Breaking Away from the World
(Discipleship)
- Matthew 10:34-39 Do not think that I have come to bring
peace upon the earth; I have not come to bring peace, but a
sword. For I have come to part asunder a man from his father, and a daughter
from her mother, and a newly married wife from her mother-in-law - And a man's
foes will be they of his own household. He who loves father or mother more
than Me is not worthy of Me; and he who loves son or daughter
more than Me is not worthy of Me; And he who does not take up
his cross and follow Me [cleave steadfastly to Me, conforming wholly to My
example in living and, if need be, in dying also] is not worthy of Me. Whoever
finds his life will lose it, and whoever loses his life on My account will
find it.
- Matthew 19:29 And anyone and everyone who has left houses
or brothers or sisters or father or mother or children or lands for My name's
sake will receive many times more and will inherit eternal life.
- Mark 3:33-35 And He replied, Who are My mother and My
brothers? And looking around on those who sat in a circle about Him, He said,
See! Here are My mother and My brothers; For whoever does the
things God wills is My brother and sister and mother!
- Mark 12:30 And thou shalt love the Lord thy God with all
thy heart, and with all thy soul, and with all thy mind, and with all thy
strength: this is the first commandment. (King James)
- Mark 8:34-37 And Jesus called the throng with His
disciples and said to them, If anyone intends to come after Me, let him deny
himself [forget, ignore, disown, and lose sight of himself and his own
interests] and take up his cross, and follow with Me. For whoever wants to
save his life, will lose it; and whoever gives up his life
for My sake and the Gospel's will save it. For what does it profit a man to
gain the whole world, and forfeit his life? For what can a man give as an
exchange (a compensation, a ransom, in return) for his life?
- Luke 9:23-25 And He said to all, If any person wills to
come after Me let him deny himself and take up his cross daily and follow Me
[cleave steadfastly to Me, conform wholly to My example in living and, if need
be in dying also]. For whoever would preserve his life and save it
will lose and destroy it, but whoever loses his life for My sake, he
will preserve and save it.
- Luke 9:59-62 And He said to another, Become My disciple,
side with My party, and accompany Me! But he replied, Lord, permit me
first to go and bury (await the death of) my father. But Jesus said to him,
Allow the dead to bury their own dead; but as for you, go
and publish abroad throughout all regions the kingdom of God. Another
also said, I will follow You, Lord, and become Your disciple
and side with Your party; but let me first say
good-bye to those at my home. Jesus said to him, No one who puts his hand to
the plow and looks back is fit for the kingdom of God.
- Luke 12:49-53 I have come to cast fire upon the earth,
and how I wish that it were already kindled! I have a baptism with which to be
baptized, and how greatly and sorely I am urged on (impelled, constrained)
until it is accomplished! Do you suppose that I have come to give peace upon
earth? No, I say to you, but rather division; For from now on
in one house there will be five divided, three against two and two against
three. They will be divided, father against son and son against father, mother
against daughter and daughter against mother, mother-in-law against her
daughter-in-law and daughter-in-law against her mother-in-law.
- Luke 14:26-27 If anyone comes to Me and does not hate his
father and mother and his wife and children and brothers and sisters - and
even his own life also - he cannot be My disciple. Whoever does not persevere
and carry his own cross and come after (follow) Me cannot be My disciple.
- Luke 14:33 So then, any of you who does not forsake
(renounce, surrender claim to, give up, say good-bye to) all that he has
cannot be My disciple.
- Luke 16:15 But He said to them, You are the ones who
declare yourselves just and upright before men, but God knows your
hearts. For what is exalted and highly thought of among men is
detestable and abhorrent (an abomination) in the sight of God.
- John 12:25-26 Anyone who loves his life loses it, but
anyone who hates his life in this world will keep it to life eternal. [Whoever
has no love for, no concern for, no regard for his life here on earth, but
despises it, preserves his life forever and ever.] If anyone serves Me, he
must continue to follow Me [to cleave steadfastly to Me, conform wholly to My
example in living and, if need be, in dying] and wherever I am, there will My
servant be also. If anyone serves Me, the Father will honor him.
