Christianity 101:Linking John 3:16 and Luke 9:23

Do you want an event or a lifestyle?
“Then He said to them all: “Whoever wants to be my disciple must deny themselves and take up their cross daily and follow me.”
‭‭Luke‬ ‭9:23‬ ‭NIV‬‬

Luke 9:23 is a lifestyle.

“For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life.”
‭‭John‬ ‭3:16‬ ‭NIV‬‬

John 3:16 is usually interpreted these days to mean an intellectual decision. That is False.

To believe is a commitment it’s like covenant between husband and wife.

It’s as serious decision as a king going into battle.

““If anyone comes to me and does not hate father and mother, wife and children, brothers and sisters—yes, even their own life—such a person cannot be my disciple. 

And whoever does not carry their cross and follow me cannot be my disciple. 

“Suppose one of you wants to build a tower. Won’t you first sit down and estimate the cost to see if you have enough money to complete it?

 For if you lay the foundation and are not able to finish it, everyone who sees it will ridicule you, saying, ‘This person began to build and wasn’t able to finish.’ 

“Or suppose a king is about to go to war against another king. Won’t he first sit down and consider whether he is able with ten thousand men to oppose the one coming against him with twenty thousand? 

If he is not able, he will send a delegation while the other is still a long way off and will ask for terms of peace. In the same way, those of you who do not give up everything you have cannot be my disciples.

 “Salt is good, but if it loses its saltiness, how can it be made salty again? It is fit neither for the soil nor for the manure pile; it is thrown out. “Whoever has ears to hear, let them hear.””

‭‭Luke‬ ‭14:26-35‬ ‭NIV‬‬

The Price is Free

The Cost is Your Life.

You can have the world 

OR

Jesus; not both.

“If any of you lacks wisdom, you should ask God, who gives generously to all without finding fault, and it will be given to you.”

‭‭James‬ ‭1:5‬ ‭NIV‬‬

Get busy ministering to others, not benefiting yourself.

The Sheep and the Goats:

““When the Son of Man comes in his glory, and all the angels with him, he will sit on his glorious throne. 

All the nations will be gathered before him, and he will separate the people one from another as a shepherd separates the sheep from the goats. 

He will put the sheep on his right and the goats on his left. “Then the King will say to those on his right, ‘Come, you who are blessed by my Father; take your inheritance, the kingdom prepared for you since the creation of the world.

 For I was hungry and you gave me something to eat, I was thirsty and you gave me something to drink, I was a stranger and you invited me in, I needed clothes and you clothed me, I was sick and you looked after me, I was in prison and you came to visit me.’

 “Then the righteous will answer him, ‘Lord, when did we see you hungry and feed you, or thirsty and give you something to drink?

When did we see you sick or in prison and go to visit you?’ “The King will reply, ‘Truly I tell you, whatever you did for one of the least of these brothers and sisters of mine, you did for me.’”

‭‭Matthew‬ ‭25:31-37, 39-40‬ ‭NIV‬‬

Ministry is meeting needs.

In the book of James it says that “Faith without works is dead”.

Conclusion:

Use your resources…

– talents

– abilities

– skills

– money

– influence

…to serve others; not yourselves. 

Build your treasures in heaven, not here on earth. 

Be a sheep, not a goat 

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