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brakelite
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Matthew 16:24 ¶ Then said Jesus unto his disciples, If any man will come after me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross, and follow me.
25 For whosoever will save his life shall lose it: and whosoever will lose his life for my sake shall find it.
26 For what is a man profited, if he shall gain the whole world, and lose his own soul? or what shall a man give in exchange for his soul?
Could we deduce from the above scripture the following...
When Jesus went to the cross, it was because God had made Him "sin for us". (2Cor.5:21) He died as the chief of criminals, the representative of all mankind, the all inclusive sinner. As the sinner's substitute, His death was just. It is the same sin that is in me. It never changes, and the cross along with the death it inflicts upon whoever it bears, is the only remedy.
When Paul said "God forbid that I should glory save in the cross of our Lord Jesus Christ" (Gal.6:14) he was not referring to the glorified emblem of God's matchless love for mankind. When he said "we preach Christ crucified" (1Cor.1:23) he was referring to the cross as an instrument of horror, and a death which was fully justified, and was glorying in that. The very same cross that Jesus says we must take up if we are to (save our lives) live, and follow Him.
"Whosoever will save his life (from the death of the cross) shall lose it; and whosoever will lose his life (through the cross) for My sake, shall find it."
The only way for a man to save his life, is to go to the cross and lose it. You refuse the cross, you forfeit life. Seems to me that is our choice...to take up, or to let lie.
25 For whosoever will save his life shall lose it: and whosoever will lose his life for my sake shall find it.
26 For what is a man profited, if he shall gain the whole world, and lose his own soul? or what shall a man give in exchange for his soul?
Could we deduce from the above scripture the following...
- One supreme condition of not only discipleship, but salvation?
- It is truly a matter of life and death...on an eternal scale?
- It is a matter of choice whether we take up that cross, or not?
- Taking up that cross means death...with a resurrection.
- Not doing so also means death...without the resurrection.
When Jesus went to the cross, it was because God had made Him "sin for us". (2Cor.5:21) He died as the chief of criminals, the representative of all mankind, the all inclusive sinner. As the sinner's substitute, His death was just. It is the same sin that is in me. It never changes, and the cross along with the death it inflicts upon whoever it bears, is the only remedy.
When Paul said "God forbid that I should glory save in the cross of our Lord Jesus Christ" (Gal.6:14) he was not referring to the glorified emblem of God's matchless love for mankind. When he said "we preach Christ crucified" (1Cor.1:23) he was referring to the cross as an instrument of horror, and a death which was fully justified, and was glorying in that. The very same cross that Jesus says we must take up if we are to (save our lives) live, and follow Him.
"Whosoever will save his life (from the death of the cross) shall lose it; and whosoever will lose his life (through the cross) for My sake, shall find it."
The only way for a man to save his life, is to go to the cross and lose it. You refuse the cross, you forfeit life. Seems to me that is our choice...to take up, or to let lie.