1. Everything we purchase has its price tag. Generally, the higher the price, the more valuable to item. There is a story (maybe a preacher story) of someone who decided it would be fun to break into a department store, not to steal but to rearrange price tags. High priced items were given inexpensive price tags and low priced items were given expensive ones. When the department store opened the next morning, customers were shocked and exhilarated at their bargains. The clerks and cashiers paid no attention and just did their jobs.
Whether there is truth in this story or not, it does illustrate how we can switch the value on certain things in life. We can give more attention and value to things of little value and then degrade the truly valuable.
2. “Christianity can never come to us as a bargain; it can never be had at a wholesale price. We must be willing to pay the full price of surrender and trust.” ~William A. Krutza
3. Luke 9.23-25
23 And he said to all, “If anyone would come after me, let him deny himself and take up his cross daily and follow me. 24 For whoever would save his life will lose it, but whoever loses his life for my sake will save it. 25 For what does it profit a man if he gains the whole world and loses or forfeits himself?
4. Jesus offers us a satisfying, fulfilling life but it does not come cheaply.
5. Let’s consider the full price involved in following Jesus.
I. Attempts at Bargain Prices
A. Jesus Embraced a Full Commitment to God at His Baptism – Matthew 3.13-17
16 And when Jesus was baptized, immediately he went up from the water, and behold, the heavens were opened to him, and he saw the Spirit of God descending like a dove and coming to rest on him; 17 and behold, a voice from heaven said, “This is my beloved Son, with whom I am well pleased.”
B. The Temptations to Cheapen Jesus’ Commitment to the Father – His Temptations – (Matthew 4.1-11)
1. In Regard to a Focus on the Physical – Matthew 4.1-3
Then Jesus was led up by the Spirit into the wilderness to be tempted by the devil. 2 And after fasting forty days and forty nights, he was hungry. 3 And the tempter came and said to him, “If you are the Son of God, command these stones to become loaves of bread.”
a. To Adam and Eve – “You won’t die.”
b. Jesus responds with the spiritual – Matthew 4.4 (quote of Deuteronomy 8.3)
“It is written, “‘Man shall not live by bread alone, but by every word that comes from the mouth of God.’”
*The words of God address the spiritual AND the physical.
2. In Regard to Supernatural Experiences – Matthew 4.5-7 7 (cf. Deuteronomy 6.16)
a. We read about God specially interacting with Bible heroes and we want it
b. We have an experience with God and want more
c. Reality: God did not interact with all the bible characters as often as we think. FAITH keeps going when God is not supernaturally interacting.
3. Satan Worship – Matthew 4.6-10
a. Occult
b. Worship gods of – Pleasure; Power; Wealth (RYR)
c. Anything that takes our eyes off of God
d. Attempted to bargain with Jesus to shortcut the cross
II. Full Prices
A. God’s Gift Has Been Paid in Full – “It is finished!” (John 19.30)
1. God’s Justice Demands Atonement – Romans 3.23; 6.23
2. John 3.16; Romans 5.8
B. Receiving the Gift is Not Passive
1. Heart of Faith that ACTS (James 2.18-20)
2. It is a WHOLE Hearted endeavor – Deuteronomy 6.1-4
C. It’s a Gift but It Is Not Cheap: Jesus’ view – Luke 9.23 23 And he said to all, “If anyone would come after me, let him deny himself and take up his cross daily and follow me.
1. More than rule keeping – “follow me” = imitate me.
2. Example – baptism is more than a rule; it is following Jesus – Galatians 3.26-27
3. Galatians 2.20
D. The Bargain – Matthew 11.28-30
1. The way to the Father – John 14.6
a. The way to Eternal Life
b. The way into the throne room of God – Hebrews 4.14-16 14 Since then we have a great high priest who has passed through the heavens, Jesus, the Son of God, let us hold fast our confession. 15 For we do not have a high priest who is unable to sympathize with our weaknesses, but one who in every respect has been tempted as we are, yet without sin. 16 Let us then with confidence draw near to the throne of grace, that we may receive mercy and find grace to help in time of need.
2. Gethsemane – If there is any other way . . .
3. The Satisfaction Guarantee – If we love God and hold nothing back – satisfied life
a. Most of the disciples fled at the arrest of Jesus
b. After resurrection hid in fear for their lives
c. After the HS in Acts 2 – they had an unprecedented boldness in their lives (Acts 4.13; 23)
d. All were willing to die martyrs’ deaths for Jesus (John died in old age)
e. Why? They lived a satisfied, abundant life.
