Simple Gospel

Matthew 16:21-26 "From that time forth began Jesus to shew unto his disciples, how that he must go unto Jerusalem, and suffer many things of the elders and chief priests and scribes, and be killed, and be raised again the third day.  {22} Then Peter took him, and began to rebuke him, saying, Be it far from thee, Lord: this shall not be unto thee.  {23} But he turned, and said unto Peter, Get thee behind me, Satan: thou art an offense unto me: for thou savourest not the things that be of God, but those that be of men.  {24} Then said Jesus unto his disciples, If any man will come after me, let him deny [APARNEOMAI = Aorist Imperative = put away from oneself] himself, and take up [Aorist Imperative AIRO = raise up the burden {to God}] his cross, and follow [Present Imperative AKOLOUTHEO = accompany, walk with] me. {25} For whosoever will save [SOZO, save, deliver] his life [PSUCHE = soul] shall lose it: [APOLLUMI = destroy it] and whosoever will lose [APOLLUMI = destroy it] his life for my sake shall find it. {26} For what is a man profited, if he shall gain the whole world, and lose his own soul? [PSUCHE = soul] or what shall a man give in exchange [ANATALLAGMA = in exchange or barter for] for his soul?"

It is possible to know someone, and yet not really know them. It is possible to hear the words spoken, and yet never really hear them. For instance, you might point to the President of the United States and say "I know him". Certainly you've seen him on television, you may agree or disagree with his politics, you may read the newspapers and know a little about his personal life. Yet, can you say you really "know" the President? What brand of deodorant does he use? What type of toothpaste? What are his favorite foods, or his favorite color? You see, you may "know" him on one level, but you really don't know who the man really is.

In the same way, those of you who come to these meetings can say you know me and I know you. What we mean by that, though, is that we are acquainted with each other. We know OF one another, we know SOMETHING about each other, but we really cant say that we have intimate knowledge of one another. When I and my wife first married I knew her, but only after 20 years of marriage can I say I really KNOW her and she me. We know and understand one another's weaknesses and strengths, and are acquainted with one another on a level that no one else can reach.

Jesus walked with and taught His disciples for three years, lived with them, loved them, and KNEW them. You see, knowing someone else means putting yourself aside for a time and concentrating on their needs. Jesus walked with His disciples and paid attention to them. He served them, He loved them, and put Himself out of the picture while He was doing it. He knew them. When Peter said, "I'll never leave you, Lord", Jesus said, "Before the cock crows, you'll deny me".  Jesus knew that Peter really never knew Who He was, and told Him "(Luke 22:32) "But I have prayed for thee, that thy faith fail not: and when thou art converted, strengthen thy brethren." When James and John stood arguing over who would be greatest in the Kingdom of Heaven Jesus "perceived their thoughts" and took a child, stood him in their midst, and said "(Luke 9:48) And said unto them, Whosoever shall receive this child in my name receiveth me: and whosoever shall receive me receiveth him that sent me: for he that is least among you all, the same shall be great." This was not an act of Deity that Jesus perceived this, but an act that came from Someone Who took the time to intimately know His followers. This same state of knowing came when our Lord looked up from the Last Supper and said to Judas, "You're the one who will betray Me". Jesus knew, He knew because He denied Himself to know.

You cannot know Anyone unless you are willing to forget yourself for a time, and seek out the other. You cannot know God unless you're willing to deny yourself and seek Him out through Jesus Christ.

Christianity is not a simple profession. Yes, the simple profession starts the journey, but this is not the all of Christianity. When Jesus called the fishermen, they followed and called Him "Lord", yet they scarcely knew Whom they followed. If you would follow and know God, there must first be a leaving. This is not a leaving of the flesh. Judas dropped his tactics, his acts of terrorism and followed after Jesus in the flesh. Judas followed Jesus for three years, and yet, in all that time, kept his heart on his own desires, his own self, his own promotion. At the end of his walk with Jesus Judas was unchanged from the first day that walk started. Though he repented of turning traitor to Jesus, he never knew Jesus, and hung himself so badly that the Scripture tells us his bowels fell out.

In the same way Peter followed Jesus, walked after Him in the flesh, yet when Jesus told of His crucifixion that was coming Peter actually rebuked our Lord. "Not so, Jesus! You will not be captured, you will not be killed! We will fight! Such talk is defeatist, without purpose, let's have no more of it". You see, Peter never really understood that, in order to know God, in order to live within God's will, you must first deny yourself. Jesus was under the same obligation that we ourselves are under. He knew God the Father, He intimately knew God the Spirit, and Jesus Himself was and is God the Son. But in order to fulfill the Plan of God, Our Lord had to deny Himself and submit Himself to the awful sufferings of the Cross. Knowing God requires denial of self. Peter never understood this, and even in the Garden he drew a sword and cut off the ear of a soldier. Jesus stopped him, and said, "No, this must be".

No, Christianity is not just a simple profession. The devils profess Jesus and are unsaved. Christianity is more. It is a denial of self and a pledge of allegiance to Another. Jesus set the example for us. He denied Himself and went to a terrible death, but because He was willing to deny Himself He resurrected to a glorious end. This was not an easy task. Three times, in the Garden of Gethsemane, Jesus asked the Father to let that cup pass from Him. Three times God answered, "No, it must be", and Jesus submitted. Glory only comes when you submit yourself to God.

Jesus said:

Matthew 16.24  "Then said Jesus unto his disciples, If any man will come after me, let him deny [APARNEOMAI = Aorist Imperative = put away from oneself] himself, and take up [Aorist Imperative AIRO = raise up the burden {to God}] his cross, and follow [Present Imperative AKOLOUTHEO = accompany, walk with] me."

Here are the two elements of salvation, clear for all to see. Just as Jesus had to deny Himself and go to an undeserved Cross, we have to deny ourselves. Put away the ideas that we can get to Heaven by being good enough. Put away the idea of living our lives by our own wits, our own cunning. Recognize that we are, of ourselves, weak and fragile creatures who need the salvation of eternal God. After denying ourselves, we "raise up the Cross", the Cross of Christ in our lives. We cling to Jesus like a drowning man clings to a life preserver, trusting Him and Him alone for salvation. We walk after Jesus, seek His face. This is not a physical thing, but an internal thing. We accompany Jesus in our life, follow after Him, love Him, get to know Him.

The moment you place your complete trust in Jesus Christ for salvation, you are saved. The moment you decide that you are going to accompany Him on life's journey, your salvation is secured.

You "will" to follow Jesus. You "deny" or reject your own means of salvation, your own self. You take up the Cross, decide you will live your life in the will of God as Jesus did His. You "follow" or accompany Jesus on the journey.

Your soul is who you are, contained in your body, the part of you that God wants to save. If you have accepted Jesus Christ as your Savior, though you may one day pass from this earth, you will never taste death. One day you'll open your eyes in eternity, in peace, in the glory of Heaven. I pray that today you'll decide to commit your life to Christ. If you have, I will walk with you in glory one day. I pray that we will walk that walk, with Jesus, together.