Anchor My Faith

Three “For” Statements

Scripture: Mark 8:35-37

In the previous lesson, Jesus said to those assembled around him, “If anyone would come after me, let him deny himself and take up his cross and follow me.” In this lesson we will look at three statements that begin with “For”. ^{Mk 8:35} “For whoever would save his life will lose it, but whoever loses his life for my sake and the gospel’s will save it. ³⁶ For what does it profit a man to gain the whole world and forfeit his soul? ³⁷ For what can a man give in return for his soul?”

Notice that verses 35 through 37 each begin with the word “For” and provide three related reasons why a follower of Jesus must let go of their earthly life and take up their cross. Consider verse 35 in connection with salvation. In countries of persecution a person must understand that to accept Jesus may come at the cost of their life. Whoever is not willing to take that risk but maintain a life of safety will not find salvation as the sacrifice is too great for them. However, if one is willing to risk their physical life in their surrender to Jesus in faith, then salvation is obtained. If one is already a believer and their life is threatened because of their faith, and they deny Jesus, I don’t believe they will lose their salvation, but they, according to their witness, will suffer greatly for their denial.

As I look at verse 36, I am reminded of the parable of the rich fool found in Luke 12:16 – 21 ESV: ¹⁶ “The land of a rich man produced plentifully, ¹⁷ and he thought to himself, ‘What shall I do, for I have nowhere to store my crops?’ ¹⁸ And he said, ‘I will do this: I will tear down my barns and build larger ones, and there I will store all my grain and my goods. ¹⁹ And I will say to my soul, “Soul, you have ample goods laid up for many years; relax, eat, drink, be merry.”’ ²⁰ But God said to him, ‘Fool! This night your soul is required of you, and the things you have prepared, whose will they be?’ ²¹ So is the one who lays up treasure for himself and is not rich toward God.”

This man had a love for riches and when he had a bumper crop, he was not willing to sell that which he could not store at lower price, but instead sought to keep it all to obtain a greater price during a lean harvest year. His desire to lay up treasure for himself and not seek to be rich in the things of God, is one who will not find salvation. As Jesus said in Matthew 19:24 ESV: “Again I tell you, it is easier for a camel to go through the eye of a needle than for a rich person to enter the kingdom of God.” Do you seek earthly treasure or in being rich toward God?

The question asked in verse 37 seems to suggest one who plans to work his way into heaven. How much work will be necessary to earn enough to pay the required price? What can a man give that will satisfy God and cause him to give spiritual life? To have enough to give would be connected to pride, but to have nothing to give but to surrender one’s life would be connected to humility. In James 4:6 ESV: “God opposes the proud but gives grace to the humble.” God will not accept what we might try to give but to the humble he gives grace and by that grace we are saved through faith.

Conclusion

He who would save his life will lose it, he who seeks to lay up earthly treasure will not be rich toward God, and what can we give in return for our soul? We need to deny our self and take up our cross and follow him.