Picking Up Your Cross
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Then said Jesus unto his disciples, If any man 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: and whosoever will lose his life for my sake shall find it. For what is a man profited, if he shall gain the whole world, and lose his own soul? or what shall a man give in exchange for his soul?
INTRODUCTION:
“. . . If any man will come after me, let him deny him-self, and take up his cross, and follow me”—Matthew 16:24.
Picking Up Your Cross
I. C-RUCIFIXION
A. Consider Christ’s death—He was innocent in life and death.
He did not resist death, even though His was a humiliating death—I Pet. 2:21–14.
B. His death was effective—I Peter 2:24.
Who his own self bare our sins in his own body on the tree, that we, being dead to sins, should live unto righteousness: by whose stripes ye were healed.
1. He died, in our stead, that we might live.
2. He died because He loved us.
II. R-ESURRECTION
A. Christ’s death would have meant nothing without His resurrection.
B. The angel conveyed Christ’s message—Matthew 28:6–7.
He is not here: for he is risen, as he said. Come, see the place where the Lord lay. And go quickly, and tell his disciples that he is risen from the dead; and, behold, he goeth before you into Galilee; there shall ye see him: lo, I have told you.
1. The proclamation: “He is risen, as he said.”
2. The power: “He is risen from the dead.”
3. The presence: “He goeth before you . . . ye shall see him.”
III. O-BEDIENCE
A. God and man meet at the center of the cross.
B. All that Christ has done and can do is at stake.
Men can reject or accept the sacrifice.
1. Christ’s obedience
And being found in fashion as a man, he humbled himself, and became obedient unto death, even the death of the cross.
Who in the days of his flesh, when he had offered up prayers and supplications with strong crying and tears unto him that was able to save him from death, and was heard in that he feared; Though he were a Son, yet learned he obedience by the things which he suffered;
2. Our obedience
Then Peter and the other apostles answered and said, We ought to obey God rather than men.
3. We may obey or disobey whichever we choose
For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life.
IV. S-ALVATION
A. The cross means forgiveness for our sins
I Peter 3:18
For Christ also hath once suffered for sins, the just for the unjust, that he might bring us to God, being put to death in the flesh, but quickened by the Spirit:
And he is the propitiation for our sins: and not for ours only, but also for the sins of the whole world.
B. The cross means cleansing for our sanctification
Knowing this, that our old man is crucified with him, that the body of sin might be destroyed, that henceforth we should not serve sin.
1. Brings purity of heart and soul.
2. Brings power for service.
V. S-ACRIFICE
A. Christ’s sacrifice was for our forgiveness and cleansing.
B. We may be called to sacrifice our time, talent, or our treasures
Then said Jesus unto his disciples, If any man 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: and whosoever will lose his life for my sake shall find it. For what is a man profited, if he shall gain the whole world, and lose his own soul? or what shall a man give in exchange for his soul?