And whosoever does not bear his cross, and come after Me, cannot be My disciple
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Finally, the response I expected from the start of this thread.
To bear our cross is to reckon ourselves dead to this world. It is massively different than "simply receive Jesus (sic) benefits He has proved (sic) for us daily". It means that we don't take offense, demand our rights, force our opinions, act entitled, expect special treatment. It means that, at times, we may not eat, or sleep, or have shelter. We may not have the material and social benefits that unbelievers have. It means we forsake certain things of this world that may be lauded by the world. It means that our citizenship is in heaven, that we are aliens and strangers, that this world is not our home, and that it is not worthy of us. It means we may suffer physical abuse, mental anguish, emotional pain and relational isolation from those we love and those we seek to love, for the sake of the One Who saved us. It means we may die for standing up for the truth.
To bear our cross is to reckon ourselves dead to this world. It is massively different than "simply receive Jesus (sic) benefits He has proved (sic) for us daily". It means that we don't take offense, demand our rights, force our opinions, act entitled, expect special treatment. It means that, at times, we may not eat, or sleep, or have shelter. We may not have the material and social benefits that unbelievers have. It means we forsake certain things of this world that may be lauded by the world. It means that our citizenship is in heaven, that we are aliens and strangers, that this world is not our home, and that it is not worthy of us. It means we may suffer physical abuse, mental anguish, emotional pain and relational isolation from those we love and those we seek to love, for the sake of the One Who saved us. It means we may die for standing up for the truth.
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I think its essential to remember we also have to do the "Work of God" which is to believe in Jesus. To eat the Bread of Life every day as often as we can. And as a result of this work we transform into a new creation ("we know not how"), which now has zero joy in prodigal living and instead is overwhelmed with joy just being with our Father, serving Him, not out of duty but out of Love.
In other words, IF WE ENDURE AT THE WORK OF BELIEF, we get to experience the REAL Joy.
Once the caterpillar has done its work of transformation, it no longer wants to do caterpillar things because it has become something better.
Denying ourselves and following Jesus is a really, really GOOD thing.
In other words, IF WE ENDURE AT THE WORK OF BELIEF, we get to experience the REAL Joy.
Once the caterpillar has done its work of transformation, it no longer wants to do caterpillar things because it has become something better.
Denying ourselves and following Jesus is a really, really GOOD thing.
Denying yourself - bearing your own cross - following Jesus: is a act of faith and not a act of labor. The act of Faith must always be Faith in Christ and Him Crucified which allows the Holy Spirit to deliver us unto the death, burial, and resurrection of Christ, so that the Life of Christ is manifested through the power of the Holy Spirit in our life. It is Christ Life that brings the victory; not ours! This how the Law of the Spirit of Life in Christ Jesus works (Romans 8:2).
All of which is softpedaling the reality of Christ's call. He tells us to count the cost.
The phrase, "Take up your cross and follow Me" is a reference to the final walk to the place of crucifixion, where the condemned carries his own cross. Jesus carried His cross, we carry our own (not His!).
While it's true that our work is to believe in the One He has sent, we must do so with our eyes open to the reality of the situation. Telling people that "take up your cross" means "just believe and let the Holy Spirit do all the work" is dishonest because it is giving the wrong information. It's like someone asking, "How far to Topeka from here?" and you telling them, "Cows have four legs." While true, it's irrelevant.
The phrase, "Take up your cross and follow Me" is a reference to the final walk to the place of crucifixion, where the condemned carries his own cross. Jesus carried His cross, we carry our own (not His!).
While it's true that our work is to believe in the One He has sent, we must do so with our eyes open to the reality of the situation. Telling people that "take up your cross" means "just believe and let the Holy Spirit do all the work" is dishonest because it is giving the wrong information. It's like someone asking, "How far to Topeka from here?" and you telling them, "Cows have four legs." While true, it's irrelevant.
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Matt 10
37 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.
38 And he that taketh not his cross, and followeth after me, is not worthy of me.
The restourant in front of my house offer free food
But I have to walk there, is it free? If free why I have to walk to the restaurant?
Jesus make the rule in verse 38. Compare with what we get take our cross I say nothing. So I consider it free.
I know some people not agree with Jesus, but I agree
37 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.
38 And he that taketh not his cross, and followeth after me, is not worthy of me.
The restourant in front of my house offer free food
But I have to walk there, is it free? If free why I have to walk to the restaurant?
Jesus make the rule in verse 38. Compare with what we get take our cross I say nothing. So I consider it free.
I know some people not agree with Jesus, but I agree
E
You earn a reward. A gift is free.
