We are flesh and the flesh only knows how to sin. And so we put off the flesh, crucify the flesh and its desires, we die to self. And if we do this, the world will then also hate us and we will be persecuted and suffer in the flesh at the hands of men of the flesh. The word will hate us because it hated him first. And if indeed, we have truly died to the flesh and its desires and we have become conformed to Jesus in death in our walk with him, the world will seek to physically kill us. For that reason, we must count the cost and love not even our own lives unto death because if we do love our own lives we will end up deny Jesus and he will deny us before his Father.
For it was fitting for Him, for whom are all things, and through whom are all things, in bringing many sons to glory, to perfect the author of their salvation through sufferings.
Hebrews 2:10.
Although He was a Son, He learned obedience from the things which he suffered.
Hebrews 5:8
Therefore, since Christ has suffered in the flesh, arm yourselves also with the same mind, because he who has suffered in the flesh has ceased from sin.
1 Peter 4:1.
John 15:12 / 1 John 3:16
This is my command, that you love one another, just as I have loved you.
We know love by this, that he laid down his life for us; and we ought to lay down our lives for the brethren.
John 12:24-26
Truly, truly, I say to you, unless a grain of wheat falls into the earth and dies, it remains alone; but if it dies, it bears much fruit. He who loves his life loses it, and he who hates his life in this world will keep it to life eternal. If anyone serves me, he must follow me; and where I am, there my servant will be also; if anyone serves me, the Father will honor him.
Matthew 16:24-27
If anyone wishes to come after me, he must deny himself, and take up his cross and follow me. For whoever wishes to save his life will lose it; but whoever loses his life for my sake will find it. For what will it profit a man if he gains the whole world and forfeits his soul? Or what will a man give in exchange for his soul? For the Son of Man is going to come in the glory of his Father with his angels, and will render to each one according to his practices.
Matthew 10:34-39
Do not think that I came to bring peace on the earth; I did not come to bring peace, but a sword. For I came to set a man against his father, and a daughter against her mother, and a daughter-in-law against her mother-in-law and a man's enemies will be members of his own household. He who loves father or mother more than me is not worthy of me; and he who loves son or daughter more than me is not worthy of me. And he who does not take his cross and follow after me is not worthy of me. He who has found his life will lose it, and he who has lost his life for my sake will find it.
Luke 9:59-62
And Jesus said to another, "Follow me." But he said, "Lord, permit me first to go and bury my father." But he said to him, "Allow the dead to bury their own dead; but as for you, go and proclaim everywhere the kingdom of God." Another also said, "I will follow You, Lord; but first permit me to say good-bye to those at home." But Jesus said to him, "No one, after putting his hand to the plow and looking back, is fit for the kingdom of God."
Luke 14:26
If anyone comes to me, and does not hate his own father and mother and wife and children and brothers and sisters, yes, and even his own life, he cannot be my disciple.
Luke 14:27
Whoever does not carry his own cross and come after me cannot be My disciple.
Luke 14:33
So then, none of you can be My disciple who does not forsake all that he has.
Acts 14:22
Through many tribulations must we enter the kingdom of God
Matthew 7:13-14
Enter through the narrow gate; for the gate is wide and the way is broad that leads to destruction, and there are many who enter through it. For the gate is narrow and the way is difficult that leads to life, and there are few who find it.
Philippians 1:29
For to you it has been granted for Christ's sake, not only to believe in Him, but also to suffer for his sake.
2 Corinthians 1:3-8
Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of mercies and God of all comfort, who comforts us in all our affliction so that we will be able to comfort those who are in any affliction with the comfort with which we ourselves are comforted by God. For just as the sufferings of Christ are ours in abundance, so also our comfort is abundant through Christ. But if we are afflicted, it is for your comfort and salvation; or if we are comforted, it is for your comfort, which is effective in the patient enduring of the same sufferings which we also suffer; and our hope for you is firmly grounded, knowing that as you are sharers of our sufferings, so also you are sharers of our comfort.
