An old song says “The Best Things In Life Are Free.” While from one perspective that is right; you cannot earn some things, they are ours to enjoy, and there is no way a dollar sign can be placed upon them. The song goes on to say “the moon belongs to everyone...” Jesus also said of God who loves all mankind, “..He makes His sun to rise on the evil and on the good..,” (Matthew 5:45).  Looking at this matter from another perspective, we value the worth of some things by the price tag they bear. The price tag isn’t always dollars and cents of course. For example the religion of Jesus Christ is of such a great value to the souls of mankind, that words fail anyone to properly express that value. Did such a great blessing come at little or no cost? You know the answer before I write it. The answer is no, no, ten thousand times, no! What did the religion of Christ cost? It cost the very life’s blood of the sinless Son of God Almighty, that’s what. Every Bible student is familiar with the verses stating this great cost from passages such as (John 3:16-17; Hebrews 2:9; Romans 5:6-9; 2 Corinthians 5:17-21).

    The same price paid for the sins of all men, is going to be actually procured by relatively a few souls according to (Matthew 7:13-14). Those souls make up the church of the Lord Jesus Christ. How do I know this to be true? Because the same price paid for each redeemed soul is the price paid for the church which bears Christ’s name. That price happens to be the blood of Jesus Christ. Peter in writing to Christians throughout several regions of the ancient world, some of whom had Jewish backgrounds.  said of them that they “had not been redeemed with corruptible things, such as silver and gold...but with the precious blood of Christ, as of a lamb without blemish and without spot” (1 Peter 1:18-19). The same price paid for every redeemed soul, is the price which Christ paid for His church according to these two passages following. “Husbands, love your wives, just as Christ loved the church and gave Himself for it” (Ephesians 5:25). To the Ephesian elders at Miletus, Paul said, “...take heed to yourselves and to all the flock, among which you have been made overseers, to shepherd the church of God which He has purchased with his own blood” (Acts 20:28). What value is the church of God (Christ ket)? Considerably more than most religionist are willing to admit.

     To many “the church has nothing to do with one’s salvation.” I hear Protestants teach this almost every week on radio and television. If that be true, then the blood of Jesus was of little value according to that ungodly denominational doctrine. I will admit freely that no denomination is of any value to the saving of the souls of men. In fact, they are “plants not planted by the Heavenly Father which are destined to be rooted up” according to (Matthew 15:13; Psalms 127:1).

    The Lord’s blood did not purchase any human denomination. No individual was ever added to any denomination upon his obedience to the gospel of Christ. However about three thousand who believed, repented, and were immersed to have their sins forgiven on Pentecost, the birthday of Christ’s church, were added to the Lord’s church along with the apostles of Christ that day (Acts 2:22-38, 41, 47). This was many years before there was such a thing as a denomination, Roman Catholic or Protestant, that folks became members of Christ’s church or citizens of His kingdom upon being “born again” (John 3:3-5; Acts 2:38; Colossians 1:13-14; Titus 3:3-5).

     It was as Mr. Edward T. Hiscox stated in the Standard Manual for Baptist Churches, page 22, “...in the apostolic age when there was but “one Lord, one faith, and one baptism,” and no differing denominations existed..” My brethren and I believe and state often that if folks will only be willing to believe what these folks believed, and do what these folks did  on the birthday of Christ’s church, they will of necessity become exactly what they were as members of Christ’s church. What were they? Obviously they were only Christians. This “new name” for God’s children had been prophesied for years to be given at the proper time by God Himself (Isaiah 56:5; 62:2; Acts 11:26; 1 Peter 4:16; Acts 26:28; 1 Corinthians 1:10-12; 3:1-6; Acts 4:10-12). The only brand new name that God’s children were called, is “Christians.” It should be obvious to all that since the blood of Jesus “purchased his church,” that if one is to benefit in any way from that shed blood, it must be by one’s relationship to Christ in the body which His blood purchased (Ephesians 2:11-17)!

