Mark 8:34-
34 And when he had called the people[ unto him] with his disciples also, he said unto them, Whosoever will come after me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross, and follow me. 35 For whosoever will save his life shall lose it; but whosoever shall lose his life for my sake and the gospel's, the same shall save it. 36 For what shall it profit a man, if he shall gain the whole world, and lose his own soul? 37 Or what shall a man give in exchange for his soul? 38 Whosoever therefore shall be ashamed of me and of my words in this adulterous and sinful generation; of him also shall the Son of man be ashamed, when he cometh in the glory of his Father with the holy angels.
So what dose it mean to try to save yourself, and you will loose your life?
And to give up your life to gain it back
It involves righteousness , so we will look at Gods standard
Jeremiah 21:8
8 And unto this people thou shalt say, Thus saith the Lord; Behold, I set before you the way of life, and the way of death.
Give the law and grace
John 3:36
36 He that believeth on the Son hath everlasting life: and he that believeth not the Son shall not see life; but the wrath of God abideth on him.
John 10:10-11
10 The thief cometh not, but for to steal, and to kill, and to destroy: I am come that they might have life, and that they might have[ it] more abundantly. 11 I am the good shepherd: the good shepherd giveth his life for the sheep.
John 10:28-30
28 And I give unto them eternal life; and they shall never perish, neither shall any[ man] pluck them out of my hand. 29 My Father, which gave[ them] me, is greater than all; and no[ man] is able to pluck[ them] out of my Father's hand. 30 I and[ my] Father are one.
Give your life to the lord of creation who died the sinners death for you
Give up your own righteousness, and call upon Jesus to save you from your sins
And he will give you his righteousness and life more abundantly
