Living a Christ’s Life -- Taking up Cross and Following the LOR

Living a Christ’s Life -- Taking up Cross and Following the LORD

By the precious blood of Christ on the cross, we were given the chance to be reborn; like the blood of Passover lamb saved those Israelites out of Egypt, out of the land of slavery. However, this is just the beginning of entering the promise land and we are not there yet. The common situations are: we did not live a Christ’s life right away; we did not conform to the likeness of Christ at once; and our new lives were at the stage of babyhood. Our old lives of Adam have not completely give up the ownership yet. To let Christ take charge of our lives completely and to truly conform to the likeness of Jesus Christ, we must deny ourselves and take up our own cross daily and follow the LORD in order to be successful.

“Then he(Jesus Christ) said to them all: "If anyone would come after me, he must deny himself and take up his cross daily and follow me. ” ( LUKE 9:23)

1. Taking up one’s cross and following the LORD are what a Christ-man must do. It’s unavoidable.

This is the teaching of LORD Jesus Christ:

“And anyone who does not carry his cross and follow me cannot be my disciple. ” ( LUKE 14:27 )

This world has been corrupted by the evil desires of sinful nature of man and the temptation of the devil. It has been alienated from the divine and holy life of God. The process of taking off and denying the worldly old life and letting the holy new life in Christ grow up is necessary and even painful. This growing-up requires us to arm ourselves with the willingness of sufferings. To be separated from the worldly things and sins, only those who take up their own cross can follow the LORD to walk on the road to a holy new life.

“don't you know that friendship with the world is hatred toward God? Anyone who chooses to be a friend of the world becomes an enemy of God. ” ( JAMES 4:4 )

“Do not love the world or anything in the world. If anyone loves the world, the love of the Father is not in him. For everything in the world--the cravings of sinful man, the lust of his eyes and the boasting of what he has and does--comes not from the Father but from the world. The world and its desires pass away, but the man who does the will of God lives forever. ” ( 1 JOHN 2:15-17 )

“The mind of sinful man is death, but the mind controlled by the Spirit is life and peace; the sinful mind is hostile to God. ” ( ROMANS 8:6-7)

“For, as I have often told you before and now say again even with tears, many live as enemies of the cross of Christ. Their destiny is destruction, their god is their stomach, and their glory is in their shame. Their mind is on earthly things. ” ( PHILIPPIANS 3:18-19 )

Those who are not willing to take off sins; not willing to pay for pursuing holiness; not willing to take up their cross to live a new life , are not worthy to be the disciple of the LORD and can not follow the LORD and be His disciples.

For those who turn the grace from God into “cheap grace”, that is: one does not need to repent completely to be saved; one does not need to deny the sinful worldly things to be a saint, they could not be the disciple of the LORD. Therefore, they could not enter the kingdom of heaven and have the eternal life. Only for those who are willing to take up their own cross; and are willing to obey God’s words to live a holy new life as LORD Jesus Christ, they could finally enter the eternal life.

2. We must “deny ourselves” to let the new life in Christ to grow up.

Our old lives of Adam are not willing to give up the ownership, and are the lives of loving this world, being controlled by the sinful nature, enjoying the pleasures of sins, being selfish and greedy, being pride and liking to show off oneself. The old selves do not think it worthwhile to retain the knowledge of the holiness and righteousness of God due to the self-pride and sinful nature; do not obey the commands and words of God. We must crucify the old selves so that the new life will be shown. Only by taking up the cross, we can let Christ truly be in charge of our lives. This requires our own will to make the choice. It is not natural, but needs to endure the sufferings of carrying a cross to be accomplished.

(1) To “deny oneself” , we must be done with the sinful nature with its passions and desires, and crucify the old self on the cross.

