Matthew 16:24-28 (NKJV)
24 Then Jesus said to His disciples, “If anyone desires to come after Me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross, and follow Me. 25 For whoever desires to save his life will lose it, but whoever loses his life for My sake will find it. 26 For what profit is it to a man if he gains the whole world, and loses his own soul? Or what will a man give in exchange for his soul? 27 For the Son of Man will come in the glory of His Father with His angels, and then He will reward each according to his works. 28 Assuredly, I say to you, there are some standing here who shall not taste death till they see the Son of Man coming in His kingdom.”
Taking up my "cross" means a life voluntarily surrendered to God.
- A. W. Pink
A genuine believer will always desire to follow Jesus Christ. It doesn't mean that you're forced to follow, but with a grateful, gladness and joyful heart he or she follows the Lord.
Luke 10:27
“If you love me, you will keep my commandments.
Psalms 63:8
My soul follows close behind You; Your right hand upholds me.
And following Jesus Christ means also rejecting or denying the things that are not of God's (sins, the worldly pleasures and riches that hinders spiritual growth)
The nature of man will always seek the things of the world, lust of the eyes,
1 John 2:15-17
Do not love the world or the things in the world. If anyone loves the world, the love of the Father is not in him. For all that is in the world—the lust of the flesh, the lust of the eyes, and the pride of life—is not of the Father but is of the world. And the world is passing away, and the lust of it; but he who does the will of God abides forever.
Verse 25, means that whoever is focused determined to live earthly life, the comfort, the riches, the best health care, the pleasures and sins of the world and without salvation of Jesus Christ, will lost it all through eternity.
Verse 26, the worth of all the riches, power and glory in this earth is nothing compare to eternity with Jesus Christ (salvation).
Salvation can't be bought or exchanged by all worldly riches. Though salvation is priceless, but still paid in full, it was only purchased through (sacrifice) the precious blood of the one and only savior and Lord Jesus Christ.
1 Corinthians 6:19-20, 19 Do you not know that your bodies are temples of the Holy Spirit, who is in you, whom you have received from God? You are not your own; 20 you were bought at a price. Therefore honor God with your bodies.
That's why we should not be blinded or mislead by the false hopes that this world offers, the riches, fame, pride of life and the glory that our flesh desires.
Material things not offer to God will just passed away, with no eternal value. Only what's done for Christ will last through eternity.
Matthew 6:19-20, 19 “Do not lay up for yourselves treasures on earth, where moth and rust[a] destroy and where thieves break in and steal, 20 but lay up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where neither moth nor rust destroys and where thieves do not break in and steal.
Therefore, let our focus be in our eternal destiny, and not be consumed by things of the world. Yes we can enjoy God's material blessings but we should not neglect our eternal eternal life in Christ!
The bible speaks of two choices only, eternal separation with God (Hell) or eternal life with God.
John 3:16-17, 16 “For God so loved the world,[a] that he gave his only Son, that whoever believes in him should not perish but have eternal life. 17 For God did not send his Son into the world to condemn the world, but in order that the world might be saved through him. 18 Whoever believes in him is not condemned, but whoever does not believe is condemned already, because he has not believed in the name of the only Son of God.
John 3:36 Whoever believes in the Son has eternal life; whoever does not obey the Son shall not see life, but the wrath of God remains on him.
Matthew 25:46 And these will go away into eternal punishment, but the righteous into eternal life.”
Verse 27, Is an encouragement to all believers to always obey what the Lord has commanded His people even if means to suffer many things in the world, because He will reward the believers according to their deeds.
Believers not only saved (eternity with Him), but also God the righteous judge will reward his people.
1 Peter 5:4 And when the Chief Shepherd appears, you will receive the unfading crown of glory.
Matthew 6:6 But when you pray, go into your room, close the door and pray to your Father, who is unseen. Then your Father, who sees what is done in secret, will reward you.
Revelation 22:12 “Look, I am coming soon! My reward is with me, and I will give to each person according to what they have done.
