Take Up Your Cross and Follow Jesus

²³ And he said to all, “If anyone would come after me, let him ^(A)deny himself and ^(B)take up his cross ^(C)daily and follow me. ²⁴ For ^(D)whoever would save his life will lose it, but whoever loses his life for my sake will save it. ^25 (E)For what does it profit a man if he gains the whole world and loses or forfeits himself?

³⁷ Now when ^(A)they heard this they were cut to the heart, and said to Peter and the rest of the apostles, “Brothers, ^(B)what shall we do?” ³⁸ And Peter said to them, ^(C)“Repent and ^(D)be baptized every one of you ^(E)in the name of Jesus Christ ^(F)for the forgiveness of your sins, and you will receive ^(G)the gift of the Holy Spirit.

⁹ because, if ^(A)you confess with your mouth that Jesus is Lord and ^(B)believe in your heart ^(C)that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved. ¹⁰ For with the heart one believes and is justified, and with the mouth one confesses and is saved.

¹⁸ But someone will say, “You have faith and I have works.” Show me your faith ^(A)apart from your works, and I will show you my faith ^(B)by my works. ^19 (C)You believe that God is one; you do well. Even ^(D)the demons believe—and shudder!