We Cannot Save Ourselves

And he said to all, “If anyone would come after me, let him deny himself and take up his cross daily and follow me.” Luke 9:23

Just before Jesus says this, He tells His disciples that He is the Messiah, which means that He is the Savior that God promised first in Genesis 3. You may remember the story where Adam and Eve sin in the Garden of Eden and God sent them out of the Garden. They needed a covering to be saved from His punishment of death.

For the first time, they had loved themselves more than God. They chose themselves and what they wanted above Him. But God loved them more and had already made a way for them to be with Him again. (1 John 4:9-10)

Jesus says these words in Luke 9 about 4,000 years after Adam and Eve. He lived a perfect life that was a worthy sacrifice (enough to pay the bill) and He was about to willingly lay down that life. He denies Himself the right to live forever with God, with no suffering (Philippians 2:6-11) because He loves us (John 3:16). He knows that there are no people whose lives are perfect enough to pay the debt that sin owes (Romans 3:23). He is the ONLY Way (John 14:6).

Here’s Where You Come In

Denial of yourself means that you realize that because of your sin, your life won’t pay the bill. You cannot save yourself. Denying yourself and taking up your cross daily says that you agree every day that Jesus’ life was enough. Denying yourself, taking up your cross daily and following Him shows that you believe that.

Deny yourself…take up your cross daily….and follow King Jesus to eternal life!

Choosing Jesus because He chose me,

Michelle Negron