It was the judicial custom of the Romans that a condemned person carried his own stake to the place of execution (crucifixion). John 19:17 says that our Lord did this. The Lord used this expression, "take up his cross," to show those sufferings by which His faithful followers were to express their fellowship with Him. They were to give TOTAL commitment to Him--even unto death--to be a disciple of the Lord, (Matthew 10:38, Matthew 16:24, Mark 8:34, Luke 9:23, Luke 14:27). In Galatians 6:14 Paul says, "May I never boast except in the cross of our Lord Jesus Christ, through which the world has been crucified to me, and I to the world." We can be enemies of the cross to our destruction, (Philippians 3:18).
(See also Deny / ‘Deny Himself' / Disown.)
From the Greek words peirazo (tempt) and peirasmos (temptation). "Tempt" means "to test, to try, to prove, to assay; to entice, or lure, to do wrong by a promise of pleasure or gain." "Temptation" means "the act of tempting, the state of being tempted; something that tempts."
Of temptation, and being tempted, God says in 1 Corinthians 10:13, "No temptation has seized you except what is common to man. And God is faithful; He will not let you be tempted beyond what you can bear. But when you are tempted, He will also provide a way out so that you can stand up under it."
Of Christ and His temptations, Hebrews 2:18 says, "Because He Himself suffered when He was tempted, He is able to help those who are being tempted." And Hebrews 4:15-16 says, "For we do not have a high priest who is unable to sympathize with our weaknesses, but we have One who has been tempted in every way, just as we are--yet was without sin. Let us then approach the throne of grace with confidence, so that we may receive mercy and find grace to help us in our time of need."
Of how we are tempted, and of God concerning our temptations, James 1:13-15 says, "When tempted, no one should say, ‘God is tempting me.' For God cannot be tempted by evil, nor does He tempt anyone; but each one is tempted when, by his own evil desire, he is dragged away and enticed. Then, after desire has conceived, it gives birth to sin; and sin, when it is full-grown, gives birth to death."
God, Satan or another person cannot force us to sin. There is no such thing as "the devil made me do that." Each person must assume the responsibility of succumbing to temptation. Satan tempts people by their own evil desires. GOD always provides the way out. The only way to know "the way out" is through His Word. 2 Timothy 3:16-17 says, "All Scripture is God-breathed and is useful for teaching, rebuking, correcting and training in righteousness, so that the man of God may be thoroughly equipped for every good work." 1 Thessalonians 4:8 says, "Therefore, he who rejects this instruction does not reject man but God, Who gives you His Holy Spirit." 1 Timothy 6:3-5 says, "If anyone teaches false doctrines and does not agree to the sound instruction of our Lord Jesus Christ and to godly teaching, he is conceited and understands nothing. He has an unhealthy interest in controversies and quarrels about words that result in envy, strife, malicious talk, evil suspicions and constant friction between men of corrupt mind, who have been robbed of the Truth and who think that godliness is a means to financial gain." Men who refuse the sound doctrine of the Word of God are described by God as those who want to suit their own desires. We see from James 1:13-15 above that these desires give birth to sin, and sin gives birth to death. Such people are described in 2 Timothy 4:2-4: "Preach the Word; be prepared in season and out of season; correct, rebuke and encourage--with great patience and careful instruction. For the time will come when men will not put up with sound doctrine. Instead, to suit their own desires, they will gather around them a great number of teachers to say what their itching ears want to hear. They will turn their ears away from the Truth and turn aside to myths."
(See also Devil / Satan, Holy / Holiness, Mercy / Merciful, Sin / Sinful / Sinner.)
Jesus came "full of Truth," (John 1:14), and Truth came through Jesus Christ, (John 1:17). Truth means "unconcealed, made known to all, real, ideal, genuine, not perverted." Truth is embodied in Jesus Christ. He was the perfect expression of the Truth, and He IS Truth, (John 14:6). One who lives by the Truth comes into light, (John 3:21). One must worship the Father in spirit and in Truth, (John 4:23-24). Truth--Jesus Christ--sets us free from sin, (John 8:32). The Spirit of Truth, which today is the written Word of God, guides one into all Truth, (John 16:13). Those who are not of the world--the children of God--are sanctified by the Truth, which is the Word of God, which is Christ, (John 17:17 and John 1:1). Jesus came to testify to the Truth, and everyone on the side of Truth listens to Him, (John 18:37). Proverbs 23:23 says of Truth: "Buy the Truth and do not sell it; get wisdom, discipline and understanding." Children of God are to speak truthfully, because we live in the one body and listen to Truth. Ephesians 4:25: "Therefore each of you must put off falsehood and speak truthfully to his neighbor, for we are all members of one body." Here are a few more of the many verses in the Old Testament that show the supreme value of TRUTH:
Psalm 24:4-5: "Show me Your ways, O Lord, teach me Your paths; guide me in Your Truth and teach me, for You are God my Savior, and my hope is in You all day long." Psalm 43:3: "Send forth Your Light and your Truth, let them guide me; let them bring me to Your holy mountain, to the place where You dwell." Psalm 86:11: "Teach me Your way, O Lord, and I will walk in Your Truth; give me an undivided heart, that I may fear Your Name." Psalm 119:30: "I have chosen the way of Truth; I have set my heart on Your laws." Zechariah 8:3: "This is what the Lord says: ‘I will return to Zion and dwell in Jerusalem. Then Jerusalem will be called the City of Truth, and the mountain of the Lord Almighty will be called the Holy Mountain.'"
(See also Christ, Holy / Holiness, Jesus, Word..., Worship / Worshipper.)
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