The synoptic gospels are an incredible Bible study comparing scripture with scripture to see the nuances of each gospel writer as directed by the Holy Spirit to reach their particular audience. Matthew 16:21-27, Mark 8:31-38, and Luke 9:20-26 all cover the same event in the life and ministry of Jesus Christ.
We unpacked the DTDA – Deep Treasure Doctrinal Application today, and the issue of the cost of discipleship and the gospel of the kingdom in relation to the spiritual atmosphere in the tribulation. The Church Age saints have been caught away in the Rapture and the “Doomsday Clock” is ticking down till the victorious return of Messiah King Jesus at the end of the last seven years of the rule of mankind, when the remnant of Israel is saved and restored to fellowship with God.
Jesus makes it abundantly clear to be a disciple in the time leading up to his literal, physical return at the 2nd Advent was going to be quite costly. We walked through many scriptures starting with Matthew 24:9-14 which gave us the spiritual atmosphere of the tribulation. The gospel of the kingdom would be preached, and everyone who endures to the end will be saved.
Revelation 13:16-18 explained how difficult it would be to endure to the end because everyone who wants food, clothing, and shelter would have to take the mark of the beast. Revelation 13:8 and Revelation 17:8 both explain that anyone who takes the mark of the beast is condemned forever.
Revelation 6:9-11 and Revelation 7:13-17 record the multitudes of martyrs who are slain in the tribulation for their testimony of faith, of course exemplified by not taking the mark of the beast. They were subjected to starvation, thirst, homelessness and death.
This brought us to two contradictory scriptures in Hebrews 6:4-6 and Hebrews 10:26-31. We know that our position “in Christ” is secured by the indwelling of the Holy Ghost whom we receive as the down payment of our guaranteed adoption which will occur at the rapture of the Church Age saints. Ephesians 1:13-14, 2:8-9, 4:30, Philippians 1:6 & 1:10, Romans 8:23
Studying the Bible by rightly dividing it, and knowing that we are eternally secure in our position in Christ, the only conclusion we can arrive at doctrinally, is these two scriptures in Hebrews are not written to us in the dispensation of grace, but to Jewish believers in the tribulation. According to Matthew 24:13 enduring to the end is a critical aspect of one's salvation.
Those described in Hebrews 6:4-6 and 10:26-31 do not endure to the end, and even do something that prevents them from repenting. This “falling away” quite possibly is the act of receiving the physical salvation of food, clothing, and shelter by taking the mark of the beast, which is a spiritual death sentence. Paul Mertens brought up an important point, Why did the writer of Hebrews (Paul) include himself in Hebrews 10:26 – If we sin willfully...? The simple response is, he was writing from the perspective of being in the tribulation, just as John wrote Revelation from a first person perspective, even though he was in the first century. Paul was associating himself with the believers going through the tribulation.
As we read in the synoptic gospels, Jesus condemns those who seek to save their own lives through earthly measures. You will lose it! When you apply these warnings to the tribulation, and the physical return of Messiah King Jesus, you easily deduce who he is warning.
Next Sunday we will contrast the cost of discipleship described by Jesus and the cost of discipleship in this dispensation of the grace of God.
Luke 9:23 is a great verse that represents a trans-dispensational timeless truth concerning the cost of discipleship even for us today. “And he said to them all, If any man will come after me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross daily, and follow me.”
