“Actually, we are commanded to love one another as ourselves and to love God with our whole heart mind and soul.”
We should love one another — but it has nothing to do with finally arriving in Heaven. (No Purgatory, except maybe it’s down the road from Oz.) Nothing we can DO will save us.
Ephesians 2:8-9 - “For by grace are ye saved through faith; and that not of yourselves: it is the gift of God: NOT OF WORKS, lest any man should boast.”
Titus 3:5 - “Not by works of righteousness which we have done, but according to his mercy he saved us, by the washing of regeneration, and renewing of the Holy Ghost;”
Isaiah 64:6 - “But we are all as an unclean thing, and all our righteousnesses are as filthy rags;”
“Jesus asks us to help him to carry his cross.”
Did He ask that? For us to help Him carry His cross? He commanded, “come, take up the cross, and FOLLOW me.” (Mark 10:21)
He needs for us to meet him at least half way, otherwise why did he go through all that effort if he could just snap his fingers and make it all happen?
He didn’t “snap His fingers”. Instead, he died on the cross. We don’t need to meet Him halfway; we don’t to DO anything except accept Him as personal Savior. (Ideally, though, after salvation we should be with Him 100%, not just half way.)
Did He ask that? For us to help Him carry His cross? He commanded, **come, take up the cross, and FOLLOW me.** (Mark 10:21) Yes, as a matter of fact he did ask us to help him carry the cross.
It is right there in the scripture - TAKE UP THE CROSS AND FOLLOW ME - means to follow his example and carry the cross, whatever cross we are asked to bear.
The death of a loved one? Humiliation? An incurable illness?
We are asked to help him just like Simon of Cyrene.
What is so difficult to understand about that?
He asks us to share in his suffering and in his work. We are to be his hands on earth. We are asked to suffer for him and for others.
What is so difficult to understand about that?
This is what Jesus needs today - help with his cross - not people arguing about it.