Before a person becomes a Christian, he needs to consider very carefully if he is willing to pay the price that it takes to live the Christian life. We have found this to be especially true in our work among the Chinese people. In the states we might be able to teach a new Christian some things after they become a Christian. The Chinese do not have the religious background that westerners have and therefore they need to fully understand what they are doing.

Every person needs to know that becoming a Christian means entering the Lord's church, not a denomination; and that becoming a Christian carries with it much responsibility. We know that a person who becomes a Christian and then falls away is worse off than one who never knew the truth. “For if, after they have escaped the pollutions of the world through the knowledge of the Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ, they are again entangled in them and overcome, the latter end is worse for them than the beginning. For it would have been better for them not to have known the way of righteousness, than having known it, to turn from the holy commandment delivered to them. But it has happened to them according to the true proverb: A dog returns to his own vomit, and, a sow, having washed, to her wallowing in the mire” (2 Peter 2:20-22). “And that servant who knew his master’s will, and did not prepare himself or do according to his will, shall be beaten with many stripes. But he who did not know, yet committed things deserving of stripes, shall be beaten with few. For everyone to whom much is given, from him much will be required; and to whom much has been committed, of him they will ask the more” (Luke 12:47,48).

PASSAGES THAT EMPHASIZE “COUNTING THE COST”

It would be very helpful for every person who is thinking about becoming a child of God to study passages that urge us to count the cost before making a commitment to God (Matthew 10:32-39; Luke 14:26-33). For people who have counted the cost, we need to encourage them to obey the gospel. “We then, as workers together with Him also plead with you not to receive the grace of God in vain. For He says: In an acceptable time I have heard you, And in the day of salvation I have helped you” (2 Corinthians 6:1,2). “Come now, you who say, Today or tomorrow we will go to such and such a city, spend a year there, buy and sell, and make a profit; whereas you do not know what will happen tomorrow. For what is your life? It is even a vapor, that appears for a little time and then vanishes away. Instead you ought to say, If the Lord wills, we shall live, and do this, or that. But now you boast in your arrogance. All such boasting is evil. Therefore to him who knows to do good and does not do it, to him it is sin” (James 4:13-17).

CONCLUSION

This lesson has been designed to help those who have not yet obeyed the gospel to have a better understanding of what is involved in becoming a child of God and having the hope of heaven (Matthew 7:21-23). It was also presented to help remind those of us who have already obeyed the gospel what we must always remember. “For this reason I will not be negligent to remind you always of these things, though you know and are established in the present truth” (2 Peter 1:12). Further, it was presented to help Christians to teach others these basic truths (2 Timothy 2:2).

It is our hope and prayer that every person might be saved and go to heaven. “But also for this reason, giving all diligence, add to your faith virtue, to virtue knowledge, to knowledge self-control, to self-control perseverence, to perseverence godliness, to godliness brotherly kindness, and to brotherly kindness love. For if these things are yours and abound, you will be neither barren nor unfruitful in the knowledge of our Lord Jesus Christ. But he who lacks these things is shortsighted, even to blindness, and has forgotten that he was cleansed from his old sins. Therefore, brethren, be even more diligent to make your call and election sure, for if you do these things you will never stumble; for so an entrance will be supplied to you abundantly into the everlasting kingdom of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ” (2 Peter 1:5-11). “who desires all men to be saved and to come to the knowledge of the truth” (1 Timothy 2:4). “But the day of the Lord will come as a thief in the night, in which the heavens will pass away with a great noise, and the elements will melt with fervent heat; both the earth and the works that are in it will be burned up” (2 Peter 3:10).

May God help us to live a faithful Christian life so we might go to heaven (Revelation 2:10; Hebrews 3:14).

Back to Table of Contents
 

BASIC OUTLINE

CHAPTER ONE - WHY WE BELIEVE JESUS ISTHE CHRIST, THE SON OF GOD

CHAPTER TWO - THE EXISTENCE OF GOD 

CHAPTER THREE -THE ORIGIN OF THE BIBLE

CHAPTER FOUR - OUR STANDARD OF AUTHORITY IN RELIGION

CHAPTER FIVE - OLD OR NEW TESTAMENT?

CHAPTER SIX -WHY JESUS CAME TO EARTH

CHAPTER SEVEN-HOW TO FIND THE CHURCH JESUS BUILT

CHAPTER EIGHT-LIVING THE CHRISTIAN LIFE

CHAPTER NINE-THE SECOND COMING OF CHRIST

CHAPTER TEN-COUNTING THE COST