“Those who belong to Christ Jesus have crucified the sinful nature with its passions and desires. ” ( GALATIANS 5:24 )

“I have been crucified with Christ and I no longer live, but Christ lives in me. ” ( GALATIANS 2:20 )

“Put to death, therefore, whatever belongs to your earthly nature: sexual immorality, impurity, lust, evil desires and greed, which is idolatry. ” ( COLOSSIANS 3:5 )

“The mind of sinful man is death, but the mind controlled by the Spirit is life and peace; the sinful mind is hostile to God. It does not submit to God's law, nor can it do so. Those controlled by the sinful nature cannot please God. ” ( ROMANS 8:6-8)

“ In the same way, count yourselves dead to sin but alive to God in Christ Jesus. ” ( ROMANS 6:11 )

“For if you live according to the sinful nature, you will die; but if by the Spirit you put to death the misdeeds of the body, you will live, ” ( ROMANS 8:13)

“No, I beat my body and make it my slave so that after I have preached to others, I myself will not be disqualified for the prize. ” ( 1 CORINTHIANS 9:27 )

“I want to know Christ and the power of his resurrection and the fellowship of sharing in his sufferings, becoming like him in his death, ” ( PHILIPPIANS 3:10)

“Therefore, since Christ suffered in his body, arm yourselves also with the same attitude, because he who has suffered in his body is done with sin. ” ( 1 PETER 4:1 )

We must take off the old self and the old behaviors, and put on the new self and let Christ truly be in charge of our lives.

“Surely you heard of him and were taught in him in accordance with the truth that is in Jesus. You were taught, with regard to your former way of life, to put off your old self, which is being corrupted by its deceitful desires; to be made new in the attitude of your minds; and to put on the new self, created to be like God in true righteousness and holiness. ” ( EPHESIANS 4:21-24)

“But now you must rid yourselves of all such things as these: anger, rage, malice, slander, and filthy language from your lips. Do not lie to each other, since you have taken off your old self with its practices and have put on the new self, which is being renewed in knowledge in the image of its Creator. ” ( COLOSSIANS 3:8-10)

(2) To “deny oneself” , we must get rid of the self-pride.

Pride of self together with devil lured Eve and Adam to disobey God and eat the forbidden fruit and bring the original sin to human beings. Pride of self blinded Pharisees to know real Messiah, the Son of God - Jesus Christ and missed the great salvation. Pride of self is still the biggest sin yet without noticing. If one does not get rid of the self-pride, one won’t have the life of God.

Remember that God created us, build the earth for us to live and prepare all kinds of food for us to eat. Our every day's life is because of Him. All the power, wisdom, knowledge and understanding belong to Him. All the rules, orderliness, goodness and kindness are because of Him. All the truth and love are from Him. Our conscience is also from Him for He writes the law in everyone's mind. Everything good is from Him. Therefore, we must do what is good and righteous and lead others to righteousness, but we must not justify ourselves. Let one who boasts boast in the Lord only.

“To this John replied, "A man can receive only what is given him from heaven. ” ( JOHN 3:27 )

“I said to the LORD , "You are my Lord; apart from you I have no good thing." ” ( PSALMS 16:2 )

“For who makes you different from anyone else? What do you have that you did not receive? And if you did receive it, why do you boast as though you did not? ” ( 1 CORINTHIANS 4:7 )

“LORD , … all that we have accomplished you have done for us.” ( ISAIAH 26:12 )

“It is because of him that you are in Christ Jesus, who has become for us wisdom from God--that is, our righteousness, holiness and redemption. Therefore, as it is written: "Let him who boasts boast in the Lord." ” ( 1 CORINTHIANS 1: 30-31 )

All the glories, praises and thanks should be given to God. That is one truth we must know and learn well. Any self-complacency and self-satisfaction is a poison for our Spirit. Always remember give all glories to God. Otherwise, it is kind of like stealing.

“For although they knew God, they neither glorified him as God nor gave thanks to him, but their thinking became futile and their foolish hearts were darkened. ” ( ROMANS 1:21 )

“Not to us, O LORD, not to us but to your name be the glory, because of your love and faithfulness. ” ( PSALMS 115:1 )

Giving all glories and thanks to God will silent those who dare to put doing what is good and righteous out of the faith. Also, it avoids the malpractice of “Righteousness Through Deeds” that might lead to the mistake of “justifying oneself”. And it avoids the fallacy and prejudice of making deeds opposite to faith which have led people go astray from God.

We should follow the example of Jesus Christ: “"I do not accept praise from men, ” ( JOHN 5:41 )

What we should not do: “How can you believe if you accept praise from one another, yet make no effort to obtain the praise that comes from the only God ? ” ( JOHN 5:44 )

(3) To “deny oneself”, we must give up considering from the benefit of oneself; and we must obey the words and will of God and give all the authority to God.