Recognizing, Believing, & Following the Representative from
the Kingdom of Heaven
- Matthew 10:24-26 A disciple is not above his teacher, nor
is a servant or slave above his master. It is sufficient for the disciple to
be like his teacher, and the servant or slave like his master. If they have
called the Master of the house Beelzebub, how much more will they speak evil
of those of His Household. So have no fear of them; for
nothing is concealed that will not be revealed, or kept secret that will not
become known.
- Luke 16:13 No servant is able to serve two
masters; for either he will hate the one and love the other,
or he will stand by and be devoted to the one and despise the other.
You cannot serve God and mammon (riches, or anything in which you trust and on
which you rely).
- John 5:19-20 So Jesus answered them by saying, I assure
you, most solemnly I tell you, the Son is able to do nothing of Himself (of
His own accord); but he is able to do only what He sees the
Father doing, for whatever the Father does is what the Son does in the same
way. The Father dearly loves the Son and discloses to (shows) Him everything
that He Himself does. And He will disclose to Him (let Him see) greater things
yet than these, so that you may marvel and be full of wonder
and astonishment.
- John 6:39-40 And this is the will of Him Who sent Me,
that I should not lose any of all that He has given Me, but that I should give
new life and raise [them all] up at the last day. For this is My
Father's will and His purpose, that everyone who sees the Son and
believes in and cleaves to and trusts in and relies on Him
should have eternal life, and I will raise him up at the last day.
- John 6:44-47 No one is able to come to Me unless the
Father Who sent Me attracts and draws him and gives him the
desire to come to Me, and I will raise him up at the last day. It is written
in the Prophets, And they shall all be taught of God [have Him in person for
their Teacher]. Everyone who has listened to and learned from the Father comes
to Me. Which does not imply that anyone has seen the Father except He Who
comes from God; He has seen the Father. I assure you, most
solemnly I tell you, he who believes in Me [who adheres to, trusts
in, relies on, and has faith in Me] has (now possesses) eternal life.
- John 6:51 I am this Living Bread that came down from
heaven. If anyone eats of this Bread, he will live forever;
and also the Bread that I shall give for the life of the world is My flesh
(body).
- John 6:63 It is the Spirit Who gives life [He is the
Life-giver]; the flesh conveys no benefit whatever. The words
(truths) that I have been speaking to you are spirit and life.
- John 6:65 And He said, This is why I told you that no one
can come to Me unless it is granted him [unless he is enabled to do so] by the
Father.
- John 7:28-29 Whereupon Jesus called out as He taught in
the temple, Do you know Me, and do you know where I am from? I have not come
on My own authority and of My own accord and as self-appointed, but
the One Who sent Me is true (real, genuine, steadfast); and
Him you do not know! I know Him because I come from His presence, and it was
He Who sent Me.
- John 8:21-24 Therefore He said again to them, I am going
away, and you will be looking for Me, and you will die in (under the curse of)
your sin. Where I am going, it is not possible for you to come. At this the
Jews began to ask among themselves, Will He kill Himself? Is that why He says,
Where I am going, it is not possible for you to come? He said to them, You are
from below; I am from above. You are of this world (of this
earthly order); I am not of this world. That is why I told
you that you will die in your sins; for if you do not believe
that I am He, you will die in your sins.
- John 8:31-47 So Jesus said to those Jews who had believed
in Him, If you abide in My word [hold fast to My teachings and live in
accordance with them], you are truly My disciples. And you will know the
Truth, and the Truth will set you free. They answered Him, We are Abraham's
offspring (descendants) and have never been in bondage to anybody. What do You
mean by saying, You will be set free? Jesus answered them, I assure you, most
solemnly I tell you, Whoever commits and practices sin is the slave of sin.
Now a slave does not remain in a household permanently
(forever); the son does remain forever. So if the Son
liberates you, then you are really and unquestionably free. I know that you
are Abraham's offspring; yet you plan to kill Me, because My
word has no entrance (makes no progress, does not find any place) in you. I
tell the things which I have seen and learned at My Father's side,
and your actions also reflect what you have heard and learned from
your father. They retorted, Abraham is our father. Jesus said, If you were
Abraham's children, then you would do the works of Abraham. But now you are
wanting and seeking to kill Me, a Man Who has told you the truth
which I heard from God. This is not the way Abraham acted. You are doing the
works of your father. They said to Him, We are not illegitimate children
and born out of fornication; we have one Father,
even God. Jesus said to them, If God were your Father, you would love Me
and respect Me and welcome me gladly, for I proceeded (came
forth) from God. I did not even come on My own authority or of My own
accord (as self-appointed); but He sent me. Why do you
misunderstand what I say? It is because you are unable to hear what I am
saying. You are of your father, the devil, and it is your will to practice the
lusts and gratify the desires of your father. He was a murderer from the
beginning and does not stand in the truth, because there is no truth in him.
