Pastoral Epistles

Jesus came to earth and gathered followers. His first command was a request for some to “follow Him” - Enter a relationship of a disciple and follower.

“Follow Me,” Jesus said. He didn’t say, “Take a course in evangelism.” He didn’t say, “Study this book, go to this seminar, or practice this technique.” He said, “If you hang out with Me, I’m going to be changing you, and inevitably you’ll become like Me—a fisher of men.”

Courson, J. (2003). Jon Courson’s Application Commentary (p. 24). Thomas Nelson.

The Cost

His call always has a purpose - here it was for them to be “fishers of men”

Matthew 4:19 “Then He said to them, “Follow Me, and I will make you fishers of men.”” He came first to Andrew and Peter - This call involved a cost, a responsibility, a benefit, and a joy; here the cost was leaving their profession, and leaving their family. Jesus wants disciples who are willing to follow the call.

Later He includes this in the call - to pick up our cross.

Self sacrificing love - Jesus said this before He was crucified!

Matthew 16:24 “Then Jesus said to His disciples, “If anyone desires to come after Me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross, and follow Me.”

He tells the rich young ruler to “sell all” Matthew 19:21 “Jesus said to him, “If you want to be perfect, go, sell what you have and give to the poor, and you will have treasure in heaven; and come, follow Me.””

After telling Peter how he would die, Jesus told him to follow Me. We are to count the cost of discipleship and follow.

John 21:19 “This He spoke, signifying by what death he would glorify God. And when He had spoken this, He said to him, “Follow Me.””

Our business is to follow our call.

We are to be faithful in the things God has put in our hands.

John 21:20–22 “Then Peter, turning around, saw the disciple whom Jesus loved following, who also had leaned on His breast at the supper, and said, “Lord, who is the one who betrays You?” Peter, seeing him, said to Jesus, “But Lord, what about this man?” Jesus said to him, “If I will that he remain till I come, what is that to you? You follow Me.””

The History

The church was founded on a Missionary from heaven.

He replicated His heart and mission to His Apostles in the Gospels. They in turn built a church by being missionaries and Church leaders. The comment to follow Him is implicit in the Great Commission “To Go” - He will be with us always.

Matthew 28:18–20 “And Jesus came and spoke to them, saying, “All authority has been given to Me in heaven and on earth. Go therefore and make disciples of all the nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, teaching them to observe all things that I have commanded you; and lo, I am with you always, even to the end of the age.” Amen.”

It is a calling for missionaries, pastors, seminary students, leaders, and all Christian’s to consider the high calling and learn what it means to follow Him. Whether it is world missions or the family next door. The Consequences of following is growing a healthy church.

The Benefits

Being called a son.

The relationships in following; you are surrounded by other “followers”; they come in all ages, spiritually and physically. They become like a family. Sometimes closer than. We are part of an exclusive group known as disciples, following learners. The exclusivity of the group is based on faith. It is open to all who believe. We don’t set the membership.

The Responsibilities

2 Timothy 2:2 “And the things that you have heard from me among many witnesses, commit these to faithful men who will be able to teach others also.”

Peter was casting nets when he was called - world evangelism

John was repairing nets when he was called - mending that which was torn.

To follow means to leave what we are doing, our place, our goals and plans. It means to cling to Jesus. To lean of Him and from work from His strength. To become a disciple. The goal of this is to be an effective witness in this world.

We are not our own, we were bought with a price.

1 Corinthians 6:19–20 “Or do you not know that your body is the temple of the Holy Spirit who is in you, whom you have from God, and you are not your own? For you were bought at a price; therefore glorify God in your body and in your spirit, which are God’s.”

Romans 14:7 “For none of us lives to himself, and no one dies to himself.”

Romans 14:8 “For if we live, we live to the Lord; and if we die, we die to the Lord. Therefore, whether we live or die, we are the Lord’s.”

Honor; Obey; Responsible; Accountable - Where shall we go? John 6:68 “But Simon Peter answered Him, “Lord, to whom shall we go? You have the words of eternal life.”

Why? Not a condition of salvation unto eternal life (works salvation), but a condition of the normal Christian life. This is who we are. We are servants of the Most High God. Ambassadors with a message to the world. We carry a torch of forgiveness and reconciliation.

What does it mean to follow?

Jesus said “follow me”

Hebrews 13:7 “Remember those who rule over you, who have spoken the word of God to you, whose faith follow, considering the outcome of their conduct.”

1 Corinthians 4:7 “For who makes you differ from another? And what do you have that you did not receive? Now if you did indeed receive it, why do you boast as if you had not received it?”

1 Corinthians 4:16 “Therefore I urge you, imitate me.”

1 Corinthians 11:1 “Imitate me, just as I also imitate Christ.”

1 Thessalonians 1:6 “And you became followers of us and of the Lord, having received the word in much affliction, with joy of the Holy Spirit,”

Hebrews 6:12 “that you do not become sluggish, but imitate those who through faith and patience inherit the promises.”

Philippians 4:9 “The things which you learned and received and heard and saw in me, these do, and the God of peace will be with you.”

The Joy

“My son Timothy”

Who was Timothy Acts 16:1–2 “Then he came to Derbe and Lystra. And behold, a certain disciple was there, named Timothy, the son of a certain Jewish woman who believed, but his father was Greek. He was well spoken of by the brethren who were at Lystra and Iconium.”

1 Corinthians 4:17 “For this reason I have sent Timothy to you, who is my beloved and faithful son in the Lord, who will remind you of my ways in Christ, as I teach everywhere in every church.”

Philippians 2:22 “But you know his proven character, that as a son with his father he served with me in the gospel.”

2 Timothy 1:5 “when I call to remembrance the genuine faith that is in you, which dwelt first in your grandmother Lois and your mother Eunice, and I am persuaded is in you also.”

2 Timothy 2:1 “You therefore, my son, be strong in the grace that is in Christ Jesus.”

1 Corinthians 4:15 “For though you might have ten thousand instructors in Christ, yet you do not have many fathers; for in Christ Jesus I have begotten you through the gospel.”

1 Timothy 1:2 “To Timothy, a true son in the faith: Grace, mercy, and peace from God our Father and Jesus Christ our Lord.”

2 Timothy 1:2 “To Timothy, a beloved son: Grace, mercy, and peace from God the Father and Christ Jesus our Lord.”

Titus 1:4 “To Titus, a true son in our common faith: Grace, mercy, and peace from God the Father and the Lord Jesus Christ our Savior.”

The Restoration of Peter

John 21:15 “So when they had eaten breakfast, Jesus said to Simon Peter, “Simon, son of Jonah, do you love ἀγαπάω ἀγαπάω Me more than these?” He said to Him, “Yes, Lord; You know that I love φιλέω You.” He said to him, “Feed My lambs.””

John 21:16 “He said to him again a second time, “Simon, son of Jonah, do you love ἀγαπάω Me?” He said to Him, “Yes, Lord; You know that I love φιλέω You.” He said to him, “Tend My sheep.””

John 21:17 “He said to him the third time, “Simon, son of Jonah, do you love φιλέω Me?” Peter was grieved because He said to him the third time, “Do you love φιλέω Me?” And he said to Him, “Lord, You know all things; You know that I love φιλέω You.” Jesus said to him, “Feed My sheep.”

Don’t get distracted.

John 21:19 “This He spoke, signifying by what death he would glorify God. And when He had spoken this, He said to him, “Follow Me.””

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