July 17, 2020; "A Costly Joy" What Must We Be Willing To Give Up To Find Our Rest and Joy with God?

Matthew 13: 44-46:...

The Parable of the Hidden Treasure

44 “Again, the kingdom of heaven is like treasure hidden in a field, which a man found and hid; and for joy over it he goes and sells all that he has and buys that field.

The Parable of the Pearl of Great Price

45 “Again, the kingdom of heaven is like a merchant seeking beautiful pearls,46 who, when he had found one pearl of great price, went and sold all that he had and bought it.

When we think of our Salvation, did it cost us anything? Think about it. What is Jesus saying to His apostles in the "Hidden Treasure" parable and "Parable of the Pearl?"

In his book Basic Christianity, John R. W. Stott makes it plain that Jesus did not give the impression that the salvation He offered costs nothing. “Jesus never concealed the fact that his religion included a demand as well as an offer. Indeed, the demand was as total as the offer was free. If he offered men his salvation, he also demanded their submission.”6

Christ, then, does not justify us on the basis of our surrender, but He cannot justify us until we surrender.

The following is a great example of God giving us justification freely, but we must be willing to give up something in return:

The Following is Taken From Ministry Magazine (June 2009) "Surrender: The Neglected Imperative In Salvation"

A certain manufacturer decides to give away a number of samples of a costly product free. But in order to qualify for one, you must have a coupon, which he distributes gratis.

Suppose you qualify for a gift. Would you claim the gift was not free because you had to surrender the coupon?

God, if you will, has given us a “coupon” which we must give back to Him for free justification. He has given us life, minds, reason, and wills. He says, “I want to justify you, forgive you, freely. I will give you salvation freely, but to show your sincerity, and in order that My salvation can transform you, you must return the ‘coupon.’ You just surrender your will, yourself, to Me.”

It seems to me, therefore, that to teach or preach justification without also clearly showing the obligation to surrender "self" to Jesus, which makes justification possible, leaves the teacher or preacher open to the accusation of selling a cheap gospel.

PERSONAL COMMENT:

Praise God for His free gift of salvation and justification to us. But let's not forget, we must also give up all of ourselves, "absolute surrender" to Him as well to find true peace and rest with Him!