canadyjd said:
I'll repost what I said:You are saying that our Lord Jesus was speaking of discipleship, not salvation, when He said, (39) "He who has found his life shall lose it, and he who has lost his life for My sake shall find it."
So you think "He who has found his life shall lose it," doesn't mean a person is lost, or is without salvation? What does our Lord mean, then, when He says the person shall lose his life? In what way shall a person lose his life if he doesn't submit to the Lordship of Christ in discipleship? Is he only losing a "temporal salvation" or a "salvation from sin" as some have advocated? Is that what you believe our Lord Jesus is teaching? The person is still saved, but, in some way his life is lost because he chose the things of the world over our Lord Jesus. How is his life lost? What has he lost?
This is all about discipleship. Not a word of salvation is in these verses. They are even addressed to his disciples.
The entire chapter is devoted to instructions to his disciples before he sends them out. Check the first verse of the chapter:'
Matthew 10:1 And when he had called unto him
his twelve disciples, he gave them power against unclean spirits, to cast them out, and to heal all manner of sickness and all manner of disease.
--Are you now going to set forth a case (according to LS theology) that before this time his 12 disciples were not saved. That would be the logical outcome of LS thinking.
Matthew 10:39 He that findeth his life shall lose it: and he that loseth his life for my sake shall find it.
Even in this life, if you are a believer and spend this life living for self and the material things of this world (you find
your life) you will lose it; that is you will lose reward at the judgement seat of Christ, and even in this life on earth. The most miserable person on this earth is a Christian outside of the will of God. You won't be happy with your life until you "lose it."
But if you "lose your life," forget about your reputation, your money, your family, and whatever ties you may have, and live for Christ alone, then you will find great reward, not only in this life but in the life to come--meaning reward at the judgement seat of Christ.
--There is nothing here about salvation; it is all about discipleship; forsaking all and following Christ.
So you think,"and he who has lost his life for My sake shall find it," isn't refering to salvation, it is just refering to discipleship?
Absolutely! It can't be any other way. The 12 were already saved. If your position were to have any logic in it then I would have to conclude that the 12 were not saved up until this point. Is that what you are teaching?
What has he found in discipleship? Salvation from sin? A temporal salvation, in this world only? He hasn't found the Kingdom of Heaven?
None of the above. He has found great reward: both on this earth and reward in heaven. Lay up your treasure in heaven where moth and rust doth not corrupt, and thieves do not break in.
What great reward! What joy it is! in serving Jesus. I would rather lose my life in serving Him, then "finding my selfish carnal self" and fulfill the lusts of the flesh, and thus lose reward at the judgement seat of Christ.
The disciples will be murdered for their faith. In what way have they found their life if Christ is only refering to discipleship? In fact, what good was discipleship, if Christ is only refering to discipleship, if their lives are taken from them? How can they be disciples if they lose their lives for Christ's sake?
peace to you

raying:
When Stephen was martyred, he looked up into heaven and saw Jesus standing on the right hand of God waiting to welcome him home. What a glorious sight that must have been. He lost his life. But in the end he gained more than he lost. Our life here is temporary.
We are but pilgrims and strangers passing through a foreign land. Our real home is heaven, of which I am a citizen. I long to be there in the sweet bye and bye. O Lord Jesus, come quickly.
Acts 8:3-4 As for Saul, he made havock of the church, entering into every house, and haling men and women committed them to prison.
4 Therefore they that were scattered abroad went every where preaching the word.
The flames of the martyrs have done more in spreading the gospel than any other one factor in the history of Christianity.