And whosoever does not bear his cross, and come after Me, cannot be My disciple

[iLove]

How do I deny myself - bear my own cross daily - and follow Jesus to stay saved?

 

[Lost4words]

Carry all your sufferings. In the name of Jesus. Offering them up to Jesus, daily. Stay close to Jesus. Stay true. Trust in Him. Believe in Him. Love Him.

 

[devin553344]

Bearing your cross is probably not possible these days for the most part unless you live in a country where Christianity is punishable by death.

That said, we are to proclaim the Gospel despite persecutions: Matthew 10:32

And then we get filled with the Holy Spirit

 

[MariaJLM]

Bearing your cross is probably not possible these days for the most part unless you live in a country where Christianity is punishable by death.

That said, we are to proclaim the Gospel despite persecutions: Matthew 10:32

And then we get filled with the Holy Spirit

Not true. We all have our own unique cross to bear. Our cross to bear is our own individual passions and sins that make it difficult to be a good Christian. The risk of being killed for the faith is not the only hardship Christians face.

 

[SkyWriting]

Bearing your cross is probably not possible these days for the most part unless you live in a country where Christianity is punishable by death.

That said, we are to proclaim the Gospel despite persecutions: Matthew 10:32

And then we get filled with the Holy Spirit

Physical death is not the big deal anyone thinks it is.

 

[devin553344]

Not true. We all have our own unique cross to bear. Our cross to bear is our own individual passions and sins that make it difficult to be a good Christian. The risk of being killed for the faith is not the only hardship Christians face.

I was reflecting on what led to Jesus being crucified. Which was spreading the gospel of the New Testament I thought. Yes also our sins led Him to the crucifixion. Good point.

 

[devin553344]

Physical death is not the big deal anyone thinks it is.

Just kinda interested, but how do you know that? Have you had a near death experience or something?

 

[MariaJLM]

I was reflecting on what led to Jesus being crucified. Which was spreading the gospel of the New Testament I thought. Yes also our sins led Him to the crucifixion. Good point.

Christ suffered because of our sins and we also suffer because of our sins, hence we're bearing our crosses.

 

[Ttalkkugjil]

As Jesus continued his journey, there followed him a crowd, going with him out of curiosity.

To these Jesus taught discipleship's requirements. If anyone comes to him, with a view to discipleship, sacrifices are necessary from this world's standpoint. Christ's love must precede all other love, even that of close friends and family. Devotion to him requires that love to one's family be relegated to the background, that life itself be denied, that the heart be ripped away from possessions, that Jesus' cross be shouldered, though it hurt. All rivals must be put away that Christ's love may be supreme.

If this devotion and work should demand life's sacrifice, even that must be given for love's sake.

 

[St_Worm2]

How do I deny myself - bear my own cross daily - and follow Jesus to stay saved?

Hi iLove, nothing that "we" do can or will save us, ~OR~ keep us saved. Rather, we are saved by "grace" (apart from anything that we do .. e.g. John 5:24; Romans 4:5; Ephesians 2:8-10; Titus 3:5) which means that our salvation is based on/merited by Jesus, and what ‘He’ did for us .. e.g. 2 Corinthians 5:21 .. and that, from first to last

Therefore, Jesus is our only innocence, our only righteousness, and the only atonement and satisfaction for our sins. IOW, we don't merit any part of our salvation!

That said, the very same One who saved us in the first place also promised to grow us up in His Son, in Christlikeness, and to see us safely through this life to be with Him in Glory .. e.g. John 6:37-40, 10:27-28; Philippians 1:6, 2:13; Hebrews 7:25; 1 John 5:13

Finally, our salvation ~results~ in the things that accompany salvation, in good works, in holy living, in the desire to please God 24/7, etc., and in our denying ourselves of the things that we might have otherwise wanted for ourselves (particularly in the flesh) by choosing to do His will instead. If it never does, then our "claim" of being a Christian should be regarded (by ourselves and by others) as nothing more than that (please take note of the Calvin quote in my signature line below).

--David

Romans 11
6 If it is by grace, then it is no longer on the basis of works; otherwise grace would no longer be grace.

​

​

 

[SkyWriting]

Just kinda interested, but how do you know that? Have you had a near death experience or something?

I've been to the funeral services of people around 100
and babies stillborn. God seems to have no particular preference for how long people live. All scripture fails to suggest that a long life is preferable to the father.

 

[SkyWriting]

How do I deny myself - bear my own cross daily - and follow Jesus to stay saved?

The only way to Hell is to forcibly reject the Holy Spirit and persevere in that.
Just having a bad day and cursing God is not enough.

 

[devin553344]

I've been to the funeral services of people around 100
and babies stillborn. God seems to have no particular preference for how long people live. All scripture fails to suggest that a long life is preferable to the father.