    When Christ returns at the end of this age, it will be to receive His chaste bride, the church and to deliver the kingdom to the Father in heaven (2 Corinthians 11:2; Ephesians 5:23-27; 1 Corinthians 15:22-26). All who aren’t in this relationship will be lost and delivered into eternal torment for not having obeyed the gospel of Christ which places one in this relationship according to Paul in (2 Thessalonians 1:6-10; Mark 16:15-16).

 Ridicule. “Yes, and all who desire to live godly in Christ Jesus will suffer persecution” (2 Timothy 3:12). Here the apostle doesn’t say as he writes to Timothy that he (or us who are Christians today) may suffer persecution! No, he says if we live godly we will suffer persecution. Why do you suppose this is so? There are many reasons of course, but one is because as we follow our Lord Jesus Christ we oppose the error of our religious neighbors, just as did the apostles and early evangelist and other Christians. When you oppose and expose the false doctrines and the ungodly lifestyles of folks in error you can just expect them to retaliate, unless they are willing to repent and accept the truth of Jesus Christ. In another place in his epistle to Timothy Paul encouraged him to “endure afflictions,..” (2 Timothy 4:5). Jesus plainly taught as He walked among men the fact that He “did not come to bring peace, but a sword..” (Matthew 10:34). In a parallel passage to Matthew ten, Jesus warned people of the cost attached to true discipleship when He admonished them to consider the cost before committing one’s self to Him. The language He used is what is known as hyperbole, pronounced like-(hy-per-by-le), when He said “If anyone comes to Me and does not hate his father and mother, wife and children, brothers and sisters, yes, and his own life also, he cannot be My disciple” (Luke 14:26). That which cost heaven such a price to provide, is worth whatever  the cost  to us to possess don’t you see? Absolutely nothing is of more value than the precious souls of men (Matthew 16:26).

     Jesus teaches in this passage that one soul is of greater value than the whole world. Do you view your soul this way? If not, perhaps you haven’t as yet grasped the importance of salvation from alien sins and what being lost or saved really involves. We are speaking of where one’s soul shall reside and and the circumstances surrounding that conscious existence. There are only two destinies for one’s soul for eternity, heaven or hell. You and I will reside in one of those two prepared places forever and ever. Do we desire peace, bliss, joy and comfort as we serve God in heaven or do we want pain, misery, weeping and the gnashing of teeth in hell?  It will be one or the other (Matthew  25:46;  Revelation  20:12-15;  Matthew  25:34,41).

 “Come unto Me, all you who labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest. Take My yoke upon you and learn of Me, for I am gentle and lowly in heart, and you will find rest for your souls” (Matthew 11:28-30). The soul rest is used in contrast to the heavy burden of carrying the guilt of our sins.
 
 One may be wondering how to reconcile “soul rest” with the great potential cost of discipleship to king Jesus. Paul, one of the most ardent workers of Jesus Christ was troubled on every side and yet he spoke of a  “peace which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and minds through Jesus Christ” (Philippians 4:7). It is only when one has learned to appreciate the value of the soul that one can fully understand what Jesus meant after sending forth His disciples and warning them of what to expect from their fellow man as they taught the gospel; “And do not fear those who kill the body but cannot kill the soul. But rather fear Him who is able to destroy both soul and body in hell” (Matthew 10:28). The problems of discipleship are nothing when compared to carrying the burden of the guilt of our sins, and of being a servant of Satan you see. Paul spoke of the loss of all things that men generally hold dear, and considered the sacrifices he made which brought this about, well worth the price he paid to be in the right relationship with Christ:

