A Simple Paradox

​Matthew 16:24-25

Then Jesus said to His disciples, "If anyone wishes to come after Me, he must deny himself, and take up his cross and follow Me. For whoever wishes to save his life will lose it; but whoever loses his life for My sake will find it.

Matthew 10:38 Whoever does not take up their cross and follow me is not worthy of me. Luke 14:27 And whoever does not carry their cross and follow me cannot be my disciple. 1 Peter 2:21 To this you were called, because Christ suffered for you, leaving you an example, that you should follow in his steps.

1. Deny himself

2. To deny yourself is to place yourself and your needs at a lower or non-existent level.

3. We are taught, from birth, to demand that our needs are fulfilled, but Christ commands us to assume the opposite mind set.

4. In America, we are taught that freedom is of utmost importance, yet Jesus teaches us that freedom is found only in him.

Galatians 5:1 For freedom Christ has set us free; stand firm therefore, and do not submit again to a yoke of slavery.

2 Corinthians 3:17 Now the Lord is the Spirit, and where the Spirit of the Lord is, there is freedom.

Galatians 5:13 For you were called to freedom, brothers. Only do not use your freedom as an opportunity for the flesh, but through love serve one another.

John 8:32 And you will know the truth, and the truth will set you free.”

John 8:36 So if the Son sets you free, you will be free indeed.

Galatians 5:1 For freedom Christ has set us free; stand firm therefore, and do not submit again to a yoke of slavery.

1. Think about how much personal freedom we would have if there was no fear. There are so many people, who accomplish so many things, because they lack the fear that holds the rest of us back from doing the same things.

2. Take up his cross

3. To “take up the cross” literally means to welcome death.

4. Jesus said that we would have to live in such a way that the thought of death would seem a minor issue in comparison.

5. John 15:13 "Greater love has no one than this, that one lay down his life for his friends.”

6. Follow me

7. To follow not only means to go the direction I am going, but to do it the way that I am doing it.

8. Why should we, as Christians, expect a life lived easier than the one that Jesus lived?

9. Why should we, as Christians, expect comforts that eluded Christ?

10. In John 15:18-21, Jesus said, “If the world hates you, remember that it hated me first. 19 The world would love you as one of its own if you belonged to it, but you are no longer part of the world. I chose you to come out of the world, so it hates you. 20 Do you remember what I told you? ‘A slave is not greater than the master.’ Since they persecuted me, naturally they will persecute you. And if they had listened to me, they would listen to you. 21 They will do all this to you because of me, for they have rejected the one who sent me.”

11. The Paradox

12. Paradox: a statement or proposition that, despite sound (or apparently sound) reasoning from acceptable premises, leads to a conclusion that seems senseless, logically unacceptable, or self-contradictory.

13. Jesus says that in order for us to live, we must die.

14. Jesus says that in order for us to have more, we must give it all away.

15. "For whoever wishes to save his life will lose it; but whoever loses his life for My sake will find it.”

What is it that we are holding onto that separates us from total commitment