You do not walk to the place for food. God draws you to himself (his power) or in realoty, he comes ot you where you are
If bearing ones cross is essential. Then savation is not a gift, it is a reward.
He says he who does not take up his cross is not worthy of him, Well I am not worthy of him, and neither is anyone else. Whether we take up his cross or not..
If we do not take up our cross. Our christian life will remain stagnant and unfruitful. It does not make him kick us out of his family
You do not walk to the place for food. God draws you to himself (his power) or in realoty, he comes ot you where you are
If bearing ones cross is essential. Then savation is not a gift, it is a reward.
He says he who does not take up his cross is not worthy of him, Well I am not worthy of him, and neither is anyone else. Whether we take up his cross or not..
If we do not take up our cross. Our christian life will remain stagnant and unfruitful. It does not make him kick us out of his family
You are trying your best to put the body of Christ under the "LAW!" Many will believe you.
IT IS JESUS CHRIST LIFE THAT BRINGS VICTORY...NOT OURS. JESUS SAID, "YOU CAN DO NOTHING WITHOUT ME (John 15:5)! EVERYTHING THAT MAN DOES DIES. EVERYTHING THAT JESUS DOES IS BLESSED, LIVES AND HAS LIFE!
If the Believer does not understand this, all scriptures become enticing words to the flesh, that will be attempted by the flesh to perform (Romans 8:2-3, 1 Cor. 2:4). The Believer now becomes a transgressor (Gal. 2:18). Under Grace, the Holy Spirit carries out the will of God in the Believer (Romans 8:2). Under the Law, the flesh (your own ability) carry's out the Law of God. Under Grace, the new covenant, if Christ is a Law keeper, than I am a Law keeper because I am in Him (Romans 6:3-5, Gal. 2:20-21).
“18 For if I build again the things which I destroyed (revert back to the Law), I make myself a transgressor. (To revert to any type of Law is a departure from God’s Prescribed Order of Victory [the Cross], and is sin).” Galatians 2:18
“3 For what the Law could not do, in that it was weak through the flesh (those under Law had only their willpower, which is woefully insufficient; so despite how hard they tried, they were unable to keep the Law then, and the same inability persists presently; any person who tries to live for God by a system of laws is doomed to failure, because the Holy Spirit will not function in that capacity), God sending His Own Son (refers to man’s helpless condition, unable to save himself and unable to keep even a simple Law and, therefore, in dire need of a Saviour) i n the likeness of sinful flesh (this means that Christ was really human, conformed in appearance to flesh which is characterized by sin, but yet sinless), and for sin (to atone for sin, to destroy its power, and to save and Sanctify its victims), condemned sin in the flesh (destroyed the power of sin by giving His Perfect Body as a Sacrifice for sin, which made it possible for sin to be defeated in our flesh; it was all through the Cross):” Romans 8:3
Excerpt From
The Expositor's Study Bible
Jimmy Swaggart
https://itunes.apple.com/us/book/the-expositors-study-bible/id399697870?mt=11
This material may be protected by copyright.
IT IS JESUS CHRIST LIFE THAT BRINGS VICTORY...NOT OURS. JESUS SAID, "YOU CAN DO NOTHING WITHOUT ME (John 15:5)! EVERYTHING THAT MAN DOES DIES. EVERYTHING THAT JESUS DOES IS BLESSED, LIVES AND HAS LIFE!
If the Believer does not understand this, all scriptures become enticing words to the flesh, that will be attempted by the flesh to perform (Romans 8:2-3, 1 Cor. 2:4). The Believer now becomes a transgressor (Gal. 2:18). Under Grace, the Holy Spirit carries out the will of God in the Believer (Romans 8:2). Under the Law, the flesh (your own ability) carry's out the Law of God. Under Grace, the new covenant, if Christ is a Law keeper, than I am a Law keeper because I am in Him (Romans 6:3-5, Gal. 2:20-21).
“18 For if I build again the things which I destroyed (revert back to the Law), I make myself a transgressor. (To revert to any type of Law is a departure from God’s Prescribed Order of Victory [the Cross], and is sin).” Galatians 2:18
“3 For what the Law could not do, in that it was weak through the flesh (those under Law had only their willpower, which is woefully insufficient; so despite how hard they tried, they were unable to keep the Law then, and the same inability persists presently; any person who tries to live for God by a system of laws is doomed to failure, because the Holy Spirit will not function in that capacity), God sending His Own Son (refers to man’s helpless condition, unable to save himself and unable to keep even a simple Law and, therefore, in dire need of a Saviour) i n the likeness of sinful flesh (this means that Christ was really human, conformed in appearance to flesh which is characterized by sin, but yet sinless), and for sin (to atone for sin, to destroy its power, and to save and Sanctify its victims), condemned sin in the flesh (destroyed the power of sin by giving His Perfect Body as a Sacrifice for sin, which made it possible for sin to be defeated in our flesh; it was all through the Cross):” Romans 8:3
Excerpt From
The Expositor's Study Bible
Jimmy Swaggart
https://itunes.apple.com/us/book/the-expositors-study-bible/id399697870?mt=11
This material may be protected by copyright.
