What does it Cost to Be a Christian?
A preacher friend told me about an unusual question he received from an elderly Christian brother. This particular Christian had numerous health issues, so could only attend sporadically. Before the beginning of a service, the elderly brother asked my friend, “What are my dues?” In other words, “What do I need to give in order to make up for the many weeks that I was absent?”
My friend explained that whatever the elderly brother gave on that particular Sunday was entirely up to him. The New Testament never specifies an amount or percentage that Christians should contribute to the Lord’s church. Instead, Christians are commanded to give “as he may prosper” (1 Cor 16:2), as “as he purposes in his heart” and “cheerfully” (1 Cor. 9:7). If the elderly brother had been sufficiently blessed to give extra due to not being at services for a while, that would be entirely acceptable to God
Many years ago, I was a member of a civic club. In order to maintain my membership, I had to “keep up with my dues”. If I missed numerous weekly meetings, I was still obligated to pay my dues and make up for any unpaid amount. But not so in the Lord’s church. Although we are commanded to give, the amount is up to us. No one will “show us the door” if we have little or nothing to give.
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Speaking of which, WHAT DOES IT COST TO BE A CHRISTIAN? When I obeyed the gospel, no one approached me with a collection plate. No one asked for a credit card. No one requested my mailing address in order to send me an invoice. What was required? Faith in Jesus as God’s Son (Jn 3:16), Repentance (Lk 13:3, 5), confession of my faith (Mt 10:32) and baptism (Mk 16:16). Is there an ongoing cost? Yes, abiding in Jesus – Jn 15:4, 7 & 9.
The real cost, however, was paid by Jesus Christ. “…who Himself bore our sins in His own body on the tree…by whose stripes you were healed” (1Pe 2:24). “…so Christ was offered once to bear the sins of many” (Heb 9:28).
All the gold in Fort Knox couldn’t pay the interest on the down payment for salvation from sin. Jesus’ blood, however, paid the atonement price in full. Praise God for saving us by the grace that is found In Jesus Christ – “…being justified freely by His grace through the redemption that is in Christ Jesus” (Rom 3:24).
Be a Light for Christ in 2025!
Dennis
A preacher friend told me about an unusual question he received from an elderly Christian brother. This particular Christian had numerous health issues, so could only attend sporadically. Before the beginning of a service, the elderly brother asked my friend, “What are my dues?” In other words, “What do I need to give in order to make up for the many weeks that I was absent?”
My friend explained that whatever the elderly brother gave on that particular Sunday was entirely up to him. The New Testament never specifies an amount or percentage that Christians should contribute to the Lord’s church. Instead, Christians are commanded to give “as he may prosper” (1 Cor 16:2), as “as he purposes in his heart” and “cheerfully” (1 Cor. 9:7). If the elderly brother had been sufficiently blessed to give extra due to not being at services for a while, that would be entirely acceptable to God
Many years ago, I was a member of a civic club. In order to maintain my membership, I had to “keep up with my dues”. If I missed numerous weekly meetings, I was still obligated to pay my dues and make up for any unpaid amount. But not so in the Lord’s church. Although we are commanded to give, the amount is up to us. No one will “show us the door” if we have little or nothing to give.
*************************************************************************************************
Speaking of which, WHAT DOES IT COST TO BE A CHRISTIAN? When I obeyed the gospel, no one approached me with a collection plate. No one asked for a credit card. No one requested my mailing address in order to send me an invoice. What was required? Faith in Jesus as God’s Son (Jn 3:16), Repentance (Lk 13:3, 5), confession of my faith (Mt 10:32) and baptism (Mk 16:16). Is there an ongoing cost? Yes, abiding in Jesus – Jn 15:4, 7 & 9.
The real cost, however, was paid by Jesus Christ. “…who Himself bore our sins in His own body on the tree…by whose stripes you were healed” (1Pe 2:24). “…so Christ was offered once to bear the sins of many” (Heb 9:28).
All the gold in Fort Knox couldn’t pay the interest on the down payment for salvation from sin. Jesus’ blood, however, paid the atonement price in full. Praise God for saving us by the grace that is found In Jesus Christ – “…being justified freely by His grace through the redemption that is in Christ Jesus” (Rom 3:24).
Be a Light for Christ in 2025!
Dennis
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