Matt 10:38 Being Worthy Of Christ

Mat 11:11 KJV - Verily I say unto you, Among them that are born of women there hath not risen a greater than John the Baptist: notwithstanding he that is least in the kingdom of heaven is greater than he.
Mat 11:12 KJV - And from the days of John the Baptist until now the kingdom of heaven suffereth violence, and the violent take it by force.
Mat 11:13 KJV - For all the prophets and the law prophesied until John.
Mat 11:14 KJV - And if ye will receive it, this is Elias, which was for to come.
Mat 11:15 KJV - He that hath ears to hear, let him hear.

 Luk 16:15 ASV - And he said unto them, Ye are they that justify yourselves in the sight of men; but God knoweth your hearts: for that which is exalted among men is an abomination in the sight of God.
Luk 16:16 ASV - The law and the prophets were until John: from that time the gospel of the kingdom of God is preached, and every man entereth violently into it.
    Violence   Greek: biazo

Violence, Violent, Violently:
in the Passive Voice, is rendered "suffereth violence" in Mat 11:12; see FORCE, B, Nos. 1 and 2. Some, e.g., Cremer (Lexicon) and Dalman (Words of Jesus, pp. 139, ff.), hold that the reference is to the antagonism of the enemies of the kingdom, but Luk 16:16 (Middle Voice: RV, "entereth violently") indicates the meaning as referring to those who make an effort to enter the kingdom in spite of violent opposition: see PRESS

Mat 18:9 ASV - And if thine eye causeth thee to stumble, pluck it out, and cast it from thee: it is good for thee to enter into life with one eye, rather than having two eyes to be cast into the hell of fire.    This verse is an over lay to the violent enter in they press in , into what are they seeking .
Who are these people seeking to enter the kingdom , enter violently into it.  Jesus is speaking in a parable here he is not speaking of a man maiming his body to destroy sin in his life . He is speaking of the desire and the will of the saint of a man that loves God more than this world .
Heb 12:1 ASV - Therefore let us also, seeing we are compassed about with so great a cloud of witnesses, lay aside every weight, and the sin which doth so easily beset us, and let us run with patience the race that is set before us,
Heb 12:2 ASV - looking unto Jesus the author and perfecter of our faith, who for the joy that was set before him endured the cross, despising shame, and hath sat down at the right hand of the throne of God.
Heb 12:3 ASV - For consider him that hath endured such gainsaying of sinners against himself, that ye wax not weary, fainting in your souls.
Heb 12:4 ASV - Ye have not yet resisted unto blood, striving against sin:
Luk 17:20 ASV - And being asked by the Pharisees, when the kingdom of God cometh, he answered them and said, The kingdom of God cometh not with observation:
Luk 17:21 ASV - neither shall they say, Lo, here! or, There! for lo, the kingdom of God is within you.
 This word violent Jesus compares John the baptist to a violent man , how can that be except he was forcing himself as the word press indicates and preaching to others to enter in at all cost.
Jhn 14:30 ASV - I will no more speak much with you, for the prince of the world cometh: and he hath nothing in me;   What was Jesus saying here there is no sin in me therefore he has no cause to take me . But wait there is this sacrifice for that sin that has to be completed , and he was saying I am going with out any charge against me I go willingly.     Jhn 10:17 ASV - Therefore doth the Father love me, because I lay down my life, that I may take it again.
Jhn 10:18 ASV - No one taketh it away from me, but I lay it down of myself. I have power to lay it down, and I have power to take it again. This commandment received I from my Father.

