Because strait is the gate, and narrow is the way, which leadeth unto life, and few there be that find it. (KJV)
Wayward planetary individuals will always endure unnecessary trials, tribulations, and burdens
because of sin!
The Cross does not represent our trials, tribulations, or burdens of daily life!
The Cross is not a symbol to just recognize or acknowledge one's sin!
The Cross is a symbol of hope, salvation, and love!
The Cross is life!
The Cross represents new life...a new beginning! The 'Door' to a new bginning for mankind! Sadly, many acknowlege the 'Door', but find it to hard to walk through unto the path of Godliness for eternal living life (Matthew 7:14)! There is only one 'Pathway' given for eternal living life! One cannot enter through a window (John 10:1--Matthew 22:10-13)!
The Cross that JESUS CHRIST did bare was not His own. It belongs to sinners!
(Jesus was without sin--2 Corinthians 5:21)!
It is clear that JESUS wanted His followers to understand that they each had a Cross to bear that was uniquely each one's own Cross for each one's own sin!
If an individual has struggled to worship Almighty GOD, they will have learned that there is no satisfying communion with the Most High without a Cross!
Why does JESUS ask His true followers (Christians) to 'take up their Cross' daily (Luke 9:23)?
So they (Christians) may obtain eternal existence!!!!!!
Romans 6:8 Now if we be dead with CHRIST, we believe that we shall also live with him:
6:9 Knowing that CHRIST being raised from the dead dieth no more; death hath no more dominion over him.
6:10 For in that he died, he died unto sin once: but in that he liveth, he liveth unto GOD.
6:11 Likewise reckon ye also yourselves to be dead indeed unto sin, but alive unto GOD through JESUS CHRIST our LORD.
(KJV)
What does it mean to truly follow GOD as JESUS CHRIST?
*JESUS CHRIST is GOD's Godliness!!!*
**To truly follow CHRIST, individuals must become one with GOD's Godliness!!!**
Galatians 3:28 There is neither Jew nor Greek, there is neither bond nor free, there is neither male nor female: for ye are all one in CHRIST JESUS.
**Individuals must walk as CHRIST walked!!!**
1 John 2:6 He that saith he abideth in him ought himself also so to walk, even as he walked.
**Individuals must walk as children of Godliness!!!**
Ephesians 5:8 For ye were sometimes darkness, but now are ye light in the Lord: walk as children of light:
Wayward individuals must learn to hand over their whole self, all their wishes and precautions to CHRIST!
**Old things (lifestyle) must be put away (die) for the new to grow and prosper!**
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.
8:35 For whosoever will save his life shall lose it; but whosoever shall lose his life for my sake and the gospel's, the same shall save it.
8:36 For what shall it profit a man, if he shall gain the whole world, and lose his own soul?
8:37 Or what shall a man give in exchange for his soul?
8:38 Whosoever therefore shall be ashamed of me and of my words in this adulterous and sinful generation; of him also shall the Son of man be ashamed, when he cometh in the glory of his Father with the holy angels.
(KJV)
2 Corinthians 5:17 Therefore if any man be in CHRIST, he is a new creature: old things are passed away; behold, all things are become new.
(KJV)
Ephesians 4:22 That ye put off concerning the former conversation the old man, which is corrupt according to the deceitful lusts;
4:23 And be renewed in the spirit of your mind;
4:24 And that ye put on the new man, which after GOD is created in righteousness and true holiness.
4:25 Wherefore putting away lying, speak every man truth with his neighbour: for we are members one of another.
4:26 Be ye angry, and sin not: let not the sun go down upon your wrath:
4:27 Neither give place to the devil.
4:28 Let him that stole steal no more: but rather let him labour, working with his hands the thing which is good, that he may have to give to him that needeth.
4:29 Let no corrupt communication proceed out of your mouth, but that which is good to the use of edifying, that it may minister grace unto the hearers.
4:30 And grieve not the holy Spirit of GOD, whereby ye are sealed unto the day of redemption.
4:31 Let all bitterness, and wrath, and anger, and clamour, and evil speaking, be put away from you, with all malice:
4:32 And be ye kind one to another, tenderhearted, forgiving one another, even as GOD for CHRIST'S sake hath forgiven you.
(KJV)
Galatians 2:20 I am crucified with CHRIST: nevertheless I live; yet not I, but CHRIST liveth in me: and the life which I now live in the flesh I live by the faith of the Son of GOD, who loved me, and gave himself for me.
(KJV)
Colossians 3:1 If ye then be risen with CHRIST, seek those things which are above, where CHRIST sitteth on the right hand of GOD.
(KJV)
John 12:24 Verily, verily, I say unto you, Except a corn of wheat fall into the ground and die, it abideth alone: but if it die, it bringeth forth much fruit.
12:25 He that loveth his life shall lose it; and he that hateth his life in this world shall keep it unto life eternal.
12:26 If any man serve me, let him follow me; and where I am, there shall also my servant be: if any man serve me, him will my Father honour.
