| | Repentance, the Cost of Discipleship & Bond-ServanthoodSalvation is FreeSalvation is free. It's all grace. We can't earn it -- we don't even try. Not even a little bit. But what is this "cost" associated with following Christ?
Recently, I've used the parable of the treasure in the field (Mt 13:44) to try to explain it. The hidden treasure costs so much more than the field and there's no way we could have enough money to buy it. But we can buy the field that contains the treasure -- and if you notice, it costs us everything we have. The price is always exactly everything.
But this (as all parables) falls apart if you push it too far. The parable of the pearl (right after it) falls apart even more quickly. As some have said, we can go to parables to affirm and understand doctrine, but we shouldn't use them to establish new doctrine. If we do, we get into trouble much too quickly.
But There Is A CostI can think of three ways it's referred to in the scriptures. The first is Repentance, which is often paired with Belief ("repent and believe"). The second is the Cost of Discipleship or the cost of Following Jesus. The Third is the idea of being Redeemed (purchased) out of Slavery to Sin into Slavery to Righteousness. It is also referred to as being a Bond-Slave or a Bond-Servant. I don't pretend to understand all of these or how they relate to salvation being all grace and all free. But I'm going to look at what the scriptures say and poke at it -- and hopefully generate some discussion.
RepentanceWe did a survey of the gospel presentations in the scriptures and the concept of repentance is central in many of the presentations. In fact, it's even in the pre-gospel presentations. Look at John the Baptist, preparing the way for the Christ. His central message (Mt 3:1) was "Repent, for the kingdom of heaven is at hand." Then we are told that Jesus, as he begins his ministry, has the same central message (Mt 4:17) "Repent, for the kingdom of heaven is at hand."
Then in Acts, at the end of the very first gospel presentation (at Pentecost), the people are pierced to the heart and ask "what shall we do?" The response (Acts 2:38) is "Repent, and each of you be baptized in the name of Jesus Christ for the forgiveness of your sins and you will receive the gift of the Holy Spirit." In the second gospel presentation (after they healed the lame beggar), they are asked to "repent and return, so that your sins may be wiped away, in order that times of refreshing may come from the presence of the Lord". The next clear gospel presentation is with Cornelius, which speaks of belief but not repentance: "through His name everyone who believes in Him receives forgiveness of sins". Then Paul gives the gospel in Antioch (Acts 13:37) and says "everyone who believes is freed from all things, from which you could not be freed through the Law of Moses". When the Philippian jailer asks what to do to be saved, the reply is simply: "Believe in the Lord Jesus and you will be saved, you and your household" (Acts 16:31). At Mars Hill, Paul says that "God is now declaring to men that all people everywhere should repent, because He has fixed a day in which He will judge the world in righteousness" (Acts 17:31). So you can see that sometimes the people are told to repent and sometimes they are told to believe. In James, we find that all true faith implies repentance (2:14-26).
The Cost of DiscipleshipRecently, I taught through the passages on the cost of discipleship in the book of Matthew. In chapter 8 (right after the Sermon on the Mount), one man comes up to Jesus saying that he will follow Him wherever He goes. Jesus response is that the Son of Man has nowhere to lay his head (questioning whether this young man will follow Him in hardship). Immediately, another disciple asks permission to first go bury his father, before following Jesus. Jesus denies this.
Then in chapter 10, Jesus promises his followers that they will be treated in the same way He was (not good), speaks of His jealous love ("He who loves father or mother more than Me is not worthy of Me and he who loves son or daughter more than Me is not worthy of Me") and then gives one of the classic passages on the cost of discipleship: "he who does not take his cross and follow after Me is not worthy of Me. He who has found his life will lose it, and he who has lost his life for My sake will find it".
