Pictured to the left is a copy of a version of the Holy Bible, known as THE NEW ENGLISH BIBLE; being entitled: THE NEW ENGLISH BIBLE WITH THE APOCRYPHA. Luke 9:23 reads as follows:
"23 And to all he said, 'If anyone wishes to be a follower of mine, he must leave self behind; day after day he must take up his cross, and come with me.'"
The word "right" is defined as follows:
". . . . -n. . . . . 2 A just and proper claim or title to anything, or that which may be claimed on just, moral, legal, or customary grounds: often in the plural. . . ." [ See NEW ILLUSTRATED WEBSTER'S DICTIONARY Including THESAURUS of SYNONYMS & ANTONYMS, PMC Publishing Company, Inc., 118 EAST 28th STREET, NEW YORK, NY 10016, dictionary portion: pages 1-1150, Copyright 1992, by J.G. Ferguson Publishing Company, Chicago, Illinois, pp. 832, 833. ]
As Christians ( see Acts 11:26, for example ), we have no rights in the kingdom of heaven ( see Matthew 18:1-7 ( especially verse 3, for example ), Mark 4:10-12 ( especially verse 11, for example ), Luke 18:15-17 ( especially verse 16, for example ), and 1 Corinthians 5:9-13 ( especially verses 12 and 13 ( ESV, for example ), for example )), except to suffer for Christ ( see Matthew 1:16 ( KJV, for example ) and Philippians 1:27-30 ( especially verse 29, for example ), for example ): Jesus ( see verse ten ) said we are to "leave self behind" ( as we read in verse twenty-three, above ). Moreover, He ( see Mark 10:42 ) said in ( verse forty-five ), "'For even the Son of Man did not come to be served but to serve, and to give up his life as a ransom for many.'" The Son of Man ( see John 10:30, Romans 1:20 ( see Romans 1:20 ( KJV, for example; with center-column references, for example ) to get the equivalent translation for the word "Godheaad" ), Colossians 2:8, 9, and 1 John 5:7 ( KJV, for example ), for example ) came to earth to be a slave, and to offer up His life as a ransom for many: we are His slaves ( see Leviticus 25:39-55 ( especially verses 44-46, for example ), Matthew 11:25-30 ( especially verses 28-30, for example ), Acts 2:38, 41, and 47 ( KJV, for example ); 8:26-40 ( especially verses 36-39 ( KJV, for example ), for example ); 20:28, Romans 6:1-4 ( especially verses 3 and 4, for example ); 10:1-4 ( especially verse 4, for example ); 15:1-4 ( especially verse 4, for example ), 1 Corinthians 7:17-24 ( especially verses 22 and 23, for example ), Colossians 1:13-20 ( especially verse 20, for example ), and Revelation 1:1-5 ( especially verse 5, for example ), for example ).
Our sole responsibility in this life is to fear God and obey His commands ( see Ecclesiastes 12:13, for example, and please also read verse fourteen to get the immediate context ). Please study the Holy Bible ( which is God's word - see Psalm 119:65-73, 142, 151, John 17:1, 3, 17, and 2 Timothy 2:15; 3:16, 17, for example ). If you have any questions about the Holy Bible, you can contact me by e-mail at:
<rewillis1_1@juno.com>
<Russsell E. Willis>.
