What Jesus Requires of all Christians

Over 30 years ago I remember a man outside of the religious "Christians/Church" system saying a profound and enlightening statement that is true to this day, and of which those who profess to know and follow Christ, need to know and understand. That is that the term church, and by extension, Christian, no longer really have any meaning.

What he meant by that is people had created their own image of Christ and His church that is was so full of unbiblical practices and unbelievers, that it was close to impossible to even interact with someone in trying to show them what the Bible says about Christ and the practices of the Church, that we couldn't even start there as the beginning of our conversation, but had to blow up all sorts of misconceptions, lies, and fabrications just to be able to interact in a meaningful and productive manner.

Usually we couldn't even get past some of the most rudimentary aspects of tearing down the false foundations before we lost them. The listeners had had the modern-day practice of Christianity so ingrained in them that even when what was in the Bible was revealed to them, they couldn't and wouldn't believe it meant what it said.

Tradition had and has become so strong, that to contradict it, even when revealing it in the Holy Scriptures, is considered evil and a lie and attack from the Devil, even in light of the evidence that has been presented.

I'll give you an obvious and quick example which most of you reading this will resist and continue to resist. It it is, "God does not dwell in temple's made with hands." It's said several times in the Bible, the most well-known being just before Stephen was stoned to death over it.

The majority of Christians, to this day, will use all sorts of mental gymnastics and explanations in an attempt to make this mean something that it doesn't. Why so much resistance? It's because the person understands deep down what the cost of that acceptance would be. Their entire world would be placed in an upheaval if they were to embrace and obey this revelation from God Himself.

Although not even the focus and topic of this article, "God does not dwell in temple's made with hands" is the beginning of where the study of and understanding of what God has meant for His people as the corporate expression of Himself called the church.

All that was said to lead to the requirement of Jesus Christ for His people. Let's look at Matthew 16:24–26 to see what that is.

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. 25 For whoever desires to save his life will lose it, but whoever loses his life for My sake will find it. 26 For what profit is it to a man if he gains the whole world, and loses his own soul? Or what will a man give in exchange for his soul?

Let's take note of a key statement by Jesus here. He said the words “If anyone would come after Me....” The word "anyone" means that there is no one exempt from the statement and requirement He revealed.

So if we say we believe in Jesus Christ, here is what He said He demands of us and how we'll live.

First He says we must deny ourselves. That is the individual and consequently, corporate foundation that flows forth from people that assert they know Jesus Christ. It's a total abandonment of living for oneself and turning around and living unto Christ. Pleasing Christ is the motivation of those entering into true fellowship with Him.

Next He says to take up our cross and follow Me. This goes beyond the first statement to a reality of the fact it could cost us everything if we follow Jesus Christ, and we need to count that cost as we make a decision for Christ. It will cost us everything in the end. That may not be practically true, but for those taking up our cross, it will mean to us it won't matter one way or the other. Nothing has our hearts and minds except the person of Jesus Christ. From there a people grow into a holy temple expressing the person of Christ towards one another while revealing Him visibly to the world.

Finally Jesus says if we are to come after Him, it means we are to follow Him, which isn't a reference to running around the world (although for a few it could mean that), but rather it points to the fact that we are to live and walk as Jesus Himself did. John says that in his first letter, that we'll know those who truly know Christ because they'll walk as He did.

Yes there is grace there in that we aren't expected to start a journey in a perfected practical outworking of believing in Christ, but we are expected to and required to have a perfect heart.

After all, the standard of Jesus Christ has never been lowered. That's why we are told to be perfect because He is perfect. That exhortation remains, and while we don't start there, it remains the goal that we be conformed to the image of Jesus Christ.

That which was mentioned in Matthew should be the very minimal requirements of those who claim they are Christ's. It's the starting place. It's the baby stage. It's the birthing stage. It's expected of all of those that call upon the name of the Lord.