24 Then Jesus said to His disciples, “If anyone desires to come after Me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross, and follow Me. 25 For whoever desires to save his life will lose it, but whoever loses his life for My sake will find it. 26 For what profit is it to a man if he gains the whole world, and loses his own soul? Or what will a man give in exchange for his soul? 27 For the Son of Man will come in the glory of His Father with His angels, and then He will reward each according to his works. 28 Assuredly, I say to you, there are some standing here who shall not taste death till they see the Son of Man coming in His kingdom.”
Taking up my "cross" means a life voluntarily surrendered to God.
- A. W. Pink
A genuine believer will always desire to follow Jesus Christ. It doesn't mean that you're forced to follow, but with a grateful, gladness and joyful heart he or she follows the Lord.
Luke 10:27
“If you love me, you will keep my commandments.
Psalms 63:8
My soul follows close behind You; Your right hand upholds me.
And following Jesus Christ means also rejecting or denying the things that are not of God's (sins, the worldly pleasures and riches that hinders spiritual growth)
The nature of man will always seek the things of the world, lust of the eyes,
1 John 2:15-17
Do not love the world or the things in the world. If anyone loves the world, the love of the Father is not in him. For all that is in the world—the lust of the flesh, the lust of the eyes, and the pride of life—is not of the Father but is of the world. And the world is passing away, and the lust of it; but he who does the will of God abides forever.
Verse 25, means that whoever is focused determined to live earthly life, the comfort, the riches, the best health care, the pleasures and sins of the world and without salvation of Jesus Christ, will lost it all through eternity.
Verse 26, the worth of all the riches, power and glory in this earth is nothing compare to eternity with Jesus Christ (salvation).
Salvation can't be bought or exchanged by all worldly riches. Though salvation is priceless, but still paid in full, it was only purchased through (sacrifice) the precious blood of the one and only savior and Lord Jesus Christ.
1 Corinthians 6:19-20, 19 Do you not know that your bodies are temples of the Holy Spirit, who is in you, whom you have received from God? You are not your own; 20 you were bought at a price. Therefore honor God with your bodies.
That's why we should not be blinded or mislead by the false hopes that this world offers, the riches, fame, pride of life and the glory that our flesh desires.
Material things not offer to God will just passed away, with no eternal value. Only what's done for Christ will last through eternity.
Matthew 6:19-20, 19 “Do not lay up for yourselves treasures on earth, where moth and rust[a] destroy and where thieves break in and steal, 20 but lay up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where neither moth nor rust destroys and where thieves do not break in and steal.
Therefore, let our focus be in our eternal destiny, and not be consumed by things of the world. Yes we can enjoy God's material blessings but we should not neglect our eternal eternal life in Christ!
The bible speaks of two choices only, eternal separation with God (Hell) or eternal life with God.
John 3:16-17, 16 “For God so loved the world,[a] that he gave his only Son, that whoever believes in him should not perish but have eternal life. 17 For God did not send his Son into the world to condemn the world, but in order that the world might be saved through him. 18 Whoever believes in him is not condemned, but whoever does not believe is condemned already, because he has not believed in the name of the only Son of God.
John 3:36 Whoever believes in the Son has eternal life; whoever does not obey the Son shall not see life, but the wrath of God remains on him.
Matthew 25:46 And these will go away into eternal punishment, but the righteous into eternal life.”
Verse 27, Is an encouragement to all believers to always obey what the Lord has commanded His people even if means to suffer many things in the world, because He will reward the believers according to their deeds.
Believers not only saved (eternity with Him), but also God the righteous judge will reward his people.
1 Peter 5:4 And when the Chief Shepherd appears, you will receive the unfading crown of glory.
Matthew 6:6 But when you pray, go into your room, close the door and pray to your Father, who is unseen. Then your Father, who sees what is done in secret, will reward you.
Revelation 22:12 “Look, I am coming soon! My reward is with me, and I will give to each person according to what they have done.
