I think that these scriptures speak volumes about becoming a disciple of Jesus: -
Matthew 16:24-26: - Take Up Your Cross and Follow Jesus
24 Then Jesus told his disciples, “
If anyone would come after me, let him deny himself and take up his cross and follow me. 25
For whoever would save his life will lose it, but whoever loses his life for my sake will find it. 26
For what will it profit a man if he gains the whole world and forfeits his soul? Or what shall a man give in return for his soul?
ESV
Mark 8:34-9:1: - 34 And calling the crowd to him with his disciples, he said to them, “
If anyone would come after me, let him deny himself and take up his cross and follow me. 35
For whoever would save his life will lose it, but whoever loses his life for my sake and the gospel’s will save it. 36
For what does it profit a man to gain the whole world and forfeit his soul? 37
For what can a man give in return for his soul? 38
For whoever is ashamed of me and of my words in this adulterous and sinful generation, of him will the Son of Man also be ashamed when he comes in the glory of his Father with the holy angels.”
9:1 And he said to them, “
Truly, I say to you, there are some standing here who will not taste death until they see the kingdom of God after it has come with power.”
ESV
Luke 9:23-27: - Take Up Your Cross and Follow Jesus
23 And he said to all, “
If anyone would come after me, let him deny himself and take up his cross daily and follow me. 24
For whoever would save his life will lose it, but whoever loses his life for my sake will save it. 25
For what does it profit a man if he gains the whole world and loses or forfeits himself? 26
For whoever is ashamed of me and of my words, of him will the Son of Man be ashamed when he comes in his glory and the glory of the Father and of the holy angels. 27
But I tell you truly, there are some standing here who will not taste death until they see the kingdom of God.”
ESV
Luke 14:26-27: - 26 “
If anyone comes to me and does not hate his own father and mother and wife and children and brothers and sisters, yes, and even his own life, he cannot be my disciple. 27
Whoever does not bear his own cross and come after me cannot be my disciple.
ESV
Jack, can you show me where religion is mentioned in the above passages.
I have chosen to take up my cross and to follow Jesus and whatever will befall me by taking up my cross, I am choosing to thank God that I am worthy to be one of Jesus' disciples.
Goodbye Jack, I believe that you are now wearing out the welcome mat.
