Think of the wealthy young man that approached Jesus looking for eternal life on his own terms. What is the meaning of ...
"Whoever will want to save his life will lose it, but whoever loses his life for me will save it."
2007-10-06 15:20:00 · 16 answers · asked by Robert K 5 in Society & Culture ➔ Religion & Spirituality
passages have nothing to do with martyrdom...there is no place in the bible that endorses physical death for God
2007-10-06 15:34:27 · update #1
It means that you can't save yourself from eternity. No matter what you do, or plan for, it's not going to matter when you die and face God for either His reward, or punishment. But if you ask God here on earth to forgive you of your sins, and you truly believe that Jesus Christ died for your sins, then you will be saved through the blood of Jesus Christ when He hang on a cross, when you die.
2007-10-06 15:30:47 · answer #1 · answered by Anonymous · 4⤊ 0⤋
Jesus knew that the heart of this young wealthy ruler was attached to his many riches. He viewed his riches as security and this would not allow his heart to fully be a follower of the Christ. The ruler depended on his wealth more than he depended on God. Jesus basically told him if he sold all his belongings then he would have nothing to hold him back from serving God with a complete heart. For this wealthy man his riches were his life. So if he trusted enough in God to provide for him, just as Jesus did, then his life would be in God's hands.
2007-10-06 15:38:20 · answer #2 · answered by joyofjoys 2 · 2⤊ 0⤋
I think that this scripture means that there are two kinds of people. Those who think they can handle everything on their own and try to control their problems and issues alone...without God's help. Those people will lose their lives when it comes down to it because they did not have a relationship with God. Those that do accept God must make certain sacrificies (giving time to deepen their relationship with Him for example) and in the end, they will receive eternal life.
2007-10-06 15:48:23 · answer #3 · answered by followmyleader1 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋
See also Mark 19:16-30
Jesus did not deny He was God to the young ruler. He simply asked him examine the implications of what he was saying. In effect, Jesus was saying to him, " Do you realize what you are saying when you call Me Good? Are you saying I am God?"
The young man did not realize the implications of what he was saying. Thus Jesus was forcing him to very uncomfrotable dilemma. Either Jesus was good and God, or else He was a bad man. A good God or a bad man, but not merely a good man. Those are the real alternatives with regard to Christ. Forno good man would claim to be God when he was not. The liberal Christ, who was only a good moral teacher but not God, is a figment of human imagination.
2007-10-08 14:59:47 · answer #4 · answered by Nina, BaC 7 · 0⤊ 0⤋
If you save your own life and keep it to your self and your ways
you will lose it,
If you give your life and deny the flesh to God to be used of God
you will find eternal life that never ends and your life will be saved
2007-10-06 15:44:50 · answer #5 · answered by Gifted 7 · 0⤊ 0⤋
It means that whoever is arrogant enough to think they can make it on their own is a fool. God is absolute perfection, and none of us can measure up, no matter how hard we try in our own strength. On the other hand, those who are able to admit they are a sinner (imperfect) and give their lives to Christ are well in with God, and they become spiritually new creations. That's pretty much the gospel in a nutshell.
2007-10-06 15:30:33 · answer #6 · answered by Gee Wye 6 · 2⤊ 0⤋
It means that whoever puts his/her life above God's law will lose it, but whoever puts his/her life after God's law will save his/her life even if they die they will get a resurrection.
2007-10-06 15:31:41 · answer #7 · answered by I speak Truth 6 · 2⤊ 0⤋
Your quote is Luke 9:24. The proper interpretation of the meaning of that scripture is first to look at context. Jesus had just said in Luke 9:23:
"And he said to all, 'If any man would come after me, let him deny himself and take up his cross daily and follow me.'"
The meaning of the scripture is simply that if your desire to be saved is based on a "me" attitude, and all you want to do is take out fire (hell) insurance, then you will in fact lose your life.
However if you lose your life... Meaning "deny yourself" v23, for the sake of Christ, then you will save it.
We are to deny ourselves to put God first (Jesus said the first and greatest command is to Love God with all your heart, soul, mind, and strength)
We are to deny ourselves to put others before us (Jesus said the second commandment is to love your neighbor as yourself)
What does it mean to take up your cross daily and follow Him? This talks about sacrifice, and not martyrdom, because of the word "daily". It is a daily denying of self and a daily sacrifice. What is the sacrifice? Good works, praise, etc. Hebrews 13:15-16. When is praise sacrificial? How about when you are persecuted and spat upon for your faith, yet you praise God anyway.
Taking up your cross also has to do with persecution and being looked down upon and being spoken of falsely. Matthew 5:11-12
Finally I see that it has a lot to do with your will. What are you willing to do? Are you willing to literally lose your life for Christ's sake? Are you willing to literally be placed on a cross as Jesus was? Are you willing to deny yourself for the sake of others each day? Are you willing to put away your desires, your accomplishments, your needs, your wants, your pleasures (which is your life) for Christ?
How does this relate to the rich young ruler?
Jesus was simply asking the rich young ruler to deny himself (physical pleasures associated with riches) take up his cross (the burden of being poor), lose his life (put the kingdom of heaven higher than his earthly kingdom) and come follow Him (Jesus)
The rich young ruler went away sad because he had much wealth, which shows where his heart truly was.
Luke 14:28 For which of you, desiring to build a tower, does not first sit down and count the cost, whether he has enough to complete it?
2007-10-06 15:57:12 · answer #8 · answered by dooltaz 4 · 0⤊ 0⤋
what does any person value more?
great gain in this earth and life or
accepting Jesus as Lord and Savior.serving Jesus (not self).
2007-10-06 18:37:00 · answer #9 · answered by robert p 7 · 0⤊ 0⤋
It means a person may want to follow Christ but on their terms, they want to hang onto the things in their life that they want. But they do not realize that if we surrender our will to what we want, he shares his life with us, and shows us our purpose which is what everyone really wants to know
2007-10-06 15:36:01 · answer #10 · answered by Rev.Michelle 6 · 2⤊ 0⤋