When he speaks a falsehood, he speaks what is natural to him, for he is a liar
and the father of lies and of all that is false. But because I speak the truth
you do not believe Me. Who of you convicts Me of wrongdoing or finds Me guilty
of sin? Then if I speak truth, why do you not believe Me? Whoever is of God
listens to God. This is the reason that you do not listen:
because you do not belong to God and are not of God or in
harmony with Him.
- John 8:50-55 However, I am not in search of honor for
Myself. There is One Who seeks, and He is the Judge. I assure you, most
solemnly I tell you, if anyone observes My teaching, he will by no means ever
see and experience death. The Jews said to Him, Now we know that You are under
the power of a demon (insane). Abraham died, and also the prophets, yet You
say, If a man keeps My word, he will never taste of death into all eternity.
Are You greater than our father Abraham? He died, and all the prophets died!
Who do You make Yourself out to be? Jesus answered, If I were to glorify
Myself (magnify, praise, and honor Myself), I would have no real glory, for My
glory would be nothing and worthless. It is My Father Who glorifies Me, of
Whom you say that He is your God. Yet you do not know Him or recognize Him and
are not acquainted with Him, but I know Him. If I should say that I do not
know Him, I would be a liar like you. But I know Him and keep His word.
- John 10:4-18 When he has brought his own sheep outside,
he walks on before them, and the sheep follow him because they know his voice.
They will never follow a stranger, but will run from him because they do not
know the voice of strangers or recognize their call. Jesus used this
parable (illustration) with them, but they did not understand what He was
talking about. So Jesus said again, I assure you, most solemnly I tell you,
that I Myself am the Door for the sheep. All others who came before Me are
thieves and robbers, but the sheep did not listen to and obey them. I
am the Door; anyone who enters in through Me will be saved
(will live). He will come in and he will go out , and will find pasture. The
thief comes only in order to steal and kill and destroy. I came that they may
have and enjoy life, and have it in abundance (to the full, till it
overflows). I am the Good Shepherd. The Good Shepherd risks and lays
down His life for the sheep. But the hired servant (he who merely serves for
wages) who is neither the shepherd nor the owner of the sheep, when he sees
the wolf coming, deserts the flock and runs away. And the wolf chases
and snatches them and scatters [the flock]. Now the hireling flees
because he merely serves for wages and is not himself concerned about the
sheep. I am the Good Shepherd; and I know and
recognize My own, and My own know and recognize Me - Even as the
Father knows Me and I also know the Father - and I am giving My life
and laying it down on behalf of the sheep. And I have other sheep
that are not of this fold, I must bring and impel those
also; and they will listen to My voice and heed My
call, and so there will be one flock under one Shepherd. For this [reason] the
Father loves Me, because I lay down My life - to take it back again. No one
takes it away from Me. On the contrary, I lay it down voluntarily. I am
authorized and have power to lay it down (to resign it) and I am
authorized and have power to take it back again. These are the
instructions (orders) which I have received from My Father.
- John 10:25-30 Jesus answered them, I have told you so,
yet you do not believe Me. The very works that I do by the power of My Father
and in My Father's name bear witness concerning Me. But you do not believe
and trust and rely on Me because you do not belong to My
fold [you are no sheep of Mine]. The sheep that are My own hear and
are listening to My voice; and I know them, and they follow
Me. And I give them eternal life, and they shall never lose it or
perish throughout the ages. And no one is able to snatch them out of My hand.
My Father, Who has given them to Me, is greater and mightier than
all; and no one is able to snatch [them] out of the Father's
hand. I and the Father are One.
