Topical Bible: Life: The One Who Loses It Will Save It

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The paradoxical teaching of "losing one's life to save it" is a profound concept found in the synoptic Gospels, specifically in Matthew 16:25, Mark 8:35, and Luke 9:24. This teaching of Jesus Christ challenges conventional understanding of life and self-preservation, emphasizing the spiritual over the temporal.

Biblical Context

In Matthew 16:25 , Jesus declares, "For whoever wants to save his life will lose it, but whoever loses his life for My sake will find it." This statement follows Jesus' prediction of His own suffering and death, and His call for discipleship, which includes taking up one's cross and following Him (Matthew 16:24). The context underscores the cost of true discipleship and the necessity of prioritizing Christ above all else.

Similarly, in Mark 8:35 , Jesus states, "For whoever wants to save his life will lose it, but whoever loses his life for My sake and for the gospel will save it." Here, the inclusion of "for the gospel" highlights the mission of spreading the good news as integral to the Christian life. The call to lose one's life is not merely about physical martyrdom but encompasses a broader surrender of personal ambitions and desires for the sake of Christ's mission.

Luke 9:24 echoes this teaching: "For whoever wants to save his life will lose it, but whoever loses his life for My sake will save it." The Lucan account places this teaching in the context of Jesus' journey to Jerusalem, emphasizing the impending cost of following Him.

Theological Implications

The teaching of losing one's life to save it is a call to radical discipleship. It demands a reorientation of values, where eternal life and the kingdom of God take precedence over earthly life and material pursuits. This teaching challenges believers to evaluate their priorities and to live in a manner that reflects the sacrificial love and obedience exemplified by Christ.

The concept of "losing one's life" can be understood in several dimensions:

1. Self-Denial: Followers of Christ are called to deny themselves, which involves setting aside selfish desires and ambitions. This self-denial is not an end in itself but a means to align one's life with the will of God.

2. Sacrifice: The call to lose one's life may involve literal sacrifice, as seen in the lives of martyrs who gave their lives for the faith. However, it also includes daily sacrifices, such as giving up time, resources, and personal comfort for the sake of others and the advancement of the gospel.

3. Transformation: By losing one's life, believers undergo a transformation that leads to true life in Christ. This transformation is marked by the fruit of the Spirit and a life that reflects the character of Jesus.

4. Eternal Perspective: The teaching encourages believers to adopt an eternal perspective, recognizing that true life is found not in the temporal and fleeting pleasures of this world but in the eternal promises of God.

Practical Application

In practical terms, this teaching calls Christians to live counter-culturally, prioritizing spiritual growth and the mission of the church over personal gain. It invites believers to engage in acts of service, evangelism, and community building, often at personal cost. The assurance is that in losing one's life for Christ, one gains a deeper, more fulfilling life that transcends earthly existence.

The teaching of "losing one's life to save it" remains a central tenet of Christian discipleship, challenging believers to live with purpose, sacrifice, and an unwavering commitment to the cause of Christ.

Nave's Topical Index

Matthew 10:39
He that finds his life shall lose it: and he that loses his life for my sake shall find it.
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Matthew 16:25,26
For whoever will save his life shall lose it: and whoever will lose his life for my sake shall find it.
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Luke 9:24
For whoever will save his life shall lose it: but whoever will lose his life for my sake, the same shall save it.
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John 12:25
He that loves his life shall lose it; and he that hates his life in this world shall keep it to life eternal.
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Library

The Less of Life; and the Saving of It.
... But if any one despising the present life because of ... eternal life even unto death
for truth, loses his own ... for my sake he has lost his life, will save it rather ...
/.../origen/origens commentary on the gospel of matthew/26 the less of life.htm

67689:67697 the Rebuke of Peter
... a man if he gains the whole world, and loses his own soul ... superior is self-devotion
to self-indulgence, and that one crowded hour of glorious life is worth ...
/.../chadwick/the gospel of st mark/chapter 8 32 - 9 1 the.htm

Obadiah
... The Gospel long heard and long put aside, loses power. Contrast the beauty of a
course of life, begun on the ... unto the meridian of the day,' with one which gave ...
//christianbookshelf.org/maclaren/expositions of holy scripture f/obadiah.htm

Christ's Cross and Ours
... is he who 'would save' his life that loses it, because ... in the arena or at the stake
a crown of life. ... first aim is ruinous, and the corresponding one, that to ...
/.../maclaren/expositions of holy scripture e/christs cross and ours.htm

Whether it is Lawful to Kill a Man in Self-Defense?
... 6) "chance is a cause that acts beside one's intention." Hence ... due care, the result
being that a person loses his life ... care to avoid taking a man's life: and so ...
/...//christianbookshelf.org/aquinas/summa theologica/whether it is lawful to 10.htm

Christ's Connection with the Creator Shown from Several Incidents ...
... that fighting for the faith, wherein whosoever loses his life ... Judge who recompenses
the evil gain of life with its ... whom He here presents to me; one who returns ...
/.../the five books against marcion/chapter xxi christs connection with the.htm

After this Manner Pray;' or the Model Prayer.
... No one ever loses by what he sacrifices for the Father ... will lead us up to the true
child-life: the Father ... and child, the Thine and the Our, are all one, and how ...
/.../murray/lord teach us to pray/after this manner pray or.htm

Fourth Lesson after this Manner Pray;'
... No one ever loses by what he sacrifices for the Father ... will lead us up to the true
child-life: the Father ... and child, the Thine and the Our, are all one, and how ...
/.../murray/with christ in the school of prayer/fourth lesson after this manner.htm

Jesus Makes an Heroic Choice
... For any one who is thinking only of saving his life, will lose it; but whoever loses
his life for my sake and for the sake of the good news, will save it. ...
/.../sherman/the childrens bible/jesus makes an heroic choice.htm

The Harvest of a Godless Life
... (a) If a man loses his hold ... (a) How poor the fruit will he that a God-forgetting
man will take out of life! There is but one heap from all the long struggle. ...
/.../maclaren/expositions of holy scripture h/the harvest of a godless.htm