What It Costs To Be A Sinner
by Micky Galloway
We often study Luke 14:25-33 with reference to what it costs to be a disciple of the Lord. Jesus concluded with, “So therefore whosoever he be of you that renounceth not all that he hath, he cannot be my disciple.” We note the cost in terms of possibly giving up friends (I Corinthians 15:33; I Peter 4:3-4) and sometimes family (Matthew 10:34ff). We discuss what it means to give up sinful practices to become a disciple of the Lord (Romans 6:2, 6; Titus 2:11-12).
However, this is only one side of the equation. Yes, there are costs in becoming a Christian, but have you counted to cost, after you become a Christian, of returning to the former life of sin? Have you considered that all of the epistles were written to Christians warning them of these very things? For example, the apostle Paul wrote to the Ephesians, “that ye no longer walk as the Gentiles also walk …” and “put away, as concerning your former manner of life …”
How had they lived in the past? He writes, “Who being past feeling gave themselves up to lasciviousness, to work all uncleanness with greediness … putting away falsehood, speak ye truth each one with his neighbor … Let him that stole steal no more … Let no corrupt speech proceed out of your mouth … Let all bitterness, and wrath, and anger, and clamor, and railing, be put away from you, with all malice … But fornication, and all uncleanness, or covetousness, let it not even be named among you, as becometh saints; nor filthiness, nor foolish talking, or jesting, which are not befitting: but rather giving of thanks. For this ye know of a surety, that no fornicator, nor unclean person, nor covetous man, who is an idolater, hath any inheritance in the kingdom of Christ and God.” (Ephesians 4:17-5:5). Though the Ephesians had been idolaters in the ancient world, the writer could easily be describing us! What then does it cost if we return to the practices of sin?
No fellowship with God. Following a laundry list of former sins, the apostle reminds them of what he had already taught them for over two years (cf. Acts 19:8-20; 20:17-32). “For this ye know of a surety, that no fornicator, nor unclean person, nor covetous man, who is an idolater, hath any inheritance in the kingdom of Christ and God” (Ephesians 5:5; cf. Galatians 5:19-21; I Corinthians 6:9-11). Sin does that! “Behold, Jehovah’s hand is not shortened, that it cannot save; neither his ear heavy, that it cannot hear: but your iniquities have separated between you and your God, and your sins have hid his face from you, so that he will not hear” (Isaiah 59:1-2). “If we say that we have fellowship with him and walk in the darkness, we lie, and do not the truth” (I John 1:6).
No fellowship with brethren. Paul’s instructions are clear. “Let it not even be named among you, as becometh saints” (Ephesians 5:3). “Be not ye therefore partakers with them; For ye were once darkness, but are now light in the Lord: walk as children of light … And have no fellowship with the unfruitful works of darkness, but rather even reprove them” (Ephesians 5:7-11). It is totally inconsistent for those who “walk in the light” to have fellowship with those who “walk in darkness” (cf. II Corinthians 6:14-7:1). Note: Abstaining from these sinful things is not enough. We cannot be neutral. We must “reprove” those who practice them by our lives and our words (II Timothy 4:2; I Timothy 5:20; Titus 2:15).
No honor in sinful practices. Sin is indeed deceptive. Worldly men argue that sexual vices are natural, that they are demanded by physical need, that they are innocent pleasures. Paul said, “Let no man deceive you with empty words: for because of these things cometh the wrath of God upon the sons of disobedience” (Ephesians 5:6; cf. Colossians 2:4). Further, “the things which are done by them in secret it is a shame even to speak of” (Ephesians 5:12). Immorality, sadly seems to be the order of the day. Yet, in the wicked city of Corinth men reasoned that because of the reality of physical desire, the body must exist for fornication. Paul told them, “Flee fornication. Every sin that a man doeth is without the body; but he that committeth fornication sinneth against his own body. Or know ye not that your body is a temple of the Holy Spirit which is in you, which ye have from God? and ye are not your own; for ye were bought with a price: glorify God therefore in your body” (I Corinthians 6:18-20). God who made us with physical desire provided an honorable relationship in which it is to be satisfied. He called it marriage! “(Let) marriage (be) had in honor among all, and (let) the bed (be) undefiled: for fornicators and adulterers God will judge” (Hebrews 13:4). It is honorable because God instituted that relationship (cf. Genesis 2:18-24).
The ultimate cost of sin is my soul! “For what is a man profited, if he shall gain the whole world, and lose his own soul? or what shall a man give in exchange for his soul?” (Matthew 16:26 KJV). Yes, it is costly to become a Christian, but is more costly return to the practice of sin! Peter, writing to Christians said, “For if, after they have escaped the defilements of the world through the knowledge of the Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ, they are again entangled therein and overcome, the last state is become worse with them than the first. For it were better for them not to have known the way of righteousness, than, after knowing it, to turn back from the holy commandment delivered unto them. It has happened unto them according to the true proverb, The dog turning to his own vomit again, and the sow that had washed to wallowing in the mire” (II Peter 2:20-22).
Returning to the world after enjoying forgiveness in Christ, comes at a high cost indeed! Can you afford to live separated from God, die separated from God, and spend eternity separated from Him?