- John 10:36-38 Do you say of the One Whom the Father
consecrated and dedicated and set apart for Himself and sent
into the world, You are blaspheming, because I said, I am the Son of God? If I
am not doing the works of My Father, then do not believe Me. But if I do them,
even though you do not believe Me or have faith in Me, believe the
works and have faith in what I do, in order that you may know and
understand that the Father is in Me, and I am in the Father.
- John 12:44-50 But Jesus loudly declared, The one who
believes in Me does not believe in and trust in and rely on
Me, but in Him Who sent Me. And whoever sees Me sees Him Who sent Me. I have
come as a Light into the world, so that whoever believes in Me may not
continue to live in darkness. If anyone hears My teachings and fails to
observe them, it is not I who judges him. For I have not come to judge
and to condemn and to pass sentence and to inflict
penalty on the world, but to save the world. Anyone who rejects Me
and persistently sets Me at naught, refusing to accept My teachings,
has his judge; for the message that I have spoken will itself
judge and convict him at the last day. This is because I have never
spoken on My own authority or of My own accord or as
self-appointed, but the Father Who sent Me has Himself given Me orders what to
say and what to tell. And I know that His commandment is (means) eternal life.
So whatever I speak, I am saying what My Father has told Me to say and in
accordance with His instructions.
- John 14:6 Jesus said to him, I am the Way and the Truth
and the Life; no one comes to the Father except by (through)
Me.
- John 15:1,4-6 I am the True Vine, and My Father is the
Vinedresser. Dwell in Me, and I will dwell in you. Just as no branch can bear
fruit of itself without abiding in (being vitally united to) the vine, neither
can you bear fruit unless you abide in Me. I am the Vine; you
are the branches. Whoever lives in Me and I in him bears much (abundant)
fruit. However, apart from Me you can do nothing. If a person does not dwell
in Me, he is thrown out like a branch, and withers; such
branches are gathered up and thrown into the fire, and they are burned.
- John 15:16-19 You have not chosen Me, but I have chosen
you and I have appointed you [I have planted you], that you might go and bear
fruit and keep on bearing, and that your fruit may be lasting, so that
whatever you ask the Father in My Name, He may give it to you. This is what I
command you: that you love one another. If the world hates
you, know that it hated Me before it hated you. If you belonged to the world,
the world would treat you with affection and would love you as its
own. But because you are not of the world, but I have chosen (selected) you
out of the world, the world hates (detests) you.
- John 15:22-25 If I had not come and spoken to them, they
would not be guilty of sin; but now they have no excuse for
their sin. Whoever hates Me also hates My Father. If I had not done
(accomplished) among them the works which no one else ever did, they would not
be guilty of sin. But now they have both seen and have hated both Me and My
Father. But that the word written in their Law might be fulfilled, They hated
Me without a cause.
Separating from Human-Mammalian
Characteristics
- Matthew 19:9-12 I say to you; whoever
dismisses (repudiates, divorces) his wife, except for unchastity, and marries
another commits adultery, and he who marries a divorced woman commits
adultery. The disciples said to Him, If the case of a man with his wife
is like this, it is neither profitable nor advisable to marry. But He
said to them, Not all men can accept this saying, but it is for those whom it
has been given. For there are eunuchs who have been born incapable of
marriage; and there are eunuchs who have been made so by
men; and there are eunuchs who have made themselves incapable
of marriage for the sake of the kingdom of heaven. Let him who is able to
accept this accept it.
- Mark 12:25 For when they shall arise from the dead, they
neither marry, nor are given in marriage; but are as the angels which are in
heaven. (King James)
- Mark 13:17-19 And Alas for those who are pregnant and for
those who have nursing babies in those days! Pray that it may not occur in
winter. For at that time there will be such affliction (oppression and
tribulation) as has not been from the beginning of the creation which God
created until this particular time - and positively never will be.
- Luke 20:34-36 And Jesus said to them, The people of this
world and present age marry and are given in marriage; But those who
are considered worthy to gain that other world and that future age
and to attain to the resurrection from the dead neither marry nor are given in
marriage; For they cannot die again, but they are angel-like and
equal to angels. And being sons of and sharers in the resurrection,
they are sons of God.
- Luke 21:23 Alas for those who are pregnant and for those
who have babies which they are nursing in those days! For great misery
and anguish and distress shall be upon the land and
indignation and punishment and retribution upon this people.
