In Jesus’ Own Words: Come and Die

We are not called to be comfortable in following Jesus. Not Ever. Don’t believe me? Well, I hope you’ll believe Him then:

Jesus answered him, “Truly, truly, I say to you, unless one is born again he cannot see the kingdom of God.”-John 3:3

To come to Jesus, you must cast off your old life and be born again. What does it mean to cast off your old life? Does it mean to put it on a shelf and preserve it for memory’s sake? Does it mean to be a “better version” of you? Absolutely not. Simply put: to be Born Again, you must have died to the old self.

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

The Invitation Jesus gives is “come and die.” That’s what the cross is: a violent, long-suffering death. The Old Self MUST die, and there are no records in history of anyone surviving crucifixion. Your old self must die. And Why? Because the New and Old, Jesus says, are incompatible:

“No one puts a piece of unshrunk cloth on an old garment, for the patch tears away from the garment, and a worse tear is made. Neither is new wine put into old wineskins. If it is, the skins burst and the wine is spilled and the skins are destroyed. But new wine is put into fresh wineskins, and so both are preserved.” -Matthew 9:16-17

If you’re going to be new, then be new! Cast off the old self. This is what Jesus taught! You don’t have to believe me, but if you claim to follow Him, then believe Him! Don’t use “well, I’m not as studied in the Bible as you” as an excuse: read, listen to, study the Bible! Read the Gospels every day so that the Life of Christ is with you every day. Be born again, come and die so that you may live! And why? Because in Jesus is the only life that is truly life:

“The thief comes only to steal and kill and destroy. I came that they may have life and have it abundantly.”-John 10:10

Jesus is offering you true life through His life, death, burial and resurrection. But to get that life, you must be born again. To be born again, you must come and die, and once you’ve died, you can only live in the New. There aren’t two ways to walk, there is only Jesus:

Jesus said to him, “I am the way, and the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me.” -John 14:6

Romans 12

I appeal to you therefore, brothers, by the mercies of God, to present your bodies as a living sacrifice, holy and acceptable to God, which is your spiritual worship. Do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewal of your mind, that by testing you may discern what is the will of God, what is good and acceptable and perfect.

For by the grace given to me I say to everyone among you not to think of himself more highly than he ought to think, but to think with sober judgment, each according to the measure of faith that God has assigned. For as in one body we have many members, and the members do not all have the same function, so we, though many, are one body in Christ, and individually members one of another. Having gifts that differ according to the grace given to us, let us use them: if prophecy, in proportion to our faith; if service, in our serving; the one who teaches, in his teaching; the one who exhorts, in his exhortation; the one who contributes, in generosity; the one who leads, with zeal; the one who does acts of mercy, with cheerfulness.

Let love be genuine. Abhor what is evil; hold fast to what is good. Love one another with brotherly affection. Outdo one another in showing honor. Do not be slothful in zeal, be fervent in spirit, serve the Lord. Rejoice in hope, be patient in tribulation, be constant in prayer. Contribute to the needs of the saints and seek to show hospitality.

Bless those who persecute you; bless and do not curse them. Rejoice with those who rejoice, weep with those who weep. Live in harmony with one another. Do not be haughty, but associate with the lowly. Never be wise in your own sight. Repay no one evil for evil, but give thought to do what is honorable in the sight of all. If possible, so far as it depends on you, live peaceably with all. Beloved, never avenge yourselves, but leave it to the wrath of God, for it is written, “Vengeance is mine, I will repay, says the Lord.” To the contrary, “if your enemy is hungry, feed him; if he is thirsty, give him something to drink; for by so doing you will heap burning coals on his head.” Do not be overcome by evil, but overcome evil with good.