It is not exaggerated at all that we are like dust and worms and even emptiness in front of the universe and the same - God. God is the highest axiom. In Him, it has always been “Yes”. We call God our Father in Heaven and we call ourselves His servants. Then how a child avoids making mistakes and what is the proper manner of a servant? We must obey the commands and words of God. The whole Old Testament about the Israel's history can be summarized in two sentences: "Blessings for obedience; curses for disobedience."

“Those who obey his commands live in him, and he in them. And this is how we know that he lives in us: We know it by the Spirit he gave us. ” ( 1 JOHN 3:24 )

“The world and its desires pass away, but the man who does the will of God lives forever.” ( 1 JOHN 2:16-17 )

“Blessed are they whose ways are blameless, who walk according to the law of the LORD . Blessed are they who keep his statutes and seek him with all their heart. ” ( PSALMS 119:1-2)

“"If you love me, you will obey what I command. ” ( JOHN 14:5 )

“For whoever does the will of my Father in heaven is my brother and sister and mother."” ( MATTHEW 12:50 )

“On one occasion an expert in the law stood up to test Jesus. "Teacher," he asked, "what must I do to inherit eternal life?" "What is written in the Law?" he replied. "How do you read it?" He answered: " 'Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your strength and with all your mind' ; and, 'Love your neighbor as yourself.' " "You have answered correctly," Jesus replied. "Do this and you will live." ” ( LUKE 10:25-28 )

“"Not everyone who says to me, 'Lord, Lord,' will enter the kingdom of heaven, but only he who does the will of my Father who is in heaven. ” ( MATTHEW 7:21 )

We must follow the example of Jesus Christ to trust and obey heavenly Father completely, and learn the humility and obedience of Christ -- obedience even to endure the sufferings and shame of the cross. All thanks, praises and glories be to our savior!

“Your attitude should be the same as that of Christ Jesus: Who, being in very nature God, did not consider equality with God something to be grasped, but made himself nothing, taking the very nature of a servant, being made in human likeness. And being found in appearance as a man, he humbled himself and became obedient to death-- even death on a cross! ” ( PHILIPPIANS 2:5-8 )

We must love God more than any gifts He give us -- including our own lives. We must not be hesitated to give up anything in order to gain Christ.

“"Anyone who loves his father or mother more than me is not worthy of me; anyone who loves his son or daughter more than me is not worthy of me; and anyone who does not take his cross and follow me is not worthy of me. Whoever finds his life will lose it, and whoever loses his life for my sake will find it. ” ( MATTHEW 10:37-39 )

“And everyone who has left houses or brothers or sisters or father or mother or children or fields for my sake will receive a hundred times as much and will inherit eternal life. ” ( MATTHEW 19:29 )

“For whoever wants to save his life will lose it, but whoever loses his life for me will save it. ” ( LUKE 9:24 )

“In the same way, any of you who does not give up everything he has cannot be my disciple. ” ( LUKE 14:33 )

“But whatever was to my profit I now consider loss for the sake of Christ. What is more, I consider everything a loss compared to the surpassing greatness of knowing Christ Jesus my Lord, for whose sake I have lost all things. I consider them rubbish, that I may gain Christ.” ( PHILIPPIANS 3:7-8 )

We must do good and what is righteous, even though we might suffer for it.

“For we are God's workmanship, created in Christ Jesus to do good works, which God prepared in advance for us to do. ” ( EPHESIANS 2:10 )

“Therefore, as we have opportunity, let us do good to all people, especially to those who belong to the family of believers.” ( GALATIANS 6:10 )

“If a man cleanses himself from the latter, he will be an instrument for noble purposes, made holy, useful to the Master and prepared to do any good work. ” ( 2 TIMOTHY 2:21 )

“In the same way, let your light shine before men, that they may see your good deeds and praise your Father in heaven.” ( MATTHEW 5:16)

“Whoever claims to live in him must walk as Jesus did. ” ( 1 JOHN 2:6 )

“Dear children, do not let anyone lead you astray. He who does what is right is righteous, just as he is righteous. ” ( 1 JOHN 3:7 )

