Many people know about Jesus, but far fewer truly know what He taught and what He asks of those who follow Him. This series looks directly at His own words, so we can understand His message without adding to it or taking away from it. Knowing Jesus is more than knowing facts about Him. It is hearing Him, believing Him, and putting His teachings into practice. As Jesus said, "And this is life eternal, that they should know thee the only true God, and him whom thou didst send, even Jesus Christ." (John 17:3, ASV). My prayer is that this study will help us know Him more deeply and walk in the way He taught, because His words are the words of Eternal Life.
About Faith
Faith, as Jesus teaches it, is not something passive. It is not only to believe that He exists, or to say His name. True faith moves, obeys, and produces fruit. Without that, it is empty. Jesus Himself makes this clear. In Gospel of Matthew 7:21 (ASV), He says:
“Not every one that saith unto me, Lord, Lord, shall enter into the kingdom of heaven; but he that doeth the will of my Father who is in heaven.” Here, simply calling Him “Lord” is not enough. What matters is doing the will of God. Faith must lead to obedience.
He continues in the same teaching: “Every one therefore that heareth these words of mine, and doeth them, shall be likened unto a wise man…” “And every one that heareth these words of mine, and doeth them not, shall be likened unto a foolish man…” (Matthew 7:24–26, ASV)
Both hear His words. Both could say they believe. But only one acts. That is the one who stands. This shows that faith without action does not hold. Jesus also teaches that a true life of faith must produce visible fruit. In Gospel of Matthew 7:16–20: “By their fruits ye shall know them… Every good tree bringeth forth good fruit; but the corrupt tree bringeth forth evil fruit… Therefore by their fruits ye shall know them.”
Faith is like a tree. If it is real, it will bear fruit. If nothing comes from it, it is not the faith Jesus speaks of.
He gives a strong warning in Gospel of Luke 13:6–9, the parable of the fig tree. A tree that does not bear fruit is in danger of being cut down. This shows that a life without change, even if it seems to have time and chances, cannot remain as it is.
Jesus also speaks directly about keeping His words. In Gospel of John 14:23:
“If a man love me, he will keep my word.”
Love and faith go together, and both lead to obedience. Not by force, but from the heart. And again He says:
“Why call ye me, Lord, Lord, and do not the things which I say?” (Luke 6:46, ASV)
This question goes straight to the point. Calling Him Lord, believing in Him, is not enough if a person does not follow what He says.
Jesus also connects eternal life with action. In Gospel of Matthew 19:16–17, when asked about life, He answers:
“If thou wouldest enter into life, keep the commandments.”
This shows that faith does not replace obedience, It leads into it.
So when we gather all His words, the message is simple. Faith is the beginning, but it is not meant to stay alone. True faith listens, follows, obeys, and produces fruit. It is alive and active.
A faith that does not change the heart, that does not lead to obedience, is not the faith Jesus taught.
About Repentance
Jesus speaks very plainly about what He expects. He calls people to repent, to turn away from sin, and to receive a new heart that brings a new way of living. First we need to understand what sin is. Jesus shows that sin is not only outward actions, but also what comes from inside a person. He said: “In Gospel of Mark 7:20–23 (ASV), ‘That which proceedeth out of the man, that defileth the man. For from within, out of the heart of men, evil thoughts proceed, fornications, thefts, murders, adulteries… all these evil things proceed from within, and defile the man.’”
So sin is anything that comes from a heart that is not aligned with God. It includes actions, but also thoughts, desires, and intentions.
Jesus also deepens the meaning of sin in Gospel of Matthew 5. He teaches that sin is not only the act, but the root behind it:
“You have heard… ‘Thou shalt not kill’… but I say unto you, that every one who is angry with his brother shall be in danger of the judgment.” (Matthew 5:21–22, ASV) “You have heard… ‘Thou shalt not commit adultery’: but I say unto you, that every one that looketh on a woman to lust after her hath committed adultery with her already in his heart.” (Matthew 5:27–28, ASV)
Here we see that sin begins in the heart. This is why repentance must also begin there.
Jesus calls all people to repent. At the start of His ministry, it is written in Gospel of Matthew 4:17: “Repent ye; for the kingdom of heaven is at hand.” To repent means more than feeling sorry. It means to turn around, to leave the old way, and to walk in a new one. Jesus makes this very clear when He warns: “I tell you, Nay: but, except ye repent, ye shall all in like manner perish.” (Luke 13:3, ASV) But Jesus does not only ask people to stop doing wrong. He calls for a true change inside. A new heart that produces good fruit.
In Gospel of Luke 6:43–45 He says:
“For there is no good tree that bringeth forth corrupt fruit… For each tree is known by its own fruit… The good man out of the good treasure of his heart bringeth forth that which is good.”
This means the change must be real and inward. A changed heart will naturally bring a changed life.
Jesus also shows this in how He dealt with sinners. When He forgave the woman caught in sin, He told her:
“Go thy way; from henceforth sin no more.” (John 8:11, ASV)
He offers mercy, but He also calls for a new life.