All works must be produced and birth by the Holy Spirit or it is dead works. The "Golden Bell and the Pomegranate" must bounce against each other or it is tingling cymbal and sounding brass. The Golden Bell = The Gift of the Spirit, and the Pomegranate = The Fruit of the Spirit (Exodus 28:34). We need both to be in operation.
We need "The Golden Bells (The Baptism of the Holy Spirit and the gifts of the spirit) and the Pomegranates (The Fruit of the Holy Spirit that gives us victory over sin) Exodus 28:34 NIV. If you have two bells and no fruit bouncing against each other you have 1 Corinthians 13:1, clanging cymbals.
One without the other produces an inconsistency and it is a problem. To say you don't need both is doubt and unbelief which is never acceptable to God. The Bell presents the power and the Pomegranate presents relationship. You must have the development of both. These are two different works of the Holy Spirit; the fruits and the gifts. The Golden Bells and the Pomegranate is a TYPE.
Faith placed exclusively in Christ and His Finished Work, i.e., The Cross, i.e., The Blood of Jesus, will always produce proper works by the Holy Spirit. This is the only Faith God will recognize. Anything and everything that is not of the Spirit is "dead faith." Lifeless Faith is profitless (rotten fruit). James 2:14-18
The Way Of The Spirit
Focus: The Lord Jesus Christ (John 14:6)
Object Of Faith: The Cross of Christ (Romans 6:1-14)
Power Source: The Holy Spirit (Romans 8:1-2, 11)
Results: Victory (Romans 6:14)
Man's Way
Focus: Works.
Object Of Faith: Performance.
Power Source: Self.
Results: Defeat!
The only way to God is through Jesus Christ (John 14:6)...the only way to Jesus Christ is by the Means of the Cross (Luke 14:27). The only way to the Cross is a denial of self (Luke 9:23). If any person tries to come any other way, Jesus says, "they are a thief and a robber" (John 10:1).
1. Jesus Christ is the source of all blessings.
2. The Cross is the means by which all blessings are given.
3. The object of our faith must be Christ and the Cross.
4. That being done, the Holy Spirit will greatly help us.
JSM
We need "The Golden Bells (The Baptism of the Holy Spirit and the gifts of the spirit) and the Pomegranates (The Fruit of the Holy Spirit that gives us victory over sin) Exodus 28:34 NIV. If you have two bells and no fruit bouncing against each other you have 1 Corinthians 13:1, clanging cymbals.
One without the other produces an inconsistency and it is a problem. To say you don't need both is doubt and unbelief which is never acceptable to God. The Bell presents the power and the Pomegranate presents relationship. You must have the development of both. These are two different works of the Holy Spirit; the fruits and the gifts. The Golden Bells and the Pomegranate is a TYPE.
Faith placed exclusively in Christ and His Finished Work, i.e., The Cross, i.e., The Blood of Jesus, will always produce proper works by the Holy Spirit. This is the only Faith God will recognize. Anything and everything that is not of the Spirit is "dead faith." Lifeless Faith is profitless (rotten fruit). James 2:14-18
The Way Of The Spirit
Focus: The Lord Jesus Christ (John 14:6)
Object Of Faith: The Cross of Christ (Romans 6:1-14)
Power Source: The Holy Spirit (Romans 8:1-2, 11)
Results: Victory (Romans 6:14)
Man's Way
Focus: Works.
Object Of Faith: Performance.
Power Source: Self.
Results: Defeat!
The only way to God is through Jesus Christ (John 14:6)...the only way to Jesus Christ is by the Means of the Cross (Luke 14:27). The only way to the Cross is a denial of self (Luke 9:23). If any person tries to come any other way, Jesus says, "they are a thief and a robber" (John 10:1).
1. Jesus Christ is the source of all blessings.
2. The Cross is the means by which all blessings are given.
3. The object of our faith must be Christ and the Cross.
4. That being done, the Holy Spirit will greatly help us.
JSM