And He said to them all, If any man will come after Me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross daily, and follow Me. For whosoever will save his life shall lose it: but whosoever will lose his life for My sake, the same shall save it. For what is a man advantaged, if he gain the whole world, and lose himself, or be cast away? For whosoever shall be ashamed of Me and of My words, of him shall the Son of man be ashamed, when He shall come in His own glory, and in His Father's, and of the holy angels. But I tell you of a truth, there be some standing here, which shall not taste of death, till they see the Kingdom of God. (Luke 9:23-27)
Jesus Christ, the Son of God who is God the Son, calls all who will be His disciples to deny themselves in complete and unconditional surrender and follow Him. All this world’s advantages, wealth, power, or fame, cannot save the sin-sick soul from that which God has already pronounced for the guilty. One either chooses Christ and is all in or denies the living God made flesh and will be cast aside at the judgment. Though some may see His return in the flesh, most will die either born again and in Christ or separated from Christ because of their sins.
God calls those who will follow Him to deny themselves, to not seek this world’s temptations, the lust of the flesh, the lust of the eyes, and the pride of life, but to wholly seek Him and rely on Him for everything. Even our very life is to be hidden in Christ who is life. There is no neutral and so all who do not choose to surrender to Jesus Christ on His terms will be cast aside, no matter how much wealth they have accumulated, or how much power in this life they had, or how well known they were. All in this life will fade away and be burned up, but that which is in Christ and done for Him will last. Though some saw the living Christ glorified at various times, all will see Him in His glory when He returns to rule and to judge His Kingdom.
Disciplined followers of the Master reckon themselves to be dead to this world and to sin and alive in Christ. We deny ourselves, and all that this world offers which cannot save, and trust Jesus Christ who alone can save us from our sins. God has judged all under sin and condemnation, but Jesus Christ came to save sinners and those who choose Him in repentance and faith in His finished and perfect work on the Cross of Calvary will be saved. Those that reject Christ and His great Salvation will be cast aside in the Judgment, not because God wants to condemn anyone, but because our sin and rebellion against God has already condemned all those who are not forgiven and reconciled with our Holy and Righteous God. We are waiting for His return and for that day when He comes for us in the clouds, but woe to those who do not know Him when He comes in judgment.
Because of His love for all, God sends those of us who are His saints and know Him out into this world to reach the lost that they might be saved from sin. He desires that His people strive to be holy and obedient unto Him that we might minister to those around us who are hurting and in need as He provides. We serve others, equipped with the Word of reconciliation and righteousness, rightly divided and fitly spoken, that they may see Christ in us, the hope of Glory. Our God has commanded us to love one another with an unfeigned love, even as He first loved us, and to disciple one another in the Word of God so that we may all grow in grace and in the Knowledge of our Lord and Saviour, Jesus Christ. Our Lord has commissioned those who are His with the Gospel of Jesus Christ, to go where He sends us in the power of the Holy Spirit. As we go, we are to proclaim the Good News of forgiveness through repentance and reconciliation with the Father through faith in His Son, that those who believe that Jesus is the Christ, the Messiah of God might have life in His Name.
God is not willing that any should perish, but that all should come to repentance and the knowledge of the Truth. Jesus loves you and wants to establish a covenant relationship with you that is real and personal. Surrender to Him on His terms and He will give you a brand new life of discipleship and fellowship with Him that is abundant and everlasting. God calls you to faith in Christ and His finished and perfect work on the Cross of Calvary to pay your sIn debt. He has provided the only way of reconciliation with God, forgiveness from God, and Salvation through Jesus Christ, the Son of God who is God the Son, to give you a new life in Christ. Turn away from yourself and your sIn and turn to Him alone for eternal Life, now and always.
In Christ,
Jefferson Sweet
God calls those who will follow Him to deny themselves, to not seek this world’s temptations, the lust of the flesh, the lust of the eyes, and the pride of life, but to wholly seek Him and rely on Him for everything. Even our very life is to be hidden in Christ who is life. There is no neutral and so all who do not choose to surrender to Jesus Christ on His terms will be cast aside, no matter how much wealth they have accumulated, or how much power in this life they had, or how well known they were. All in this life will fade away and be burned up, but that which is in Christ and done for Him will last. Though some saw the living Christ glorified at various times, all will see Him in His glory when He returns to rule and to judge His Kingdom.
Disciplined followers of the Master reckon themselves to be dead to this world and to sin and alive in Christ. We deny ourselves, and all that this world offers which cannot save, and trust Jesus Christ who alone can save us from our sins. God has judged all under sin and condemnation, but Jesus Christ came to save sinners and those who choose Him in repentance and faith in His finished and perfect work on the Cross of Calvary will be saved. Those that reject Christ and His great Salvation will be cast aside in the Judgment, not because God wants to condemn anyone, but because our sin and rebellion against God has already condemned all those who are not forgiven and reconciled with our Holy and Righteous God. We are waiting for His return and for that day when He comes for us in the clouds, but woe to those who do not know Him when He comes in judgment.
Because of His love for all, God sends those of us who are His saints and know Him out into this world to reach the lost that they might be saved from sin. He desires that His people strive to be holy and obedient unto Him that we might minister to those around us who are hurting and in need as He provides. We serve others, equipped with the Word of reconciliation and righteousness, rightly divided and fitly spoken, that they may see Christ in us, the hope of Glory. Our God has commanded us to love one another with an unfeigned love, even as He first loved us, and to disciple one another in the Word of God so that we may all grow in grace and in the Knowledge of our Lord and Saviour, Jesus Christ. Our Lord has commissioned those who are His with the Gospel of Jesus Christ, to go where He sends us in the power of the Holy Spirit. As we go, we are to proclaim the Good News of forgiveness through repentance and reconciliation with the Father through faith in His Son, that those who believe that Jesus is the Christ, the Messiah of God might have life in His Name.
God is not willing that any should perish, but that all should come to repentance and the knowledge of the Truth. Jesus loves you and wants to establish a covenant relationship with you that is real and personal. Surrender to Him on His terms and He will give you a brand new life of discipleship and fellowship with Him that is abundant and everlasting. God calls you to faith in Christ and His finished and perfect work on the Cross of Calvary to pay your sIn debt. He has provided the only way of reconciliation with God, forgiveness from God, and Salvation through Jesus Christ, the Son of God who is God the Son, to give you a new life in Christ. Turn away from yourself and your sIn and turn to Him alone for eternal Life, now and always.
In Christ,
Jefferson Sweet
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