BY BRANDON MULLINO
And he that taketh not his cross and followeth after me , is not worthy of me [39] He that findeth his life shall lose it: and he that loseth his life for my sake shall find it.
Hmm very interesting statement Christ said. You must lose your life to find it! What on earth is he talking about? Well let’s first see how many times does he say this! Let’s hear it Christ!
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. (Matthew 16:24-25)
Notice Jesus Christ says any man, so he means, Jew, Greek, Mexican, Gentile, etc. So he does not have any respect of certain people. (Acts 10:34)
And when he had called the people unto him with his disciples also, he said unto them, Whosoever will come after me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross, and follow me.[35]For whosoever will save his life shall lose it; but whosoever shall lose his life my sake and the gospel’s, the same shall save it.
And he said unto them all, If any man will come after me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross daily, and follow me.[24]For whosoever will save his life shall lose(eternal ruin) but: whosoever will lose his life for my sake shall save it
A lot of Christians today even say picking up your cross is not necessary, they neglect that command and says it is a work. They think you do not supposed to do it. Well now Paul even fortelled this to happen: For the preaching of the cross is to them that perish foolishness but unto us which are saved it is the power of God.
(1 Corinthians 1:18)
The heart of the rightoues studieth to answer: but the mouth of the wicked poureth out evil things.
You see people who wants to know the truth and not rely on no pastor but study for themselves, then shall they no the truth. Again I must reemphasize salvation is not instant! It takes a long time.
Now I am going to look up these words Christ keep saying in a Bible dictionary
Cross-4716 stauros a pole or cross (instrument of death),exposure to death,; self denial
Denial-720 arneomai reject, deny refuse
Followeth-190 akoloutheo to be in the same way with, to accompany, follow reach.
Daily-2596,2250 kata, hemera time,while,years
Lose-622 apollumi to destroy fully, perish
So you see Christ means give up your life on this earth and search him out while you are living. Do not be apart of this world, which means you do not care anything about the events in this world, money, boxing, or any other big business that takes up most of your time. All these events are of the world. Notice Christ said we must do this daily which means it takes time, years. Look at the definition for above for yourself. We can take these scriptures literally or we can say “He really did not mean it” If that’s the case why would he repeat himself and say what he say.
Man oh man why does Jesus keep saying the same statement in every chapter in different books of the Bible. Evidently he wants us to follow his commands and DO them. Why would he keep repeating himself over and over again. The prophet Amos has something to say about this.
Can two walk together except they be agreed.
So Amos is saying when two scriptures agree they are accurate I have not only gave you two I have gave you more than two scriptures. Now does this means I have to put my family before Christ. Let’s see what Christ has to say!
He that loveth father or mother more than me is not worthy of me: and he that loveth son or daughter more than me is not worthy of me.
So Jesus Christ says he want you to put him first before family, so we know we put our family before anybody so then we must put Christ before anything in our lives. Just by doing this we are not saved yet. Muslims put their God (Allah) before their family does that makes them saved no! So this is the reason why Christ makes this statement:
And a man’s foes shall be they of his own household.[35]
For I am come to set a man at variance against his father, and the daughter against her mother, and the daughter in law against her mother in law.
These are some strong statements about salvation Christ said that the household would be against the household if they knew the real salvation. You see instant salvation is not going to have sister against brother or mother against daughter. All we need to do is ask Christ into our life and boom we are saved. That would not cause any strife among family members. Now what if salvation is not instant and it took time then we would have all this strife and agony.
If you had to pick up your cross (die spiritually) and lose your life by searching for Christ then people would think you are a fanatic, lost your mind, hated, would debate you till you are blue in the face and probably kill you. Now it just so happens Christ says this very same thing!
And the brother shall deliver up the brother to death, and the father the child: and the children shall rise up against their parents, and cause them to be put to death. [22] And ye shall be hated of all men for my name’s sake: but he that endureth to the end shall be saved. (Matthew 22-23)
So you see when you search out the truth of Christ you will be persecuted, hated and even killed for Christ’s sake.
*I am not talking about doing good deeds for people, being a Christian, going out telling people about Christ, professing Christ. No No Jesus Christ is not talking about that. You will be persecuted for doing those things but Christ is not saying that in these verses. He is saying when you search for him with all you got, you do not care anything ABOUT THIS WORLD, you are dieing inside, weeping and crying for Christ to save your soul. Solomon mentions this.
For in much wisdom is much grief and he that increaseth in knowledge increaseth in sorrow.
When a person studie scripture and try to find the truth behind all of life then they will feel empty inside, depressed, sorrowful, and the world is not a matter to them anymore.
Therefore I say unto you, Take no thought for your life, what you eat or what you shall drink; nor yet for your body, what ye shall put on. Is not the life more than meat, and the body than raiment?
Christ even mentions the world is not even important:
For what is a man advantaged, if he gain the whole world, and lose himself, or be cast away? (Luke 9:25)
Now I did not say that statement Christ did so if you get angry, ask Christ why he made those commands. When you are picking up your cross you are doing this:
Poor-4434 ptochos a begger; (distressed); beggarly, poor
Mourn-3996 pentheo to grieve, mourn, sorrow
Blessed are they which do hunger and thirst after righteousness: for they shall be filled. (Matthew 5:6)
Blessed are the merciful for they shall obtain mercy.
All of these steps lead to step #6 (which must be done over a long period of time.)
Blessed are the pure in heart: for they shall see God. (Matthew 5:8)
Pure-2513 katharos clean; clear, pure
You have just read the beatitudes from the Sermon on The Mount. The first five steps are the steps for being born again. The reason I know this is because…….
I am not saying ignore other scripture but we have better know how to enter into the kingdom. It’s just not done by having faith in Ephesians 2:8 or believing John 3:16, or confessing Romans 10:9,or saying Romans 10:13, it’s more to it than that.
Now here’s the question does it take a long time for salvation? You bet your marbles! Let’s see Paul’s answer!
I protest by your rejoicing which I have in Christ Jesus our Lord, I die daily. (1 Corinthians 15:31)
Die-599 apothnesko to die off, be dead, a dying
Daily-2596,2250 hemera a period, time, while, years
So you see when you are dieing inside from the world searching for Christ nothing in this world matters to you. Now you cannot have Christ inside of you while you are dieing because he said he was LIFE!
Jesus saith unto them I am the way, the truth, and the life: no man cometh unto the Father but by me.
Now life is opposite of death. How can you be dieing inside and have Christ. Christ said he was life. Once you are dead for a long period of time (spiritually) It is not a physical death but spiritual, it is like a depression for Christ. Once this is done for a long period of time then you will see Christ and he will offer you his covenant of Agape Love.
He that hath my commandments, and keepeth them, he it is that loveth me: and he that loveth me shall be loved of my Father, and I will love him, and will
Christ could have not been anymore explicit than what he said he would come and make his ABODE with the believer who truly searches for him. And the word manifest means what it says too. Do not take my word for it read your Bibles. And apply it to your search because the time is at hand! To see the argument for instant salvation go to “TWISTED SALVATION” And you will see the delusion that millions of Christians are under thinking salvation is instant. Brethren and sisters I bid you farewell!