Mark 8:34-38

“If anyone would come after Me, he must deny himself and take up his cross and follow Me.  ³⁵ For whoever wants to save his life will lose it, but whoever loses his life for Me and for the gospel will save it.  ³⁶ What good is it for a man to gain the whole world, yet forfeit his soul?  ³⁷ Or what can a man give in exchange for his soul?  ³⁸ If anyone is ashamed of Me and My words in this adulterous and sinful generation, the Son of Man will be ashamed of him when He comes in His Father’s glory with the holy angels.”

When you look at these verses, what are the keywords?

Jesus is speaking of spiritual realities in this passage and eternal matters.  All souls that are part of the Kingdom of God in this life and in the Age to Come are those who bow to the authority and plan of Jesus Christ.  If you sell your soul to the world, you are not in the Kingdom.  If you sell your soul to a false god, you are not in the Kingdom.  If you keep your soul for yourself, you are not in the Kingdom.  Only those who deny self and follow after Jesus Christ with believing loyalty enter into the Kingdom of God and become adopted into His family.

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