The problem with the church today is that the cross of Christ is not  preached it is not even understood ,  Jesus said , Among them that are born of women there hath not risen a greater than John the Baptist: notwithstanding he that is least in the kingdom of heaven is greater than he.   He said no greater than John and than he says you and I are greater than John.  He was speaking of John fulfilling his mission of a new dispensation of Gods grace .  Preaching of repentance , his mission of water baptism signifying the death of our flesh . And the promise of a resurrected life in Christ .   Mat 3:8 ASV - Bring forth therefore fruit worthy of repentance:
Repentance Greek: metanoia  Repent, Repentance:
 the mercy of God in giving "repentance" or leading men to it is set forth .  A  change of mind, as it appears to one who repents, of a purpose he has formed or of something he has done
2Co 7:10 ASV - For godly sorrow worketh repentance unto salvation, a repentance which bringeth no regret: but the sorrow of the world worketh death.
2Co 7:11 ASV - For behold, this selfsame thing, that ye were made sorry after a godly sort, what earnest care it wrought in you, yea what clearing of yourselves, yea what indignation, yea what fear, yea what longing, yea what zeal, yea what avenging! In everything ye approved yourselves to be pure in the matter.  The verses above is that man with spiritual  violence against sin clings to the cross and suffers as Christ suffered.     Luk 16:16 KJV - The law and the prophets were until John: since that time the kingdom of God is preached, and every man presseth into it.
Violence  Greek: biazo
Press (Verb):
in the Middle Voice, "to press violently" or "force one's way into," is translated "presseth" in Luk 16:16, AV, RV, "entereth violently," Mat 11:12 ASV - And from the days of John the Baptist until now the kingdom of heaven suffereth violence, and men of violence take it by force.
Jer 17:9 KJV - The heart is deceitful above all things, and desperately wicked: who can know it?
The flesh of man is an enemy to the spirit of God , the word says that man is drawn away by his lust
Jas 1:13 ASV - Let no man say when he is tempted, I am tempted of God; for God cannot be tempted with evil, and he himself tempteth no man:
Jas 1:14 ASV - but each man is tempted, when he is drawn away by his own lust, and enticed.
Jas 1:15 ASV - Then the lust, when it hath conceived, beareth sin: and the sin, when it is fullgrown, bringeth forth death.
Jesus said he has given us power over all the power of the enemy Nothing in any way shall harm us.
Our warfare is not only against the wiles of satan but our flesh also . Putting on the Armour of God
comes from experience in battle .  Eph 6:12 -19    For our wrestling is not against flesh and blood, but against the principalities, against the powers, against the world-rulers of this darkness, against the spiritual hosts of wickedness in the heavenly places.   Gal 5:16 ASV - But I say, walk by the Spirit, and ye shall not fulfil the lust of the flesh.
1Jo 2:16 ASV - For all that is in the world, the lust of the flesh and the lust of the eyes and the vain glory of life, is not of the Father, but is of the world.  Satan can only tempt you through your flesh .
The word of God has a two edge sword , it cuts two ways it will defeat Satan and it will kill your flesh
 cutting all the way to the morrow of the bone. And the morrow in the bone builds red blood cells , I see here that thw word of God has the power to change our spiritual DNA .  Born of Adams blood under sin but Jesus has come to give us the power to become sons of God .Luk 17:20 ASV - And being asked by the Pharisees, when the kingdom of God cometh, he answered them and said, The kingdom of God cometh not with observation:
Luk 17:21 ASV - neither shall they say, Lo, here! or, There! for lo, the kingdom of God is within you.
According to 1 Cor 15 we are being transformed by this word of God from a corruptible nature being born of Adams seed his fleshly nature to the very nature of God the incorruptible seed .     1Co 15:42 ASV - So also is the resurrection of the dead. It is sown in corruption; it is raised in incorruption:
1Co 15:44 ASV - it is sown a natural body; it is raised a spiritual body. If there is a natural body, there is also a spiritual body.
1Co 15:45 ASV - So also it is written, The first man Adam became a living soul. The last Adam became a life-giving spirit.
I have said all of this to say that the violent men in And from the days of John the Baptist until now the kingdom of heaven suffereth violence, and men of violence take it by force  .   The law and the prophets were until John: since that time the kingdom of God is preached, and every man presseth into it.  This word violence is metaphorically speaking of men who are laying down their life's daily 
surrendering all for the sake of Gods kingdom they are the men that choose to pick up their cross
 and die to their flesh .  The cross is an instrument of suffering these men are waging the good of faith.
1Ti 6:10 ASV - For the love of money is a root of all kinds of evil: which some reaching after have been led astray from the faith, and have pierced themselves through with many sorrows.
1Ti 6:11 ASV - But thou, O man of God, flee these things; and follow after righteousness, godliness, faith, love, patience, meekness.
1Ti 6:12 ASV - Fight the good fight of the faith, lay hold on the life eternal, whereunto thou wast called, and didst confess the good confession in the sight of many witnesses.  These men and women are determined to enter into Gods glory into his kingdom.  Heb 13:12 ASV - Wherefore Jesus also, that he might sanctify the people through his own blood, suffered without the gate.
Heb 13:13 ASV - Let us therefore go forth unto him without the camp, bearing his reproach.
Heb 13:14 ASV - For we have not here an abiding city, but we seek after the city which is to come.
Heb 13:15 ASV - Through him then let us offer up a sacrifice of praise to God continually, that is, the fruit of lips which make confession to his name.      Jesus said if you find your life on this earth you will lose it in the end.     Mat 10:39 ASV - He that findeth his life shall lose it; and he that loseth his life for my sake shall find it.  
1Co 15:50 ASV - Now this I say, brethren, that flesh and blood cannot inherit the kingdom of God; neither doth corruption inherit incorruption.  God is saving our souls not our bodies he is looking for the fruit of righteousness in us.
1Co 15:51 ASV - Behold, I tell you a mystery: We all shall not sleep, but we shall all be changed,
1Co 15:52 ASV - in a moment, in the twinkling of an eye, at the last trump: for the trumpet shall sound, and the dead shall be raised incorruptible, and we shall be changed.  Glorified bodies no more flesh .
1Co 15:53 ASV - For this corruptible must put on incorruption, and this mortal must put on immortality.  This is where the violent press into the kingdom , when the master came in to see his guest at the wedding feast he saw a man there that had not on the wedding garments . Rev 19:7 ASV - Let us rejoice and be exceeding glad, and let us give the glory unto him: for the marriage of the Lamb is come, and his wife hath made herself ready.  The true church the bride of Christ
Rev 19:8 ASV - And it was given unto her that she should array herself in fine linen, bright and pure: for the fine linen is the Righteous Acts Of The Saints.
Rev 19:9 ASV - And he saith unto me, Write, Blessed are they that are bidden to the marriage supper of the Lamb. And he saith unto me, These are true words of God.



