Christian Living

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Becoming a disciple of Jesus Christ is costly. While Jesus “paid it all” by dying on the cross to pay the penalty of our sins, we need to carefully consider the cost of following Jesus and take seriously our commitment to Him. In the gospels we are told as disciples we will have to carry our cross. Carrying our cross isn’t an option, it’s a must in order to be a true follower of Christ. To carry the cross means to die to self and live by the Spirit. In Romans 8:13 it says we will die if we live by the flesh and live if we live by the Spirit. I believe the reason we have so many christians that are called hypocrites by the world is because they never considered the cost of following Jesus before salvation.

So what are the costs of being a follower of Jesus Christ?

1. You will be persecuted by men.
When you are following Jesus you will experience persecution from men. You will be hated by many because of the name of Jesus. People that were once your friends will become your enemy. Are you ready to give up friendship with the world to be a follower of Jesus Christ?

2. You will lose your life.
What this means is that your life will be hidden in Christ. To be a true follower of Christ you have to die to the flesh and live by the Spirit. This isn’t a one time event, but a minute by minute decision.
I’m not saying we will never act like carnal christians or we will reach perfection, but through the Spirit we will find ourselves living out God’s will for our life instead of our own will.

3. Jesus must come first.
Not your marriage, your job, your children, your hobbies, good works, yourself, but Jesus. God’s word says if we love anything more than we love Him that we are not worthy of Him. We show God our love by following His commands, by spending our time praying, reading and studying His word, and actually enjoying being in His presence. God doesn’t want to be a part of your life. He wants to BE your life. Jesus isn’t impressed with religion. Religion is mans way of trying to get to God through works. Jesus wants a personal relationship with you.

4. We must be willing to give up all our possessions.
It’s not wrong to have possessions or wealth as long as we have the right perspective. We need to realize that everything we own belongs to the Lord. We also need to see that God blesses us in order for us to be a blessing to others. We can’t take our money to eternity, but the way we choose to spend our money here on earth can make an impact that lasts into eternity. The Bible teaches that we are to tithe which is to give 10% of our income to the Lord. When we with hold our tithes, the Bible actually says we are robbing God. Handing over the bank account to the Lord is usually the most difficult thing to do. Sometimes our bank account can be our security blanket, but true security comes from the Lord.

Is being a follower of Jesus really worth the cost? Of course it is!! While there are many costs of following Jesus there is just as many if not more rewards which include being saved from the coming wrath of God and spending eternity with our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ! Not to mention the joy, peace, comfort, and friendship we will experience as we choose each day to take up our cross and keep our eyes fixed on Jesus! Becoming a disciple of Jesus Christ is a costly decision, but oh so priceless!






John 14:15
15If ye love me, keep my commandments.

Romans 8:13
13For if ye live after the flesh, ye shall die: but if ye through the Spirit do mortify the deeds of the body, ye shall live.

John 15:18-21
18"If the world hates you, keep in mind that it hated me first. 19If you belonged to the world, it would love you as its own. As it is, you do not belong to the world, but I have chosen you out of the world. That is why the world hates you. 20Remember the words I spoke to you: 'No servant is greater than his master.' If they persecuted me, they will persecute you also. If they obeyed my teaching, they will obey yours also. 21They will treat you this way because of my name, for they do not know the One who sent me



Matthew 10:34-38
34"Do not suppose that I have come to bring peace to the earth. I did not come to bring peace, but a sword. 35 For I have come to turn
" 'a man against his father,
a daughter against her mother,
a daughter-in-law against her mother-in-law -
36a man's enemies will be the members of his own household.'[a]
37"Anyone who loves his father or mother more than me is not worthy of me; anyone who loves his son or daughter more than me is not worthy of me; 38and anyone who does not take his cross and follow me is not worthy of me.

Romans 12:2
2Do not conform any longer to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind. Then you will be able to test and approve what God's will is—his good, pleasing and perfect will.


James 4:4
4You adulterous people, don't you know that friendship with the world is hatred toward God? Anyone who chooses to be a friend of the world becomes an enemy of God.


Galatians 2:20
20I have been crucified with Christ and I no longer live, but Christ lives in me. The life I live in the body, I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave himself for me.




Luke 14:25-33 NIV

25Large crowds were traveling with Jesus, and turning to them he said: 26"If anyone comes to me and does not hate his father and mother, his wife and children, his brothers and sisters—yes, even his own life—he cannot be my disciple. 27And anyone who does not carry his cross and follow me cannot be my disciple.
28"Suppose one of you wants to build a tower. Will he not first sit down and estimate the cost to see if he has enough money to complete it? 29For if he lays the foundation and is not able to finish it, everyone who sees it will ridicule him, 30saying, 'This fellow began to build and was not able to finish.'
31"Or suppose a king is about to go to war against another king. Will he not first sit down and consider whether he is able with ten thousand men to oppose the one coming against him with twenty thousand? 32If he is not able, he will send a delegation while the other is still a long way off and will ask for terms of peace. 33In the same way, any of you who does not give up everything he has cannot be my disciple.




John 12:25
25He that loveth his life shall lose it; and he that hateth his life in this world shall keep it unto life eternal.

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