Salvation and discipleship

[Blain]

Salvation is free and while we could say discipleship costs everything which technically is true it's not a cost that costly, in fact the more we pay it the more we want to pay it. The only things I have lost in my journey with him are things I am glad I did, the cost of discipleship is not losing but gaining.

A disciple is a student or a follower and one certainly must be a learner but even for the hard of learning he is patient and full of grace. Salvation is only the beginning once you begin that step then you take on the role of a student but the cost is not what a lot people think it is. They the think the cost means you lose everything or that you have to be willing to go through all kinds of fiery trials, but in losing we actual gain it's reversed.

 

[Nehemiah6]

Being a disciple is being a "learner"

How does it cost?

By learning that a learner does not remain a learner.

 

[Nehemiah6]

Yeah, discipleship costs my life, true! But salvation is a gift of God, not of works - lest that any man should boast.

Except he was not talking about salvation being a gift of God. Just focus on discipleship.

 

[UnderGrace]

Yes very true!

By learning that a learner does not remain a learner.

 

[Vladimir]

Yeah, discipleship costs my life, true! But salvation is a gift of God, not of works - lest that any man should boast.

At any point in my statement did I indicate salvation is by works? Was salvation addressed? If you note the context of the statement, you will see it was in response to discipleship.

 

[Vladimir]

Salvation is free and while we could say discipleship costs everything which technically is true it's not a cost that costly, in fact the more we pay it the more we want to pay it. The only things I have lost in my journey with him are things I am glad I did, the cost of discipleship is not losing but gaining.

A disciple is a student or a follower and one certainly must be a learner but even for the hard of learning he is patient and full of grace. Salvation is only the beginning once you begin that step then you take on the role of a student but the cost is not what a lot people think it is. They the think the cost means you lose everything or that you have to be willing to go through all kinds of fiery trials, but in losing we actual gain it's reversed.

The cost is high. But, agreed, by comparison the reward is so much higher - and greater!

 

[HeRoseFromTheDead]

I am not trying to attain perfect consciousness, that is just silly, but good try, it is a present (eternal) reality.

My life is hid in Christ

3For you died, and your life is now hidden with Christ in God.
Col 3:3

No I didn't say you were trying to do anything. And I didn't mention trying to attain perfect consciousness, but perfect consciousness (awareness) of the Metanoia (i.e., that thing the book you recommended that we all read talks about).

 

[Chester]

Well, he would still have been saved. Was he still his father's son or not?

Does the text say he "would still have been saved"?

 

[Nehemiah6]

Hmmm, I would think it was his repentance that caused him to return to his father. Is this not a picture for us of what our own repentance looks like? And also, that had the son not repented, he would have died in his sin?

We should take care that we do not extend the application of this parable too far beyond its scope. The father said that the Prodigal was "dead" and is "alive again, was "lost" but has now been "found". So on the surface, the lad was not even saved. Thus his repentance led to his salvation. But the parable is primarily to show God's love for sinners, as are the parables of the lost sheep and the lost coin. "Lost" means unsaved and unregenerate.