Lay Down Your Life – Now!

Trying to become a better husband or wife, a kinder friend, a more loving person? These are good desires and yet, we must remember that the first order of priority is being a better disciple of Jesus, our “first love” and THEN everything else will come into God’s order, by His enabling grace (Revelation 2:4-5; Matthew 6:33, etc.).

The depth of your dying determines the height of your resurrection. Jesus saved you to serve HIM and others, not yourself (Ephesians 5:25-27). The Christian Life will not and does not work outside of the Cross principle Christ gave us as the prescription for following Him – the “daily” death, burial, and raising up (Luke 9:23-24; 2 Corinthians 4:10-12).

Luke 9:23-24

“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. 24 For whosoever will save his life shall lose it: but whosoever will lose his life for my sake, the same shall save it.” Luke 9:23-24

DENY SELF: Give up your own will. Refuse to follow your own will. Deny self any pleasure which doesn’t come from nor lead to God.

TAKE UP THE CROSS: Die to self and sin; crucify it; go against what you would choose to do, embracing God’s will.

FOLLOW: Accompany Jesus in His mission as He has given in His Word, empowers by His Spirit, and leads.

These are Jesus’ stated terms. Every person following Christ on His terms, is His. All other mere professors have a mere “form of godliness” (2 Timothy 3:5).

SO very many are self-deceived, swearing they are right with God while ignoring and disobeying what His Word plainly states. They follow false teaching and yet do not realize it because they have refused to truly repent which would have led to their steadfastly studying God’s Word for themselves (2 Timothy 2:15). Jesus will tell them: “DEPART from me, ye that work iniquity (lawless, disobedient)” (Matthew 7:21-23). Read Proverbs 28:9; Titus 1:16; 1 John 2:4; Revelation 22:14; Matthew 7:21-23.

IF you are not in full obedience to the LORD, He still wants to make you whole from lawless iniquity. Repentance is necessary for this to happen. Those who are His prove so by their obedience to Him in this life. (John 14:15, 21; Titus 1:16; 1 John 2:3-6, etc.). There is no other chance. Eternity is forever.

“Not every one that saith unto me, Lord, Lord, shall enter into the kingdom of heaven; but he that doeth the will of my Father which is in heaven. 22 Many will say to me in that day, Lord, Lord, have we not prophesied in thy name? and in thy name have cast out devils? and in thy name done many wonderful works? 23 And then will I profess unto them, I never knew you: depart from me, ye that work iniquity.” Matthew 7:21-23