Bible Studies

Part Three

Jesus taught that in order for a born-again believer to embrace and remain in discipleship, he or she must deny himself or herself, and carry his or her own cross daily (1).

Note that self-denial is a conditional requirement for discipleship, but not the means to either obtain or retain salvation. “Religion” tends to roll salvation and discipleship into one, all or nothing, ball of wax.

The “daily” part is self-explanatory, as discipleship calls for a 24-7, conscious, walk with God, regardless of where we are, or what we are otherwise doing. It is not something to be turned on and off at will, or when it is convenient to do so. Maintaining a conscious awareness of the omnipresence of God will go a long way in controlling much of what we think, say, and do.

The “denial” part involves separation from anyone or anything that would otherwise come between us and our individual, intimate, walk with God. It involves separation from anything or anyone (including our own independent plans) that competes for the focus of our attention, taking us away from the individual plan that God has in mind.

Physical separation from worldly-minded people is not always possible. There are unsaved and back-sliding family members, co-workers, fellow students, etc., that we rub elbows with every day.

But what IS possible, is for a disciple to develop and apply the thinking of Christ (2) when in the presence of, and interacting with, these worldly-minded people.

Furthermore, as God the Father sent His Son to interact with sinners, Jesus is sending us out into the devil’s world, as His disciples and ambassadors.

In unavoidable scenarios of interaction, it comes down to a matter of who is influencing who. Are you drawing others into a consciousness of God, and or the things of God, or are they drawing you away from the plan of God, and into the ways of the world?

There are scenarios that are under our control and responsibility, and are a part of our OWN cross that we, as an advancing disciple, are called to bear.

An advancing disciple can choose who and what he or she invites into his or her own home, and what type of behavior is going to be allowed to take place under his or her own roof.

If a born-again believer is unwilling to take a godly stand for what takes place under his or her own roof, he or she will suffer the Luke 9: 26 consequences.

Sharing meals and interpersonal fellowship went hand in hand in the ancient world. 1Cor.5: 11 commands us not to associate or to share meals with “Christian’s” who talk the talk, but don’t walk the walk, by knowingly and willingly make a lifestyle out of behaviors that the Bible labels as sin.

Friendship with the world (worldly-minded individuals) is enmity with God (3).

Keep in mind the purpose for such interpersonal separations is to encourage repentance and reconciliation, not to judge, or to punish. Our table of fellowship should be as open as were the arms of Christ to sinners, but not for the purpose r of condoning or facilitating sin, under our own roof.

Love, including unconditional love, does what is best for ALL involved. Compromising one’s own walk with the Lord in order to blend with others is not an acceptable way of life for an advancing disciple. Oil and water can be stirred together into a glass for the moment, but will not bond and will eventually separate.

Granted, Jesus accepts us just as we are at the moment of salvation, but He desires that we be conformed to His likeness (4) in character, speech, and behavior, as we spiritually mature. Failing to do so does not jeopardize our salvation, but disqualifies us as disciples. With such inconsistencies, born-again believers unwittingly become useful tools in the hands of the devil.

Condoning or facilitating sin is not what is best for neither an advancing disciple, or a wayward soul. This choice disqualifies weak born-again believers (unwilling to take a godly stand) from discipleship (5), and contributes to the delinquency of the soul in need of salvation or edification.

Jesus and His disciples ate and drank with sinners (6), but never condoned or facilitated sin.

The denial requirement becomes easier to comply with, as one spiritually matures. If, and as, we spiritually mature, our interests in, and prioritization of, the things of this world, and the interest that worldly-minded people have in us, fades away.

Sacrifice and denial are where the concept of one’s “own” cross comes into the picture, determining what things that we, as individuals, must forsake, or at least re-order, on our list of priorities, as we spiritually mature.

What may be a great temptation or distraction for you, may be of no interest to someone else, and vice versa. God’s individual plan for each one of us is tailor-made, and so is the devil’s counterplan of destruction.

