3 And we can be sure that we know him if we obey his commandments. 4 If someone claims, “I know God,” but doesn’t obey God’s commandments, that person is a liar and is not living in the truth. 5 But those who obey God’s word truly show how completely they love him. That is how we know we are living in him. 6 Those who say they live in God should live their lives as Jesus did.
Following Jesus According to 1 John 2:3–6
One of the simplest—and most challenging—claims in Scripture is found in 1 John 2:6:
“Those who say they live in God should live their lives as Jesus did.” (NLT)
John does not define following Jesus as a feeling, a label, or a set of beliefs alone. He defines it as a way of life—a pattern of walking that reflects the life of Christ Himself. To follow Jesus is not merely to admire Him, but to order our lives around Him.
What does that kind of discipleship look like?
1. Following Jesus Is More Than Information Gathering
In many settings, following Jesus is reduced to learning—Bible knowledge, theology, or correct doctrine. While these things matter deeply, John reminds us that knowing about Jesus is not the same as knowing Him.
“And we can be sure that we know Him if we obey His commandments.” (1 John 2:3)
Biblical knowledge is meant to lead somewhere. It is meant to shape how we speak, how we forgive, how we use power, how we treat others, and how we trust God in real life. Information that never becomes obedience eventually hardens the heart rather than softening it.
This raises an important question that moves us deeper:
If following Jesus is more than knowing facts, then who is it really for?
2. Following Jesus Is an Enterprise for Everyone
Discipleship is sometimes presented as an advanced course for especially committed Christians—leaders, pastors, or “serious” believers. But John writes his letter to ordinary Christians living ordinary lives, and he makes clear that following Jesus is the calling of every believer.
There are no secondary disciples in the kingdom of God.
Whether someone is young or old, newly baptized or long-established in faith, educated or uneducated, following Jesus is not an optional upgrade—it is the normal Christian life. We do not follow Jesus once we have mastered faith; we follow Him so that faith can take root and grow.
That leads us to the next reality:
If following Jesus belongs to everyone, how long does that calling last?
3. Following Jesus Is a Lifelong Pursuit
There is no graduation ceremony in discipleship.
Following Jesus is not something we complete in one season of life and then move beyond. It is a lifelong journey of learning, unlearning, repentance, growth, and renewed trust. Over time, the way we follow Jesus may mature, deepen, and become more nuanced—but it never ends.
Some lessons are learned quickly. Others take decades. Some forms of obedience come easily; others are forged through struggle, suffering, and perseverance.
This long view of discipleship prepares us for a harder truth:
If following Jesus shapes our entire life, what happens when His way conflicts with the world around us?
4. Following Jesus Frequently Puts Us at Odds with Our Culture
To “walk as Jesus walked” means we will sometimes find ourselves out of step with the values, priorities, and assumptions of our surrounding culture.
- Jesus taught humility in a world obsessed with status.
- He practiced generosity in a culture of accumulation.
- He showed compassion to those society pushed aside.
- He spoke truth when silence would have been safer.
Following Jesus does not mean withdrawing from culture, but it does mean refusing to let culture define our deepest loyalties. There will be moments when obedience feels costly, misunderstood, or even foolish. Yet these moments often clarify who—or what—we are truly following.
This tension invites a final, hopeful question:
If following Jesus is costly, what does it ultimately produce in our lives?
5. Following Jesus Produces a Bountiful Harvest
For new believers especially, following Jesus can feel uncertain and even risky. There are habits to leave behind, new patterns to learn, and fears to face. But Scripture consistently affirms that obedience to Christ is never barren.
When we follow Jesus, He produces fruit—often quietly, gradually, and more abundantly than we expected. Lives begin to show signs of transformation: peace in the midst of difficulty, courage where fear once ruled, love where resentment once lived, and hope that outlasts circumstances.
This harvest is not the result of perfection, but of faithfulness. Jesus does the producing; we do the following.
Bringing It All Together
John gathers all of these truths into one simple test of authenticity:
“Those who say they live in God should live their lives as Jesus did.” (1 John 2:6)
Following Jesus is more than learning.
- It is for every believer.
- It lasts a lifetime.
- It will sometimes place us at odds with our culture.
- And it produces a harvest shaped by the life of Christ Himself.
To follow Jesus is not merely to believe something about Him—it is to walk with Him, step by step, day by day, trusting that His way leads to life.
For some next steps, check out these links:
- https://zume.training or https://zume.vision
- Maston, T.B., To Walk as Jesus Walked
- Coleman, Robert T. The Master Plan of Discipleship
- Kai, Ying. Training for Trainers
- Sergeant, Curtis, The Only One: Living Fully In, By, and For God
- Donovan, Vincent, Christianity Rediscovered
- Bonhoeffer, Dietrich. The Cost of Discipleship
- Bonhoeffer, Dietrich. Ethics
- Bonhoeffer, Dietrich. Life Together
- Lovejoy, Grant. Making Disciples of Oral Learners
- Sheldon, Charles M. In His Steps
- Nouwen, Henri, Following Jesus: Finding Our Way Home in an Age of Anxiety
- Willimon, Will, Resident Aliens: Life in the Christian Colony
- Wright, N.T., Simply Jesus: A New Vision of Who He Was, What He Did, and Why He Matters
- Willis, Avery, MasterLife
- Coleman, Lyman, The Serendipity Bible