"WHAT DOES JESUS REQUIRE OF YOU?"

INTRODUCTION
  1. In Mic 6:6-8, the prophet Micah raises and answers a question...
    1. What does the Lord require of you?
    2. To do justly, to love mercy, and to walk humbly with your God
  2. In this lesson, I would like to rephrase and answer the question...
    1. What does Jesus require of you?
    2. Letting the words of Jesus Himself to answer

[Beginning with Jesus' words in Lk 24:46-47, one can rightly say that Jesus requires you...]

  1. TO REPENT OF SIN
    1. THE COMMAND TO REPENT OF SIN...
      1. Was proclaimed by Jesus during His ministry - Mt 4:17; Lk 13:3,5
      2. Was preached by His apostles as they fulfilled His commission - Ac 3:19; 17:30-31
      -- Jesus clearly requires people to repent!
    2. WHAT IT MEANS TO REPENT...
      1. Repent: primarily, to change one's mind - BDAG
      2. To change one's way of life as the result of a complete change of thought and attitude with regard to sin and righteousness - Louw Nida
      3. A decision prompted by godly sorrow for one's sins - 2Co 7:9-10
      4. A decision demonstrated by fervent change in conduct - 2Co 7:11
      -- Have you expressed godly sorrow for your sin, with a fervent desire to change?

    [Turning to Mark's account of the Great Commission in Mk 16:15-16, one can rightly say that Jesus requires you...]

  2. TO BELIEVE AND BE BAPTIZED
    1. THE COMMAND TO BELIEVE AND BE BAPTIZED...
      1. The command to believe is foundational to the gospel message - Jn 3:16; 8:24; 20:30-31
      2. Likewise the command to be baptized - Ac 2:38; 10:48; 22:16
      -- Jesus clearly requires people to believe and be baptized!
    2. WHAT IT MEANS TO BELIEVE AND BE BAPTIZED...
      1. To place your faith in Jesus, that He died for your sins - Jn 1:29
      2. To place your faith in God, that in baptism He will raise you together with Christ, having forgiven you of your sins - Col 2:11-13; Ro 6:3-7
      3. Consider the example of the Ethiopian eunuch - Ac 8:35-38
      -- Have you placed your trust in Jesus, dying with Him to sin in baptism and rising with Him from baptism to a new life?

    [From Matthew's account of the Great Commission in Mt 28:18-20, we learn that Jesus requires you...]

  3. TO BECOME HIS DISCIPLE
    1. THE COMMAND TO BECOME HIS DISCIPLE...
      1. Was expressed earlier as a tender invitation - Mt 11:28-30
      2. Begins with the act of baptism mentioned before - Mt 28:19
      -- Jesus clearly requires people to become His disciples!
    2. WHAT IT MEANS TO BE HIS DISCIPLE...
      1. Disciple: one who engages in learning through instruction from another, pupil, apprentice - BDAG
      2. A disciple fully trained will be like his teacher - Lk 6:40
      3. It requires abiding in Jesus' words, loving one another, bearing fruit - Jn 8:31; 13:35; 15:8
      4. It requires denying self, forsaking all - Lk 14:26,33
      -- Have you made the commitment to follow and learn from Jesus as His disciple?

    [Turning now to the words of Jesus to the seven churches in Asia (cf. Re 2:10), we learn that Jesus requires you...]

  4. TO BE FAITHFUL UNTIL DEATH
    1. THE COMMAND TO BE FAITHFUL UNTIL DEATH...
      1. Is necessary because Jesus knew some would fall away - Lk 8:13-14
      2. Is necessary because one can develop a heart of unbelief - He 3:12-14
      -- Jesus clearly requires people to remain faithful as His disciples!
    2. WHAT IT MEANS TO REMAIN FAITHFUL...
      1. To retain our "first love" - Re 2:4
      2. To reject all false doctrines - Re 2:14-15
      3. To maintain our zeal for the Lord - Re 3:15-16
      -- Have you maintained that initial love and zeal you had when you became a Christian?

    [Finally, again from the words of Jesus to the seven churches of Asia, we learn that Jesus requires you...]

  5. TO REPENT IF NECESSARY
    1. THE NEED TO REPENT AS CHRISTIANS...
      1. Repeated by Jesus time and again - Re 2:5,16; 3:3,19
      2. Expressed by Paul writing to the church at Corinth - 2Co 12:20-21
      -- Jesus clearly requires His disciples to repent when necessary!
    2. WHAT IT MEANS TO REPENT...
      1. What we said before: a decision prompted by godly sorrow, demonstrated by fervent change
      2. For the Christian it includes prayer, confessing one's sin - Ac 8:22; 1Jn 1:9
      -- If your faith and service ever wavered, have you repented with fervent zeal?
CONCLUSION
  1. In our lesson we have come full circle (repent-repent)...
    1. Jesus wants every lost soul to repent and obey the gospel in faith and baptism
    2. Jesus wants every wayward disciple to repent and be zealous in their service to Him
  2. Have you done what Jesus requires of you...?
    1. If you need to repent and obey the gospel, let us assist you!
    2. If you need to repent and return to the Lord, let us pray with you!

Surely the salvation of your soul and committed discipleship is what Jesus requires of you today...!