“Those who aren’t following Jesus aren’t his followers. It’s that simple. Followers follow, and those who don’t follow aren’t followers. To follow Jesus means to follow Jesus into a society where justice rules, where love shapes everything. To follow Jesus means to take up his dream and work for it.”
(Scot McKnight, One Life: Jesus Calls, We Follow)
I would say that to believe in Jesus is to follow him, and to follow Him is to join Him in His life and mission.
God’s plan is to restore His creation and His family through Jesus and His followers.
Jesus began that work when He was on earth, now He continues it through His followers wherever they are on earth.
If I am not living and loving like Jesus (not perfectly but to the best of my ability with His help), then I am not living the salvation life, the life I was made and saved for…
In other words I am living like one who is not saved.
To be saved is the same thing as to be a Jesus follower, one who joins with Jesus in living the God-life with the Spirit’s help, and thereby restoring God’s world as He meant it to be.
Am I saved, are you?
Are we living the saved life?
Are we following Jesus?