And again, when He healed a man, He said: “Behold, thou art made whole: sin no more, lest a worse thing befall thee.” (John 5:14, ASV)
So the message is simple and clear. Sin comes from the heart and includes both what we do and what we desire. Repentance means turning away from that sin, not only outwardly but inwardly. And the change Jesus asks for is a true change of heart, one that leads to a new way of living.
In the end, Jesus shows that this is not optional. Those who truly follow Him are those who hear His words and do them. As He said in Gospel of Matthew 7:24:
“Every one therefore that heareth these words of mine, and doeth them, shall be likened unto a wise man, who built his house upon the rock.”
What about the commandments Jesus spoke about?
The commandments are not separate from what Jesus taught about repentance and a changed heart. They are part of it. They show us what sin is, and they show us what a right life looks like. When Jesus spoke about sin, He often pointed back to the commandments, but He went deeper than just the surface. In Gospel of Matthew 5, He takes the commandments and shows their true meaning. Not killing is a commandment, but Jesus shows that anger in the heart is already part of that sin. Not committing adultery is a commandment, but He shows that lust in the heart breaks it already. This means the commandments are not only about actions, but about the heart.
When a man asked Him how to have eternal life, Jesus answered by pointing directly to the commandments:
“You know the commandments… Do not kill, Do not commit adultery, Do not steal, Do not bear false witness, Honor your father and mother.” (from Gospel of Mark 10:19, ASV)
This shows that the commandments still stand as the way of righteousness. But Jesus does not stop there. He then calls the man to follow Him fully, showing that obedience must come from the heart, not just outward behavior.
Jesus also sums up the commandments in a simple way in Gospel of Matthew 22:37–40: “You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart… and your neighbor as yourself. On these two commandments hangs all the law and the prophets.”
So the commandments are fulfilled through love. But this is not just words. Real love leads to real obedience.
This is where repentance fits in. To repent means to turn away from breaking these commandments, and to begin to live according to them, from the heart. It is not just stopping sin, but starting to walk in what is right.
Jesus makes this very clear when He says:
“Not every one that says to me, Lord, Lord, shall enter into the kingdom of heaven; but he that does the will of my Father.” (Matthew 7:21, ASV)
And again: “If you love me, you will keep my commandments.” (John 14:15, ASV,)
So the commandments show what sin is, repentance is turning away from breaking them, and a changed heart is what allows a person to truly keep them.
The commandments are like a mirror that shows what is wrong. Repentance is turning away from that wrong. And the new heart that Jesus speaks about, transformed by the Holy Spirit whom He gives to His believers, is what makes a person able to live in what is right. Faith is not just belief; it is active and obeys the words of Christ.
About Faith
Faith, as Jesus teaches it, is not something passive. It is not only to believe that He exists, or to say His name. True faith moves, obeys, and produces fruit. Without that, it is empty. Jesus Himself makes this clear. In Gospel of Matthew 7:21 (ASV), He says:
“Not every one that saith unto me, Lord, Lord, shall enter into the kingdom of heaven; but he that doeth the will of my Father who is in heaven.” Here, simply calling Him “Lord” is not enough. What matters is doing the will of God. Faith must lead to obedience.
He continues in the same teaching: “Every one therefore that heareth these words of mine, and doeth them, shall be likened unto a wise man…” “And every one that heareth these words of mine, and doeth them not, shall be likened unto a foolish man…” (Matthew 7:24–26, ASV)
Both hear His words. Both could say they believe. But only one acts. That is the one who stands. This shows that faith without action does not hold. Jesus also teaches that a true life of faith must produce visible fruit. In Gospel of Matthew 7:16–20: “By their fruits ye shall know them… Every good tree bringeth forth good fruit; but the corrupt tree bringeth forth evil fruit… Therefore by their fruits ye shall know them.”
Faith is like a tree. If it is real, it will bear fruit. If nothing comes from it, it is not the faith Jesus speaks of.
He gives a strong warning in Gospel of Luke 13:6–9, the parable of the fig tree. A tree that does not bear fruit is in danger of being cut down. This shows that a life without change, even if it seems to have time and chances, cannot remain as it is.
Jesus also speaks directly about keeping His words. In Gospel of John 14:23:
“If a man love me, he will keep my word.”
Love and faith go together, and both lead to obedience. Not by force, but from the heart. And again He says:
“Why call ye me, Lord, Lord, and do not the things which I say?” (Luke 6:46, ASV)
This question goes straight to the point. Calling Him Lord, believing in Him, is not enough if a person does not follow what He says.
Jesus also connects eternal life with action. In Gospel of Matthew 19:16–17, when asked about life, He answers:
“If thou wouldest enter into life, keep the commandments.”
This shows that faith does not replace obedience, It leads into it.
So when we gather all His words, the message is simple. Faith is the beginning, but it is not meant to stay alone. True faith listens, follows, obeys, and produces fruit. It is alive and active.
