There is a cost to following Jesus.
Cost: Price that needs to be paid in order to obtain, maintain, and produce
Following: coming after or as a result of.
Salvation is free and of course we are saved by grace through faith, not of our works lest anyone should boast but our relationship with Jesus requires maintenance (John 15:1-8 The True Vine) maintain that relationship with Jesus Christ (remain in the kingdom of God), in constant pursuit, and abiding in Him there is a cost that needs to be paid:
What’s the cost look like?
(Matthew 16:24-28, Mark 8:34-38, Luke 9:23-27 and take up His cross daily)
Matthew 16:24-28, Mark 8:34-38 (same wording different verse references)
34 When He had called the people to Himself, with His disciples also, He said to them, “Whoever desires to come after Me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross, and follow Me. 35 For whoever desires to save his life will lose it, but whoever loses his life for My sake and the gospel’s will save it. 36 For what will it profit a man if he gains the whole world, and loses his own soul? 37 Or what will a man give in exchange for his soul? 38 For whoever is ashamed of Me and My words in this adulterous and sinful generation, of him the Son of Man also will be ashamed when He comes in the glory of His Father with the holy angels.” (Mark 8:34-38)
Desire: a strong feeling of wanting to have something or wanting something to happen.
Soul: Mind, Will, Emotions.
The Flesh and the Spirit are at war for the soul!
Galatians 5:17:
“17 For the flesh lusts against the Spirit, and the Spirit against the flesh; and these are contrary to one another, so that you do not do the things that you wish.”
Deny yourself: Crucify the flesh (the flesh is carnal (natural)) and has passions and desires)
Galatians 2:20:
“I have been crucified with Christ; it is no longer I who live, but Christ who lives in me; the life which I now live in the flesh I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave Himself for me.”
Galatians 5:16:
16 "I say then: Walk in the Spirit, and you shall not fulfill the lust of the flesh"
Galatians 5:24-25:
“24 And those who are Christ’s have crucified the flesh with its passions and desires. 25 If we live in the Spirit, let us also walk in the Spirit.”
Pick up your cross: what are you willing to sacrifice? For Jesus the sacrifice was the cross He was hung on. What is your cross?
Follow Jesus: action
#1 Surrender
Example: Rich Young Ruler (Matthew 19:16-22, Mark 10:17-22, Luke 18:18-23)
-Matthew 19:16-22 NKJV
16 Now behold, one came and said to Him, “Good Teacher, what good thing shall I do that I may have eternal life?”
17 So He said to him, “Why do you call Me good? No one is good but One, that is, God. But if you want to enter into life, keep the commandments.”
- The Rich Young Ruler got corrected for calling Jesus “Good” this displayed a lack of intimacy aka knowing who Jesus truly was. Tbh he might’ve gone off of what he heard about Jesus and was like “this is a good guy” and then just called Jesus “Good”.
18 He said to Him, “Which ones?” Jesus said, “‘You shall not murder,’ ‘You shall not commit adultery,’ ‘You shall not steal,’ ‘You shall not bear false witness,’ 19 ‘Honor your father and your mother,’ and, ‘You shall love your neighbor as yourself.’”
20 The young man said to Him, “All these things I have kept from my youth. What do I still lack?”
- giving 95%, 99% (still not full surrender b/c he is “still lacking”)
21 Jesus said to him,“If you want to be perfect, go, sell what you have and give to the poor, and you will have treasure in heaven; and come, follow Me.” - This is 100%, give up your desire(s) for the sake of Jesus’ desire (Jesus addressed the Rich Young ruler’s desire (riches)), come to Him, and follow Him.
22 But when the young man heard that saying, he went away sorrowful, for he had great possessions.
#2 The 1% or 5% (which is not considered as an extra 1% or 5%) is required.
Solutions:
Cancel out Condemnation/guilt/shame:
Remember Obedience is a decision and Surrender is a journey.
-You actually see God’s grace in the journey of surrender
2 Corinthians 12:9
“My grace is sufficient for you, for My strength is made perfect in weakness.” Therefore most gladly I will rather boast in my infirmities, that the power of Christ may rest upon me.
Click here to watch the podcast on this topic.
Check out our Forgiven hoodie collection!
