Luke 14:21
Whoever dies not carry his own cross and come after Me cannot be my disciple.
Luke 14:33
So then, none of you can be My disciple who does not give up all his own possessions.
Is this binding on believers today? Must one be a disciple of Jesus to enter into heaven?
Bearmaster.
Dear Brother,
Excellent question. I am sure other brethren will come into this discussion with much better insight. I just wanted to state that we must look at everything in light of the finished work of Christ. He died on the cross of calvary for the sins of the world. The Son of God came. Endless forsaking of self, confessing sin and doing exploits for God would never wash away one sin. Only the blood of Christ can.
But as those who have been truly forgiven and washed at the foot of the cross, we then hear our Saviour's voice, come follow Me. Who would not follow Him who did all for you. Thus we will follow the narrow way happily for who "else has the words of Eternal Life."
I believe that the calls to discipleship were before the cross to show it is not simply an option later in our walks with the Lord but with the preaching of the blood of Christ and resurrection the call to commitment to follow the bloodied Lamb must be there also. You cannot have one without the other.
Hi Bear,
this is interesting thoughts, Ones that I have been thinking of for a while.
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.
Mark 8:34
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.
Luke 9:23
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.
Matthew 10:33
33 But whosoever shall deny me before men, him will I also deny before my Father which is in heaven.
All of the Disciples of whom this was spoken failed, shortly after the exhortations was personaly given to them.
they all without exception, failed to deny their self and pick up their cross and follow Jesus to his death at this point, they all denied Him.
Matthew 26:35
Peter said unto him, Though I should die with thee, yet will I not deny thee. Likewise also said all the disciples.
Mark 14:29 But Peter said unto him, Although all shall be offended, yet will not I.
30 And Jesus saith unto him, Verily I say unto thee, That this day, even in this night, before the cock crow twice, thou shalt deny me thrice.
31 But he spake the more vehemently, If I should die with thee, I will not deny thee in any wise. Likewise also said they all.
Brother Greg, so agree. Let it be understood that forsaking all for God does not earn our way into heaven. But only through trusting in the finished work of Christ.on the cross. If we realize what he has done for us. Then our heartfelt response will be to lay all down for him. This is what believers in persecuted nations are doing today.
Bear.
Hi Papa,
Brother good observations. As I read your post I was reminded all the apostles did forsake Jesus. One denied him. And one betrayed him. But another thought cane to me. This was before the Holy Spirit had been given. But when the Holy Spirit had been poured out indeed these very same men who had forsaken Jesus only days earlier became bold in their witness of Christ.
We read of Peter, telling even the Jewish council, they were the ones who had out Jesus to death. I often wonder if that same servant girl who saw a weak man in the flesh denying Jesus would recognize the same bold fisher man declaring Jesus as Lord and Christ.
History records all of the disciples save one did die martyrs deaths. They all were picking up their cross to follow Jesus. They all laid down their lives for him. And that by the power of the Spirit. And we can do the same.
My thoughts.
Bear.
bearmaster.....Brother Greg, so agree. Let it be understood that forsaking all for God does not earn our way into heaven.
Nothing anyone does can earn their way into Heaven, your ticket was bought and paid for by the blood of Christ over 2000 years ago. Anyone that don't agree with this, is just flat wrong, and I would not listen to "anything" they have to say about Gods word.
What Jesus is talking about here is abandonment and the spirit of self-sacrifice or "absolute surrender" as Andrew Murray would say. Only abandoned men and women can build God's house, or perhaps it would be better to say that God can only work through such persons to build His house. For except the Lord build the house they labor in vain that build it.
But gaining heaven, or any other blessing, really doesn't come into consideration in true abandonment which is a personal choice and preference for Jesus Christ Himself. Only the Holy Spirit can impart such devotion.
In Christ,
Ron
I guess this depends on what the true definition of what a christian is?
. And the disciples were called Christians first in Antioch.
There are some things to consider that are really a matter for the serious christian to consider because if not careful it will lead to one extreme or another and leave no room for the peace of God and the leading of the Holy Spirit in specific matters. I heard once and have since adopted it as my own a saying as to temporal wealth, "God does not care how much money you have in your check book as long as He can write a check for what He wants, when He wants". If a person is not lead by the Holy Spirit and does not order their lives according to the Word of God (2 very specific issues here) especially in the area of giving, than they open themselves up to every guilt trip that can be laid on them.
To one person their cross may be to make tons of money in order to provide for the needs in the body of Christ, to another it maybe sell all you have and give to the poor and follow Me, The man in the tombs was commanded to return, while several were invited to physically follow. Jesus is able to speak to the individuals and that is why it is really important for each of us to learn to accept others by faith.
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