I've been wondering about this verse, wondering if it contradicts universal reconciliation or not. I know I have asked quite a few questions about specific verses, but I want to understand what they mean. I want universal reconciliation to be true.
Here is how that reads in the Message Translation and then the NIV.
34-37Calling the crowd to join his disciples, he said, "Anyone who intends to come with me has to let me lead. You're not in the driver's seat; I am. Don't run from suffering; embrace it. Follow me and I'll show you how. Self-help is no help at all. Self-sacrifice is the way, my way, to saving yourself, your true self. What good would it do to get everything you want and lose you, the real you? What could you ever trade your soul for? 38"If any of you are embarrassed over me and the way I'm leading you when you get around your fickle and unfocused friends, know that you'll be an even greater embarrassment to the Son of Man when he arrives in all the splendor of God, his Father, with an army of the holy angels."
34 Then he called the crowd to him along with his disciples and said: "Whoever wants to be my disciple must deny themselves and take up their cross and follow me. 35 For whoever wants to save their life will lose it, but whoever loses their life for me and for the gospel will save it. 36 What good is it for someone to gain the whole world, yet forfeit their soul? 37 Or what can anyone give in exchange for their soul? 38 If anyone is ashamed of me and my words in this adulterous and sinful generation, the Son of Man will be ashamed of them when he comes in his Father's glory with the holy angels."
I like comparing these translations for contrast. I think this is talking on multiple levels about the consequences of self seeking vs Christ seeking. I believe it's speaking about a self focused life vs a Christ focused life. Do we trust us to lead the way, or do we trust Christ to lead the way? By embracing self will we actually lose ourselves through death. All of us have been there, some of us still are, many of us still fight with this nature. By self seeking, we become slaves to the flesh nature. We lose who we really are, our soul as we are enslaved and abide by what our flesh master commands of us.
But, if we just talk about consequences in this life, I think that isn't fair to the verses. It also speaks about us being an embarassment or Christ being ashamed of us before the Father. I would think some could argue this isn't talking about afterlife judgment, I believe it is. I believe there are afterlife consequences to a self driven life which may result in the LoF judgment. But, like many here I don't believe that to be the end of the story. :bigGrin:
Good thoughts Shawn.
"in this adulterous and sinful generation" seems an interesting and significant line to me.
Also, there will be shame and loss for those not ready to face the Father. The Biblical teaching of UR does not deny that. All not of Him will be destroyed, so the spirit may be saved. "..destruction of his flesh, so that his spirit may be saved in the day of the Lord Jesus." I Cor. 5:5
God bless you in your search.