted to us by God, we are crucified with Christ in death to sin and raised with Christ to walk in newness of life in him, no longer to live as slaves to sin, but as slaves to God and as servants of his righteousness in walks of obedience to his commands. Our old lives of living in sin and for self are put behind us so that we can now live holy lives pleasing to God, in the power of God, by His Spirit.

And although that is what the Scriptures teach, studied in their appropriate context, not many people seem to be believing that today. Even if they have heard the truth of the gospel taught to them at some time, many are rejecting the truth of the gospel in favor of the lies which tickle itching ears and which appease human flesh. So, for many, it isn’t that they don’t know the truth, but they don’t want to believe the truth, for then they would have to give up their sinful practices and now live for God and for his perfect will.

Therefore, there are a lot of people today who are teaching only verses 28-30 here while leaving out verse 27 which tells us who these promises are for. But that is a lot like receiving a letter in the mail, but we don’t know who the letter is for, for it is not addressed to anyone specific, but since we read it we go ahead and apply it to our lives even though we don’t even know if it was intended for us or not. We cannot just randomly apply verses 28-30 to our lives if we are not the ones addressed in verse 27, can we? Of course not!

So, if we are to be Christ’s true sheep who have salvation from sin and eternal life with God that no one can take away from us, then we need to be his sheep who are listening (adhering) to his teachings, not just with our ears, but with our hearts and minds and attitudes, and who are following him in surrender to his will, in obedience to his commands, in holy living. And this does not make us perfect. But we need to know that if sin continues to be our practice, and not obedience to God, we do not have life in Christ.

[Matthew 7:13-14,21-23; Luke 9:23-26; John 10:27-30; Acts 26:18; Romans 1:18-32; Romans 2:5-10; Romans 3:23; Romans 6:1-23; Romans 8:1-14; 1 Corinthians 10:1-22; Galatians 5:16-24; Ephesians 2:8-10; Ephesians 4:17-32; Ephesians 5:3-6; Titus 2:11-14; Hebrews 3:1-19; Hebrews 4:1-13; Hebrews 10:19-39; Hebrews 12:1-2; 1 Peter 2:24; 1 John 1:1-10; 1 John 2:3-6; 1 John 3:4-10; Revelation 2:1-29; Revelation 3:1-22]

Follow Him

Based off Luke 9:22-25
An Original Work / February 21, 2013
Christ’s Free Servant, Sue J Love

Jesus, Son of God,
Died for us on a cross.

Anyone who would come to Him
Must deny himself and follow.
He must take up his cross daily;
Die to sin and self each day.

Father, God above,
Loved us so: gave His Son.

If you want to save your old life;
Keep on sinning, follow your ways,
You will lose your life forever;
Hope of heaven gone away.

Spirit of our God
Gives us life in God’s Son.

Nonetheless, if you die to self;
Forsake your sin; follow Jesus,
You will live with God in heaven,
And forever praise His name!

Video Talk on this same subject:

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Listen to and Follow Jesus
An Original Work / December 5, 2025
Christ’s Free Servant, Sue J Love

 

[SilentCompany]

God through and in Jesus is dynamic enough to transform the hearts into submitting and doing what is pleasing and compatible to his will through the power of the Holy Spirit. The Holy Spirit is a dynamic companion and helps to work the miracle of changing the hearts. soon or later a believer becomes transformed. its a promise. IT WORKS. and the arguments become less an less ..the heart of man transitions into wanting to please the Father, nothing we can do can overpower the power of God..this is what it means..Gods will is to save you..your GOING to be saved! He wills it! and so much of man is about doubting he can do it..and that, somehow, binds us, in our doubts. and for good reason..
We can not overcome the feverish drive of our compelling will to want ..want, want..Only God has the formula to change our heart. Its our believing and surrendering to him to DO it..letting HIM..trusting him..praying in a posture of surrender..turning off the mind and letting in some HOPE ..in that time when temptation grabs hold..the praying posture of the heart. light the candle in your heart..and get real close to it..enough to feel its flame, let that flame be all you focus on..let it be a representation that you are trying to get close to him..its just about all we can do..is hold on..look to him..draw close to him..and like a candle, you can feel its flame ..even if its small..take comfort in the idea its alive...and you can still see and feel it.

Yea man can screw around and mess things up..but God shows us in our ongoing relationship with him that he is in charge of whats right for what HE wants for us.. His grace is known as to how long its going to take for us to figure that out., one on one. I know others can and do sin..they are doing it to themselves and God is right in there face about it.
No one can escape. Sometime they look like they are getting away from God, Its sad to see ..
I know God is going to bring all to his glory in the end..and what better end is that to know yea?

 

[Christsfreeservant]

God through and in Jesus is dynamic enough to transform the hearts into submitting and doing what is pleasing and compatible to his will through the power of the Holy Spirit. The Holy Spirit is a dynamic companion and helps to work the miracle of changing the hearts. soon or later a believer becomes transformed. its a promise. IT WORKS. and the arguments become less an less ..the heart of man transitions into wanting to please the Father, nothing we can do can overpower the power of God..this is what it means..Gods will is to save you..your GOING to be saved! He wills it! and so much of man is about doubting he can do it..and that, somehow, binds us, in our doubts. and for good reason..
We can not overcome the feverish drive of our compelling will to want ..want, want..Only God has the formula to change our heart. Its our believing and surrendering to him to DO it..letting HIM..trusting him..praying in a posture of surrender..turning off the mind and letting in some HOPE ..in that time when temptation grabs hold..the praying posture of the heart. light the candle in your heart..and get real close to it..enough to feel its flame, let that flame be all you focus on..let it be a representation that you are trying to get close to him..its just about all we can do..is hold on..look to him..draw close to him..and like a candle, you can feel its flame ..even if its small..take comfort in the idea its alive...and you can still see and feel it.

Yea man can screw around and mess things up..but God shows us in our ongoing relationship with him that he is in charge of whats right for what HE wants for us.. His grace is known as to how long its going to take for us to figure that out., one on one. I know others can and do sin..they are doing it to themselves and God is right in there face about it.
No one can escape. Sometime they look like they are getting away from God, Its sad to see ..
I know God is going to bring all to his glory in the end..and what better end is that to know yea?

SC, thanks for reading and for taking the time to respond and to share your thoughts on this subject.