Bearing The Cross

“If anyone would come after me, let him deny himself, take up his cross and follow me.” Mark 8:34

What is the cross?
The cross is humility, death, suffering, persecution, sacrifice, love, the ultimate act of faith—all for the sake of Jesus.
The Cross is salvation. Anyone who does not take up the cross does not have salvation in Christ.

You can try salvation in other ways than taking up the cross, but that is not the way of Jesus.• Salvation by religious practices is not the way of Jesus.
• Salvation by intellectual belief is not the way of Jesus.
• Salvation by being nice is not the way of Jesus.
• Salvation by prayer alone is not the way of Jesus.
• Salvation by good worship is not the way of Jesus.
• Salvation by Bible study is not the way of Jesus.
• Salvation by doctrine or theology is not the way of Jesus.
• Salvation by going to church is not the way of Jesus.
• Salvation by saying “praise the Lord” or honoring Jesus a lot is not the way of Jesus.
• Salvation by acting crazy is not the way of Jesus

Jesus calls us to the cross.• He calls us to shame
• He calls us to do what he did.
• He calls us to act crazy like he acted crazy.
• He calls us to hope in the promises of God.
• He calls us to give up everything.
• He calls us to be stupid in the eyes of the world.
• He calls us to take up his cross.