Follower of Jesus
Published by Harry Ironside in Faith · Thursday 10 Feb 2022
There has been a seemingly insignificant change in the words Pastors use when referring to people in their congregation. Instead of saying they are Christians, they have given them the title of 'followers of Christ'. This is a dangerous trend however as the phrase suggests that one must perform works to earn one's way into heaven. Over eighty years ago Pastor Harry Ironside warned us about this in his book titled 'Changed by Beholding'. Below is an excerpt from this book on the topic of following Jesus.
Let me say it very carefully and thoughtfully, though some may call me a heretic for saying it—No one ever got to Heaven by following Jesus. You say, “Why, brother, I thought that was the only way any of us could get there.” But if you could only get to Heaven on the ground of your ability to follow Jesus, you would never get there at all. “Oh,” you say, “did not Jesus say, ‘Whosoever doth not bear his cross, and come after Me, cannot be My disciple.’” Well, when you talk about following Jesus, what do you mean? People talk about following Jesus, and they seem to think this, that they can follow Him from Earth to Heaven in their own strength. They think we will get to Heaven if we put our feet in His footprints. That is all of works from beginning to end, and salvation is not of works. What do you mean by following Jesus? Following Him into Heaven? That is not what the Bible means. The Bible means following Him out of Heaven down into this world of sin and misery to carry His Gospel to those in need of it. When Jesus says, “Follow Me,” He does not mean we are to follow Him up to the glory. No, it may mean for some to follow Him to China or to India. To some, it may mean to follow Him into the slums to tell people of His love and grace. To some, it may mean to follow Him in the home, to live for Him there in such a way that those about you will realize His saving power. That is what is meant by following Jesus. We are not saved by following Him; we are saved by trusting Him, and when we have trusted, then we follow. To be saved by His life does not mean we are saved by our own self-efforts. You say, “Do we not read, ‘He left us an example that we should follow in His steps?’” Yes, but who are the “us”? Those who have already been redeemed to God by the precious blood of His Son. (Changed by Beholding by Harry Ironside, 1940)