MATTHEW 16:24-28...
The Conditions of Discipleship...
24/ Then Jesus said to his disciples, “Whoever wishes to come after me must deny himself, take up his cross, and follow me.
25/ For whoever wishes to save his life will lose it, but whoever loses his life for my sake will find it.
26/ What profit would there be for one to gain the whole world and forfeit his life? Or what can one give in exchange for his life?
27/ For the Son of Man will come with his angels in his Father’s glory, and then he will repay everyone according to his conduct.
28/ Amen, I say to you, there are some standing here who will not taste death until they see the Son of Man coming in his kingdom.”
We must never forget that our life, our eternal life, was purchased with a price! CHRIST JESUS underwent an enormous amount to provide THE WAY for us; and, all that is asked of us, IS that we LOVE as HE LOVES us, and, that we act IN HIS name, becoming as perfected as we can, IN HIS example!!!
Let us take a look at some of the Scripture which reiterates OUR RESPONSIBILITIES TO the NEW COVENANT! These responsibilities require understanding, and, acceptance that we must remain moral, and, ethical, in our personal, and, public lives, that we are ALWAYS GLOWING of our Christian Discipleship!!!
From The New American Bible; St. Joseph Edition, comes this meaning of PERFECT...
PERFECT: In the ancient text, this word indicates someone WHO AVOIDS SIN, and, PRACTICES THE LAW. The passage in which JESUS says: "Be perfected as your FATHER is perfect" (MATTHEW 5:48), signifies, according to its context, that ONE MUST IMITATE THE DIVINE MERCY, and, IMPARTIALITY. In a single passage (MATTHEW 19:21), JESUS speaks of the Disciple who goes BEYOND his ordinary duties. St. Paul uses the term perfect of the "spiritually mature" Christians who KNOW TRUE WISDOM, and, WANT ALL Men to be perfect in CHRIST (1 CORINTHIANS 2:6)...
*GOD* also, has said, "Be HOLY because I am HOLY.", in the BOOKS of LEVITICUS, and, 1 PETER 1:16...
I can NOT relent in speaking of the NEED to perfect the spirit; it IS what is required of *GOD'S* Children, despite the belief that it is not necessary to do so! IF it is NOT necessary to do so, WHY is it spoken of, along with, instructions on HOW to do so, AND, if it is not necessary to do so, WHY is this guidance IN THE WORD???
Let's say you are a parent; do you allow your Children to run wild, and, do whatever they wish to do? Of course not! You set guidelines, disciplines, and, other character building standards for them to COMPLY to, that they are SAFE, AND, that they can GROW INTO healthy, functioning adults! Now, we all know, no matter how much we guide them, some will NOT align to what they were taught, and, will have to go the hard road to developing into the person they really are, beneath their rebellion, or, whatever has inspired them to divert from what they were taught! In much the same way, *GOD* has given us MASTERFUL INSTRUCTIONS, that we have a MORE FULFILLED LIFE, in the now, and, hereafter, AND, that we GLORIFY HIM, through our thoughts, actions, and, reactions!!!
Again, HE GAVE us the GIFT of LIFE, in CHRIST JESUS, but, that gift comes with a price, so it is written, so it shall be! Both 1 CORINTHIANS 6:20, and, 1 CORINTHIANS 7:23, speak of this; For you have been bought with a price: therefore glorify God in your body., and, You were bought with a price; do not become slaves of men...
HE KNOWS that we will NEVER reach perfection, but, the point is IN THE EFFORT of LOVE FOR HIM! It IS the HONOUR we pay to HIM FOR HIS LOVE of us, and, HIS MERCIFUL GIFT(s)! It IS the RESPECT, and, REGARD OF HIS WILL, that COMPELS us to COMPLY, and, become OBEDIENT TO HIM, HIS WILL, HIS WAYS! It IS the SURRENDERING, and, SUBMISSION, THROUGH CHARACTER, and, CONSCIOUSLY DELIBERATE KNOWLEDGE that we BECOME as CLOSE to HIM, as is humanly feasible, that, BY EFFORT, HE IS GLORIFIED NOW, and, FOREVER, IN the consequence of DEVOUT LOVE FOR HIM, and, HIS RIGHTEOUSNESS, PARTLY because we KNOW that it is LIFE GIVING, LIFE ENHANCING, and, THE ABSOLUTE RIGHT way to exist!!!
Argue all you want! No matter how much we sway from THE WORD, in our arrogant, self-assured ways, the TRUTH IS EVER THE SAME, and, does NOT sway for ANY generation, under ANY circumstance; the GENIUS of *GOD* has foreseen ALL, and, EVERYTHING concerning us, since BEFORE time, way past ETERNITY!!!