1Co 15:54 ASV - But when this corruptible shall have put on incorruption, and this mortal shall have put on immortality, then shall come to pass the saying that is written, Death is swallowed up in victory.

Rom 8:35 ASV - Who shall separate us from the love of Christ? shall tribulation, or anguish, or persecution, or famine, or nakedness, or peril, or sword?
Rom 8:36 ASV - Even as it is written, For thy sake we are killed all the day long; We were accounted as sheep for the slaughter.
Rom 8:37 ASV - Nay, in all these things we are more than conquerors through him that loved us.
Rom 8:38 ASV - For I am persuaded, that neither death, nor life, nor angels, nor principalities, nor things present, nor things to come, nor powers,
Rom 8:39 ASV - nor height, nor depth, nor any other creature, shall be able to separate us from the love of God, which is in Christ Jesus our Lord.



 Phl 1:29 ASV - because to you it hath been granted in the behalf of Christ, not only to believe on him, but also to suffer in his behalf:
2Ti 3:12 ASV - Yea, and all that would live godly in Christ Jesus shall suffer persecution.
2Ti 4:5 ASV - But be thou sober in all things, suffer hardship, do the work of an evangelist, fulfil thy ministry.
So Jesus told  Peter and the disciples because they realized he was the son of God and he had the words of life ,  Jesus said the gates of hell shall not prevail against the church ,
Prevail  Greek: nikao    Prevail:
"to conquer, prevail," is used as a law term in Rom 3:4, "(that) Thou... mightest prevail [AV, 'overcome'] (when Thou comest into judgment);" that the righteousness of the judge's verdict compels an acknowledgement on the part of the accused, is inevitable where God is the judge. God's promises to Israel provided no guarantee that an unrepentant Jew would escape doom. In Rev 5:5, AV, "hath prevailed" (RV, "hath overcome").

This was also a word used by the Church in days passed they would press in for an answer to prayer through fasting and prayer denial of their flesh .  The violence in the verse of  Matt 11:12  is speaking of men determined to inter into Gods kingdom to bear fruit  unto repentance , fruit unto righteousness.  Sanctification is a word for us also , it is a righteous walk unto God separating our self's unto his calling.    
1Jo 2:15 ASV - Love not the world, neither the things that are in the world. If any man love the world, the love of the Father is not in him.
Jhn 15:19 ASV - If ye were of the world, the world would love its own: but because ye are not of the world, but I chose you out of the world, therefore the world hateth you.
1Jo 4:17 ASV - Herein is love made perfect with us, that we may have boldness in the day of judgment; because as he is, even so are we in this world.

