Introduction. In the good confession, each of us freely admitted Jesus is Lord (Rom 10:9-10). There is no compulsion or force, only a choice between life and death; or condemnation and forgiveness. We freely volunteered and placed ourselves under Jesus as King, Shepherd and Master.
A Commitment. When we made the decision to be baptized, the confession then became a commitment. We entered into a binding “contract” with God. We promised to serve Him faithfully for the rest of our lives and He promised to save our soul, hear our prayers and take care of us for all eternity. In baptism the “transaction” was completed. We entered into the “new covenant” and God then “made us alive” “forgave all our trespasses” (Col 2:12-13) and “bought us with a price” (1Cor. 6:19). The enormity of the cost to God was clearly revealed as Jesus, sweating as great drops of blood, begging God to take away the cup (price of our forgiveness) from Him said “Not My will but Yours be done.” From that day onward “you are not your own.” If Jesus could pay such a great price for us, how can we feel that anything we must sacrifice for Him as our Lord is too much?
A Commitment. When we made the decision to be baptized, the confession then became a commitment. We entered into a binding “contract” with God. We promised to serve Him faithfully for the rest of our lives and He promised to save our soul, hear our prayers and take care of us for all eternity. In baptism the “transaction” was completed. We entered into the “new covenant” and God then “made us alive” “forgave all our trespasses” (Col 2:12-13) and “bought us with a price” (1Cor. 6:19). The enormity of the cost to God was clearly revealed as Jesus, sweating as great drops of blood, begging God to take away the cup (price of our forgiveness) from Him said “Not My will but Yours be done.” From that day onward “you are not your own.” If Jesus could pay such a great price for us, how can we feel that anything we must sacrifice for Him as our Lord is too much?
Too Costly? Yet many do feel that way. After becoming a Christian they find the commitments they promised to make more difficult than they anticipated. The changes are more costly than they thought. Attending all services, giving up worldly behavior, making sacrifices to serve are difficult. While they agreed in principle to believe every word of Scripture, they soon find things they hadn’t considered or that go against cherished convictions. They believed in general terms of Jesus demand that “if you abide in my word, you are truly my disciples, and you will know the truth, and the truth will set you free.” But when they found the specifics of “abiding in His word” required them to give up a job, a mate, friends, hobbies, or even their lives, some falter and others stumble.
Trying to Help. When these new converts begin this struggle we try to help them. We show them some of the things Jesus said:
"If anyone comes to Me and does not hate his father and mother, wife and children, brothers and sisters, yes, and his own life also, he cannot be My disciple. 27 And whoever does not bear his cross and come after Me cannot be My disciple. ... 33 whoever of you does not forsake all that he has cannot be My disciple. Lk. 14:26-28, 33
Counting the Cost First. This creates a dilemma for us. We don’t want to talk anyone out of obeying the gospel so we are careful not to be negative. Yet, since they are making this covenant with God, it is unfair for us to hide from them the true costs they will have to pay. After seeing so many fall away, I have learned to ask questions. Jesus gave a parable about this. As one building a tower, each must “sit down first and count the cost, whether he has enough to finish it.” This is what I try to do. Are they scripturally married? What type of job do they have? How will their relatives feel about their commitment to Jesus? Are they prepared to attend all services? How do they feel about social drinking, gambling and immoral behavior?
I look at it as my duty to get repentance on such things before they obey the gospel. To show them the costs and make certain they are willing to change their mind about them. It is doubtful if they won’t do it before they obey, that they will do so after.
If they feel they can’t pay such a price, we must help them understand the second parable: “what king, going to make war against another king, does not sit down first and consider whether he is able” to win? If we reject the gospel, we are at war with God. Since we can’t win, we must “ask conditions of peace.” (Lk. 14:26-33). All God’s demands in the gospel are the conditions of peace and we must be willing to accept those conditions before we obey the gospel, and for the rest of our lives. If Jesus is Lord, we must do the things that He says (Lk. 6:46). No one can change these conditions of peace. We can only show them and allow them to decide if they will accept them or not. This is all that God has asked us to do.
Conclusion. Even Jesus understood that the conditions of peace cannot be changed to please His servants. After feeding the 5,000, He saw they had not accepted Him as Lord. As He forced them to see it, they all left. When Jesus saw this response, He offered no compromise. Instead He turned to the twelve apostles and asked them: “Do you also want to go away?” (Jn. 6:66-67). Peter’s answer rings down through the centuries: “Lord, to whom shall we go? You have the words of eternal life. Also we have come to believe and know that You are the Christ, the Son of the living God.” (Jn. 6:68-69).
Trying to Help. When these new converts begin this struggle we try to help them. We show them some of the things Jesus said:
"If anyone comes to Me and does not hate his father and mother, wife and children, brothers and sisters, yes, and his own life also, he cannot be My disciple. 27 And whoever does not bear his cross and come after Me cannot be My disciple. ... 33 whoever of you does not forsake all that he has cannot be My disciple. Lk. 14:26-28, 33
- Then Jesus said to His disciples, "If anyone desires to come after Me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross, and follow Me. 25 For whoever desires to save his life will lose it, but whoever loses his life for My sake will find it. 26 For what profit is it to a man if he gains the whole world, and loses his own soul? Or what will a man give in exchange for his soul? Mt. 16:24-27
Counting the Cost First. This creates a dilemma for us. We don’t want to talk anyone out of obeying the gospel so we are careful not to be negative. Yet, since they are making this covenant with God, it is unfair for us to hide from them the true costs they will have to pay. After seeing so many fall away, I have learned to ask questions. Jesus gave a parable about this. As one building a tower, each must “sit down first and count the cost, whether he has enough to finish it.” This is what I try to do. Are they scripturally married? What type of job do they have? How will their relatives feel about their commitment to Jesus? Are they prepared to attend all services? How do they feel about social drinking, gambling and immoral behavior?
I look at it as my duty to get repentance on such things before they obey the gospel. To show them the costs and make certain they are willing to change their mind about them. It is doubtful if they won’t do it before they obey, that they will do so after.
If they feel they can’t pay such a price, we must help them understand the second parable: “what king, going to make war against another king, does not sit down first and consider whether he is able” to win? If we reject the gospel, we are at war with God. Since we can’t win, we must “ask conditions of peace.” (Lk. 14:26-33). All God’s demands in the gospel are the conditions of peace and we must be willing to accept those conditions before we obey the gospel, and for the rest of our lives. If Jesus is Lord, we must do the things that He says (Lk. 6:46). No one can change these conditions of peace. We can only show them and allow them to decide if they will accept them or not. This is all that God has asked us to do.
Conclusion. Even Jesus understood that the conditions of peace cannot be changed to please His servants. After feeding the 5,000, He saw they had not accepted Him as Lord. As He forced them to see it, they all left. When Jesus saw this response, He offered no compromise. Instead He turned to the twelve apostles and asked them: “Do you also want to go away?” (Jn. 6:66-67). Peter’s answer rings down through the centuries: “Lord, to whom shall we go? You have the words of eternal life. Also we have come to believe and know that You are the Christ, the Son of the living God.” (Jn. 6:68-69).