We come to CHRIST/*GOD* as babies, receptive to what HE has to offer, then, we are expected to GROW into maturity of spirit, IN HIS name, that HE is GLORIFIED by, and, through us; as reflections of HIS PERFECTION! Sure, we falter, fail, fall, and, even rebel, but, IF we want eternity, we GRASP the WHOLE TRUTH of THE COVENANT, and, become as close to being perfected, spiritually, as is feasible, given the human condition, AND, we CONSTANTLY, commune with HIM, pray to HIM, PRAISE HIM, WORSHIP HIM, and, what EVER it takes to HONOUR HIM, because HE IS WORTHY, and, because HE has SHOWN us HOW to LOVE!!!
IF you REALLY READ, devour, and, digest THE WORD, HIS OWN VOICE, you will begin to embrace the need to SERVE HIM, FOR REAL, not partially, not half-heartedly, but, with your whole being! You will see that, in doing so, there is abundant BLESSINGS, benevolence, and, fulfillment's of every kind, and, your HOPE will be more authentic, thus, your FAITH will be more TRUE, stronger, and, will KEEP you safe from the world's many woes!!!
None of this is about GUILT, it is about EXALTATION, GROWTH, LOVE, REGARD, RESPECT, HONOUR, and, SERVITUDE, for, and, to HIM, the ALMIGHTY LORD, our *GOD*! Those who feel that if they are told the TRUTH, in which, they must alter this, or, that, then, rebel, in their arrogant assumption that ALL people, no matter their errs, under the rights of Baptism, are guaranteed eternal life, are seriously, in need of some lengthy studying, and, consideration OF the entirety of THE WORD. Never forget too, that LOTS of people were Baptized as infants, then, were NOT taught properly, nor, fully, THE WORD! As a Reverend of the MOST HIGH *GOD*, it IS my work to REMIND(inform), others of the yoke of CHRIST; which, like the one that enables the oxen to pull a load, LEADS to a responsibility for LIVING the Christian life, in the FULLNESS of spiritual maturity, which ENABLES, and, EMPOWERS those who, WHOLE-HEARTEDLY take up HIS yoke! They KNOW that they died with HIM, and, find LIFE in HIM, and so, they LIVE accordingly, despite the world around them! It is NOT easy, by any means, but, IN *GOD*, ALL things are possible, and, HE HAS set the standard for HIS OWN REASONS...
REV. LWINSOR © 2011
ALL RIGHTS RETAINED/RESERVED IN AUTHORSHIP
*except for BIBLICAL, and/or, other references*
BIBLICAL, and/or, other references MARKED BOLDLY IN COLOURS
The Conditions of Discipleship...
24/ Then Jesus said to his disciples, “Whoever wishes to come after me must deny himself, take up his cross, and follow me.
25/ For whoever wishes to save his life will lose it, but whoever loses his life for my sake will find it.
26/ What profit would there be for one to gain the whole world and forfeit his life? Or what can one give in exchange for his life?
27/ For the Son of Man will come with his angels in his Father’s glory, and then he will repay everyone according to his conduct.
28/ Amen, I say to you, there are some standing here who will not taste death until they see the Son of Man coming in his kingdom.”
We must never forget that our life, our eternal life, was purchased with a price! CHRIST JESUS underwent an enormous amount to provide THE WAY for us; and, all that is asked of us, IS that we LOVE as HE LOVES us, and, that we act IN HIS name, becoming as perfected as we can, IN HIS example!!!
Let us take a look at some of the Scripture which reiterates OUR RESPONSIBILITIES TO the NEW COVENANT! These responsibilities require understanding, and, acceptance that we must remain moral, and, ethical, in our personal, and, public lives, that we are ALWAYS GLOWING of our Christian Discipleship!!!
From The New American Bible; St. Joseph Edition, comes this meaning of PERFECT...
PERFECT: In the ancient text, this word indicates someone WHO AVOIDS SIN, and, PRACTICES THE LAW. The passage in which JESUS says: "Be perfected as your FATHER is perfect" (MATTHEW 5:48), signifies, according to its context, that ONE MUST IMITATE THE DIVINE MERCY, and, IMPARTIALITY. In a single passage (MATTHEW 19:21), JESUS speaks of the Disciple who goes BEYOND his ordinary duties. St. Paul uses the term perfect of the "spiritually mature" Christians who KNOW TRUE WISDOM, and, WANT ALL Men to be perfect in CHRIST (1 CORINTHIANS 2:6)...
*GOD* also, has said, "Be HOLY because I am HOLY.", in the BOOKS of LEVITICUS, and, 1 PETER 1:16...
I can NOT relent in speaking of the NEED to perfect the spirit; it IS what is required of *GOD'S* Children, despite the belief that it is not necessary to do so! IF it is NOT necessary to do so, WHY is it spoken of, along with, instructions on HOW to do so, AND, if it is not necessary to do so, WHY is this guidance IN THE WORD???