Mat 10:38 ASV - And he that doth not take his cross and follow after me, is not worthy of me.

Cross  Greek: stauros  Cross, Crucify:     the crucifixion suffered," e.g., 1Cr 1:17, 18, where "the word of the cross," RV, stands for the Gospel; Gal 5:11, where crucifixion is metaphorically used of the renunciation of the world, that characterizes the true Christian life; Gal 6:12, 14; Eph 2:16; Phl 3:18.
The cross of Christ is where we put to death the deeds of the flesh where Jesus said if your eye offends you pluck it out , get on your cross and put to death the deeds of the flesh, sin separates us and sanctification brings us in to God. This parable is not dealing with the physical but the spiritual , Jesus died physically and we die spiritually .   Heb 12:14 ASV - Follow after peace with all men, and the sanctification without which no man shall see the Lord:    Sanctification  Greek: hagiasmos   Holiness, Holy, Holily:       the resultant state, the conduct befitting those so separated, 1Th 4:3, 4, 7, and the four other places mentioned above. "Sanctification" is thus the state predetermined by God for believers, into which in grace He calls them, and in which they begin their Christian course and so pursue it. Hence they are called "saints" (hagioi).
 
Rom 6:17 ASV - But thanks be to God, that, whereas ye were servants of sin, ye became obedient from the heart to that form of teaching whereunto ye were delivered;
Rom 6:18 ASV - and being made free from sin, ye became servants of righteousness.
Rom 6:19 ASV - I speak after the manner of men because of the infirmity of your flesh: for as ye presented your members as servants to uncleanness and to iniquity unto iniquity, even so now present your members as servants to righteousness unto sanctification.
Mat 7:14 ASV - For narrow is the gate, and straitened the way, that leadeth unto life, and few are they that find it.
Straitened  Greek: stenos    Narrow:
from a root sten--, seen in stenazo, "to groan," stenagmos, "groaning" (Eng., "stenography," lit., "narrow writing"), is used figuratively in Mat 7:13, 14, of the gate which provides the entrance to eternal life, "narrow" because it runs counter to natural inclinations, and "the way" is similarly characterized; so in Luk 13:24 (where the more intensive word agonizomai, "strive," is used); RV, "narrow" (AV, "strait") in each place. Cp. stenochoreo, "to be straitened," and stenochoria, "narrowness, anguish, distress."
The word violence in Luke 16:16 runs parallel to the verse above the word Straight ! gate
The flesh the carnal nature of man does not want to die , it works at living in this world to the point of creating another Gospel , not the gospel Paul preached ,  This carnal nature is an enemy to the cross of Christ , Read Rom 6 it tells us very plainly what must happen to this evil nature if we are to enter the kingdom of God .   Jesus said if we do not pick up this cross and follow him we are not worthy of him.

2Co 4:7 KJV - But we have this treasure in earthen vessels, that the excellency of the power may be of God, and not of us.
2Co 4:8 KJV - We are troubled on every side, yet not distressed; we are perplexed, but not in despair;
2Co 4:9 KJV - Persecuted, but not forsaken; cast down, but not destroyed;
2Co 4:10 KJV - Always bearing about in the body the dying of the Lord Jesus, that the life also of Jesus might be made manifest in our body.
2Co 4:11 KJV - 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.
2Co 4:12 KJV - So then death worketh in us, but life in you.

Jhn 16:13 ASV - Howbeit when he, the Spirit of truth, is come, he shall guide you into all the truth: for he shall not speak from himself; but what things soever he shall hear, these shall he speak: and he shall declare unto you the things that are to come.
Mat 16:18 ASV - And I also say unto thee, that thou art Peter, and upon this rock I will build my church; and the gates of Hades shall not prevail against it.
You must be filled with the Holy Ghost as in the book of Acts on the day of Pentecost the beginning of the true church of Christ Jesus his body of believers.