I've witnessed 3 year olds dying and 90 year olds dying. And I tend to feel terrible when they are young and less tragic when they are old and need peace from their aging bodies. But that's just how I feel probably.

I think there is scripture though that suggests that God's spirit does allow man to live longer: Genesis 6:3

Did I interpret that correctly?

 

[Halbhh]

How do I deny myself - bear my own cross daily - and follow Jesus to stay saved?

A very main way is the ways Christ commanded us at the end of Matthew chapter 5 --

38 “You have heard that it was said, ‘Eye for eye, and tooth for tooth.’ 39 But I tell you, do not resist an evil person. If anyone slaps you on the right cheek, turn to them the other cheek also. 40 And if anyone wants to sue you and take your shirt, hand over your coat as well. 41 If anyone forces you to go one mile, go with them two miles. 42 Give to the one who asks you, and do not turn away from the one who wants to borrow from you.

43 “You have heard that it was said, ‘Love your neighbor and hate your enemy.’ 44 But I tell you, love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you, 45 that you may be children of your Father in heaven. He causes his sun to rise on the evil and the good, and sends rain on the righteous and the unrighteous. 46 If you love those who love you, what reward will you get? Are not even the tax collectors doing that? 47 And if you greet only your own people, what are you doing more than others? Do not even pagans do that? 48 Be perfect, therefore, as your heavenly Father is perfect.

--------
An enemy is someone who wrongs us, even serious wrongs like false accusations or insults. Disrespect.

Disregard. Ignoring. All the different ways people can wrong others.

It's not easy to respond to that with love, and we cannot unless we look to Christ, focusing on Him, and what He has done for us. Because He did this for us. To love an enemy is a perfect response.

"6 You see, at just the right time, when we were still powerless, Christ died for the ungodly. 7 Very rarely will anyone die for a righteous person, though for a good person someone might possibly dare to die. 8 But God demonstrates his own love for us in this: While we were still sinners, Christ died for us.

9 Since we have now been justified by his blood, how much more shall we be saved from God’s wrath through him! 10 For if, while we were God’s enemies, we were reconciled to him through the death of his Son, how much more, having been reconciled, shall we be saved through his life!" (Romans ch 5)

 

[SkyWriting]

I've witnessed 3 year olds dying and 90 year olds dying. And I tend to feel terrible when they are young and less tragic when they are old and need peace from their aging bodies. But that's just how I feel probably.

I think there is scripture though that suggests that God's spirit does allow man to live longer: Genesis 6:3

Did I interpret that correctly?

The 120 year passage has no medical support.
Perhaps literalness gets in the way of understanding.

 

[Halbhh]

The 120 year passage has no medical support.
Perhaps literalness gets in the way of understanding.

Well, out of billions, the number getting even a bit past 120 is....1?
List of the verified oldest people - Wikipedia

(On the other hand, should God choose directly for someone to live longer, then they would.)

 

[usexpat97]

I grew up Baptist. All I would say is, look around you. There is suffering, there is injustice, there are lost. There is more out there than any of us could possibly take on. Even so, if you're having trouble finding your calling, and taking up your cross seems a bit too much, try out Matthew 11:30 for size:

Matthew 11:30 For my yoke is easy and my burden is light.

So there is a yoke for you to take on--it's just a light one. Start small. Even volunteering with ushering, greeting, or children's Sunday School will do.

 

[SkyWriting]

Well, out of billions, the number getting even a bit past 120 is....1?
List of the verified oldest people - Wikipedia

(On the other hand, should God choose directly for someone to live longer, then they would.)

So perhaps the number 120 means something else.

 

[St_Worm2]

God seems to have no particular preference for how long people live. All scripture fails to suggest that a long life is preferable to the father.

Hi Sky, a "long life" may not be preferable to the Father, but He certainly knows that it is preferable to us, yes .. e.g. Exodus 20:12? That said, the Lord seems very concerned with us, and with all of our days, no matter how many or how few of them He blesses us with .. e.g. Luke 12:6-7; Psalm 139.

Thanks!

--David

 

[Halbhh]

I grew up Baptist. All I would say is, look around you. There is suffering, there is injustice, there are lost. There is more out there than any of us could possibly take on. Even so, if you're having trouble finding your calling, and taking up your cross seems a bit too much, try out Matthew 11:30 for size:

Matthew 11:30 For my yoke is easy and my burden is light.

So there is a yoke for you to take on--it's just a light one. Start small. Even volunteering with ushering, greeting, or children's Sunday School will do.

Love.

He loves us. And His command -- to love one another -- is easy if we abide in Him, remain in Him, and keep the greatest commandment, because so much love is then put into us.