Mark 8:34 And when he had called the people to him with his disciples also, he said to them, Whoever will come after me, let him deny himself… I. ITS ESSENTIAL CONDITIONS. 1. It must be absolutely a voluntary choice — "Whosoever will." (a) This is a condition universally recognized in the New Testament. (b) It is a condition that underlies the whole plan of salvation. (c) It is a condition from which there can be no deviation. 2. It must be absolutely an entire surrender. (a) A surrender of every part of our being to Christ as Master. (b) A surrender of every object which He requires to be given up. II. ITS ESSENTIAL PRINCIPLES. 1. Holiness, suggested by the necessity of the surrender of "self." 2. Implicit obedience is suggested by the necessity of taking up the cross. 3. To love Christ, suggested by the necessity of being ready to lose life far Christ's sake. 4. The avowal of Christ, suggested by the words of Jesus in ver. 38. (D. C. Hughes, M. A.) Parallel Verses KJV: And when he had called the people unto him with his disciples also, he said unto them, Whosoever will come after me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross, and follow me. |
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