And he said to all, “If anyone would come after me, let him deny himself and take up his cross daily and follow me. ~ Luke 9:23
In other words, Jesus was saying to the attracted and the curious and the interested and even the believing, “If you want the salvation that I offer, if you want to enter into the kingdom of God, if you want eternal life, you deny yourself.”
Not everybody by any means was willing to do that. Many of the curious, many of the attracted, many of those enthralled by Jesus, many of those who believed in Jesus were not willing to abandon everything. To say it’s the end of me and the beginning of You, to confess Him as Lord and follow Him wherever He went whatever it cost, not everyone was willing to do that. John chapter 6 tells us about some disciples who walked no more with Him because the stakes were too high. The price was more than they wanted to pay. ~ John MacArthur
As a result, they make up a god to please themselves and make it about themselves.
This is the theme of today’s successful false teachers in many mega-churches. That’s why we must be on guard and not let world views cloud our judgment.
And then will I declare to them, ‘I never knew you; depart from me, you workers of lawlessness.’ ~ Matthew 7:23 or as The Message Bible (MSG) puts it: And do you know what I am going to say? ‘You missed the boat. All you did was use me to make yourselves important. You don’t impress me one bit. You’re out of here.’
Read / Listen
Deuteronomy 21:1-22:30
Luke 9:51-10:12
Psalm 74:1-23
Proverbs 12:11
New Testament
Luke 9:51-10:12
Summary
A Samaritan Village Rejects Jesus
The Cost of Following Jesus
Jesus Sends Out the Seventy-Two
Jesus Sends Out the Seventy-Two
What did Jesus mean when He said “Let the dead bury the dead” (Luke 9:60)? – Click Here
Why did Jesus set His face to go to Jerusalem (Luke 9:51)? – Click Here
Overview: Luke 10-24 Video
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