K029. We are saved by grace (to take up our cross and follow Jesus)

Many preachers today preach confidently and radically only on the first part of the gospel; but deliberately, deceitfully, and shamefully hide the other part (in the bracket above).

Yes, I can say that we are saved, not based on our works, but based on grace. We are saved, not by taking up our cross or by following Jesus; but by grace. The act of taking up the cross or following Jesus comes only after we are saved. In another words, we are not saved by following Jesus; but we are certainly saved to follow Jesus.

Hence, if we are saved by grace to follow Jesus, we can say that there are two parts in the gospel - His part and our part:
1. 'being saved' is by grace which is His part; but
2. 'following Him' is our part which we must do it ourselves and it will certainly require great effort from ourselves.
How do we know that the part to follow Him requires great effort? It is because we are told to take up our cross and follow Him (and build our house too Mat 7:24):
Mat 16:24-27 KJV  Then said Jesus unto his disciples, If any man will come after me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross, and follow me.  (25)  For whosoever will save his life shall lose it: and whosoever will lose his life for my sake shall find it.  (26)  For what is a man profited, if he shall gain the whole world, and lose his own soul? or what shall a man give in exchange for his soul? (27) For the Son of man shall come in the glory of his Father with his angels; and then he shall reward every man according to his works.

Hence, to be really saved, we must believe in the gospel that has the part for us to follow Him by keeping, doing, and teaching all His commandments and doctrine too. This part is spoken clearly and repeatedly to everyone regardless of whether they are the sinners or believers:
Mar 8:34 KJV .. Whosoever will come after me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross, and follow me.
Luk 9:23 KJV  .. If any man will come after me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross daily, and follow me .. (26) For whosoever shall be ashamed of me and of my words, of him shall the Son of man be ashamed, when he shall come in his own glory, and in his Father's, and of the holy angels.
Luk 14:27 KJV  And whosoever doth not bear his cross, and come after me, cannot be my disciple.
Unlike the command which Jesus gave only to the young ruler, or the twelve, to sell away everything and follow Him, the command to take up our cross is given to everyone and we should not be ashamed of preaching it to everyone.

Taking up our cross to follow Him not only requires our efforts; but also great efforts, suffering, or difficulty too. Or else, Jesus would not say, "Taking up your cross"; He would just say, "Pack up your bed" or "Take up your pillow" instead.
So, we should not be ashamed to preach about following Jesus as the narrow way or the hard way which requires great efforts. We should persevere even if we are mocked by the hyper grace preachers or the modern grace preachers who insist that only their effortless prospering gospel is the true gospel. Of course, believing the gospel is effortless by grace, but taking up the cross and following Jesus is certainly not effortless. Sometimes, it can mean great sacrifice too., which requires 'counting the cost':
Luk 14:27-35 KJV  And whosoever doth not bear his cross, and come after me, cannot be my disciple.  (28)  For which of you, intending to build a tower, sitteth not down first, and counteth the cost, whether he have sufficient to finish it? .. (33)  So likewise, whosoever he be of you that forsaketh not all that he hath, he cannot be my disciple.  (34)  Salt is good: but if the salt have lost his savour, wherewith shall it be seasoned?  (35)  It is neither fit for the land, nor yet for the dunghill; but men cast it out. He that hath ears to hear, let him hear.

Do we share about the full gospel openly and honestly with those who are ignorant? Otherwise, when they are judged by the Lord in that day, they may accuse us of deceiving them or hiding the important truth of following Jesus from them. They may be right to accuse us of preaching the 'half truth' or the false gospel to them too:
Mat 7:21-23 KJV  Not every one that saith unto me, Lord, Lord, shall enter into the kingdom of heaven; but he that doeth the will of my Father which is in heaven.  (22)  Many will say to me in that day, Lord, Lord, have we not prophesied in thy name? and in thy name have cast out devils? and in thy name done many wonderful works?  (23)  And then will I profess unto them, I never knew you: depart from me, ye that work iniquity.

Many preachers today preach confidently and radically only on the first part of the gospel; but deliberately, deceitfully, and shamefully hide the part that we need to follow Jesus by taking up our cross, building our house, or keeping His commandments. They may claim that they can save more people because they can preach a more attractive gospel; but they also judge others as legalistic, jealous, and self-effort preachers because others do not preach like them. They are generally quite boastful and are generally called the 'grace preachers' who preach a lot on the so-called 'grace revolution', 'hyper grace', 'radical grace', 'pure grace', or .. 'whatever' grace which constantly boasts and argues that they are the most misunderstood (and persecuted) preachers although they are more 'humble', more 'gracious', and more effective than those who preach God's laws and the cross. I will ask them, Before you said that other people misunderstood you, have you misunderstood the gospel yourselves?

::