Jesus’ Stated Conditions on Who May Be His Follower

Following the bare listing of the verses, will be a bit of commentary.

Jesus’ Conditions – Strictly the words of Jesus

Note liberty has been taken to bold-face and underline key phrases to show you that these are emphatic, non-negotiable conditions/requirements Jesus gave. Some of these are redundant because they are re-stated in more than one gospel. 

John 3 –³ Jesus answered and said to him, “Most assuredly, I say to you, unless one is born again, he cannot see the kingdom of God.”

John 3 ^-5 Jesus answered, “Most assuredly, I say to you, unless one is born of water and the Spirit, he cannot enter the kingdom of God.

Matthew 5 – ²⁰ For I say to you, that unless your righteousness exceeds the righteousness of the scribes and Pharisees, you will by no means enter the kingdom of heaven.

Matthew 7:21 – “Not everyone who says to Me, ‘Lord, Lord,’ shall enter the kingdom of heaven, but he who does the will of My Father in heaven.

Matthew 18 – ³ and said, “Assuredly, I say to you, unless you are converted and become as little children, you will by no means enter the kingdom of heaven. 

Mark 10:15 – Assuredly, I say to you, whoever does not receive the kingdom of God as a little child will by no means enter it.”

Luke 18 – Assuredly, I say to you, whoever does not receive the kingdom of God as a little child will by no means enter it.”

Luke 14 – ²⁶ “If anyone comes to Me and does not hate his father and mother, wife and children, brothers and sisters, yes, and his own life also, he cannot be My disciple.²⁷ And whoever does not bear his cross and come after Me cannot be My disciple. ²⁸ For which of you, intending to build a tower, does not sit down first and count the cost, whether he has enough to finish it— ²⁹ lest, after he has laid the foundation, and is not able to finish, all who see it begin to mock him, ³⁰ saying, ‘This man began to build and was not able to finish’? ³¹ Or what king, going to make war against another king, does not sit down first and consider whether he is able with ten thousand to meet him who comes against him with twenty thousand? ³² Or else, while the other is still a great way off, he sends a delegation and asks conditions of peace. ³³ So likewise, whoever of you does not forsake all that he has cannot be My disciple.

Matthew 16:24 – 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.

Mark 8:34 –When He had called the people to Himself, with His disciples also, He said to them, “Whoever desires to come after Me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross, and follow Me.

Luke 9:23 –  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.

Matthew 16:25 – For whoever desires to save his life will lose it, but whoever loses his life for My sake will find it.

Mark  8:35 – For whoever desires to save his life will lose it, but whoever loses his life for My sake and the gospel’s will save it.

Luke 9:24 – For whoever desires to save his life will lose it, but whoever loses his life for My sake will save it.

Luke 17:33 – Whoever seeks to save his life will lose it, and whoever loses his life will preserve it.

Matthew 19:23-24 – Then Jesus said to His disciples, “Assuredly, I say to you that it is hard for a rich man to enter the kingdom of heaven…. And again I say to you, it is easier for a camel to go through the eye of a needle than for a rich man to enter the kingdom of God.”

Mark 10:24-25 – Then Jesus looked around and said to His disciples, “How hard it is for those who have riches to enter the kingdom of God!”

It is easier for a camel to go through the eye of a needle than for a rich man to enter the kingdom of God.”

Luke 18:24-25 – And when Jesus saw that he became very sorrowful, He said, “How hard it is for those who have riches to enter the kingdom of God

For it is easier for a camel to go through the eye of a needle than for a rich man to enter the kingdom of God.” 

Additional conditions (requirements) for holiness

(Words from epistles – written by the first followers of Jesus)

1 Thessalonians 4 – ² for you know what commandments we gave you through the Lord Jesus.³ For this is the will of God, your sanctification: that you should abstain from sexual immorality; ⁴ that each of you should know how to possess his own vessel in sanctification and honor, …

1 Peter 1 – ¹⁵ but as He who called you is holy, you also be holy in all your conduct, ¹⁶ because it is written, “Be holy, for I am holy.” ¹⁷ And if you call on the Father, who without partiality judges according to each one’s work, conduct yourselves throughout the time of your stay here in fear;

Hebrews 12 – ¹² Therefore strengthen the hands which hang down, and the feeble knees, ¹³ and make straight paths for your feet, so that what is lame may not be dislocated, but rather be healed. ¹⁴ Pursue peace with all people,and holiness,without which no one will see the Lord: ¹⁵ looking carefully lest anyone fall short of the grace of God; lest any root of bitterness springing up cause trouble, and by this many become defiled; ¹⁶ lest there be any fornicator or profane person like Esau, who for one morsel of food sold his birthright. ¹⁷ For you know that afterward, when he wanted to inherit the blessing, he was rejected, for he found no place for repentance, though he sought it diligently with tears.

Romans 12 – 12 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. ² 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.

