Introduction:

Proposition: These few words define true Christianity more distinctly than all the volumes of theology and apologetics written by me.

Divisions: As we look at our Lord’s words in this passage, I want to draw your attention to four things. Here are four aspects of true faith, four things vital to faith in the Lord Jesus Christ. Christianity is…

1. Coming To Christ (v. 34)
2. Carrying The Cross Of Christ (v. 34).
3. Consecration To Christ (vv. 35-37).
4. Confessing Christ (v. 38).

1. Christianity is coming to Christ (v. 23).

Psalms 65:4 "Blessed is the man whom thou choosest, and causest to approach unto thee, that he may dwell in thy courts: we shall be satisfied with the goodness of thy house, even of thy holy temple."

Psalms 110:3 "Thy people shall be willing in the day of thy power, in the beauties of holiness from the womb of the morning: thou hast the dew of thy youth."

2. Coming to Christ is an act of the heart, a spiritual, not a carnal thing.

No one has ever come to Christ by walking a church aisle, kneeling at an altar, saying a prayer, or signing a decision card. If you would come to Christ you must do so without moving a muscle. You must come to him in your heart. Faith is a heart work.

Romans 10:1-11 "Brethren, my heart's desire and prayer to God for Israel is, that they might be saved. (2) For I bear them record that they have a zeal of God, but not according to knowledge. (3) For they being ignorant of God's righteousness, and going about to establish their own righteousness, have not submitted themselves unto the righteousness of God. (4) For Christ is the end of the law for righteousness to every one that believeth. (5) For Moses describeth the righteousness which is of the law, That the man which doeth those things shall live by them. (6) But the righteousness which is of faith speaketh on this wise, Say not in thine heart, Who shall ascend into heaven? (that is, to bring Christ down from above:) (7) Or, Who shall descend into the deep? (that is, to bring up Christ again from the dead.) (8) But what saith it? The word is nigh thee, even in thy mouth, and in thy heart: that is, the word of faith, which we preach; (9) That if thou shalt confess with thy mouth the Lord Jesus, and shalt believe in thine heart that God hath raised him from the dead, thou shalt be saved. (10) For with the heart man believeth unto righteousness; and with the mouth confession is made unto salvation. (11) For the scripture saith, Whosoever believeth on him shall not be ashamed."

3. Coming to Christ is a continual thing.

1 Peter 2:3-4 "If so be ye have tasted that the Lord is gracious. (4) To whom coming, as unto a living stone, disallowed indeed of men, but chosen of God, and precious,"

4. Any sinner in all the world who will come to Christ may come to Christ.

Our Master uses that blessed word of universal application and uses it frequently -- "Whosoever". I am so thankful he said "Whosoever will" – "If any man will" rather than if Don Fortner will. Had he said that, I would have concluded he must have meant some other Don Fortner. But I cannot doubt that "whosoever" and "any man" includes me!

Matthew 11:28-30 "Come unto me, all ye that labour and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest. (29) Take my yoke upon you, and learn of me; for I am meek and lowly in heart: and ye shall find rest unto your souls. (30) For my yoke is easy, and my burden is light."

John 3:16 "For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life."

Revelation 22:17 "And the Spirit and the bride say, Come. And let him that heareth say, Come. And let him that is athirst come. And whosoever will, let him take the water of life freely."

2. carrying the cross of christ (v. 23).

[Luke 9:23] And he said to them all, If any man will come after me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross daily, and follow me.

Again, this is a matter of personal, deliberate choice. Carrying your cross for Christ is not enduring providential hardships with patience, but deliberately choosing a course that is sure to bring trouble upon you, because trouble lies in the path of following Christ.

1. Salvation is by grace alone, through faith alone, in Christ alone.

We are not saved by what we do, or by what we suffer, but by what Christ has done and suffered for us. We are saved by grace alone.

• The Election Of Grace.
• The Atonement Of Grace.
• The Imputation Of Grace.
• The Call Of Grace.
• The Preservation Of Grace.

Ephesians 2:8-10 "For by grace are ye saved through faith; and that not of yourselves: it is the gift of God: (9) Not of works, lest any man should boast. (10) For we are his workmanship, created in Christ Jesus unto good works, which God hath before ordained that we should walk in them."

2. Yet, if we are saved by the grace of God, we must through much tribulation enter into the kingdom of of God.

• Sinful Self.
• Righteous Self.
• Carnal Self.

2. If I am saved by the grace of God, I take up my cross and follow my Master.

• The Cross Of His Doctrine.
• The Cross Of His Will.
• The Cross Of His Honor.

3. consecration to christ (vv. 24-25).

1. If would save my life, I must loose it to Christ.

Salvation is neither more nor less than surrender to the rule and reign of Jesus Christ as my Lord and King.

Luke 14:25-33 "And there went great multitudes with him: and he turned, and said unto them, (26) If any man come to me, and hate not his father, and mother, and wife, and children, and brethren, and sisters, yea, and his own life also, he cannot be my disciple. (27) And whosoever doth not bear his cross, and come after me, cannot be my disciple. (28) For which of you, intending to build a tower, sitteth not down first, and counteth the cost, whether he have sufficient to finish it? (29) Lest haply, after he hath laid the foundation, and is not able to finish it, all that behold it begin to mock him, (30) Saying, This man began to build, and was not able to finish. (31) Or what king, going to make war against another king, sitteth not down first, and consulteth whether he be able with ten thousand to meet him that cometh against him with twenty thousand? (32) Or else, while the other is yet a great way off, he sendeth an ambassage, and desireth conditions of peace. (33) So likewise, whosoever he be of you that forsaketh not all that he hath, he cannot be my disciple."

2. "For what is a man advantaged, if he gain the whole world, and lose himself, or be cast away?"

Mark expressed the Lord’s doctrine in similar words. -- "For what shall it profit a man, if he shall gain the whole world, and lose his own soul? Or what shall a man give in exchange for his soul?"

1. Each of us has an immortal soul, a soul that will live forever, either in the bliss of eternal life or in the torment of eternal death.

2. It is a very easy thing for you to lose your soul.

• You can murder it, by loving and clinging to the world.
• You can poison it with the deadly wine of false religion.
• You can starve it, by neglecting God’s ordained means of grace, the preaching of the gospel, by keeping from it the bread of life.

4. confessing Christ (v. 26-27).

[Luke 9:26-27] For whosoever shall be ashamed of me and of my words, of him shall the Son of man be ashamed, when he shall come in his own glory, and in his Father's, and of the holy angels. [27] But I tell you of a truth, there be some standing here, which shall not taste of death, till they see the kingdom of God.

1. If I am ashamed of Christ’s doctrine, I am ashamed of him.

2. If I am ashamed of Christ’s ordinances, I am ashamed of him.

• Confessing Him In Believers Baptism
• Confessing Him At The Lord’s Table.
• Worshipping In His House.

3. If I am ashamed of Christ’s people, I am ashamed of him.

Read Matthew 10 and 25.

4. If I am ashamed of Christ and his words, his gospel, in this world, he will be ashamed of me when he comes in the glory of his Father with his holy angels to judge the world.

1. Come to Christ.
2. Take up your cross and follow Christ.
3. Consecrate your life to Christ.
4. Confess Christ.

Illustration: "What does it take to be a Christian?" – "Nothing from you, but all of you."