Matthew 18: 1-8


Except ye be converted, and become as little children, ye shall not enter into the kingdom of heaven.

 
At the same time came the disciples unto Jesus, saying, Who is the greatest in the kingdom of heaven?  And Jesus called a little child unto him, and set him in the midst of them,  And said, Verily I say unto you, Except ye be converted, and become as little children, ye shall not enter into the kingdom of heaven. Whosoever therefore shall humble himself as this little child, the same is greatest in the kingdom of heaven. And whoso shall receive one such little child in my name receiveth me.  But whoso shall offend one of these little ones which believe in me, it were better for him that a millstone were hanged about his neck, and that he were drowned in the depth of the sea. Woe unto the world because of offences! for it must needs be that offences come; but woe to that man by whom the offence cometh! Wherefore if thy hand or thy foot offend thee, cut them off, and cast them from thee: it is better for thee to enter into life halt or maimed, rather than having two hands or two feet to be cast into everlasting fire(Matthew 18: 1-8)

The key meaning of what Jesus said, "a man who humbles himself like a child" is to deny himself. The disciples asked who was great with worldly values. Eventually, the person who lowers himself becomes a dead person to the world. Philippians 2: 6-8『Who, being in the form of God, thought it not robbery to be equal with God:  But made himself of no reputation, and took upon him the form of a servant, and was made in the likeness of men:  And being found in fashion as a man, he humbled himself, and became obedient unto death, even the death of the cross. 』

Repentance is turning away from sin. Rather than being forgiven for confessing that you have sinned, you have to die with Jesus on the cross, against sin, against the world. Then, the Lord forgives sin with his blood. The word "death" means denying the heart toward the world. So he said, "I deny myself." As the apostle Paul said, we must think of "I die every day."

"Everyday I die" means "always looking at yourself like a mirror in front of the Bible." Every day is the phrase "every moment." It's not about the number of times, it's about keeping it. The existence of "Self" is like a huge and solid castle like "Jericho Castle." However, as the Israelites overthrew Jericho through the word of God, they must deny themselves before the words of the Bible. In front of the Bible, we must look at the situation of "denying self."

 

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