What One Must Give Up To Become and Remain A Christian

In order to become a Christian one must give up this world, take up their burdens and follow Christ. To many, this is just too much to ask. The deeper we are in the ocean of sin the harder is is to get back to shore. Even so, the further we are away from God the harder it is to return to him. So it is for many today. Let us examine just what it will take for you to get to Christ, and remain a faithful Christian.

Give Up Sins

The first thing one must give up in order to become a Christian is their sins. Except we repent, we perish. Lk 13:3 Sounds easy enough, but actually most can’t endure the possibility that they must give up all sins. After-all one might reason, God is not a fanatic, a legalist is he? Imagine being baptized into Christ as a teenager and then told, you can’t go to dances, wild parties, and engage in premarital sex. Imagine being told that sex was designed for marriage, and marriage only. Imagine being told before one can be baptized that they have to give up their adulterous marriage. Giving up sin is nothing new to the scripture. It’s called repentance, and before we can become a member of the body (the church) of Christ, one must repent of all of their sins for God no longer winks at ignorance. Acts 17:30

Give Up Family

How often one has to choose God over family. I knew of a woman who was married to an atheist and she was raised as a Pentecostal. She was told by her husband that if she became a member of the church of Christ he would leave her. Her mother and father threatened her that if she left the Pentecostal church they would disown her. To her credit she chose to obey the gospel and lose both her husband and parents. Sadly to say, most will choose to obey their wicked husband and family over God. Jesus said, “If anyone comes to Me and does not hate (love less) his father and mother, wife and children, brothers and sisters, yes, and his own life also, he cannot be My disciple (Christian).” Lk 14:26 This is a hard saying but one that bears record of any marriage. Did not the scripture instruct us that when we become married that we must leave father and mother. Gen 2:24 Even so, to become and remain a Christian we must love God more than we love our family.

Give Up Ourselves

In order to be a Christian one must lose this life. Jesus said, “If anyone desires to come after Me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross, and follow Me.  For whoever desires to save his life will lose it, but whoever loses his life for My sake will find it. For what profit is it to a man if he gains the whole world, and loses his own soul? Or what will a man give in exchange for his soul?” Matt 16:24-26 All Christians will suffer persecutions and their obedience to Christ will cause them to lose many advantages in this life. All Christians will suffer with similar afflictions which Peter described as “fiery trials” just because they are a Christian. 1 Pet 5:9,10 f; 1 Pet 4:12,16 Christians will suffer with bad health, in poverty, and be considered the vagabonds of the world. Jam 2:5 Yet, God is merciful to his own and will deliver them by means of prayer if it be according to his will. 1 Jn 5:14

Denominational Converts

Often denominational converts to Christianity have the most to give up in this life. Imagine being a high paid preacher in a denomination with your livelihood set for life, and then the gospel is presented to you. I recall one denominational preacher who had such choice to make. His wife told him if he left the Baptist church that she would leave him. Eventually he did make the choice to leave the Baptist church and went on to become a very effective preacher in the church of Christ, converting many from the false doctrine of denominationalism. Another man was an elder in the Baptist for over 40 years who was faced with the same decision.  He lost his wife and children, he lost his position of authority, and he even lost his job due to becoming a member of the Lord’s church, the church of Christ.

The apostle Paul was such a man who lost much as well. He was second to none among the Pharisees and in his position was set for life. Yet, he gave it all up and became a mighty apostle and preacher. The chief writer of the new testament not only convinced many of his day, but continues to persuade many by his obedience to a higher calling. This was what Paul said concerning such, “But what things were gain to me, those I counted loss for Christ. Yea doubtless, and I count all things but loss for the excellency of the knowledge of Christ Jesus my Lord: for whom I have suffered the loss of all things, and do count them but dung, that I may win Christ”  Phil 3:7-8

Conclusion: Christians are not permitted to love this life and love God at the same time. John said, “Do not love the world or the things in the world. If anyone loves the world, the love of the Father is not in him. For all that is in the world — the lust of the flesh, the lust of the eyes, and the pride of life — is not of the Father but is of the world. And the world is passing away, and the lust of it; but he who does the will of God abides forever.” 1 Jn 2:15-17 This is what Paul described as ‘walking in the newness of life.’ Rom 6:4 Walking the strait and narrow way was never described as the easiest way, but it was described as the only way which leads to life everlasting. Mt 7:14 Christians should not be discouraged, but be as Paul who said, “Therefore most gladly I will rather boast in my infirmities (sickness), that the power of Christ may rest upon me. Therefore I take pleasure in infirmities (sickness), in reproaches, in needs, in persecutions, in distresses, for Christ’s sake. For when I am weak, then I am strong.” 2 Cor 12:9,10 He rejoiced knowing that if he was being persecuted, the offense of the cross had not ceased. Gal 5:11 In other words, Christians know they are right with God when tribulations and persecutions continue. All Christians know that they are not alone in their sufferings, for all true Christians suffer for the cause of Christ. 2 Tim 3:12

The only word of caution is this, many in this world suffer, are poor, and are ill, but are not Christians. The difference is that they are not suffering because of obeying the gospel of Christ, but because of their wicked ways. How many get aids because of their wicked behavior. How many get diseases because of smoking and drinking alcohol.  As Peter said, “Let none of you suffer as a murderer, a thief, an evildoer, or as a busybody in other people’s matters. Yet if anyone suffers as a Christian, let him not be ashamed, but let him glorify God in this matter. For the time has come for judgment to begin at the house of God; and if it begins with us first, what will be the end of those who do not obey the gospel of God? Now “If the righteous one is scarcely saved, where will the ungodly and the sinner appear?”  1 Peter 4:15-18 In the end, Christians give up much in this life, but there is one thing they never give up, eternal life! Rev 2:10