Introduction: Jesus Never Hid the Price
In Luke 14:25-33, Jesus turns to the great multitudes following Him and makes an unexpected declaration. He doesn’t flatter them for their interest or try to keep them with comforting words. Instead, He tells them that discipleship comes at a cost. “Whoever does not carry his own cross and come after Me cannot be My disciple” (Luke 14:27, NASB). These are not the words of a man trying to gain popularity—they are the call of a Savior who knows what following Him demands.
We live in a world where decisions are often made with little thought to long-term consequence. Convenience and emotion guide far too many spiritual choices. Yet Jesus challenges us to count the cost. Before one builds a tower, he must sit down and calculate whether he has enough to finish it (Luke 14:28). Before one commits to Christ, he must ask—am I willing to go all the way?
The Hidden Cost of Sin
Too many only weigh the cost of discipleship, never the cost of disobedience. But sin has its own price. It promises freedom but delivers bondage. Hebrews 11:25 speaks of “the temporary pleasures of sin,” but we must remember that temporary pleasure often leads to permanent regret. Romans 6:23 is clear: “For the wages of sin is death, but the gracious gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord.”
Sin may be dressed in glitter and appeal, but it leads to destruction. Jephthah’s rash vow in Judges 11 reminds us of the danger in acting without thought. So too, many today leap into sinful lives without counting what it will cost their souls, their families, and their future. Will we open our eyes before it’s too late?
What Will It Cost to Follow Jesus?
Following Jesus is not a half-hearted decision. It demands everything. He said, “So then, none of you can be My disciple who does not give up all his own possessions” (Luke 14:33). That doesn’t necessarily mean we sell everything we own, but it does mean that nothing—no relationship, no possession, no comfort—can come before Him.
Salvation is free in the sense that we cannot earn it. But discipleship demands sacrifice. The Philippian jailer asked, “Sirs, what must I do to be saved?” (Acts 16:30). The answer was belief, but that belief must be one that obeys. Acts 2:38 echoes this: “Repent, and each of you be baptized in the name of Jesus Christ for the forgiveness of your sins.” There is a cost to changing from a life of sin to one of righteousness. One must be willing to obey the gospel and live it every day.
Faith, repentance, and baptism are only the beginning. The Christian life is one of daily sacrifice. Titus 2:11-12 says, “For the grace of God has appeared, bringing salvation to all people, instructing us to deny ungodliness and worldly desires and to live sensibly, righteously, and in a godly manner in the present age.” Are we willing to do this—to give up what is worldly and embrace what is holy?
The Cost of Continued Faithfulness
It is not enough to begin the Christian walk. We must finish it. Many begin strong but falter when things get hard. But Jesus never promised ease. In fact, He promised trials. Paul writes in 2 Timothy 3:12, “Indeed, all who want to live in a godly way in Christ Jesus will be persecuted.”
So what do we do when the way becomes difficult? We remember that the reward is greater than the pain. Jesus said in Mark 10:29-30 that those who give up homes, family, and possessions for His sake will receive “a hundred times as much… along with persecutions; and in the age to come, eternal life.” The reward is eternal, and it’s worth every step of sacrifice.
We must count the cost daily. Romans 12:1 urges, “Therefore I urge you, brothers and sisters, by the mercies of God, to present your bodies as a living and holy sacrifice, acceptable to God, which is your spiritual service of worship.” Christianity isn’t something we do once—it’s who we are. It means choosing love when we’d rather hate, choosing purity when the world promotes sin, and choosing truth when it’s unpopular.
Those Who Paid the Price
Think of those who went before us. Joshua, in his final days, told the people, “Be very firm, then, to keep and do all that is written in the book of the Law of Moses” (Joshua 23:6). David, on his deathbed, urged Solomon to walk in God’s ways (1 Kings 2:2-3). These men knew the value of commitment. They knew that faithfulness requires vigilance.
And what of the apostles? What did it cost them to follow Jesus? Tradition and history tell us that most died martyrs’ deaths. But they counted the cost, and they found Christ worth it.
Can the same be said of us?
Will You Count the Cost?
Where is the man or woman who, at the end of life, regrets serving God? You won’t find one. But there are countless souls who, with their last breath, wish they had lived differently. Countless voices cry from eternity with the sorrow of missed opportunity.
Jesus asked, “For what does it benefit a person to gain the whole world, and forfeit his soul?” (Mark 8:36). That question should ring in our ears every time the world tempts us. What are we giving up for a moment of pleasure, or ease, or popularity?
The cost of discipleship is real—but so is the reward. Paul said, “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). That same reward is available to us, if we will only count the cost and follow Him.
Conclusion: Choose Wisely
Sin offers nothing of lasting value. It is temporary and hollow. But Jesus offers eternal life. He calls to you, not with fine print and empty promises, but with clarity and love. He wants you to know what following Him really means—so that your commitment is real and your hope is unshakable.
The cost may seem great—but the reward is greater. Jesus said, “Take My yoke upon you and learn from Me… For My yoke is comfortable, and My burden is light” (Matthew 11:29-30). Compared to the burden of sin, the cost of Christ is a joy.
Will you count the cost? Will you pay the price?
He has already paid everything for you. What will you give in return?
The Simple Gospel 