Let's say you are a parent; do you allow your Children to run wild, and, do whatever they wish to do? Of course not! You set guidelines, disciplines, and, other character building standards for them to COMPLY to, that they are SAFE, AND, that they can GROW INTO healthy, functioning adults! Now, we all know, no matter how much we guide them, some will NOT align to what they were taught, and, will have to go the hard road to developing into the person they really are, beneath their rebellion, or, whatever has inspired them to divert from what they were taught! In much the same way, *GOD* has given us MASTERFUL INSTRUCTIONS, that we have a MORE FULFILLED LIFE, in the now, and, hereafter, AND, that we GLORIFY HIM, through our thoughts, actions, and, reactions!!!
Again, HE GAVE us the GIFT of LIFE, in CHRIST JESUS, but, that gift comes with a price, so it is written, so it shall be! Both 1 CORINTHIANS 6:20, and, 1 CORINTHIANS 7:23, speak of this; For you have been bought with a price: therefore glorify God in your body., and, You were bought with a price; do not become slaves of men...
HE KNOWS that we will NEVER reach perfection, but, the point is IN THE EFFORT of LOVE FOR HIM! It IS the HONOUR we pay to HIM FOR HIS LOVE of us, and, HIS MERCIFUL GIFT(s)! It IS the RESPECT, and, REGARD OF HIS WILL, that COMPELS us to COMPLY, and, become OBEDIENT TO HIM, HIS WILL, HIS WAYS! It IS the SURRENDERING, and, SUBMISSION, THROUGH CHARACTER, and, CONSCIOUSLY DELIBERATE KNOWLEDGE that we BECOME as CLOSE to HIM, as is humanly feasible, that, BY EFFORT, HE IS GLORIFIED NOW, and, FOREVER, IN the consequence of DEVOUT LOVE FOR HIM, and, HIS RIGHTEOUSNESS, PARTLY because we KNOW that it is LIFE GIVING, LIFE ENHANCING, and, THE ABSOLUTE RIGHT way to exist!!!
Argue all you want! No matter how much we sway from THE WORD, in our arrogant, self-assured ways, the TRUTH IS EVER THE SAME, and, does NOT sway for ANY generation, under ANY circumstance; the GENIUS of *GOD* has foreseen ALL, and, EVERYTHING concerning us, since BEFORE time, way past ETERNITY!!!
We come to CHRIST/*GOD* as babies, receptive to what HE has to offer, then, we are expected to GROW into maturity of spirit, IN HIS name, that HE is GLORIFIED by, and, through us; as reflections of HIS PERFECTION! Sure, we falter, fail, fall, and, even rebel, but, IF we want eternity, we GRASP the WHOLE TRUTH of THE COVENANT, and, become as close to being perfected, spiritually, as is feasible, given the human condition, AND, we CONSTANTLY, commune with HIM, pray to HIM, PRAISE HIM, WORSHIP HIM, and, what EVER it takes to HONOUR HIM, because HE IS WORTHY, and, because HE has SHOWN us HOW to LOVE!!!
IF you REALLY READ, devour, and, digest THE WORD, HIS OWN VOICE, you will begin to embrace the need to SERVE HIM, FOR REAL, not partially, not half-heartedly, but, with your whole being! You will see that, in doing so, there is abundant BLESSINGS, benevolence, and, fulfillment's of every kind, and, your HOPE will be more authentic, thus, your FAITH will be more TRUE, stronger, and, will KEEP you safe from the world's many woes!!!
None of this is about GUILT, it is about EXALTATION, GROWTH, LOVE, REGARD, RESPECT, HONOUR, and, SERVITUDE, for, and, to HIM, the ALMIGHTY LORD, our *GOD*! Those who feel that if they are told the TRUTH, in which, they must alter this, or, that, then, rebel, in their arrogant assumption that ALL people, no matter their errs, under the rights of Baptism, are guaranteed eternal life, are seriously, in need of some lengthy studying, and, consideration OF the entirety of THE WORD. Never forget too, that LOTS of people were Baptized as infants, then, were NOT taught properly, nor, fully, THE WORD! As a Reverend of the MOST HIGH *GOD*, it IS my work to REMIND(inform), others of the yoke of CHRIST; which, like the one that enables the oxen to pull a load, LEADS to a responsibility for LIVING the Christian life, in the FULLNESS of spiritual maturity, which ENABLES, and, EMPOWERS those who, WHOLE-HEARTEDLY take up HIS yoke! They KNOW that they died with HIM, and, find LIFE in HIM, and so, they LIVE accordingly, despite the world around them! It is NOT easy, by any means, but, IN *GOD*, ALL things are possible, and, HE HAS set the standard for HIS OWN REASONS...
REV. LWINSOR © 2011
ALL RIGHTS RETAINED/RESERVED IN AUTHORSHIP
*except for BIBLICAL, and/or, other references*
BIBLICAL, and/or, other references MARKED BOLDLY IN COLOURS
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