"Taking Up the Cross VS Going Up to the Cross VS Being Crucified on the Cross VS Remaining on the Cross"

 

"Taking Up the Cross VS Going Up to the Cross VS Being Crucified on the Cross VS Remaining on the Cross"

• Matt 16:24 "If anyone wishes to come after Me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross"

• John 10:17-18 "I lay down My life... No one takes it from Me, but I lay it down"

• Luke 9:23 "If anyone wishes to come after Me... take up his cross daily"

• Gal 5:24 "Those who belong to Christ Jesus have crucified the flesh"

 

Aspects	Taking Up the Cross	Going Up to the Cross	Being Crucified  on the Cross	Remaining on the Cross
Core Meaning & Nature	• Active choice to submit to God's will • Emphasis on personal willingness (2 Cor 8:5) • Daily life choice (1 Cor 15:31) • Continuous process (2 Cor 4:16)	• Willing offering of oneself • Marks the beginning of action (John 13:1) • Concrete act of dedication (Rom 12:1) • Critical turning point (Phil 3:7)	• Suffering and sacrifice, either forced or willing • Complete self-denial (Phil 3:8) • Experience of union with Christ (Rom 6:5) • Breaking of self-life (2 Cor 4:8-9)	• Continuously living in the dealing with self • Ongoing spiritual exercise (2 Cor 1:9) • Being conformed to Christ's image (Rom 8:29) • Living in God's will (2 Cor 5:15)
Practical Application & Basis	• Denying self-will (Matt 26:39) • Submitting to God's leading (1 Pet 5:6) • Willing to pay the price (Phil 1:29) • Practicing obedience • Accepting suffering	• Offering oneself (Rom 6:13 • Not loving one's life (Rev 12:11) • Choosing God's way (Prov 3:5-6) • Active dedication • Seeking God's will	• Accepting God's working (James 1:2-4 • Experiencing breaking (John 12:24-25) • Letting God build (Eph 2:22) • Acknowledging God in suffering • Experiencing deeper breaking	• Maintaining attitude of death to self (1 Cor 15:31) • Living under dealing (2 Cor 4:16-17) • Continuously turning to spirit (Rom 8:6) • Recognizing God's sovereignty • Practicing turning to spirit
Marriage Application	• Giving up personal preferences • Following God's leading • Imitating Christ's love (Eph 5:25)	• Actively serving spouse • Not seeking self-benefit • Living out sacrificial love (Col 3:19)	• Accepting God's working • Experiencing self-breaking • Building testimony of oneness	• Not complaining about spouse • Seeing God's hand • Maintaining loving service (1 Pet 3:7)
Environmental Practice	• Accepting God's arrangements • Not complaining • Recognizing God's will (Rom 8:28)	• Actively facing difficulties • Seeking God's purpose • Choosing to trust God	• Acknowledging God in suffering • Experiencing deeper breaking • Manifesting Christ (2 Cor 12:9)	• Knowing God's sovereignty • Experiencing God in disturbances • Maintaining faith (1 Pet 4:12-13)
Spiritual Results	• Deeper knowledge of God • Gradual life growth • Strengthened faith (2 Cor 3:18)	• Closer intimacy with Lord • Life renewal • Christ glorified (Phil 1:20)	• Self-life broken • Christ-life manifested • Becoming living sacrifice (Rom 12:1)	• Resurrection life increasing • Spiritual measure enlarged • Growing to maturity (Gal 4:19)
Key Principles	• Continuity (Luke 9:23) • Initiative (2 Cor 8:5) • Obedience (Heb 5:8)	• Willingness (John 10:18) • Thoroughness (Phil 3:8) • Positivity (Heb 12:2)	• Union (Rom 6:5) • Breaking (John 12:24) • Building (Eph 2:22)	• Perseverance (Heb 10:36) • Transformation (Rom 8:13) • Perfecting (James 1:4)
Key Scripture	• Mark 8:34 "If anyone wishes to come after Me... take up his cross" • Matt 10:38 "He who does not take his cross... is not worthy of Me" • Luke 14:27 "Whoever does not carry his own cross... cannot be My disciple"	• Phil 2:8 "Being obedient to the point of death, even death on a cross" • Heb 12:2 "For the joy set before Him endured the cross" • John 12:24 "Unless a grain of wheat falls... and dies" • John 12:32 "If I be lifted up from the earth, will draw all men to Myself"	• Gal 2:20 "I have been crucified with Christ; and it is no longer I who live" • Rom 6:6 "Our old self was crucified with Him" • Gal 6:14 "Through which the world has been crucified to me" • Phil 3:10 "Being conformed to His death"	• John 19:30 "It is finished... He gave up His spirit" • Col 1:23 "Continue in the faith firmly established" • Heb 10:36 "You have need of endurance" • Heb 12:3 "So that you will not grow weary" • 2 Cor 4:10-11 "Always carrying about... the dying of Jesus"

Summary Principles:

1.      Progressive Principle:

o   From taking up to remaining is a progressive process

o   Each stage has specific spiritual lessons

o   Requires continuous practice

2.      Holistic Principle:

o   Covers all aspects of life

o   Includes both individual and corporate experiences

o   Combines negative dealing and positive building

3.      Goal-oriented Principle:

o   Being conformed to Christ's image

o   Establishing victorious testimony

o   Fulfilling God's eternal purpose

*Please refer to the International Training for Elders and Responsible Ones - October 2024

General Subject: Living in the Reality of the Kingdom of God

Week 4: The Exercise of the Kingdom for the Building Up of the Church