IPSO FACTO IS A LATIN phrase, directly translated as “by the fact itself”, which means that a specific phenomenon is a direct consequence, a resultant effect, of the action in question, instead of being brought about by a previous action. So when we quote, “Anyone who loves his life loses it, but anyone who hates his life in this world will keep it to life eternal. [Whoever has no love for, no concern for, no regard for his life here on earth, but despises it, preserves his life forever and ever.]” John 12:25
What Jesus is saying is an “IF, THEN” statement. IF you love your life, or rather SELF as it’s rightly translated, THEN you are destroying it. Ipso facto. In essence, if you love your ways, your will, your security, your fleshly desires; you are denying faith in Christ and destroying eternal life. This is a reoccurring theme in Christ’s teaching and consequently in Paul’s, John’s, Peters’s; well basically the rest of Scripture.
The first and greatest commandment is to love the LORD your God with every ounce and fiber of your being. This leaves no room for interpretation. If God doesn’t have your whole heart, then you will be mislead by SELF preservation. The carnal mind is enmity against God. There is ONE way to eternal life: DIE to self, hate your own selfishness and the pernicious ways of this world and live single minded for Jesus. Find yourself in Christ alone and you will be found in Him. Where are your roots? Heaven or earth? Ipso facto. This world is not my home.
#runyourrace
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