“Religion that God our Father accepts as pure and faultless is this: to look after orphans and widows in their distress and to keep oneself from being polluted by the world. ” ( JAMES 1:27 )

“But even if you should suffer for what is right, you are blessed. ” ( 1 PETER 3:14 )

“Blessed are those who are persecuted because of righteousness, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven. ” ( MATTHEW 5:10 )

“So then, those who suffer according to God's will should commit themselves to their faithful Creator and continue to do good. ” ( 1 PETER 4:19 )

“So then, those who suffer according to God's will should commit themselves to their faithful Creator and continue to do good. ” ( 1 PETER 2:21 )

We must lead others to righteousness, even though we might be insulted and persecuted for the name of LORD Jesus Christ.

“However, if you suffer as a Christian, do not be ashamed, but praise God that you bear that name. ” ( 1 PETER 4:16 )

“"Whoever acknowledges me before men, I will also acknowledge him before my Father in heaven. But whoever disowns me before men, I will disown him before my Father in heaven.” ( MATTHEW 10:32-33 )

“"Blessed are you when people insult you, persecute you and falsely say all kinds of evil against you because of me. Rejoice and be glad, because great is your reward in heaven, for in the same way they persecuted the prophets who were before you.” ( MATTHEW 5:11-12 )

(4) LORD told us that we should take up our own cross “daily” and follow Him. ( LUKE 9:23 )

To become a saint, our fights against the sins of ourselves will not end until the death of the bodies. We must make every effort to carry our cross and follow the LORD. In the rest earthly life after the rebirth, we should be careful to obey all the words and commands of God and hold on to the faith firmly to take hold of the eternal life. Let Christ be in charge of our lives completely and we should obey the teaching of LORD Jesus Christ. Day by day, we are conformed to the likeness of LORD Jesus Christ. “I no longer live, but Christ lives in me.” In this way, we will truly become one in Christ.

“Not that I have already obtained all this, or have already been made perfect, but I press on to take hold of that for which Christ Jesus took hold of me. ” ( PHILIPPIANS 3:12 )

“Therefore, rid yourselves of all malice and all deceit, hypocrisy, envy, and slander of every kind. Like newborn babies, crave pure spiritual milk, so that by it you may grow up in your salvation, ” ( 1 PETER 2:1-2 )

“Since you call on a Father who judges each man's work impartially, live your lives as strangers here in reverent fear. ” ( 1 PETER 1:17 )

“As a result, he does not live the rest of his earthly life for evil human desires, but rather for the will of God. ” ( 1 PETER 4:2 )

“if you continue in your faith, established and firm, not moved from the hope held out in the gospel. ” ( COLOSSIANS 1:23 )

“See to it, brothers, that none of you has a sinful, unbelieving heart that turns away from the living God. But encourage one another daily, as long as it is called Today, so that none of you may be hardened by sin's deceitfulness. We have come to share in Christ if we hold firmly till the end the confidence we had at first. ” ( HEBREWS 3:12-14 )

As to those who like “riding in the sedan chair”, but not taking up cross; who think that they do not need to repent completely to be saved and do not need to deny the sinful worldly things to be a saint; who are not willing to make efforts to deny oneself and pursue the will of God; who are not willing to do good and what is righteous, lead others to righteousness, and get rid of the self-pride; who think that they will be like Jesus Christ and live a Christ’s life naturally without any effort and suffering, they are deceiving themselves. They are the people who prefer the old lives of Adam and are not willing to give up the ownership of the old selves; who are not really live in the life of Christ; who do not have true faith. Therefore, they can not enter the kingdom of heaven and eternal life.

“Then he(Jesus Christ) said to them all: "If anyone would come after me, he must deny himself and take up his cross daily and follow me. ” ( LUKE 9:23)

We must deny ourselves and take up our own cross daily and follow the LORD. Let Christ be in charge of our lives completely and we should obey the teaching of LORD Jesus Christ. Day by day, we are conformed to the likeness of LORD Jesus Christ. “I no longer live, but Christ lives in me.” In this way, we will truly become one in Christ. And this is the true word of eternal life.

This is a message from Holy Spirit. All praises, thanks and glories be to God!