October 22: Insight Post by Rusty Coram

  -   October 22, 2025

Eternal Gain Comes from Losing Our Lives for Christ: Jesus teaches that those who try to save their lives will lose them, but those who lose their lives for His sake will find eternal life. The paradox of the kingdom is that surrendering to God leads to true fulfillment.

Wednesday Verse

For to me, living means living for Christ, and dying is even better. Philippians 1:21 (NLT)

Wednesday Questions

How can I live with the mindset of gaining through surrender to Christ? What does losing my life for Jesus look like in my daily walk?

Wednesday Insight Post
by Rusty Coram

Jesus doesn’t tiptoe around what He requires of a devoted follower. Instead, He makes it crystal clear—we are to give up living “our own way” and take on His way and leadership. This new lifestyle is not a one-and-done deal but a daily, regular choice to put God’s will at the forefront of our lives. Jesus models strong leadership by clearly explaining the call and then being a premier example of living it out.

In two of our passages that record this encounter, we see this concluding statement by Jesus, “I tell you the truth, some standing here right now will not die before they see the Kingdom of God.”  Luke 9:27 (NLT) [see also Matthew 16:28] Some skeptics have interpreted this statement by Jesus as proof that He was fallible and therefore not God, as His followers claim. They assume that Jesus meant by this that the end of history was coming soon, within the lifetime of some listening. This is a perfect example of having an assumption and looking to validate it rather than an honest investigation. Jesus regularly taught about God’s kingdom in the present and in the future. For example, see Jesus’ teaching in Mark 1:15 and Luke 17:20-21.

I believe Jesus is preparing His followers (and future ones) for the shock of seeing Him crucified and then the amazing result that shows God’s kingdom in a brand-new light. Some of His disciples will see Him transfigured and in the presence of Moses and Elijah as a confirmation of His deity. Many will be eyewitnesses to His resurrection. Others will receive the Holy Spirit’s power at Pentecost, and many more the signs and powerful presence of changed lives as the Good News spreads. Still, some others will be witnesses to the utter destruction of the temple when Jerusalem falls in 70AD, where those who sought to destroy Jesus lose their power base and the new church continues to flourish. All of these and more are clear evidence of God’s kingdom here on earth – alive and well.

Rusty Coram
Senior Pastor

New Hope Church
Lorton, Virginia
www.newhope.org