The Unshakable Foundation: Hearing and Obeying the Words of Jesus Christ

Personally, as a follower of Jesus Christ, if I read or hear something Jesus said, that settles it for me.
It actually grieves me to my spirit, when Christians say something like “ Yes, I know Jesus said that, but Paul came after Jesus, and as Christians we are now to live in the Epistles”

I would challenge anyone who believes that to prove to me from the WORDS OF JESUS CHRIST where he ever said there would be another gospel preached other than the Kingdom of God gospel that he preached.

The Father Himself commanded, “This is my beloved Son, in whom I am well pleased; hear ye HIM” (Matthew 17:5). That command alone should stir every believer to build their entire faith upon the words of Jesus. When the Creator of heaven and earth says, “Hear Him,” we must understand that no voice carries greater authority than the voice of the Son.

The Rock of His Words

Jesus made it clear that the strength of our lives and salvation rests upon hearing and obeying HIS words. He said, “Whosoever cometh to me, and heareth my sayings, and doeth them, I will shew you to whom he is like: He is like a man which built an house, and digged deep, and laid the foundation on a rock: and when the flood arose, the stream beat vehemently upon that house, and could not shake it: for it was founded upon a rock” (Luke 6:47–48).

Then Jesus gave the warning: “But he that heareth, and doeth not, is like a man that without a foundation built an house upon the earth; against which the stream did beat vehemently, and immediately it fell; and the ruin of that house was great” (Luke 6:49).

This is why when we have the great joy and privilege of sharing the Gospel with someone, we must never tell them that saying the “sinner’s prayer” automatically saves them. To do so risks leading them to build their lives upon the sand instead of upon the solid rock of the Lord’s teachings.

Jesus did not say, “Say a prayer and you will be saved.” He said, “If ye continue in my word, then are ye my disciples indeed; and ye shall know the truth, and the truth shall make you free” (John 8:31–32).

Fear God and Give Him Glory

We’ve preached grace. We’ve preached love. But where’s the fear of God in our message today? The early church didn’t water it down. They preached repentance, holiness, and the fear of God. It’s time we preach it like they did, with truth, fire, and boldness.

Because that’s what Jesus and the apostles preached, the scriptures BELOW will prove this!

“And fear not them which kill the body, but are not able to kill the soul:  but rather fear him which is able to destroy both soul and body in hell.” Matthew 10:28

“Then had the churches rest throughout all Judaea and Galilee and Samaria, and were edified; and walking in the fear of the Lord, and in the comfort of the Holy Ghost, were multiplied.” Acts 9:31

But in every nation he that feareth him, and worketh righteousness, is accepted with him.”Acts 10:35
“Then Paul stood up, and beckoning with his hand said, Men of Israel, and ye that fear God, give audience.”Acts 13:16

“Men and brethren, children of the stock of Abraham, and whosoever among you feareth God, to you is the word of this salvation sent.” Acts 13:26

“Well; because of unbelief they were broken off, and thou standest by faith.  Be not highminded, but fear:  For if God spared not the natural branches, take heed lest he also spare not thee.” Romans 11:20–21

“Submitting yourselves one to another in the fear of God.”Ephesians 5:21

“Wherefore, my beloved, as ye have always obeyed, not as in my presence only,  but now much more in my absence, work out your own salvation with fear and trembling.” Philippians 2:12

“Servants, obey in all things your masters according to the flesh;  not with eyeservice, as menpleasers; but in singleness of heart, fearing God.” Colossians 3:22

“Let us therefore fear, lest, a promise being left us of entering into his rest, any of you should seem to come short of it.” Hebrews 4:1

“Wherefore we receive a kingdom which cannot be moved,  let us have grace, whereby we may serve God acceptably with reverence and godly fear: For our God is a consuming fire.” Hebrews 12:28–29

“And if ye call on the Father, who without respect of persons judgeth according to every man’s work,  pass the time of your sojourning here in fear.” 1 Peter 1:17

“Honour all men. Love the brotherhood. Fear God. Honour the king.” 1 Peter 2:17

“While they behold your chaste conversation coupled with fear.” 1 Peter 3:2

“Saying with a loud voice, Fear God, and give glory to him; for the hour of his judgment is come: and worship him that made heaven, and earth, and the sea, and the fountains of waters.” Revelation 14:7

“Who shall not fear thee, O Lord, and glorify thy name? for thou only art holy:  for all nations shall come and worship before thee; for thy judgments are made manifest.”Revelation 15:4

“And a voice came out of the throne, saying, Praise our God, all ye his servants, and ye that fear him, both small and great.” Revelation 19:5
The fear of the Lord is not terror, but deep reverence for His holiness, justice, and mercy. It keeps our hearts humble and our walk sincere before God.

The Message Jesus Came to Preach

Many people, if asked why Jesus came, would rightly say He came to die for our sins. Indeed, he did. But Jesus Himself declared another purpose, one that often goes unnoticed. He came to preach the Kingdom of God.

“And he said unto them, I must preach the kingdom of God to other cities also: for therefore am I sent” (Luke 4:43).

The King came preaching the Kingdom. He proclaimed, “Repent: for the kingdom of heaven is at hand” (Matthew 4:17).

His message was not merely about escaping judgment, but about entering into the rule and reign of God’s righteousness, peace, and truth. The early church preached this same message. After His resurrection, Jesus continued “speaking of the things pertaining to the kingdom of God” (Acts 1:3).

The apostles followed His example, declaring “the things concerning the kingdom of God, and the name of Jesus Christ” (Acts 8:12). So if Jesus said His mission was to preach the Kingdom, then that is the foundation of the Gospel we must share.

Grace and Truth Together

We must tell people about the wonderful grace of our heavenly Father in sending Jesus Christ. For “God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life” (John 3:16).

