Chapter # 8 Paragraph # 7 Study # 5
November 29, 2022
Moss Bluff, Louisiana
(360)
1901 ASV
34 And he called unto him the multitude with his disciples, and said unto them, If any man would come after me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross, and follow me.
35 For whosoever would save his life shall lose it; and whosoever shall lose his life for my sake and the gospel's shall save it.
36 For what doth it profit a man, to gain the whole world, and forfeit his life?
37 For what should a man give in exchange for his life?
38 For whosoever shall be ashamed of me and of my words in this adulterous and sinful generation, the Son of man also shall be ashamed of him, when he cometh in the glory of his Father with the holy angels.
- I. Assuming The Pattern Under The Umbrella Doctrine Of "If Anyone Is Willing To Come After Me...".
- A. The pattern as a parallel alignment of the statements.
- 1. "...let him deny himself..." is parallel to "...whosoever would save his soul shall lose it...".
- 2. "...and take up his cross..." is parallel to "...what doth it profit a man...".
- 3. "...follow me..." is parallel to "...whosoever shall be ashamed of me and of my words...".
- B. The unifying issue is "...to come after Me...".
- II. The Details.
- A. The first requirement: "...let him deny himself..." is parallel to "...whosoever would save his soul shall lose it...".
- B. The second requirement: "...and take up his cross..." is parallel to "...what doth it profit a man...?".
- C. The third requirement: "...and let him be following me" is parallel to "...for whoever if he should be ashamed of Me...".
- 1. The meaning of "...he should be ashamed..." (epaischunomai).
- a. This verb is used in nine texts of the New Testament (only once in Mark).
- 1) In both Mark 8:38 and Luke 9:26, the text/context is the same (what will happen to the one who was "ashamed" of Jesus when He comes at the Second Coming).
- 2) In Romans 1:16 this verb is used to describe Paul's attitude toward the Gospel as the foundation for his readiness to proclaim it to the people in Rome.
- 3) In Romans 6:21 it is used to describe the believer's attitude toward behaviors in which he/she engaged before "faith" was a part of their motivations and doings.
- 4) In 2 Timothy 1:8 Paul urges Timothy to refrain from being "ashamed" of the testimony of our Lord or of himself as a prisoner of the Lord, because if he is "ashamed" he will not "join with [Paul] in suffering for the gospel".
- 5) In 2 Timothy 1:12 Paul declares his lack of "shame" in the face of his sufferings for doing the work of his ministry.
- 6) In 2 Timothy 1:16 Paul describes Onesiphorus as not "ashamed" to be identified with Paul's condition in chains.
- 7) In Hebrews 2:11, Jesus is "not ashamed" to call "the sanctified" brethren.
- 8) In Hebrews 11:16, God is "not ashamed" to be called "their God" who have "made it clear" that they are seeking a country of their own (without which they "would have had opportunity to return" to the country from which they had departed).
- b. This verb most fundamentally means that a person will refuse to get involved with whatever "shames" him/her. Thus, if a person is "ashamed" of Jesus, he/she will not allow him/her self to be identified with Him. Thus, if Jesus is "ashamed" of someone, will He allow Himself to be identified with him/her? Most critical to this question is the text of 2 Timothy 2:13. Is it supposed to give comfort for the one who is ashamed, but who still wants to benefit from what Jesus has done and will do at His coming, or is it actually in line with Romans 3:3 where unbelief does not nullify the faithfulness of God in terms of what He will do for those who believe?
- 2. The declaration by Jesus of His reciprocity: He will do to men what they do to Him.
- a. The arena of "shame" is identified as "in this adulterous and sinful generation" for those of whom Jesus speaks, and is identified as "when He comes in the glory of His Father with the holy angels" for all: this is the "end time climax"; the return of Jesus to His creation.
- b. There is a final reality from which no one escapes.
- c. There are variations in respect to the level of loyalty one shows to Jesus, but there is also a final state wherein everything is "settled out". The bottom line is what is left of the question of loyalty to Jesus when all things are passed through the discerning, burning, fire of God's detailed examination of men's attitudes, motives, choices, actions. The reality is extremely complex; the judgment is extremely detailed; and the outcome settles everything that is in question.
- 1) It cannot be that a man can be absolutely loyal.
- 2) But it also cannot be that man's fractured loyalties will be altogether excused.
- 3) The final reality is 2 Timothy 2:19.
- a) The Lord knows them that are His.
- b) The obligation upon all who "name the Name" is to abstain from wickedness.