Today, the language “cost of discipleship” and the profound nature of salvation are topics. Discipleship as a Christian is established and maintained through commitment and content (fitness; sacred substance; oneness without sameness) of spirit not on the basis of ambition, emotion, or the “four-letter words” (good, hate, love, work). Sinners coming to GOD through Jesus Christ must accept that salvation is not a simple process used to gain favor with GOD for oneself so much as it is a complex sacred operation directed to sinners becoming a new creation, and ministering their own divine spirit content to others. A broad range of special explanations, illustrations, images, parables, and terms are used to make otherwise unseen truth clear and understandable. So to speak, the Bible uses different ideas and ways to present the same concept over and over (e.g., brethren, firstborn, husbandmen, stewards, disciples). From Genesis to Revelation, the meaning and value of various passages and statements are intended to be recognizable only to those endowed with spirit matter from the makeup of divinity that prepares them to receive a greater anointing from GOD through the further ministry of Jesus Christ. One of the fighters at “Yahoo! Answers” using the ID “Anonymous” (no profile information appears) posted the following:
If salvation is a free gift, why is the cost of discipleship as shown in Luke 14:26-33 so high?
If Luke 14:26-33 is to be taken literally, Christianity is the strictest religion on Earth and the criteria to avoid burning in hell forever is very high.
https://answers.yahoo.com/question/index?qid=20171024071524AAO86Zm&page=2
In past questions, I probed into the nature of compassion with respect to a deity that sends a majority of people to hell. One of the common responses was that God is merciful because I am merely "rejecting a free gift."
But is salvation really a free gift? According to the Bible, the price seems to be very high - hating your family and your own life, forsaking all you possess, etc. And if discipleship is not the same as salvation, why does the book of Acts refer to Christians as disciples? Why is there not a separate category for believers who aren't disciples?
My broad point is that if Jesus has such harsh requirements, then going to hell is because Jesus sends you there, not because "you send yourself there," and it's hardly a merciful set of requirements. So what makes God different than a bank robber or thief?
THE GOLDEN ARROW: And there went great multitudes with him: and he turned, and said unto them, If any man come to me, and hate not his father, and mother, and wife, and children, and brethren, and sisters, yea, and his own life also, he cannot be my disciple. And whosoever doth not bear his cross, and come after me, cannot be my disciple. For which of you, intending to build a tower, sitteth not down first, and counteth the cost, whether he have sufficient to finish it? Lest haply, after he hath laid the foundation, and is not able to finish it, all that behold it begin to mock him, Saying, This man began to build, and was not able to finish. Or what king, going to make war against another king, sitteth not down first, and consulteth whether he be able with ten thousand to meet him that cometh against him with twenty thousand? Or else, while the other is yet a great way off, he sendeth an ambassage, and desireth conditions of peace. So likewise, whosoever he be of you that forsaketh not all that he hath, he cannot be my disciple. Salt is good: but if the salt have lost his savour, wherewith shall it be seasoned? It is neither fit for the land, nor yet for the dunghill; but men cast it out. He that hath ears to hear, let him hear. (Luke 14: 25-35, King James Version, KJV)
THE DOUBLE DAGGER: Accepting Christ, Accepting Change (10/20/2017); Without the Divine Image? (10/15/2017); Becoming Joined To GOD (10/13/2017); Developing A Moral Compass? (10/03/2017); Rebirth, Growth and Transformation (09/29/2017); Humility and The Cross? (03/15/2016); Can Someone Be Happy? (12/10/2013); Asked to Help? (12/11/2013)
“Anonymous”, the things of GOD require we adopt another way of speaking and thinking. Throughout the holy writings there are many points for guidance and instruction that appear extreme or outlandish when taken out of their proper context (the complete revelation from GOD) in the same way a suggestion that GOD is no different for you than a bank robber or thief appears to be apostasy, blasphemy, gross ignorance and wickedness when taken out of the actual context of your intent, and the full framework of what you are seeking to share (e.g., your opinion, your conviction, your faith, your condemnation of divinity). Both discipleship and salvation pertain to profound and permanent changes for the transformation of mankind to exist as an immortal, incorruptible companion to divinity. Multiple streams of sacred truth and divine operations have come together that now allow created beings and living creatures to have ongoing communication, exchange and interaction (we say, personal relationship) with the Creator. In addition to angelic visitation, divine law, covenant, inheritance, promise and prophecy, mankind has been knit and bound to the persons of GODhead (Father, Son, Holy Spirit) through Incarnation (appearing in flesh as Jesus Christ).
