Forsaking for Christ all we have is not a "cost."
Christ forsook the glories of heaven, came down and lived among men, and eventually gave his life. It cost him his life to pay the penalty for our sins. The cost of the atonement was the blood of Christ.
If you will be His disciple it will cost your life.
Romans 12:1 I beseech you therefore, brethren, by the mercies of God, that ye present your bodies a living sacrifice, holy, acceptable unto God,
which is your reasonable service.
--The cost is your body--a living sacrifice.
Romans 12:2 And be not conformed to this world: but be ye transformed by the renewing of your mind, that ye may prove what
is that good, and acceptable, and perfect, will of God.
--The cost is not being conformed to this world...it is the perfect will of God.
Luke 6:22-23 Blessed are ye, when men shall hate you, and when they shall separate you
from their company, and shall reproach
you, and cast out your name as evil, for the Son of man's sake. Rejoice ye in that day, and leap for joy: for, behold, your reward
is great in heaven: for in the like manner did their fathers unto the prophets.
--The cost is great suffering.
Luke 9:23 And he said to
them all, If any
man will come after me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross daily, and follow me.
--The cost is: 1. To deny yourself--saying no to your own desires.
2. To take up your cross. Jesus died on a cross, as did two thieves on either side of him. The cross was the common mode of execution. You must be willing to die to self each day. Paul said "I die daily." He said: "I am crucified with Christ." He put to death his fleshly desires and wants each day. In their place he put Christ.
3. He followed Christ and only Christ.
Luke 9:62 And Jesus said unto him, No man, having put his hand to the plough, and looking back, is fit for the kingdom of God.
Luke 14:27 And whosoever doth not bear his cross, and come after me, cannot be my disciple.
Luke 14:28 For which of you, intending to build a tower, sitteth not down first, and
counteth the cost, whether he have
sufficient to finish
it?
--It is necessary to count the cost of becoming a disciple.
Luke 14:33 So likewise, whosoever he be of you that forsaketh not all that he hath, he cannot be my disciple.
There is a cost; it is your life. It is a willingness to forsake all that you have to follow Christ; to forsake the world and all that the world has to offer; to give up everything to follow him.
The meaning of a "cost" involved action is that an exchange takes place between two parties.
True. Christ sacrificed his life; what have you sacrificed for him?
Christ does not want any of the things we have. We have nothing to give Him. He already is omnipotent and and in ownership of all things in Heaven and on Earth.
He sacrificed himself; now he wants you, a living sacrifice. He doesn't want your things. Give them up. He wants you and you alone. As he said to the rich young ruler.
Mark 10:21 Then Jesus beholding him loved him, and said unto him, One thing thou lackest: go thy way, sell whatsoever thou hast, and give to the poor, and thou shalt have treasure in heaven: and come, take up the cross, and follow me.
--Are you willing to do that?
Speak and post the Words of Christ, rather than Churchy sounding aphorisms which mean nothing, such as "cost."
I have posted the words of Christ. Is that what you call "churchy"?
Have you forsaken everything, even your own ideas? Do you hate your father, mother, wife, sisters, brothers, and children?
Yes, I sold all that I had, gave away the rest, left this nation and went as a missionary to a third world nation where we didn't understand the culture or the language. We left behind relatives including mother and father. We put Christ first. We forsook all that we had to bring the gospel to others who had never heard it before.
We lived in a nation where electricity was intermittent, the water unsafe to drink, and the sewage ran openly. It is something you can't imagine but only experience. This is the command of Christ. Forsake all that you have and follow him. It will cost you everything. Are you willing to obey him? He sacrificed his life for you; what are you willing to do for Him?