COUNTING THE COST

The Son of Man

The name “Son of Man” speaks of Christ’s humanity, divinity, and authority.

See Daniel 7:13–14...

Christ looks past our words and straight into our hearts.

See John 2:23–25...

The Cost of Following Christ

It is not our following of Christ that saves us, for we are saved by grace through faith, not of works. Following Christ is a result of salvation, not the cause of it.

We are not called to a life of comfort and ease, but a life of service.

Luke 14:28 “For which of you, desiring to build a tower, does not first sit down and count the cost, whether he has enough to complete it?”

Luke 9:23 “And he said to all, “If anyone would come after me, let him deny himself and take up his cross daily and follow me.”

Matthew 7:14 “For the gate is narrow and the way is hard that leads to life, and those who find it are few.”

John 15:20 “Remember the word that I said to you: ‘A servant is not greater than his master.’ If they persecuted me, they will also persecute you. If they kept my word, they will also keep yours.”

2 Timothy 3:12 “Indeed, all who desire to live a godly life in Christ Jesus will be persecuted,”

Is a life of comfort worth forfeiting your soul?

Matthew 16:26 “For what will it profit a man if he gains the whole world and forfeits his soul? Or what shall a man give in return for his soul?”

“He is no fool who gives what he cannot keep to gain that which he cannot lose.” ― Jim Elliot

The Terms of Following Christ

We don’t set the terms of following Christ; He does.

Matthew 7:21 ““Not everyone who says to me, ‘Lord, Lord,’ will enter the kingdom of heaven, but the one who does the will of my Father who is in heaven.”

Christ is more important than anything else in our lives.

Philippians 3:8 “Indeed, I count everything as loss because of the surpassing worth of knowing Christ Jesus my Lord. For his sake I have suffered the loss of all things and count them as rubbish, in order that I may gain Christ”

Matthew 10:37–38 “Whoever loves father or mother more than me is not worthy of me, and whoever loves son or daughter more than me is not worthy of me. And whoever does not take his cross and follow me is not worthy of me.”

Our love and devotion to Christ must determine our love and care for others. We must never let our love and care for others determine our love and devotion to Christ.

Tomorrow is not the day to seek salvation and follow Christ, but today is.

2 Corinthians 6:2 “For he says, “In a favorable time I listened to you, and in a day of salvation I have helped you.” Behold, now is the favorable time; behold, now is the day of salvation.”

To believe in and follow Christ is to understand that He is your greatest need and greatest treasure.

See John 6:66-69...

Matthew 13:44 ““The kingdom of heaven is like treasure hidden in a field, which a man found and covered up. Then in his joy he goes and sells all that he has and buys that field.”

What is it that sets apart true saving faith from the empty profession of faith that doesn’t save? True saving faith is always accompanied by repentance. Repentance is a radical change of mind about your own sins and your great need of Christ. Repentance is the plow that turns up the dirt of our heart and makes it fertile ground for faith to grow and flourish.