The wisdom of the fathers
THE COST OF DISCIPLESHIP Luke 14. 26-33
Jesus paid for our salvation, but there still is a cost we must each pay. the Christian life is not a free ride! What shall we do? The apostle Peter was not afraid of the word 'do'. (Acts. 2. 38) some in evangelical circles are afraid of the word. They all but infer that it is an improper word. But Peter was not afraid of that at all, because it is not the 'do' of merit - it is the 'do' of condition.
What should I do that I may receive the benefits of the Lord Jesus Christ into my life. Peter said, 'Believe in the Lord Jesus Christ and identify yourself with Him by baptism. That is what we are supposed to do. For God has given His Son, Jesus Christ to the world and said, 'Believe in my Son'.
'Whosoever believes in Him shall not perish...and whosoever does not believe is condemned already, because he has not believed in the name of the only begotten Son of God.'
(John 3. 16-18)
This is the 'do' of condition. If Christ is alive, then you must do something about Him. If He is alive, then He is on your conscience until you have done something about it. And that He is alive is proven by the coming down of the Holy Spirit to carry the evidence straight to the conscience of man.
Thank God, He lives and the fight is over. Thank God, the battle is won and the victory of life is ours. But until you have done something about it, it is on your conscience and will remain there until the ages have rolled away. He is on the conscience of millions who are doing nothing about it and trying to live a crucified life without facing it.
Others may try to do that, but I can not. Christ died for me. He took my sins away. God raised Him from the dead and sent the Holy Spirit to say: 'This is my beloved Son...listen to Him.'(Mt. 17. 5) So I must listen, I must identify, I must confess, I must follow, I must devote, I must dedicate. I MUST FOLLOW THE LAMB WHEREVER HE GOES. (Rev. 14.4) He is on my conscience until I do. My conscience is impaled with the fact that He rose again in triumph of the resurrection and the confirmation of the saving grace for the whole human race.
Christianity rests upon one foundation: Jesus Christ. Before anyone can understand the depth of Christian experience and the dynamics of living a crucified life, this foundation needs to be established. No building can ever exceed the capacity of it foundation. The more important the building, the more important the foundation.
The right question to ask is simply, 'Who is Jesus Christ?' And closely following is, 'What I am going to do with Him?' (by A. W. Tozer)
THE COST OF DISCIPLESHIP Luke 14. 26-33
Jesus paid for our salvation, but there still is a cost we must each pay. the Christian life is not a free ride! What shall we do? The apostle Peter was not afraid of the word 'do'. (Acts. 2. 38) some in evangelical circles are afraid of the word. They all but infer that it is an improper word. But Peter was not afraid of that at all, because it is not the 'do' of merit - it is the 'do' of condition.
What should I do that I may receive the benefits of the Lord Jesus Christ into my life. Peter said, 'Believe in the Lord Jesus Christ and identify yourself with Him by baptism. That is what we are supposed to do. For God has given His Son, Jesus Christ to the world and said, 'Believe in my Son'.
'Whosoever believes in Him shall not perish...and whosoever does not believe is condemned already, because he has not believed in the name of the only begotten Son of God.'
(John 3. 16-18)
This is the 'do' of condition. If Christ is alive, then you must do something about Him. If He is alive, then He is on your conscience until you have done something about it. And that He is alive is proven by the coming down of the Holy Spirit to carry the evidence straight to the conscience of man.
Thank God, He lives and the fight is over. Thank God, the battle is won and the victory of life is ours. But until you have done something about it, it is on your conscience and will remain there until the ages have rolled away. He is on the conscience of millions who are doing nothing about it and trying to live a crucified life without facing it.
Others may try to do that, but I can not. Christ died for me. He took my sins away. God raised Him from the dead and sent the Holy Spirit to say: 'This is my beloved Son...listen to Him.'(Mt. 17. 5) So I must listen, I must identify, I must confess, I must follow, I must devote, I must dedicate. I MUST FOLLOW THE LAMB WHEREVER HE GOES. (Rev. 14.4) He is on my conscience until I do. My conscience is impaled with the fact that He rose again in triumph of the resurrection and the confirmation of the saving grace for the whole human race.
Christianity rests upon one foundation: Jesus Christ. Before anyone can understand the depth of Christian experience and the dynamics of living a crucified life, this foundation needs to be established. No building can ever exceed the capacity of it foundation. The more important the building, the more important the foundation.
The right question to ask is simply, 'Who is Jesus Christ?' And closely following is, 'What I am going to do with Him?' (by A. W. Tozer)
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