The Way of The Cross Leads Home

The Way of The Cross Leads Home

(Matthew 16:24-26)

Logan Peters

Thesis: The Way of the Cross is an attitude and way of life, not simply a one-time action.

Purpose: To encourage Christians to continue working and living in the footsteps of Jesus.

Introduction:

1) In the modern world, we are told to pursue comfort, self-fulfillment, and personal desires.

2) The attitude often resembles that if something does not fulfill a personal desire, then it will not be done.

3) This way of worldly pleasure leads one to a place of eternal separation from God: hell.

4) The Master says those that enter the kingdom of heaven are those that do the will of the Father (Matt. 7:21).

5) If the way of worldly pleasure leads to hell, then the way of the cross leads home.

6) What does it mean to live in the way of the cross?

7) If we desire to truly live in the way of the cross, we must…

Discussion:

I. Embrace The Call to Self-Denial and Sacrifice (Matt. 16:24).

A. If we are going to live in the way of the cross, we must deny ourselves, but what exactly does that mean?

1. Those self-desires that we have are no longer the driving force behind the lives that we live (Col. 3:1-3).

i. It is no longer a life of personal gain or achievements but total submission to the Lord.

ii. This idea is denying ourselves outward and inward (Gal. 2:20).

2. Self-denial means we are no longer slaves to sin but slaves to the Master.

i. We are dead to sin so that we can live with Him (Rom. 6:6-8).

ii. The old man who lived in self-indulgence is dead and gone, but the new man is alive and serves only one Master (Matt. 6:24).

B. Not only are we to deny ourselves, but we are to take up our cross.

1. In this context, the cross was a symbol of pain, torture, mockery, and death.

i. To live in the way of the cross, Jesus is warning that following Him will lead to extreme persecution and even death.

ii. Most of us are lucky not to be in the face of death but ask a missionary what he has been through for the cause of Christ.

2. Taking up the cross is not bearing the burden of going to the grocery store or dealing with insignificant aspects of day-to-day life.

i. This is a complete willingness to follow Jesus even if it means death (Acts 21:13).

ii. Are we willing to die for Christ as Paul was?

II. Follow in The Footsteps of Jesus (Matt. 16:24).

A. Is following Jesus a physical thing? Should we all fly to Jerusalem and walk exactly where the Savior walked? Or is it more?

1. We are to follow the example of His love for mankind.

i. In the case of the rich young ruler, Jesus loved him and desired that he would follow Jesus (Mark 10:21).

ii. Jesus had compassion and care for the souls of men, and that is why He died on the cross (Rom. 5:8).

2. We are to follow His example of service.

i. Jesus was a “minister” in the purest form because He spent his life here on earth serving others

ii. Just within the four accounts of the Gospel, many occasions can be studied where Jesus healed the sick, raised the dead, fed multitudes, taught others, and so on.

iii. His work and service were so great that even the entire world could not contain all the things that Jesus did (John 21:25).

B. What does that mean for us?

1. Are we thinking about souls or simply making it through the day?

2. Do we love all men, or do we pick and choose who hears the Gospel?

3. Are we living a full life in the example of Jesus, or an empty life of our desires?

4. Being a servant is not something we do, but it is who we are (James 2:14-26).

III. Give Up His Life in Prospect of Eternal Life (Matt. 16:25).

A. Living in the way of the cross is a total commitment to living after the example of Jesus.

1. This way of living leads to heaven (Matt 5:14-16).

i. We do not give up our lives for heaven; we give up our lives because the one who has redeemed us deserves all the glory we can offer.

ii. We give up our lives for the Gospel because we have the promise of eternal life if we have obeyed the Gospel.

2. We cannot earn salvation from merits (Eph. 2:8), but because Christians have the hope of eternal life, there is a burning desire to tell the world about Jesus (Mark 16:15, 15).

i. Jesus gave His life for me (personally), and I now desire to give my life to Him in service, love, and desire that every man could know about Him.

ii. My life is no longer here on earth but is stored in heaven where Christ is (John 14:3).

B. Christ has lived the very life that He is asking us to live (Phi. 2:5-8).

1. Jesus denied Himself by emptying Himself and coming to earth in the form of a man.

2. He lived a righteous life by humbling Himself and doing the will of the Father.

3. He was obedient to the cross and even to death.

Conclusion:

1) The life of a Christian is wonderful and fulfilling.

2) It is the only life that can be lived with the promise of eternal life.

3) The question arises: are we ready to live in the way of the cross?

4) Paul lived this kind of life and was able to have confidence toward the end of his physical life (2 Tim. 4:6-8).

5) The way of the cross leads home: a land of no sorrow or pain. A land where we will never grow old.

6) The way of the cross leads to eternity with God.