Before a sinner apprehends the full meaning and value of “salvation”, they must become “born again” and shift to routinely applying sacred (instead of secular) frameworks for understanding. In place of time, space, natural law, or self-importance, there has to be continuing awareness of spirit presence and divine process. The sinner who becomes a developing believer will have to master language that speaks to accountability, atonement, commitment, forgiveness, judgment, mercy, repentance, unselfish service, and the sovereign will of GOD.
Consider again:
(1.) Proverbs 9: 6-10, King James Version (KJV): 6 Forsake the foolish, and live; and go in the way of understanding. 7 He that reproveth a scorner getteth to himself shame: and he that rebuketh a wicked man getteth himself a blot. 8 Reprove not a scorner, lest he hate thee: rebuke a wise man, and he will love thee. 9 Give instruction to a wise man, and he will be yet wiser: teach a just man, and he will increase in learning. 10 The fear of the LORD is the beginning of wisdom: and the knowledge of the holy is understanding.
(2.) Romans 6: 3-11, KJV: 3 Know ye not, that so many of us as were baptized into Jesus Christ were baptized into his death? 4 Therefore we are buried with him by baptism into death: that like as Christ was raised up from the dead by the glory of the Father, even so we also should walk in newness of life. 5 For if we have been planted together in the likeness of his death, we shall be also in the likeness of his resurrection: 6 Knowing this, that our old man is crucified with him, that the body of sin might be destroyed, that henceforth we should not serve sin. 7 For he that is dead is freed from sin. 8 Now if we be dead with Christ, we believe that we shall also live with him: 9 Knowing that Christ being raised from the dead dieth no more; death hath no more dominion over him. 10 For in that he died, he died unto sin once: but in that he liveth, he liveth unto God. 11 Likewise reckon ye also yourselves to be dead indeed unto sin, but alive unto God through Jesus Christ our Lord.
(3.) 2nd Peter 1: 2-12, KJV: 2 Grace and peace be multiplied unto you through the knowledge of God, and of Jesus our Lord, 3 According as his divine power hath given unto us all things that pertain unto life and godliness, through the knowledge of him that hath called us to glory and virtue: 4 Whereby are given unto us exceeding great and precious promises: that by these ye might be partakers of the divine nature, having escaped the corruption that is in the world through lust. 5 And beside this, giving all diligence, add to your faith virtue; and to virtue knowledge; 6 And to knowledge temperance; and to temperance patience; and to patience godliness; 7 And to godliness brotherly kindness; and to brotherly kindness charity. 8 For if these things be in you, and abound, they make you that ye shall neither be barren nor unfruitful in the knowledge of our Lord Jesus Christ. 9 But he that lacketh these things is blind, and cannot see afar off, and hath forgotten that he was purged from his old sins. 10 Wherefore the rather, brethren, give diligence to make your calling and election sure: for if ye do these things, ye shall never fall: 11 For so an entrance shall be ministered unto you abundantly into the everlasting kingdom of our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ. 12 Wherefore I will not be negligent to put you always in remembrance of these things, though ye know them, and be established in the present truth.)
There is far more to be said, correctly examined, and made a part of our own spirit makeup. (For example, (4.) Romans 8: 5-9, KJV: 5 For they that are after the flesh do mind the things of the flesh; but they that are after the Spirit the things of the Spirit. 6 For to be carnally minded is death; but to be spiritually minded is life and peace. 7 Because the carnal mind is enmity against God: for it is not subject to the law of God, neither indeed can be. 8 So then they that are in the flesh cannot please God. 9 But ye are not in the flesh, but in the Spirit, if so be that the Spirit of God dwell in you. Now if any man have not the Spirit of Christ, he is none of his.) Even so, I trust this fragment will be useful. Be it unto you according to your faith.
THE BLACK PHOENIX
Washington, DC
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