"And when he had called the people unto him, and his disciples also, he said unto them, Whosoever will come after me, let him take up his cross, and follow me. For whosoever will save his life shall lose it; but whosoever shall lose his life for my sake and the gospel's shall save it." Mark 8:34,35
These words of the Lord Jesus Christ are not merely for His apostles, but for all who have an interest in entering the kingdom of God. The primary thought seems to be that there is no being in the kingdom of God, apart from a willing and gracious submission to the absolute sovereignty and authority of the Lord Jesus Christ, His Person, His works, and His providence. That natural self-will, self-interest and self-indulgence must give way to Him, His will, His interests and His ways.
Never has there been an age when so many preachers, in both doctrine and practice, "denied the Lord (Despotes) that bought them" (2 Peter 2:1); that is, His total, rightful ownership of them, and thus His total and rightful authority over them (Matt.20:15;Rom.9:21). Never has there been an age when men and women so despised the words submission, servitude, and even obedience, as present day Americans do. Their minds and hearts are instantly and intensely repulsed by any mention of being "owned" by another or "subject" to the will of another, even if that one is the Lord of glory!
Notwithstanding, Christ's true disciples love to be "owned" by him and "ruled" by Him. To belong to another can be so very sweet if that relationship is established in love! No man ever truly owned a slave as I own my wife and as she owns me, and no servant more truly served his master than we serve each other. And we desire no change, except to be better servants.
So it is with those in the kingdom of Christ. They are sinners whose chief desire is to be owned, ruled, and identified with the Lord Jesus Christ.