Oh, I left that verse out.
I was referencing Matthew 10:38 where He says “And he who does not take his cross and follow after Me is not worthy of Me."
I'm not sold on the "even if it leads to your death" part: following Christ always leads to our death. So I do not think it would be conditional.
I think it has to do with the mystery of becoming a "living sacrifice": we have a will of our own and if we give u the will the Father will live through us. AKA: we give up our own will (lives) so that the life of Christ may be our life.
“I'm not sold on the "even if it leads to your death" part: following Christ always leads to our death.”
“Verily, verily, I say unto you, If a man keep my saying, he shall never see death.”
â€â€John‬ â€8:51‬ â€KJV‬‬
no brother following Christ always leads to Life but what I was saying is
“Then shall
they deliver you up to be afflicted, and shall kill you: and ye shall be hated of all nations for my name's sake. And then shall many be offended, and shall
betray one another, and shall hate one another. And many false prophets shall rise, and shall deceive many. And
because iniquity shall abound, the love of many shall wax cold. But
he that shall endure unto the end, the same shall be saved.”
â€â€Matthew‬ â€24:9-13‬ â€KJV‬‬
even if following Jesus means that we’re led there to that place we still have to follow him. In many cases a believer never is killed because of their faith most aren’t but many since Christ said that have been even today in other countries people are killed because they won’t reject Christ and instead they believe and preach Christ in places that reject it like Islamic countries even if we re going to be persecuted like Jesus was on his way to the cross he was beaten mocked and ridiculed insulted blamed accused of blasphemy he still Carrie’s the cross knowing it was leading to his excruciating death
he’s simply calling a disciple to do what disciples do follow thier tescher to the end even if it means suffering in this life
but here’s the death I’m more talking about the sinner inside that works by lust and sins is called to death we do t have to die
“And
they that are Christ's have crucified the flesh with the affections and lusts.”
â€â€Galatians‬ â€5:24‬ â€
Each day we can make a decision to deny our own lusts and wants and follow after Jesus will for us . If we choose Jesus the sinful parts in us are being starved and out to death through the knowledge of the cross of Christ in baptism and how it is applied to us who believe
but yeah I believe Jesus calls us to follow after his ways in both good times and in the toughest times we face in life whether it’s a terrible event like the slaughter of the first church by Rome when many were burned alive , crucified and set on fire thrown to beasts in the arena in time for Nero’s entertainment ect
persecution and martyrdom still exists in the world for followers of Jesus but at any time they can come to conclude “ it’s not worth it “ instead we need to believe the gospel that says it’s more than worth any trial or suffering we could possibly endure
it’s a picture of the disciple chi posing to followmthier lord even if it means suffering and death total commitment “ love God with your whole heart mind body and soul “
We can’t be a half hearted believer is the idea it’s not promised to be easy in this world