Saving and Losing LIFE
Another look at Matthew 16:25.
LIFE: CHRIST?
Mt 16:25 For whosoever will SAVE his LIFE shall lose it: and whosoever will LOSE his LIFE for my sake shall find it.
Joh 14:6 Jesus saith unto him, I am the way, the truth, and THE LIFE: no man cometh unto the Father, but by me.
Re 22:2 In the midst of the street of it, and on either side of the river, was there the tree of LIFE, which bare twelve manner of fruits, and yielded her fruit every month: and the leaves of the tree were for the healing of the nations.
1Jo 5:12 He that hath the Son hath LIFE; and he that hath not the Son of God hath not life.
1Jo 1:2 (For the LIFE was manifested, and we have seen it, and bear witness, and shew unto you that eternal life, which was with the Father, and was manifested unto us;)
2Co 4:11 For we which live are alway delivered unto death for Jesus’ sake, that the LIFE also of Jesus might be made manifest in our mortal flesh.
Joh 1:4 In him was LIFE; and the life was the light of men.
SAVING LIFE: DENYING CHRIST?
Mt 16:25 For whosoever will SAVE his LIFE shall lose it: and whosoever will LOSE his LIFE for my sake shall find it.
Mr 8:38 Whosoever therefore shall be ASHAMED of ME and of my words in this adulterous and sinful generation; of HIM also shall the Son of man be ASHAMED, when he cometh in the glory of his Father with the holy angels.
2Ti 3:5 Having a form of GODLINESS, but denying the power thereof: from such turn away.
1Ti 4:1 Now the Spirit speaketh expressly, that in the latter times some shall depart from the FAITH, giving heed to seducing spirits, and doctrines of devils;
Lu 22:57 And he (Peter) denied HIM, saying, Woman, I know him not.
Eze 13:22 Because with lies ye have made the heart of the righteous sad, whom I have not made sad; and strengthened the hands of the wicked, that he should not return from his wicked way, by promising him LIFE:
Ge 3:7 And the eyes of them both were opened, and they knew that they were naked; and they sewed fig leaves together, and made THEMSELVES aprons.
Isa 30:1 Woe to the rebellious children, saith the LORD, that take counsel, but not of me; and that cover with A COVERING, but not of my spirit, that they may add sin to sin:
Re 3:17 Because thou sayest, I AM RICH, and increased with goods, and have need of nothing; and knowest not that thou art wretched, and miserable, and poor, and blind, and naked:
1Th 5:3 For when they shall say, PEACE AND SAFETY; then sudden destruction cometh upon them, as travail upon a woman with child; and they shall not escape.
Eze 32:10 Yea, I will make many people amazed at thee, and their kings shall be horribly afraid for thee, when I shall brandish my sword before them; and they shall tremble at every moment, every man for his OWN LIFE, in the day of thy fall.
Nu 15:39 And it shall be unto you for a fringe, that ye may look upon it, and remember all the commandments of the LORD, and do them; and that ye seek not after your OWN HEART and your own eyes, after which ye use to go a whoring:
Pr 23:4 Labour not to be rich: cease from thine OWN WISDOM.
1Co 10:24 Let no man seek HIS OWN, but every man another’s wealth.
LOSING LIFE: DENYING SELF?
Mt 16:25 For whosoever will SAVE his LIFE shall lose it: and whosoever will LOSE his LIFE for my sake shall find it.
Mr 8:38 Whosoever therefore shall be ashamed of ME and of my words in this adulterous and sinful generation; of HIM also shall the Son of man be ashamed, when he cometh in the glory of his Father with the holy angels.
Mt 16:24 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.
Re 11:11 And after three days and an half the Spirit of LIFE from God entered into them, and they stood upon their feet; and great fear fell upon them which saw them.
Re 12:11 And they overcame him by the blood of the Lamb, and by the word of their testimony; and they loved not their LIVES unto the death.
Job 2:6 And the LORD said unto Satan, Behold, he is in thine hand; but SAVE his life.
Lu 14:26 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.
Joh 15:13 Greater love hath no man than this, that a man lay down HIS LIFE for his friends.
Tit 2:12 Teaching us that, denying ungodliness and worldly lusts, we should LIVE soberly, righteously, and godly, in this present world;
LOSING, SAVING LIFE: JUDGMENT OR SALVATION?
1Co 7:16 For what knowest thou, O wife, whether thou shalt SAVE thy husband? or how knowest thou, O man, whether thou shalt SAVE thy wife?
1Ti 4:16 Take heed unto thyself, and unto the doctrine; continue in them: for in doing this thou shalt both SAVE thyself, and them that hear thee.
La 2:19 Arise, cry out in the night: in the beginning of the watches pour out thine heart like water before the face of the Lord: lift up thy hands toward him for the LIFE of thy young children, that faint for hunger in the top of every street.
Isa 43:4 Since thou wast precious in my sight, thou hast been honourable, and I have loved thee: therefore will I give men for thee, and people for THY LIFE.
Ge 19:17 And it came to pass, when they had brought them forth abroad, that he said, Escape for THY LIFE; look not behind thee, neither stay thou in all the plain; escape to the mountain, lest thou be consumed.
Ac 27:22 And now I exhort you to be of good cheer: for there shall be no loss of any man’s LIFE among you, but of the ship.
Re 8:9 And the third part of the creatures which were in the sea, and had LIFE, died; and the third part of the ships were destroyed.
SUMMARY CONCLUSION:
God appears to be associating the saving and losing of life to judgment or salvation on the Church. Christ is the LIFE. However in tribulation and judgment, the church seeks to save its own life by going after false gospels (denying Christ). And although the believers were a part of the backsliding body, they lose their LIVES by denying themselves (stay faithful in Christ).