1 Peter 4:12-17
Beloved, do not be surprised at the fiery ordeal among you, which comes upon you for your testing, as though some strange thing were happening to you; but to the degree that you share the sufferings of Christ, keep on rejoicing, so that also at the revelation of His glory you may rejoice with exultation. If you are reviled for the name of Christ, you are blessed, because the Spirit of glory and of God rests on you. Make sure that none of you suffers as a murderer, or thief, or evildoer, or a troublesome meddler; but if anyone suffers as a Christian, he is not to be ashamed, but is to glorify God in this name. For it is time for judgment to begin with the household of God; and if it begins with us first, what will be the outcome for those who do not obey the gospel of God?
Philippians 3:8-11
I count all things to be loss in view of the surpassing value of knowing Christ Jesus my Lord, for whom I have suffered the loss of all things, and count them but rubbish so that I may gain Christ.... that I may know Him and the power of His resurrection and the fellowship of his sufferings, being conformed to his death; in order that I may attain to the resurrection from the dead.
Romans 8:16-17
The Spirit Himself testifies with our spirit that we are children of God, and if children, heirs also, heirs of God and fellow heirs with Christ, if indeed we suffer with Him so that we may also be glorified with Him.
Romans 8:36
Just as it is written, "For your sake we are being put to death all day long; we are reckoned as sheep to be slaughtered."
1 Peter 1:20-21
But if when you do what is right and suffer for it you patiently endure it, this finds favor with God. For you have been called for this purpose, since Christ also suffered for you, leaving you an example for you to follow in his footsteps.
Acts 9:16
But the Lord said to him, "Go, for he is a chosen instrument of mine, to bear my name before the nations and kings and the sons of Israel for I will show him how much he must suffer for the sake of my name."
Matthew 5:10-13
Blessed are those who have been persecuted for the sake of righteousness, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven. Blessed are you when people insult you and persecute you, and falsely say all kinds of evil against you because of me. Rejoice and be glad, for your reward in heaven is great.
2 Timothy 3:12
All who desire to live godily in Christ Jesus will be persecuted.
1 John 3:13
Do not be surprised, brethren, if the world hates you.
Matthew 10:22
Brother will betray brother to death, and a father his child; and children will rise up against parents and cause them to be put to death. You will be hated by all because of my name, but it is the one who has endured to the end who will be saved.
Matthew 24:9-13
Then they will deliver you to tribulation, and will kill you, and you will be hated by all nations because of my name. At that time many will fall away and will betray one another and hate one another. Many false prophets will arise and will mislead many. Because lawlessness is increased, most people's love will grow cold. But the one who endures to the end, he will be saved.
John 17:14
I have given them Your word; and the world has hated them, because they are not of the world, just as I am not of the world.
2 Corinthians 3:8-18
But we have this treasure in earthen vessels, so that the surpassing greatness of the power will be of God and not from ourselves; we are afflicted in every way, but not crushed; perplexed, but not despairing; persecuted, but not forsaken; struck down, but not destroyed; always carrying about in the body the dying of Jesus, so that the life of Jesus also may be manifested in our body. For we who live are constantly being delivered over to death for Jesus' sake, so that the life of Jesus also may be manifested in our mortal flesh. So death works in us, but life in you. But having the same spirit of faith, according to what is written, "I believed, therefore I spoke," we also believe, therefore we also speak, knowing that He who raised the Lord Jesus will raise us also with Jesus and will present us with you. For all things are for your sakes, so that the grace which is spreading to more and more people may cause the giving of thanks to abound to the glory of God. Therefore we do not lose heart, but though our outer man is decaying, yet our inner man is being renewed day by day. For momentary, light affliction is producing for us an eternal weight of glory far beyond all comparison, while we look not at the things which are seen, but at the things which are not seen; for the things which are seen are temporal, but the things which are not seen are eternal.
If the world loves you, be very concerned:
If you were of the world, the world would love its own; but because you are not of the world, but I chose you out of the world, because of this the world hates you. John 15:19.
