Laws of the Cross

 1.     Death is birth into eternity

Eternity is life in another realm where flesh and blood cannot exist

Life in eternity has a different purposes than in this world.

So those who enter into eternity have to leave behind this flesh and blood in this world.

The only way to enter into the eternal life is the transformation of this body of flesh and blood.

Death is only a process of shedding flesh and blood and inheriting another that is eternal.

John 12:23-25

23  And Jesus answered them, saying, “The hour has come that the Son of Man will be glorified.

24  Truly, truly I say to you, unless a grain of wheat falls into the earth and dies, it remains by itself alone. But if it dies, it bears much fruit.

25      The one who loves his life loses it, and the one who hates his life in this world preserves it for eternal life.

What did he mean when he said that one must hate himself?

The expression to hate something often meant to prefer less.

Jesus says that nothing should get in the way of our preferring him and the will of our Father in heaven.

Making Disciples

Introduction

It is very difficult for us, almost 2,000 years removed from Jesus’ day, to project ourselves back across the centuries of time to a culture and language so totally foreign to our mind of today.

And yet, before we can even begin to understand the magnificent and thrilling words of Jesus, that is exactly what we must do.

The Great Commission

Matthew 28:18-20

18  Then Jesus came to them and said, “All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me.

19  Therefore go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit,

20  and teaching them to obey everything I have commanded you. And surely I am with you always, to the very end of the age.”