Three Steps to Christ - Part 3
Luke 9:23-24; “And He said to them all, If any man will come after me, let him {1.} deny himself, and {2.} take up his cross daily, and {3.} follow me. For whosoever will save his life shall lose it: but whosoever will lose his life for My sake, the same shall save it.”
Mark 8:34-35; “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. 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.”
So let us put this together. Once you have confessed your sins, and are willing in your heart to put them away, and you have made the decision to give yourself all to God and ask Him to wash away your sins and give you a new heart; now its time to believe He will do this for you because it is His Promise to do so. And God is the only One who keeps His promises. If He promises to make us whole, it is within us to believe that He will do it. This is where our faith plays a part. “For without faith it is impossible to please Him. For he that cometh to God must believe that He is, and that He is a rewarded of them that diligently seek Him.” Hebrews 11:6.
We’ve touched on denying self, taking up the cross, and now we must follow Christ. Remember in part two we mentioned: “With Christ He gave all the resources of heaven, that nothing might be wanting in the plan for man’s uplifting. Here is love - the contemplation of which should fill the soul with inexpressible gratitude! Oh, what love, what matchless love! The contemplation of this love will cleanse the soul from all selfishness. It will lead the disciple to deny self, take up the cross, and follow the Redeemer.” CH 222.2
What does it mean to follow Christ? Obedience. Follow means: To pursue; to accompany; to attend in a journey.
When we deny self, we must believe that once we have given ourselves to Him after confessing our sins and repenting of them, Jesus has pardoned us personally, individually, so we must take God at His word. His promises are meant for us. When we believe that our past sins have been forgiven, and we work to stay away from them, strength and grace are provided through Christ our Comforter. So now that we have believed we are forgiven, we must work to stay on the path to righteousness. It isn’t a once saved always saved gospel. We now work for our robes of righteousness. And like in part two it is a life long work. “Sanctification is the result of lifelong obedience. AA 560.3”
Our works of obedience, and faith, are a service of love. For Jesus says; “If ye love me keep my commandments.” John 14:15. “God will draw near to us with mercy and forgiveness, when we draw near to Him with confession and repentance. When the principle of love is implanted in the heart, when man is renewed after the image of Him that created him, the new-covenant promise is fulfilled.” SC 60. Hebrews 10:16 says “I will put My laws into their hearts, and in their minds will I write them.” Once the laws are within our hearts, it will shape our lives. And we will “follow Him whithersoever He goeth.” Obedience is the service and allegiance of love. And its the true sign of discipleship. It is the fruit of faith. And when we abide in Him we shall not sin. “Whosoever sinneth hath not seen Him , neither known Him.” 1 John 3:5-6. And if we abide in Christ and Christ abides in us, and if the love of God dwells in us, what we feel, what we think, all our purposes, and actions will be in harmony with the will of God and we obey the precepts of God’s holy law.
When God gave the precepts at Sinai to Moses, God was expressing His righteousness. And when we follow these precepts, we become righteous as God is. “But as He which hath called you is holy, so be ye holy in all manner of conversation; Because it is written, Be ye holy; for I am holy.” Because it is by grace that we are saved through faith. And if faith has no works, it is dead. Ephesians 2:8; James 2:17. If we say that we know God and do not obey Him, we know Him not. “Hereby we do know that we know Him, if we keep His commandments. He that sayeth he abideth in Him ought himself also so to walk even as He walked.” 1 John 2:3-6.
Following Christ means, we have gotten rid of our selfishness, we have gone through the trials He puts before us with joy and thanksgiving, and now we obey all His commandments. When we do this we have the love of Christ in us. And in turn share that love with others. But if we do not follow Christ, we are cursed. “Woe to the rebellious children, saith the LORD, that take counsel, but not of Me; and that cover with a covering, but not of My Spirit, that they may add sin to sin.” Isaiah 30:1. “Ye have not chosen me, but I have chosen you, and ordained you, that ye should go and bring forth fruit, and that your fruit should remain: that whatsoever ye shall ask of the Father in My name, He may give it you.” John 15:16
In part two I asked why Jesus took up His cross? Because of His love for us. So in turn our love needs to be the same. Henceforth you are not your own; you are bought with a price. Ye were not redeemed with corruptible things, as silver and gold; …but with the precious blood of Christ, as of a lamb without blemish and without spot.” 1 Peter 1:18. There is therefore now no condemnation to them which are in Christ Jesus, who walk not after the flesh, but after the Spirit.” Romans 8:1
“Though I speak with the tongues of men and of angels, and have not Love, I am become as sounding brass, or a tinkling cymbal. And thought I have the gift of prophecy, and understand all mysteries, and all knowledge; and though I have all faith, so that I could remove mountains, and have not Love, I am nothing. And though I bestow all my goods to feed the poor, and though I give my body to be burned, and have not Love it profiteth me nothing.” 1 Corinthians 13:1-3. Jesus says if you Love Me keep my commandments. So what is Love that Paul is speaking of? To Love God is the first four commandments. And to love others is the last six. Without love of the commandments all these things that Paul says we can be wise about, will profit nothing. But this love, it profits everything.
“What things soever ye desire, when ye pray, believe that ye receive them, and ye shall have them.” Mark 11:24 This is under condition that we pray according to the will of God. It is the will of God to cleanse us from sin, to make us His children, and to enable us to live a holy life. It is our privilege to go to Jesus and to be cleansed, and to stand before the law without shame or remorse.
“The promise of the Holy Spirit is not limited to any age or to any race. Christ declared that the divine influence of His Spirit was to be with His followers unto the end. From the Day of Pentecost to the present time, the Comforter has been sent to all who have yielded themselves fully to the Lord and to His service. To all who have accepted Christ as a personal Saviour, the Holy Spirit has come as a counselor, sanctified, guide, and witness. The more closely believers have walked with God, the more clearly and powerfully have they testified of their Redeemer’s love and of His saving grace. The men and women who through the long centuries of persecution and trial enjoyed a large measure of the presence of the Spirit in their lives, have stood as signs and wonders in the world. Before angels and men they have revealed the transforming power of redeeming love.” AA 49.2.