These Last Days
- Matthew 15:7-9 Ye hypocrites, well did Isaiah prophesy of
you, saying, This people draweth nigh unto me with their mouth, and honoureth
me with their lips; but their heart is far from me. But in vain they do
worship me, teaching for doctrines the commandments of men. (King James)
- Luke 21:8-19 And He said, Be on your guard and be careful
that you are not led astray; for many will come in My name, saying, I am He!
and, The time is at hand! Do not go out after them. And when you hear of wars
and insurrections (disturbances, disorder, and confusion), do not become
alarmed and panic-stricken and terrified; for all this must take place first,
but the end will not [come] immediately. Then He told them, Nation will rise
against nation, and kingdom against kingdom. There will be mighty and violent
earthquakes, and in various places famines and pestilences (plagues; malignant
and contagious or infectious epidemic diseases which are deadly and
devastating); and there will be sights of terror and great signs from heaven.
But previous to all this, they will lay their hands on you and persecute you,
turning you over to the synagogues and prisons, and you will be led away
before kings and governors for My name's sake. This will be a time (an
opportunity) for you to bear testimony. Resolve and settle it in your minds
not to meditate and prepare beforehand how you are to make your defense and
how you will answer. For I will give you a mouth and such utterance and wisdom
that all of your foes combined will be unable to stand against or refute. You
will be delivered up and betrayed even by parents and brothers and relatives
and friends, and [some] of you they will put to death. And you will be hated
(despised) by everyone because [you bear] My name and for its sake. But not a
hair of your head shall perish. By your steadfastness and patient endurance
you shall win the true life of your souls.
Avoid Being Judgmental
- Matthew 7:1-2 Do not judge and criticize
and condemn others, so that you may not be judged and
criticized and condemned yourselves. For just as you judge
and criticize and condemn others, you will be judged
and criticized and condemned, and in accordance with the
measure you deal out to others, it will be dealt out again to you.
- John 7:24 Be honest in your judgment and do not
decide at a glance (superficially and by appearances); but judge fairly and
righteously.
- John 8:14-19 Jesus answered, Even if I do testify on My
own behalf, My testimony is true and reliable and valid, for I know where I
came from and where I am going; but you do not know where I come from or where
I am going. You judge according to the flesh (by what you see). I do not judge
or condemn or sentence anyone. Yet even if I do judge, My judgment is true;
for I am not alone, but I and the Father, Who sent Me. In your Law it is
written that the testimony (evidence) of two persons is reliable and valid. I
am One bearing testimony concerning Myself; and My Father, Who sent Me, He
also testifies about Me. Then they said to Him, Where is this Father of Yours?
Jesus answered, You know My Father as little as you know Me. If you knew Me,
you would know My Father also.
Soul vs. Flesh Body
- Matthew 10:28 And do not be afraid of those who kill the
body but cannot kill the soul; but rather be afraid of Him who can destroy
both soul and body in hell.
- Luke 12:4-5 I tell you, My friends, do not dread and be
afraid of those who kill the body and after that have nothing more that they
can do. But I will warn you whom you should fear; fear Him Who, after killing,
has power to hurl into hell; yes, I say to you fear Him!
- Psalms 103:13-18 As a father loves and pities his
children, so the Lord loves and pities those who fear Him [with reverence,
worship, and awe]. For He knows our frame, He remembers and imprints that we
are dust. As for man, his days are as grass; as a flower of
the field, so he flourishes. For the wind passes over it and it is gone, and
its place shall know it no more. But the mercy and loving-kindness of the Lord
are from everlasting to everlasting upon those who reverently and worshipfully
fear Him, and His righteousness is to children's children. To such as keep His
covenant [hearing, receiving, loving, and obeying it] and to those who
remember His commandments to do them.
- Isaiah 40:6-8 A voice says, Cry [prophesy]! And I said,
What shall I cry? [The voice answered, Proclaim:] All flesh
is as frail as grass, and all that makes it attractive [its kindness, its
goodwill, its mercy from God, its glory and comeliness, however good] is
transitory, like the flower of the fieled. The grass withers, the flower
fades, when the breath of the Lord blows upon it; surely
[all] the people are like grass. The grass withers, the flower fades, but the
word of our God will stand forever.
End of Appendix B