A faith that does not change the heart, that does not lead to obedience, is not the faith Jesus taught.
About Repentance
Jesus speaks very plainly about what He expects. He calls people to repent, to turn away from sin, and to receive a new heart that brings a new way of living. First we need to understand what sin is. Jesus shows that sin is not only outward actions, but also what comes from inside a person. He said: “In Gospel of Mark 7:20–23 (ASV), ‘That which proceedeth out of the man, that defileth the man. For from within, out of the heart of men, evil thoughts proceed, fornications, thefts, murders, adulteries… all these evil things proceed from within, and defile the man.’”
So sin is anything that comes from a heart that is not aligned with God. It includes actions, but also thoughts, desires, and intentions.
Jesus also deepens the meaning of sin in Gospel of Matthew 5. He teaches that sin is not only the act, but the root behind it:
“You have heard… ‘Thou shalt not kill’… but I say unto you, that every one who is angry with his brother shall be in danger of the judgment.” (Matthew 5:21–22, ASV) “You have heard… ‘Thou shalt not commit adultery’: but I say unto you, that every one that looketh on a woman to lust after her hath committed adultery with her already in his heart.” (Matthew 5:27–28, ASV)
Here we see that sin begins in the heart. This is why repentance must also begin there.
Jesus calls all people to repent. At the start of His ministry, it is written in Gospel of Matthew 4:17: “Repent ye; for the kingdom of heaven is at hand.” To repent means more than feeling sorry. It means to turn around, to leave the old way, and to walk in a new one. Jesus makes this very clear when He warns: “I tell you, Nay: but, except ye repent, ye shall all in like manner perish.” (Luke 13:3, ASV) But Jesus does not only ask people to stop doing wrong. He calls for a true change inside. A new heart that produces good fruit.
In Gospel of Luke 6:43–45 He says:
“For there is no good tree that bringeth forth corrupt fruit… For each tree is known by its own fruit… The good man out of the good treasure of his heart bringeth forth that which is good.”
This means the change must be real and inward. A changed heart will naturally bring a changed life.
Jesus also shows this in how He dealt with sinners. When He forgave the woman caught in sin, He told her:
“Go thy way; from henceforth sin no more.” (John 8:11, ASV)
He offers mercy, but He also calls for a new life.
And again, when He healed a man, He said: “Behold, thou art made whole: sin no more, lest a worse thing befall thee.” (John 5:14, ASV)
So the message is simple and clear. Sin comes from the heart and includes both what we do and what we desire. Repentance means turning away from that sin, not only outwardly but inwardly. And the change Jesus asks for is a true change of heart, one that leads to a new way of living.
In the end, Jesus shows that this is not optional. Those who truly follow Him are those who hear His words and do them. As He said in Gospel of Matthew 7:24:
“Every one therefore that heareth these words of mine, and doeth them, shall be likened unto a wise man, who built his house upon the rock.”
What about the commandments Jesus spoke about?
The commandments are not separate from what Jesus taught about repentance and a changed heart. They are part of it. They show us what sin is, and they show us what a right life looks like. When Jesus spoke about sin, He often pointed back to the commandments, but He went deeper than just the surface. In Gospel of Matthew 5, He takes the commandments and shows their true meaning. Not killing is a commandment, but Jesus shows that anger in the heart is already part of that sin. Not committing adultery is a commandment, but He shows that lust in the heart breaks it already. This means the commandments are not only about actions, but about the heart.
When a man asked Him how to have eternal life, Jesus answered by pointing directly to the commandments:
“You know the commandments… Do not kill, Do not commit adultery, Do not steal, Do not bear false witness, Honor your father and mother.” (from Gospel of Mark 10:19, ASV)
This shows that the commandments still stand as the way of righteousness. But Jesus does not stop there. He then calls the man to follow Him fully, showing that obedience must come from the heart, not just outward behavior.
Jesus also sums up the commandments in a simple way in Gospel of Matthew 22:37–40: “You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart… and your neighbor as yourself. On these two commandments hangs all the law and the prophets.”
So the commandments are fulfilled through love. But this is not just words. Real love leads to real obedience.
This is where repentance fits in. To repent means to turn away from breaking these commandments, and to begin to live according to them, from the heart. It is not just stopping sin, but starting to walk in what is right.
Jesus makes this very clear when He says:
“Not every one that says to me, Lord, Lord, shall enter into the kingdom of heaven; but he that does the will of my Father.” (Matthew 7:21, ASV)
And again: “If you love me, you will keep my commandments.” (John 14:15, ASV,)
So the commandments show what sin is, repentance is turning away from breaking them, and a changed heart is what allows a person to truly keep them.
The commandments are like a mirror that shows what is wrong. Repentance is turning away from that wrong. And the new heart that Jesus speaks about, transformed by the Holy Spirit whom He gives to His believers, is what makes a person able to live in what is right. Faith is not just belief; it is active and obeys the words of Christ.
