Loving Jesus

Hello all! These past two weeks have definitely been eye-opening in the way of how I view God. This blog is all about becoming a disciple, but what I intend and want to do is to ultimately help and show others a life that is worth living. A life that rejoices in the Lord always and His truth. A life that wants to promote good in everything, including itself.

I want to define what a disciple is: a disciple is one who follows Jesus and serves Him in their lives. One who acts obediently towards Him and His will. Luke 9:23 gives a good description of a disciple:

Then He said to them all, “If anyone desires to come after Me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross daily, and follow Me. - Luke 9:23 (NKJV)

If you look in the New Testament you see that Jesus appointed twelve men to be His disciples during His time on Earth. They followed Him everywhere He went. They watched Him as He performed miracles, spoke sermons, and loved others. Christ is the perfect example. He lived a perfect and blameless life. He cared for others so much that He died on a cross to save them.

 For God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him should not perish but have everlasting life. For God did not send His Son into the world to condemn the world, but that the world through Him might be saved. He who believes in Him is not condemned; but he who does not believe is condemned already, because he has not believed in the name of the only begotten Son of God. - John 3:16-18 (NKJV)

This man took the punishment for mine and your sins. Man acts in disobedience to God through sin. Sin is an act that is rebellious towards the goodness of God. Me and you live in a world of sin. Our very flesh desires to sin. Our hearts are immoral. Sin does not bring life, but brings death. But Jesus gives us hope.

For the wages of sin is death, but the gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord. - Romans 6:23 (NKJV)

If you have not already accepted Jesus as your personal Lord and savior, I welcome you to do so. If you are not sure or have any questions about Jesus or the Gospel feel free to ask me. The first step into becoming a disciple is to accept Jesus as your personal Lord and savior. To know that you are separated from God.

for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God, - Romans 3:23 (NKJV)

“The word is near you, in your mouth and in your heart” (that is, the word of faith which we preach): that if you confess with your mouth the Lord Jesus and believe in your heart that God has raised Him from the dead, you will be saved. - Romans 10:8-9 (NKJV)

If you want to be saved it is through Christ. Believing in Him and confessing that He is Lord assures eternal life. But through this belief, through this acknowledgement of sin, through this confession comes forth a life of change. A life about transforming your mind and yourself into the image and mind of Christ.

I beseech you therefore, brethren, by the mercies of God, that you present your bodies a living sacrifice, holy, acceptable to God, which is your reasonable service. And do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind, that you may prove what is that good and acceptable and perfect will of God. - Romans 12:1-2 (NKJV)

If you have confessed that you are a sinner, believe that God has raised Jesus Christ from the dead, and believe that Jesus Christ is Lord; I welcome you to the family of God! This is the biggest decision you will ever make. If you have dedicated your life I would love to know so I can encourage you personally. I would also love to pray for you. You can email me at matt.kost@yahoo.com.

Thank you all, and God bless!

Soli Deo Gloria!

- Matthew Anthony Kost