Galatians 5– ¹⁶ I say then: Walk in the Spirit, and you shall not fulfill the lust of the flesh. ¹⁷ For the flesh lusts against the Spirit, and the Spirit against the flesh; and these are contrary to one another, so that you do not do the things that you wish. ¹⁸ But if you are led by the Spirit, you are not under the law.

Last word by Jesus – His call to be one with Him (and thus holy)

(This is also a condition. It is not expressed as optional. It is for all called Christian.)

John15 – ⁴ Abide in Me, and I in you. As the branch cannot bear fruit of itself, unless it abides in the vine, neither can you, unless you abide in Me. ⁵“I am the vine, you are the branches. He who abides in Me, and I in him, bears muchfruit; for without Me you can do nothing.⁶ If anyone does not abide in Me, he is cast out as a branch and is withered; and they gather them and throw them into the fire, and they are burned.

Brief Commentary

1) Jesus says a person cannot be a Christian (disciple) if they do not agree to (and meet) these conditions FROM THEIR HEART.

2) Jesus says a Christian will NOT enter His kingdom (and go to heaven) if they do not meet His conditions from the heart.

3) It takes the Holy Spirit and God’s grace to keep these conditions from the heart.

4) Many Christian preachers fail and neglect to fully explain these conditions – but the preachers try to get people to say “YES” to Jesus Christ.

5) Many Christians do not know they are handicapped spiritually because they try to be followers of Jesus when they violate Jesus’ conditions!

6) Many who try to live as Christians will be decived and believe false understandngs of the Bible because they do not meet Jesus’ conditions. Only GOD can open a Christian’s eyes. A Christian who fails to obey God will not get all the grace God would give for them to know the truth that makes free. 

7) Many who try to live as Christians ARE NOT IN POSITION TO RECIEVE ALL OF GOD’S GRACE.

Think about this — Any group in the world has minimum entry requirements. Why do Christians think they will succeed in lives lived as Christians if they do not obey Jesus’ minimum entry requirements?

For example: To join the Army, a person MUST be a minimum height and have minimum strength and physical and mental capabilities. The Army will not let a person join if he is too short or too weak, or if his mind is not good.

If the Army let too short, weak, mentally retarded people join, then they would become a danger to the whole Army.

Everyone in the world knows these things. They are common sense.

ANY ORGANIZATION IN THE WORLD HAS MINIMUM ENTRY REQUIREMENTS OR YOU CANNOT JOIN – AND EVEN IF YOU DID JOIN, YOU WOULD NOT SUCCEED. WHY DO CHRISTIANS THINK IT WILL BE DIFFERENT FOR THEM?

1) Must be born again (Jn 3:3,5)

2) Must become as a little child (Mt 18:3)

3) Must “hate father, mother, brother .. even own life” (=must love JESUS above family, friends, everyone) (Lk 14:26)

4) Must carry cross (Lk 14:27, etc.)

5) Must count cost – it will cost you all that you used to care about that God does not approve of – we must quit these. It may even mean you die a martyr. (Lk 14:28-32)

6) You must forsake all — as GOD defines this. (Lk 14:33)

7) If you try to “save” your own life and life for SELF instead of living for Christ, you will LOSE your life (Stated in all four gospels).

A Christian must live ONLY for CHRIST. This must be your honest will. You must from your spirit choose this in God’s grace. Many preachers do not tell Christians these things. Or they may speak on some of these conditions, but often they make excuses for them to not meet the conditions. Many teach false gospels.

Many weak and unfaithful hirelings do not have the gifting or spiritual ability from God to teach Jesus’ “narrow way.” Many preachers want people to join the church because all they care about is adding converts. Many preachers in America are profiting from their ministry and treat it like a business. They do what is good for their business. They do not create disciples of Jesus Christ. They create disciples of themsleves. They create church members, not members of the kingdom of Christ.

Jesus – Matthew 23 – ¹³ “But woe to you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! For you shut up the kingdom of heaven against men; for you neither go in yourselves, nor do you allow those who are entering to go in. ¹⁴ Woe to you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! For you devour widows’ houses, and for a pretense make long prayers. Therefore you will receive greater condemnation. ¹⁵ “Woe to you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! For you travel land and sea to win one proselyte [convert], and when he is won, you make him twice as much a son of hell as yourselves.

The churches are full of preachers who do these things even if they say they do not. The proof is the fruit. 

Many preachers lower God’s requirements just to get people to say YES to Jesus– and they bring people into the church as members who are not born again – they are still born.

No one can walk with God unless they meet Jesus’ conditions. He is willing to give us power to do these. With man these things are impossible, but with God, all things are possible. The Way of Christ is narrow, and difficult, said Jesus. Few find it.

Many have tried to live as Christians and they wonder why things do not work.

They hear about God’s power and love for His children, but they have no poower or love in their lives.

Satan has deceived millions. He teaches easier ways to be a Christian. He just talks about grace, grace, and he changes the meaning of grace.

Grace is God’s power to become like Jesus. God must give us grace, and we must obey and love the Lord.