The Cost and Commitment of True Discipleship

If anyone comes to me and does not hate his own father and mother and wife and children and brothers and sisters, yes even his own life he cannot be my disciple. Whoever does not bear his own cross and come after me cannot be my disciple. [00:29:25]

Sounds like there's a cost associated with discipleship isn't there if anybody doesn't renounce all that he has you can't be my disciple what's he saying here I think the Lord is saying that uh in no uncertain terms that you would do well to count the cost of what it means to actually profess Jesus Christ as your lord and savior. [00:30:29]

The point is is that wise people count the cost whenever they undertake an important task that's what Jesus is saying foolish people not so much they don't they can be impetuous they can be impulsive and in both examples whether it be a construction worker who's building a a tower or a building whether it be a king going off to war wisdom is associated with those who consider the weight of their decision particularly as it relates to following Jesus Christ. [00:31:25]

While the gift of eternal life is free of charge freely given to us by the Lord once we have it in our possession it's going to cost you everything that you've got while salvation is the gift of God free of charge once you have it it will cost you. [00:32:24]

To take up your cross for Jesus Christ means you're willing when you sign up to pay the ultimate price for being a disciple you may not have to pay that price but you have to be willing it's the willingness to a much lesser extent to endure the shame of your schoolmates you know who might make Jesus to be an ass on a cross and mock you or the embarrass Bassment and reproach of friends and family or the persecution and the hardship of from the government it could be martyrdom. [00:48:59]

The real cost of discipleship the real cost is disowning yourself and being willing to take up the instrument of your own death for the sake of Jesus Christ and then lastly boy you want to talk about controversy today what does it mean when Jesus said follow me. [00:50:51]

To follow Jesus Christ is much more than just saying a prayer because you had goosebumps when you were singing a Christmas him right it's much more than just giving lip service to the gospel or an intellectual Ascent to the facts of the Bible because the Bible says that even the demons do that James chapter 2: 19 even the demons do that and their Destiny is sealed in Hell rather to follow Christ as I said is that loyal continual obedience and submission to him as Lord. [00:52:48]

Genuine followers true disciples authentic believers they are characterized by two things the Bible says True Believers truly Born Again Believers are characterized by two things number one their love for one another this is how the world's going to know that you're my disciples they'll see your love for one another number two obedience to the Lord where there's no love and certainly where there's no obedience you have every reason to call into question whether there's even salvation certainly whether there's regeneration has taken place. [00:54:10]

To obtain all the riches all the respect and all the rewards that this world has to offer and yet to die apart from Christ is to be eternally destitute without rewards without respect without riches it's to Mis prioritize your life so badly that it costs you for all eternity. [00:59:12]

To gain the whole world instead of denying yourself taking up a cross and following the Lord in obedience to gain the whole world instead is to lose one soul for all eternity to which God says you fool don't do it don't do it but to give up all of that the riches recognition rewards the world has to offer for the sake of Jesus Christ or at least being willing to do that you gain it all and then some in the life to come. [01:00:38]

Salvation is free that's the good news of the Gospel but there's still a price to be paid and that's the Paradox of scripture of True Discipleship and it's in keeping with all the other paradoxes in the Bible you got lose your life to find it you got to give up everything if you want to gain everything you got to be last if you want to be first and there are more you have to be willing to pay the price that comes with denying yourself disowning who you once were taking up across the very instrument of what could be your death certainly dying to self and following Jesus with obedience that's the price of the free offer of Salvation the cost of discipleship. [01:13:42]

Thank you Lord that you have allowed us that you have granted us the faith and the repentance to be your disciples and thank you Lord that you've given us your spirit that you have not left us on us on left us on our own to withstand the suffering and the hardships of the world on our own but you have given us your spirit may we not grieve him may we not quench him but give him full reain in our life as we deny ourselves and take up our cross and follow you so that we will stand Victorious when the hits of this world come punching we love you and we praise you in Jesus name amen and amen. [01:17:47]