It is saying rather that in order to be saved at all, in order to follow Jesus really, we must deny self and take up our cross and then follow him.
If you read the 4 gospels in 3 out of 4 Jesus never carried His cross
Mat_27:32 And as they came out, they found a man of Cyrene, Simon by name: him they compelled to bear his cross.
Mar_15:21 And they compel one Simon a Cyrenian, who passed by, coming out of the country, the father of Alexander and Rufus, to bear his cross.
Luk_23:26 And as they led him away, they laid hold upon one Simon, a Cyrenian, coming out of the country, and on him they laid the cross, that he might bear it after Jesus.
It is only John who makes no mention of Simon
Joh 19:16 Then delivered he him therefore unto them to be crucified. And they took Jesus, and led him away.
Joh 19:17 And he bearing his cross went forth into a place called the place of a skull, which is called in the Hebrew Golgotha:
But we never carry our "cross" as Christ has already carried it for us, and will do
Mat_11:29 Take my yoke upon you, and learn of me; for I am meek and lowly in heart: and ye shall find rest unto your souls.
Mat_11:30 For my yoke is easy, and my burden is light.
and it is not for salvation it is for this
Mat_7:14 Because strait is the gate, and narrow is the way, which leadeth unto life, and few there be that find it.
Because Christ is the way and that path is narrow. That path is after the cross , the cross is a place of death
Gal_3:13 Christ hath redeemed us from the curse of the law, being made a curse for us: for it is written, Cursed is every one that hangeth on a tree:
Heb_12:2 Looking unto Jesus the author and finisher of our faith; who for the joy that was set before him endured the cross,
despising the shame, and is set down at the right hand of the throne of God.
Jesus did it all, once you die on that cross, it is no longer a part of your life it is no longer in your vision as you set you eyes straight to look upon Him the author and finisher of your faith, and this is where than you are
Rom 6:1 What shall we say then? Shall we continue in sin, that grace may abound?
Rom 6:2 God forbid. How shall we, that are dead to sin, live any longer therein?
Rom 6:3 Know ye not, that so many of us as were baptized into Jesus Christ were baptized into his death?
Rom 6:4 Therefore we are buried with him by baptism into death: that like as Christ was raised up from the dead by the glory of the Father, even so we also should walk in newness of life.
Rom 6:5 For if we have been planted together in the likeness of his death, we shall be also in the likeness of his resurrection:
Rom 6:6 Knowing this, that our old man is crucified with him, that the body of sin might be destroyed, that henceforth we should not serve sin.
Rom 6:7 For he that is dead is freed from sin.
Rom 6:8 Now if we be dead with Christ, we believe that we shall also live with him:
Rom 6:9 Knowing that Christ being raised from the dead dieth no more; death hath no more dominion over him.
Rom 6:10 For in that he died, he died unto sin once: but in that he liveth, he liveth unto God.
Rom 6:11 Likewise reckon ye also yourselves to be dead indeed unto sin, but alive unto God through Jesus Christ our Lord.
no more condemnation your life is than in Him.
Remember Jesus only choose 12 disciples, this was the path laid out for them it isnt any fun just look at what happened to them, and those that walked away, didnt want the path, doesnt , mean they where not saved, this just wasnt for them.
God bless
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