     “But what things were gain to me, I have counted loss for Christ. But indeed I count all things loss for the excellence of the knowledge of Christ Jesus my Lord. for whom I have suffered the loss of all things, and count them as rubbish, that I may gain Christ....that I may know Him and the power of His resurrection, and the fellowship of His sufferings, being conformed to His death, if by any means, I may attain to the resurrection from the dead......;but this one thing I do, forgetting those things which are behind and reaching forward to those things which are ahead, I press toward the goal, for the prize of the upward call of God in Christ Jesus” (Philippians 3:7-14). The Hebrew writer reminded those Jewish Christians who were beginning to slip from their true discipleship and commitment to Christ, of their former attitude before Satan began to get to them, saying; “But recall the former days in which, after you were illuminated, you endured a great struggle with sufferings: partly while you were made a spectacle both by reproaches and tribulations, and partly while you became companions of those who were so treated; for you had compassion on me in my chains, and joyfully accepted the plundering of your goods, knowing that you have a better and an enduring possession for yourselves in heaven” (Hebrews 10:32-34). He then admonished them not to cast away their confidence, which has great reward. “For you have need of endurance, so that after you have done the will of God, you may receive the promise” (Hebrews 10:35-36). Perhaps too many have committed themselves to discipleship to Jesus who were never properly taught to consider the costs of discipleship. This may account for why so many depart the faith when the going gets a little rough, and sacrifices must be made, and conflicts with friends, family, and such arise because of our commitment to Christ.

 I heard some Muslim children interviewed on TV recently, who said that every day they must study the Uuaran. In fact they are to memorize it. They have a fixed time five times daily for prayer to Allah.  They believe that Mohammed was also a prophet of God. The one god whom they serve could not possibly have a son they say, and so they deny that Jesus is divine, but only that He was a great man. My point in mentioning this is the amount of time folks give to false religions as opposed to the time some professed followers of Jesus Christ give to learning of, and serving Him.

   To know the will of Christ will take time for study (2 Timothy 2:15; Ephesians 5:17). While one’s discipleship to Jesus is a personal thing between each Christian and Jesus, and no one has the right to tell you how much time you must give to studying His word. Still, time must be given. How much time do you spend in learning the New Testament of Jesus Christ? It takes time to attempt to reach and teach the lost about us. How much time do you give to this worthy activity? See (Acts 20:20; Acts 8:1-4; 2 Timothy 2:1-2; Hebrews 5:12-14). It takes time to be a working member of the local congregation (1 Corinthians 12:12-27; Ephesians 4:11-16; Hebrews 10:23-25; Ephesians 5:19; Colossians 3;16). One cannot be a true disciple of Jesus who doesn’t take his place in the local congregation seriously and who doesn’t fit himself into the program of activity (Philippians 1:1; Acts 14:23; 1 Peter 5:1-5; Acts 9:26; 1 Thessalonians 5:11-17; Acts 20:17-32).

    There are many more passages having to do with one’s responsibilities in the local church, all of which indicate that time and effort must be expended by each faithful disciple of Jesus to accomplish what true discipleship requires. Let me say again that no one can determine the amount of time each gives to such activities, one’s stewardship in these things is between each Christian and Christ Himself. Cults set their own standard for stewardship and their idea of what total commitment to Christ requires. Paul said not to do this, for “to His own Master he stands or falls..” (Romans 14:4). He also wrote “So then each one of us shall give account of himself to God” (Romans 14:12). I can call to our attention areas of activity in which we are admonished to be active, but how active is between you and Christ and is not up to me to determine. This takes into account all of the extenuating circumstances of each person’s life, his abilities, opportunities, etc. It is great to know that the Lord set things up this way so far as I am concerned. How about you?

   The New Testament teaches clearly that there is such a thing as “my money” and “the Lord’s money.” While we know that every good and perfect gift comes down from the Father...(James 1:17), still, there is the private use of my money and the use to be made of what I give to the Lord. If no distinction is made in this matter many are the problems which can arise. Brethren have divided over  the difference between the work of the church, and the work of the individual Christian. Some say whatever the individual Christian may do, the church may do. This misses top side and bottom the distinction made in the word of Christ. All one need do to see this is to read a couple of clear passages which make this distinction. The case of Ananias and Sapphira illustrates this distinction well. Peter asked Annanias if he did not understand “While it remained, was it not your own? And after it was sold, was it not in your own control” (Acts 5:4).

