The Call to Follow

The Call to Salvation

Jesus picked up the message of repentance where John left off and carried it to completion.

(ESV) saying, “The time is fulfilled, and the kingdom of God is at hand; repent and believe in the gospel.”

15 and saying, “The time is fulfilled, and the kingdom of God is at hand; repent and believe in the gospel.”

It was a message preached to all people.

It is a call to repent, to turn from our way of thinking and our ways of acting and turn to God.

It is a call to believe, FAITH. Acceptance of the Gospel message that was preached.

The Call to Service

It is a Personal Call.

Jesus called Peter and Andrew to “Follow Me.” this was a personal invitation to each to enter into fellowship with the Lord.

Every time God calls a person it is personal. He calls you into relationship with Himself.

It is a Purposeful Call.

Their new purpose was to become “fishers of men.”

They were joining the greatest work of all eternity, pointing other people to Jesus.

There were two primary functions of the call

Those casting nets - the evangelists.

Peter was outspoken and a natural leader.

Andrew was always leading people to meet Jesus.

Those mending nets - the equippers.

James and John typify the pastors and teachers, the servants of the church who get the people ready to fulfill their function.

Christ calls his followers to be engaged in the ministry of reaching the lost through evangelism or equipping the church.

It is a Powerful Call.

“I will make you...” Jesus does the transforming work.

It is God, “who works in you both to will and to do of His good pleasure.”

The power of the call is seen in the response, it was immediate, leaving the former life to walk with Christ.

Think about the life of these men. They were involved in “ordinary” occupations. Jesus did not go to the synagogues and call rabbinical students. He did not go to the Temple and the priests. He called men who would heed to call from “ordinary” backgrounds and transformed them.

They learned “Christ” so thoroughly that the temple leaders were latter astonished.

(ESV) Now when they saw the boldness of Peter and John, and perceived that they were uneducated, common men, they were astonished. And they recognized that they had been with Jesus.

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13 Now when they saw the boldness of Peter and John, and perceived that they were uneducated, common men, they were astonished. And they recognized that they had been with Jesus.

They had also marveled at Christ’s teaching.

(ESV) And they went into Capernaum, and immediately on the Sabbath he entered the synagogue and was teaching. 22 And they were astonished at his teaching, for he taught them as one who had authority, and not as the scribes.

(ESV) And they went into Capernaum, and immediately on the Sabbath he entered the synagogue and was teaching. 22 And they were astonished at his teaching, for he taught them as one who had authority, and not as the scribes.

They had been astonished at Christ’s background.

(ESV) The Jews therefore marveled, saying, “How is it that this man has learning, when he has never studied?” 16 So Jesus answered them, “My teaching is not mine, but his who sent me.

15 The Jews therefore marveled, saying, “How is it that this man has learning, when he has never studied?” 16 So Jesus answered them, “My teaching is not mine, but his who sent me.

They were astonished at Christ’s followers.

The source of the power is God.

(ESV) And they went into Capernaum, and immediately on the Sabbath he entered the synagogue and was teaching. 22 And they were astonished at his teaching, for he taught them as one who had authority, and not as the scribes.

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The powerful call demands a response.

21 And they went into Capernaum, and immediately on the Sabbath he entered the synagogue and was teaching. 22 And they were astonished at his teaching, for he taught them as one who had authority, and not as the scribes.

Their’s was immediate. They left all to follow him, not knowing what was coming.

They would see the most incredible days the world has ever known. Leper’s healed, dead raised, blind receive their sight, the death burial and Resurrection of Jesus.

What is your response?