Sermon Notes By Pastor Arthur H. Coleman Sr. For Sunday October 14, 2012
Text St. Matt.16:24-26 "Then said Jesus unto his disciples, If any man will come after me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross, and follow me.(vs25) For whosoever will save his life shall lose it: and whosoever will lose his life for my sake shall find it.(vs26)For what is a man profited, if he shall gain the whole world, and lose his own soul? or what shall a man give in exchange for his soul?"
PREMISE
The Pulpit Commentary,Vol.15, Page 154, A comment on St.Matt.16:24 " The Great Condition-The heart-searching truths of this verse are too often neglected in popular presentations of the gospel. We have a Christianity made easy as an accommodation to an age which loves personal comfort. Not only is this unfaithful to the truth, no part of which we have any right to keep back; it is most foolish and shortsighted. It prepares for a surprising disappointment when the inevitable facts are discovered; and it does not really attract. A religion of sweet-meats is sickening. There is that in the better nature of man which responds to the doctrine of the cross; it is the mistake of the lower method that it only appeals to the selfish desire of personal safety, and therefore does not awaken the better nature at all. Christ sets the example of the higher and truer method; he does not shun to set before us the dangers and difficulties of the Christian course. If we meet them we cannot say we have not been warned.