1. Biblical Answers to Difficult Questions

2. Anguish over sin/repentance  Jm 4:17 “to him who knows what is right to do & doesn’t do it, it is sin…”  Luke 13:3 “…unless you repent, you will all likewise perish.”  1Jn 1:9 “If we confess our sins, He is faithful & just to forgive us our sins & to cleanse us from all unrighteousnss.”  2 Pet 3:9 “(The Lord) is not wishing any would perish but all would come to repentance.”

3. Death to self  Gal 2:20; 5:24 “I have been crucified with Christ; and it is no longer I who live but Christ lives in me; and the life I now live I live by faith in the Son of God…” “Now those who belong to Christ have crucified the flesh…”  Lk 9:23 “…let him deny himself & take up his cross daily…”

4. Cost to following Jesus  Lk 14:26,27 “If anyone comes to Me and does not hate his own father & mother, wife & children & brothers & sisters, yes, even his own life, he cannot be My disciple. Whoever does not carry his own cross & come after Me cannot be My disciple.”

5. Expect to face hardships  Jm 1:2-4 “Consider it joy…when you encounter various trials knowing that the testing of your faith produces endurance. And let endurance have its perfect result…”  1 Pet 4:13 “but to the degree that you share in the suffering of Christ…”  2 Tim 2:3 “Suffer hardship with me…”

6. Suffering persecution  2 Tim 3:10-12 “But you followed my teaching, conduct, purpose, faith, patience, love, perserverance, persecutions, sufferings, such as happened to me at Antioch, at Iconium and at Lystra; what persecutions I endured, and out of all of them, the Lord delivered me! All who desire to live godly in Christ Jesus will be persecuted.”

7. Picking up the cross  Lk 9:23 “And He was saying to them all, If anyone wishes to come after Me, let him deny himself, take up his cross daily & follow Me.”  Mt 16:25 “For whoever wishes to save his life will lose it; whoever loses his life for My sake shall find it.”

8. An honest summation  Living as a believer is NOT about being gratified, prosperous, living your best life now, achieving every goal in a 5-year plan. Faith in Christ is not solely about receiving or deserving blessings, or other self-focused teachings.  It’s about JESUS. Period.

9. The challenge  Is having Jesus enough?

10. Be blessed!  1 Cor 2:2 “For I determined to know nothing among you except Jesus Christ, and Him crucified.”  Gal 2:20 “I have been crucified with Christ; it is no longer I who live, but Christ who lives in me; the life I live in the flesh I live by faith in the Son of God who loved me and delivered Himself up for me.”