We have clearly established through Scripture that God’s will is to become like Jesus in this life.

Although we thoroughly understand that, but the cost of becoming like Christ is great.

The cost of becoming like Christ requires total surrender of oneself to God.

The cost is giving up everything that we deem important that is not inline with God’s will for our life.

I don’t believe that it is God’s divine will that everyone is healthy and wealthy.

I am not saying that God causes our sickness or poverty, but however, He does allow it so we can become like Him.

In the Garden of Gethsemane Jesus prayed three times for the Father to remove the cup of suffering, but then he said, nevertheless, not my will, but thine will be done.

Well, if we are going to become like Christ, we must nevertheless have a moment.

Which is total surrender and submission to God’s will for our lives.

God may want to use your trials and tribulation to show Himself in you and working through you.

While Jesus walked this earth, he was our suffering Savior and if we are going to be like Him it requires some suffering.

The Cost of becoming like Christ

1. Becoming like Christ is a choice- vs. 24a

2. The cost of becoming like Christ is denying yourself- vs. 24b

3. The cost of becoming like Christ is taking up your cross-vs. 24c

4. The cost of becoming like Christ is following Jesus- vs. 24d

Everything in life that is worth anything costs something.

Nothing in life is free, I know salvation is free to us, but it cost God his Son’s life.

To grow spiritually mature to become like Christ costs much. It is hard to be who God says we are, it is hard to do what God says to do.
 

1. Becoming like Christ is a choice- vs. 24a

“Then said Jesus unto his disciples, If any man will come after me”

Disciple is the Greek word mathetes means to adherent who accepts the instruction given to him and makes it his rule of life.

1. Only disciples of Christ will become like Christ.

2. Becoming like Christ is a choice.

“If any man will come after me”

• The if suggests that everyone will not come after Christ, even if they claim to be saved by Christ

Come is the Gr. verb erchomai  meaning to come

• It is in the present tense meaning continual, ongoing, perpetual.

• It is in the middle voice that means the subject acting upon himself.

3. Becoming like Christ is beneficial to those who come after Christ.

2. The cost of becoming like Christ is denying yourself- vs. 24b

“Then said Jesus unto his disciples, if any man come after me, let him deny himself.”

1. Those who decide to follow Christ are commanded by Christ to deny themselves.

• Let him in the Gr. is an imperative verb, aorist tense, and passive voice. 

• Deny himself is also an imperative verb, aorist tense, passive voice.

2. God commands us to deny ourselves and we receive the benefit from doing it.

• Deny in the Greek is to lose sight of one's self-interest, to refuse to indulge in some thing’s that may satisfy your desires.

3. To become like Christ, we have to surrender to God our will, our affection, our body, and soul.

• To deny ourselves is not to seek our desires but lay it all down for Christ.
   

3. The cost of becoming like Christ is to take up your cross- vs. 24c

“Then said Jesus unto his disciples, if any man come after me, let him deny himself and pick up his cross and follow me.”

1. Take up his cross daily is a command from God

• Take up is an imperative verb, aorist tense, and passive voice.

• Take up is to carry or bear your cross.

• Not one time, but daily, every day.

2. The cost of becoming like Christ is to take up your cross

• Cross is the Gr. word stauros which is an instrument of torture, pain and suffering.

3. To take up your cross is to hold it high so all the world can see it and see God’s power in your life.

• The world says leave it, but God says pick it up.

• Some say break through, but God says carry through.

• God says the cost of becoming like Christ is carrying your heavy burdens.

God says take up your cross!

• This suggests everyone does not have the same cross.

• Maybe sickness for some.

• Maybe financial despair.

• Maybe social despair.

4. The cost of becoming like Christ is to follow Jesus- vs. 24d

“Then said Jesus unto his disciples, if any man will come after me, let him deny himself, and pick up his cross, and follow me.”

Follow me is an imperative verb in the present tense
Follow is the Gr. word akoloutheo means to follow in the way of  

1. To follow Jesus is to mimic his life, it is to become like Him.

• Following Him closely makes me more like Him day by day.

2. To become like Christ is being committed to God.

3. To follow Jesus is literal and spiritual.

• To follow Jesus is to go where Jesus goes.

• To follow Jesus is to do what Jesus does.

4. To follow Jesus is to love like Jesus loves, is to serve like Jesus serves and to give like Jesus gives.

I have decided to follow Jesus and where he leads, I will follow.

I will follow Him through the hills and valleys, through the sunshine and rain.

The more we follow him through his Word by His Spirit, we become more like Him!