Renounce all things

Intro

Jesus told Peter how he would die

Jesus showed Paul how much he would suffer

Jesus had a habit of letting his disciples know hte costs of following him in advance.

The same is true today - today Jesus is going to let us know some of the costs of following him.

BUT! Don’t forget in the midst of this our last several sermons - our future hope and home - resurrection rewards - Jesus’ distribution of our inheritance on the last day.

Keep the long term in mind as we look at the short term.

Paul says in Romans 8 - For I consider that the sufferings of this present time are not worth comparing with the glory that is to be revealed to us.

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? 29 Otherwise, when he has laid a foundation and is not able to finish, all who see it begin to mock him, 30 saying, ‘This man began to build and was not able to finish.’ 31 Or what king, going out to encounter another king in war, will not sit down first and deliberate whether he is able with ten thousand to meet him who comes against him with twenty thousand? 32 And if not, while the other is yet a great way off, he sends a delegation and asks for terms of peace. 33 So therefore, any one of you who does not renounce all that he has cannot be my disciple.

Before following Christ in all of life - COUNT THE COST

When you drop your car to the mechanic -

When you buy a car - or a house - read the fine print

We need a new facility - but that doesn’t mean we blindly accept the first opportunity that shows up...

we do nothing without counting the costs - and this is especially true when it comes to following Jesus

So what is the cost of following Christ???

What does it cost? Everything.

“Anyone of you that does not renounce ALL THAT HE HAS cannot be my disciple”

WHAT IS RENOUNCE

to hand over the deed to Jesus - to put everything in their proper order (him above all else) - to decide that compared to Christ these other things hold no true value.

your sex life, your career choices, your marriage, your job, your retirement, your day to day, all of it.

Lets get more specific:

family members - Jesus didn’t come to unite, but he said “i do not bring peace but a sword” - the gospel divides… it’s true. it does unite, but only those who hold to it, everyone else it divides.

here in the south we draw lines around our families, but the Gospel draws new ones. You might suffer rejection from fam, hopefully not, but it could happen.

in our modern world lines are drawn around our race. The gospel erased the lines of hostility and draws new ones, and for some of us when we stand in solidarity with those unlike us (white or black or whatever) it will cost you your status among your fellow races.

POSESSIONS - what are the point of your possessions Christian? Kingdom building.

THIS DOESN”T MEAN we leave our families and sell all our stuff - but it means that we should be willing to just in case we have to.

And by many this type of orientation will be considered extreme. Most religions, even some claiming to be Christian, only require a few minutes a week and the occasional tip in the offering plate.

but Jesus wants everything. all you have. including your life.

ILLUSTRATION - it’s like marriage - leave and cleave

Examples

What Peter did...Matt 19:27 “Then Peter said in reply, “See, we have left everything and followed you.”

What Paul required….Romans 12:1 I appeal to you therefore, brothers,[a] by the mercies of God, to present your bodies as a living sacrifice, holy and acceptable to God, which is your spiritual worship.

Luke 14:26 Whoever does not bear his own cross and come after me cannot be my disciple. (jesus renounced all things for the father and if we are to follow him we must do the same)

OBJECTIONS

“But this sounds alot like works salvation”

No. Salvation is by grace alone through faith alone. But if you’ve been transformed by the Gospel power of God your eyes see something new.

You are given the drive, desire, ability to pay this price. NOT TO RECEIVE GRACE, but you are willing to pay this price BECAUSE YOU HAVE RECEIVED GRACE

BUT I COULD NEVER DO THIS

But Christ in you, the indwelling Holy Spirit, The power of God that comes upon his people (that cause them to walk in his statutes EZEK) most definitely can.

I DEF COULDN”T DO IT PERFECTLY - of course not. But Jesus did already on your behalf, so now you’re free to obey, even messed up along the way.

CLARIFATIONS

to follow Jesus might cost me my family? Yes.

to follow jesus might cost me a lot of cash through generosity and tithing? Yes.

to follow Jesus might cost me my reputation. yes.

And let me tell you, it’s worth it.

not always easy - but surprisingly...often it is -

SUMMARY

So. Lets put this in our modern words.

Jesus is telling his disciples and all that are following him “any one of you who does not renounce all that he has cannot be my disciple”

and so in modern words? If you refuse to count the cost and renounce all that you have, you are probably not a Christian - and you probably shouldn’t come back to church.

but if you realize you haven’t yet - and you desire to - the Holy Spirit is moving in your heart now in these moments - then you can pray so simply - “Jesus I want you and to follow you and nothing else, no matter what it costs me. Give me the grace to pay the price and follow you.”

There is a version of Christianity that will not talk about this. Well, not Christian, but a religious version of the world. Watch out. If you are going to follow all of Christ in all of life, it’s going to cost you.

A LITTLE SECRET THE WORLD DOESN'T KNOW

1 tim 6:7 We brought nothing in this world and we will take nothing out.

Jesus is giving you a way to offset the costs that all must pay. For we came into this world with nothing and we will leave the same but there is a plan to keep it all: a way to offset the ultimate costs: renounce it all now in the name of christ. If you lose it now, you will keep it.

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

Discipleship is about renouncing the temporary in exchange for the eternal

Discipleship is about living in light of resurrection rewards

Discipleship is about losing your life that you might keep it.

And finally - one last secret the world doesn’t know.

this life of sacrifice? Is actually rest.

Matt 11:28 Come to me, all who labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest. 29 Take my yoke upon you, and learn from me, for I am gentle and lowly in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. 30 For my yoke is easy, and my burden is light.”

renouncing all that you have - is rest. an easy yoke.

Jesus is no harsh task master.

The Bible says he will give you his spirit to empower you

he will pray on your behalf

he will give you a new family if you lose your old one

and he will return to you 100 time whatever you’ve given up for him

ILLUSTRATION - when you marry all that the wife has becomes the husbands. She relinquishes much of the independence and autonomy she had before… but its easy… why?

because all that the husband has is hers and he is BOUND to her and to the household they are starting together. HOUSE BOUND

Sure - you’ll hand Jesus the keys to your car, the title to your house… but he in return hands you the title to the earth.

“you can’t out give God...”

Isa 40:31 they who wait for the Lord shall renew their strength; they shall mount up with wings like eagles;they shall run and not be weary; they shall walk and not faint.

Psa 37:9 Ps 37:9 For the evildoers shall be cut off, but those who wait for the Lord shall inherit the land.10 In just a little while, the wicked will be no more; though you look carefully at his place, he will not be there.11 But the meek shall inherit the land and delight themselves in abundant peace.