One of the reasons that God allows aging to limit our mobility and ability to continue to do many of the things that occupy our time, is to bring to our attention the lack of spiritual (eternal) significance in such things, and to give us time and opportunity to get our spiritual act together before leaving this world, and to make “deposits” in our account in Heaven.

Many Christians can tell you to the penny what the balance of their earthly accounts are, at any given time, but have no clue as to the balance of their account in Heaven, where Jesus advised us to make deposits (7).

Some aren’t even aware that such an account even exists, or the impact it will have on their Heavenly experience.

Deposit slips for this account become available by bearing our own cross, and by participating in the Great Commission, with the enabling power (8) that God supplies. Without a proper deposit slip, no deposits can be made.

Bearing our own cross will impact where and on what we invest our time, talent, and treasure (money), for wherever and on whatever we invest our time, talents, and treasure, reveals where our hearts are, as well (9).

We cannot take any of our accumulated earthly assets with us, but we can make deposits into an account that will be enjoyed in Heaven.

Many “Christians” have stored up much prosperity here on Earth, but are facing bankruptcy in the eternal realm (10), having placed little, if anything, in their account in Heaven.

In some cases, our interest and accompanying focus of attention being on worldly prosperity, above and beyond, our interest and attention on eternal prosperity, becomes a major impediment to our forward progress in our cross-bearing and walk with the Lord.

Salvation is a “no strings attached” gift from God that He bestows on all who believe the unadulterated Gospel Message, but discipleship can be a painful and costly undertaking.

As in the case of the rich man of Matt. 19: 21, 22, it may be our riches and possessions, or an inordinate desire to obtain them, that has to go. For others, it may be a personal relationship (11) or association with other people. It may be a secular career, hobby, or form of recreation. It can be anything that is being given the place of God and or the things of God, on our individual list of priorities.

If it is not sin, it is not (usually) a matter of having to give up such things, but a matter of giving and keeping such things in their right place on our list of priorities.

At the end of the day, an advancing disciple will not want to do, or want to have, anything that God does not want him or her to do, or to have.

There are many spiritual blessings, such as the Phil. 1: 29 peace that surpasses all understanding in the midst of great adversity, to be received and experienced by advancing disciples, while here on Earth. But along with these blessings, an advancing disciples will find discipleship to be a costly undertaking, the more advanced he or she becomes.

The test of our commitment surfaces when it involves losing or giving up something that we personally hold near and dear.

Fear of what the outcome may be for bearing our cross is quite common, but as the late Dr. Charles Stanley used to often say, we are to learn and do what God desires, and then leave the fall out in His hands.

The devil argued that if Job suffered enough undeserved adversity that he would turn away, speaking ill of God, and lose his interest in the things of God.

Job suffered the loss of all of his adult children, his great wealth, and his health, but remained faithful to God.

Job recovered and was later greatly blessed, but there have been many disciples over the course of the Church Age who have suffered greatly, even martyred, who never received relief from their suffering here on Earth, but were content to receive their reward in Heaven.

Many of us, like Peter (12), might boldly claim that we would never deny or turn on God (or away from the things of God), only to discover just how weak we really are when the day(s) of our individual testing arise.

The post salvation life for most advancing disciples will be a mixed bag of blessings and adversity, successes and failures, discouragement and inspiration.

Advancing disciples will develop the courage to move forward in the plan of God, knowing that nothing frustrates the devil or delights God any more, than for them to continue on in spite of all the opposition they encounter.

An indication that we have in fact picked up our OWN cross is if and when we, like Jesus and Paul can wholeheartedly say, “… not my will, but Yours be done (Luke 22: 42 NASB2020),” and, “For me to live is (for) Christ, and to die is gain (Phil. 1: 21 NASB2020 parenthesis mine).”

End of Part Three

End of Series

(1) Luke 9: 23/Luke 14: 27 21 (2) 1Cor. 2: 16 (3) James 4: 4 (4) Rom. 8: 29 (5) Luke 14: 26 (6) Matt. 9: 10 (7) Matt. 6: 20 (8) John 15 5 (9) Matt. 6: 21 (10) Rev. 3: 17 (11) Luke 14: 26 (12) Matt. 26: 35