Understanding the Pearl of Great Price
I was rereading John Macarthur's book "The Gospel According to Jesus" which is the most recent edition from the bookstore. I was also examining the reality of the Pearl of Great Price and the meaning of it. While salvation is for free and can't be bought by money or good works yet it has a costly side. Now before you accuse me of teaching works salvation, salvation has a costly side. There is a high cost of it. In Matthew 12:45-46 we read the Pearl of Great Price which a merchant when he finds the best pearl ever gives up everything for that pearl. In the area of salvation, we must understand that there is a costly side. True all you need to do is believe on the Lord Jesus Christ to be saved BUT here are things that must be understood that salvation may cost a person:- Getting saved will make you leave your sin-loving life because you got saved to serve, not to sin. That means you could lose all your friends when you receive the free gift of salvation.
- It can cost you your pride. Works salvation appeals to pride. Remember the Pharisees were very arrogant into believing they were good enough for Heaven only to find out that they were as sinful as the average publican and the average prostitute of their day. If you receive salvation by faith alone in Jesus Christ that results to selfless God glorifying works, pride is severely wounded.
- It can cause you to be disinherited. As Christ said that to think not that He came to bring peace but a sword. The household for the sake of Christ will be divided that is Christian against non-Christian. When I converted to Christianity, my Roman Catholic folks sneered at my supposed bigotry, my changed views, etc. which I realized is the cost of following Christ.
- It can even cost you your life. The crusade against Christ is not anything new. From the days of the Apostles to day, we are in the last days. The Roman Empire, the Crusades, the Spanish Inquisition, Communist governments, atheist governments, etc. have all been seeking to destroy Christianity. The price of conversion though it costs none, it can even mean they will brutally kill anyone who receives Jesus Christ as Lord and Savior.
However behind the HIGH COSTS of receiving the free gift of salvation, there is the infinite value. Know that for the costliest gem, the merchant could actually make more money than he had. We must realize the infinite value of following Jesus is more than just eternal life- it is also with the rewards in Heaven. There is a high cost and truly saved people would rather pay the cost for being a Christian while false converts will shy away eventually. This is something we ought to understand.