Yet we must also speak the truth that Jesus Himself spoke. He warned that not all who call Him “Lord” will enter the kingdom, but only those who do the will of His Father.

“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 which is in heaven” (Matthew 7:21).

Grace is not a license to ignore His commands; grace is the power to obey them. Therefore, when we teach others, we must build their faith not on religious formulas or traditions of men, but on the living and eternal words of Jesus.

He said, “Heaven and earth shall pass away, but my words shall not pass away” (Matthew 24:35).

Let every believer, every teacher, and every preacher return to the words of the Master, for He alone is the Way, the Truth, and the Life (John 14:6).

The Words of Jesus: A Warning the Church Must Hear

Millions have been told to “repeat a prayer” and assume heaven is guaranteed, but Jesus never said that. He never told anyone to “say a sinner’s prayer.” He said, “Follow me.”Jesus’ words are not suggestions, they are the standard by which every soul will be judged.

He said, “He that rejecteth me, and receiveth not my words, hath one that judgeth him: the word that I have spoken, the same shall judge him in the last day” (John 12:48).

We must return to what Jesus actually preached the gospel of the kingdom  a message of repentance, surrender, obedience, and fruit. The gospel has been watered down until it hardly resembles what Jesus preached.

But His words are still written, and they are not suggestions. He said, “Heaven and earth shall pass away, but my words shall not pass away” (Matthew 24:35). Those words will judge us all. It is time to take the words of Jesus seriously.

“Whosoever” — An Open Door, Not a Blank Check

Jesus said, “For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life” (John 3:16). But what does it mean to believe? Jesus Himself explained it: “If ye continue in my word, then are ye my disciples indeed” (John 8:31). 

True belief is not a moment of emotion or a single prayer  it is a life of continuing in His word. He also said, “Whosoever doth not bear his cross, and come after me, cannot be my disciple” (Luke 14:27).

“Whosoever” means anyone can come, but only those who obey will remain. It is an open invitation, but not an unconditional guarantee.

Branches in Christ Can Be Cut Off

One of the most sobering things Jesus ever said is in John 15. He spoke not to unbelievers, but to His disciples  those already “in Him.” “I am the true vine, and my Father is the husbandman… Every branch in me that beareth not fruit he taketh away” (John 15:1-2).

Let that sink in. Jesus said, “Every branch in me…” Those already in Him can be taken away if they bear no fruit. He continued, “If a man abides not in me, he is cast forth as a branch, and is withered, and men gather them, and cast them into the fire, and they are burned” (John 15:6).

To “abide” means to remain, to continue, to endure. Those who stop abiding are cut off. This is not a threat to scare us, it is the truth to awaken us. Salvation can be forfeited by turning away, by refusing to bear fruit, by disobeying His commands. A sinner’s prayer will not save but fruit will.

Jesus left no room for confusion: “Every tree is known by his own fruit” (Luke 6:44).

The Danger of a Shallow Gospel

In our generation, multitudes have been told that all they need to do is “say the sinner’s prayer.” But no such teaching exists anywhere in the Bible. Jesus never said, “Repeat after Me.” He said, “Follow Me.”He said, “If any man will come after me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross daily, and follow me” (Luke 9:23).

Salvation is a free gift, but it is not a cheap gift. It cost the blood of the Son of God. And those who receive it must walk in that same obedience. Jesus warned that some believe for a while but later fall away. “They on the rock are they, which, when they hear, receive the word with joy, and these have no root, which for a while believe, and in time of temptation fall away” (Luke 8:13).

If salvation could not be lost, these words would be meaningless. But Jesus said them because the danger is real.

Paul Agreed — Even He Could Be Cut Off

Some quote Paul’s words in Romans 10:9, “That if thou shalt confess with thy mouth the Lord Jesus, and shalt believe in thine heart that God hath raised him from the dead, thou shalt be saved.”

But Paul never taught that salvation ends with confession. He taught that confession begins a life of obedience. He wrote, “Work out your own salvation with fear and trembling” (Philippians 2:12). Why fear and trembling if there is no danger?

Paul also warned believers, “Be not highminded, but fear: For if God spared not the natural branches, take heed lest he also spare not thee… otherwise thou also shalt be cut off” (Romans 11:20-22).

And concerning himself he said, “I keep under my body, and bring it into subjection, lest that by any means, when I have preached to others, I myself should be a castaway” (1 Corinthians 9:27).

A “castaway” is one rejected, disqualified, or cut off. Even Paul feared that fate if he did not continue in obedience. In truth, salvation is a race that must be finished, not a prayer that is repeated.

The Gospel of the Kingdom — The Only Gospel Jesus Endorsed

Jesus came preaching one message: “The gospel of the kingdom.”“And Jesus went about all Galilee, teaching in their synagogues, and preaching the gospel of the kingdom” (Matthew 4:23).

He never preached “the gospel of easy belief.” He preached repentance, righteousness, and surrender. And He said, “This gospel of the kingdom shall be preached in all the world for a witness unto all nations, and then shall the end come” (Matthew 24:14).

“This gospel” not any watered-down version. The kingdom gospel calls people to repentance, holiness, and fruit. It is grace and obedience, love and lordship, faith and faithfulness.

Conclusion: Hear Him

When the Father said, “Hear ye Him,” He meant that everything we need for life, salvation, and godliness is found in Christ’s own words. Therefore, for everyone who calls upon the Name of our Lord Jesus Christ, our safest and surest foundation will always be the living truth that Almighty God, our Heavenly Father, spoke through His spotless Lamb and His sinless Son.

If we truly hear Him, believe Him, and follow Him, then we are building on the rock that will never be moved.

“Whosoever heareth these sayings of mine, and doeth them, I will liken him unto a wise man, which built his house upon a rock” (Matthew 7:24).