The Simple Gospel

Following Christ is the most transformative decision anyone can make. It’s a commitment that reaches beyond Sunday worship and occasional good deeds. It touches every corner of our lives—our hearts, minds, relationships, and even our priorities. But here’s the hard truth: becoming a Christian comes at a cost. Jesus never sugar-coated this reality. In fact, He made it abundantly clear that discipleship isn’t about comfort or convenience; it’s about sacrifice, loyalty, and unwavering faith.

Jesus said in Luke 9:23, “If anyone wants to come after Me, he must deny himself, take up his cross daily, and follow Me.” This wasn’t just a poetic metaphor. In the first century, a cross wasn’t a piece of jewelry or a church logo—it was a brutal instrument of death. So when Jesus spoke of carrying a cross, He was talking about total surrender, even to the point of facing rejection, persecution, or loss.

But why would anyone sign up for such a costly commitment? Because the reward far outweighs the sacrifice. The cost is high, but the return is eternal. In this lesson, we’ll explore what it truly means to follow Jesus, what we may have to give up, and why the price is worth paying. We’ll examine the lives of those who paid the cost—people like Abraham, Moses, Paul, and countless others who invested everything into their faith.

As you read, ask yourself: What has my faith cost me? Am I willing to pay the price to follow Christ wholeheartedly? Let’s dive in and discover the profound truth behind “The Cost of Becoming a Christian.”

Discussion

1. Love Not the World (1 John 2:15)

John wrote, “Do not love the world nor the things in the world. If anyone loves the world, the love of the Father is not in him.” This is a hard statement because many of us have attachments to the world—its comforts, achievements, and pleasures. But this isn’t about rejecting all material things; it’s about recognizing what holds the highest place in our hearts. Our loyalty must be to God above all else.

2. Does Christianity Pay?

In financial investments, we often ask, “Will it pay?” In spiritual matters, we should ask the same. Will following Christ be worth it?

• Obedience: Does our commitment to God yield a return? Absolutely. Not always in material wealth, but in eternal rewards.
• Abraham’s Story: Abraham left everything familiar to follow God’s call. He faced hardships but became the father of many nations. His faith was his greatest investment, and it paid eternal dividends.

3. The Story of Moses

Moses chose faith over the riches of Egypt. “By faith Moses, when he had grown up, refused to be called the son of Pharaoh’s daughter, choosing rather to endure ill-treatment with the people of God than to enjoy the temporary pleasures of sin” (Hebrews 11:24-25).

Moses lost the luxury of royalty but gained a place in God’s eternal plan. His name is etched in history, not because of earthly power but because of his faith.

4. The Teachings of Jesus

Jesus said in Mark 10:29-30, “Truly I say to you, there is no one who has left house or brothers or sisters or mother or father or children or farms, for My sake and for the gospel’s sake, but that he will receive a hundred times as much now in the present age… and in the age to come, eternal life.”

The sacrifices we make for Christ are not losses but investments with eternal returns.

5. Paul’s Testimony

Paul had every reason to boast of his earthly accomplishments—education, status, influence—but he counted it all as loss for the sake of Christ. He wrote, “I have fought the good fight, I have finished the course, I have kept the faith; in the future there is reserved for me the crown of righteousness” (2 Timothy 4:7-8).

Paul paid the price with his very life, but he never regretted it because he understood the eternal value of knowing Christ.

Conclusion

Friends, the cost of following Christ is undeniable. It may require leaving behind comforts, relationships, and even personal ambitions. But the reward? Eternal life, peace that surpasses understanding, and a relationship with the Creator of the universe.

Ask yourself:

1. Is my faith costing me anything, or am I living a comfortable, convenient Christianity?
2. What am I willing to sacrifice for the sake of Christ?
3. Do I believe the eternal reward outweighs the temporary sacrifices?

Jesus paid the ultimate price for us. Now, He asks us to follow Him—not half-heartedly, but with everything we are. The cost is great, but the reward is greater. Are you willing to pay the price?

Consider this: What we give up for Christ is temporary, but what we gain is eternal. Every sacrifice made for His sake echoes in eternity. The comforts we forgo, the relationships we risk, the ambitions we surrender—all pale in comparison to the glory that awaits us in His presence.

“For I consider that the sufferings of this present time are not worthy to be compared with the glory that is to be revealed to us.” (Romans 8:18)

Will you count the cost, embrace the sacrifice, and follow Christ with all your heart? The choice is yours—but the outcome is eternal.