(KJV)
Romans 6:3 Know ye not, that so many of us as were baptized into JESUS CHRIST were baptized into his death?
6:4 Therefore we are buried with him by baptism into death: that like as CHRIST was raised up from the dead by the glory of the Father, even so we also should walk in newness of life.
6:5 For if we have been planted together in the likeness of his death, we shall be also in the likeness of his resurrection:
6:6 Knowing this, that our old man is crucified with him, that the body of sin might be destroyed, that henceforth we should not serve sin.
(KJV)
Romans 12:1 I beseech you therefore, brethren, by the mercies of GOD, that ye present your bodies a living sacrifice, holy, acceptable unto GOD, which is your reasonable service.
12:2 And be not conformed to this world: but be ye transformed by the renewing of your mind, that ye may prove what is that good, and acceptable, and perfect, will of GOD.
(KJV)
Without a Cross there is no following CHRIST! And without following CHRIST there is no 'life' at all!
Self-denial is not an initiation fee, once paid and forever forgotten. Old Christians as well as new converts must bear a Cross. One's Cross is not a disposable item. It should be one with all true followers of CHRIST!
Without true remorse, change of lifestyle, submission and commitment to overcome sin one cannot have full power and possession of their Cross!
Matthew 10:38 And he that taketh not his cross, and followeth after me, is not worthy of me.
(KJV)
Luke 14:27 And whosoever doth not bear his cross, and come after me, cannot be my disciple.
(KJV)
If an individual truly wants to follow JESUS CHRIST, they will say 'NO' to the 'forbidden' and ungodly things in life, and 'YES' to CHRIST (Godliness)!!!
'NO' to anything self-seeking and self-willed!!!
Titus 2:12 Teaching us that, denying ungodliness and worldly lusts, we should live soberly, righteously, and godly, in this present world;
(KJV)
Whether individuals live in a Christian land or in a culture hostile to GOD's Word, all must bear a Cross for eternal living life. The only way to avoid the Cross is to follow the world into destruction.
Taking up one's Cross is not something that is forced upon individuals. Individuals are to participate willingly!
For a true believer the Cross is a daily, lifelong, ubiquitous walk in GOD's Godliness!
1 John 2:6 He that saith he abideth in him ought himself also so to walk, even as he walked.
(KJV)
John 15:5 I am the vine, ye are the branches: He that abideth in me, and I in him, the same bringeth forth much fruit: for without me ye can do nothing.
(KJV)
15: 6 If a man abide not in me, he is cast forth as a branch, and is withered; and men gather them, and cast them into the fire, and they are burned.
(KJV)
1 John 3:6 Whosoever abideth in him sinneth not: whosoever sinneth hath not seen him, neither known him.
(KJV)
1 John 3:24 And he that keepeth his commandments dwelleth in him, and he in him. And hereby we know that he abideth in us, by the Spirit which he hath given us.
(KJV)
Those individuals that 'choose' to truly love and follow GODs Godliness as JESUS CHRIST will take up their Cross daily, and become renewed in and through Him!
2 Corinthians 4:16 For which cause we faint not; but though our outward man perish, yet the inward man is renewed day by day.
(KJV)
Wayward individuals cannot obtain eternal living life without 'taking up their Cross'!
Wayward individuals cannot be true representatives for GOD without their Cross!
Wayward individuals cannot be true representatives for GOD as JESUS CHRIST without their Cross!
Wayward individuals cannot be true representatives of GOD's Godliness without their Cross!
Wayward individuals cannot be true representatives of GOD's Godliness as JESUS CHRIST without their Cross!
Therefore, wayward individuals that 'choose' to reject and not 'follow' GOD's Godliness as JESUS CHRIST are useless to GOD and others throughout the universe!
Individuals that 'choose' to reject GOD's Godliness as JESUS CHRIST and follow 'self' are on the path of 'self' destruction!
Are We Truly Following CHRIST (taking up our Cross)?
Luke 14:26 If any man come to me, and hate not his father, and mother, and wife, and children, and brethren, and sisters, yea, and his own life also, he cannot be my disciple.
14:27 And whosoever doth not bear his cross, and come after me, cannot be my disciple.
14:28 For which of you, intending to build a tower, sitteth not down first, and counteth the cost, whether he have sufficient to finish it?
14:29 Lest haply, after he hath laid the foundation, and is not able to finish it, all that behold it begin to mock him,
14:30 Saying, This man began to build, and was not able to finish.
14:31 Or what king, going to make war against another king, sitteth not down first, and consulteth whether he be able with ten thousand to meet him that cometh against him with twenty thousand?
14:32 Or else, while the other is yet a great way off, he sendeth an ambassage, and desireth conditions of peace.
14:33 So likewise, whosoever he be of you that forsaketh not all that he hath, he cannot be my disciple.
14:34 Salt is good: but if the salt have lost his savour, wherewith shall it be seasoned?
14:35 It is neither fit for the land, nor yet for the dunghill; but men cast it out. He that hath ears to hear, let him hear.
(KJV)