Then of course there are the parables in chapter 13 of the field with the treasure and the pearl which both cost the buyers everything. Then in chapter 16, Jesus reiterates that "if anyone wishes to come after Me, he must deny himself, and take up his cross and follow Me. For whoever wishes to save his life will lose it; but whoever loses his life for My sake will find it". Then he goes on to explain that saving your soul for eternity is more valuable than living for yourself today. In chapter 19, to the rich young ruler who wishes to obtain eternal life, Jesus says: "If you wish to be complete, go and sell your possessions and give to the poor, and you will have treasure in heaven; and come, follow Me." Immediately his disciples say that they have left everything and followed Him and He promises them a great reward.
Slavery to RighteousnessPaul, in Romans 6:17 says "But thanks be to God that though you were slaves of sin, you became obedient from the heart to that form of teaching to which you were committed, and having been freed from sin, you became slaves of righteousness. In 6:22, he says "But now, having been freed from sin and enslaved to God, you derive your benefit, result in sanctification, and the outcome, eternal life."
In speaking of Redemption, he says in the final verse of 1 Corinthians 6, "For you have been bought with a price: therefore glorify God in your body". As Peter also says (1 Peter 1:17-19): "If you address as Father the One who impartially judges according to each one's work, conduct yourselves in fear during the time of your stay on earth; knowing that you were not redeemed with perishable things like silver or gold from your futile way of life inherited from your forefathers, but with precious blood, as of a lamb unblemished and spotless, the blood of Christ."
And virtually all of the apostles who wrote epistles refer to themselves as "bond-servants" of the Lord. Take a look at Romans 1:1, Philippians 1:1, Titus 1:1, James 1:1, 2 Peter 1:1, Jude 1 and Revelation 1:1.
Before, or After?How do these "costs" relate to salvation? One important distinction is that typically when you purchase something, you pay first and then receive what you paid for. But most of the costs we've spoken of are incurred after being saved -- after becoming a follower of Christ. The only thing that would seem to be an exception is Repentance. But if you look closely, Repentance is not a cost in and of itself. It is "Counting the Cost" -- deciding that you are willing to become a follower of Christ, turning your back on a sinful way of life and turning toward righteousness. Repentance is a decision to live a certain way in the future, not the action of living that way in the present. And so, all the costs we've spoken of actually happen after you are saved.
Buy Now, Pay Later?With our society, we are very familiar with credit. Every furniture store seems to offer a deal to buy now and not make payments for another two (or five!) years. But eventually, you have to pay for what you've taken. But the costs of following Christ are never referred to that way. Sure, you can participate or share in Christ's sufferings, but you never pay for them. Paul makes the point very firmly in Romans 3 that salvation is all grace, so that we have nothing to boast about. All boasting and pride is excluded. We must be completely humbled because we had no part in earning or paying for our salvation. It was given to us, free of charge.
He Bought YouActually, the cost of following Christ is referred to in exactly the opposite way. Christ paid for us -- not just our salvation, but He bought us. This is the difference between a "servant" and a "bond-servant". A "servant" is the typical time-based servitude, where you buy someone's labor for a particular amount of time (say, until the year of Jubilee). A "bond-servant" is a purchase for life. No matter how long you work, you're never closer to being free. You're not gradually working your way out of slavery or gradually paying off a debt. The bond-servant is a permanent member of the family. Obviously, His payment goes further than simply buying us for life and our inclusion into His family goes further (adoption) than being a bond-servant. But still, this concept of being a bond-servant is used and even emphasized in the scriptures.
Ask Them to Count the CostToday, far too many so-called "gospel presentations" are given with music, lights, smoke and emotional appeals. But Christ, in all the Cost of Discipleship passages above and more (see John 6:59-65), asks people to count the cost before deciding to give their lives over to Him. As we learn in the first five books of the Bible, He is a Jealous God and He will not stop until He has all of our hearts. He truly does want us to love Him with all our heart, soul and might (Deut. 6:5). As much as we are tempted to "bait and switch", our commission isn't to convince people to come down the aisle for fire insurance. Our commission is to make true disciples.
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| | Posted 4/5/2007 9:03 AM - 22 Views - 0 eProps - 0 comments
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