    A different set of rules governs the use of “my money” and the “Lord’s money” don’t you see? This couple could have given it all or given only a portion. It was within their power to decide. Individuals however, cannot decide or dictate to the church how the money given to the Lord is expended. This is decided by the church with the elders taking the lead (Acts 11:27-30). Perhaps the clearest context showing the difference between the actions of the individual Christian and the congregation as well as a difference between individual collective activity and collective congregational activity can be found in (Matthew 18:15-17).  Moreover if your brother sins against you, go and tell him his fault between you and him alone. That’s purely individual action. If he refuses to hear you Jesus says, you should take with you one or two more, that by the mouth of two or three witnesses...that’s individual collective activity. Then He continues saying that if he refuses to hear them, tell it to the church.. That’s collective church activity. One final passage to make the distinction between individual and church activity can be found in (1 Timothy 5:16). “If any believing man or woman has widows, let them relieve them, and do not let the church be burdened, that it may relieve those who are really widows.” Some of “my money” is to be given into the treasury of the local church each Lord’s day to support collective church activity (1 Corinthians 16:1-2; 2 Corinthians 8 & 9). How seriously do you take this obligation and opportunity to be of service to the Lord’s work? Also, how well are you doing in your individual stewardship of serving others in need whether it be in evangelism or benevolence (Galatians 6:6; Matthew 25:34-40).

 Actually, discipleship to king Jesus cost me everything, my all. I must be willing to die if need be rather than deny or fail my Lord! Paul wrote in (Romans 12:1-2) “I beseech you therefore, brethren, by the mercies of God, that you present your bodies a living sacrifice, holy, acceptable to God, which is your reasonable service. And do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind, that you may prove what is that good and acceptable and perfect will of God.” See (Revelation 2:10).
 
 A part of my being a living sacrifice is the fact that I am restricted in what activities I may involve myself as a disciple of Jesus. Paul also wrote of a conflict between the flesh and the spirit and said that one “cannot do the things that you wish” (Galatians 5:17). In this same context the things that one is to sacrifice is the involvement in immoral activities. Those activities are enumerated in the following verses (Galatians 5:19-21). These activities are, “adultery, fornication, uncleanness, licentiousness, idolatry, sorcery, hatred, contentions, jealousies, outbursts  of wrath, selfish ambitions, dissensions, heresies, envy, murders, drunkenness, revelries, and the like; of which I tell you beforehand, just as I also told you in times past, that those who practice such things will not inherit the kingdom of God.”  We are not at liberty to act as if these activities are served on a smorgasbord where we can take what we like and leave the other. Each is as equally soul damning in the eyes of Him with whom we have to do. Each disciple of Jesus Christ will be called upon to do some “cross bearing” in his life. This will come in many forms and from many sources. When one accepts Jesus as the Lord of one’s life, repents and confesses His name before men, and is immersed into His death to have his alien sins forgiven, he has accepted all of the attendant responsibilities which the great blessing of being “purchased with the blood of Jesus” require (1 Corinthians 6:19-20; Acts 2:22-38, 41, 47; Matthew 10:32; Acts 17:30; Romans 6:3-4; Galatians 3:26-29). One who would complain at the sacrifices which are a part of the cost of discipleship, surely isn’t as appreciative of the greatest sacrifice of all time, the death of the sinless Son of God for our sins as one should be. How about you?

 Members of the Pekin church of  Christ would like to engage in a study with those of you who desire to know more about undenominational religion,  "the faith once delivered to the saints" (Jude 3; 2 John 9-10; Galatians 1:6-11; Revelation 22:18- 19; John 12:48; 1 Corinthians 2:1-13; 2 Timothy 3:16-17; 2 Peter 1:3; John 16:12-13).

If you desire a study wherein you can learn about one being simply and only a Christian, and what the cost of serving Christ will be to you, give us a call and arrange for such a study 1 (309) 347-3582=Office  or 347-5645=Home. Call us soon.