--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: It costs something to be a real…" description: "\"It costs something to be a real Christian, according to the standard of the Bible. There are enemies to be overcome, battles to be fought, sacrifices t..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/4a0/j-c-ryle-789_arms_it-costs-something-to-be-a-real-christia_2453821.png" --- # It costs something to be a real Christian, according to… ![“It costs something to be a real Christian, according to the standard of the Bible. There are enemies to be overcome, battles to be fought, sacrifices to be made, an Egypt to be forsaken, a wilderness to be passed through, a cross to be carried, a race to be run. Conversion is not putting a person…” quote by J. C. Ryle](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/4a0/j-c-ryle-789_arms_it-costs-something-to-be-a-real-christia_2453821.png) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/4a0/j-c-ryle-789_arms_it-costs-something-to-be-a-real-christia_2453821.png) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/4a0/j-c-ryle-789_arms_it-costs-something-to-be-a-real-christia_2453821.png) > “It costs something to be a real Christian, according to the standard of the Bible. There are enemies to be overcome, battles to be fought, sacrifices to be made, an Egypt to be forsaken, a wilderness to be passed through, a cross to be carried, a race to be run. Conversion is not putting a person in an arm-chair and taking them easily to heaven. It is the beginning of a mighty conflict, in which it costs much to win the victory.” [J. C. Ryle](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/j-c-ryle/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Christian faith demands sacrifice, struggle, and perseverance through trials to attain spiritual victory. **In simple terms:** Being a Christian costs effort and hardship. Key Takeaway Embrace the struggle as part of faith. Themes faith discipline spiritual warfare sacrifice Mood reflective determined Type spiritual motivational When to use this quote - church ministry - personal prayer - mission work - ethical decision making Key Concepts Christian doctrine redemptive struggle moral endurance Questions to Reflect On - What sacrifices are you willing to make for your faith? - How do you balance struggle with love? A Different Perspective The metaphor of battle may overlook grace and compassion. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Arms](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/arms/) [Battle](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/battle/) [Bible](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/bible/) [Chairs](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/chairs/) [Christian](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/christian/) [Christian According](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/christian-according-592655/) [Conflict](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/conflict/) [Conversion](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/conversion/) [Cost](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/cost/) [Crosses](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/crosses/) [Egypt](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/egypt/) [Enemy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/enemy/) [Forsaken](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/forsaken/) [Fought Sacrifices](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/fought-sacrifices-592656/) [Heaven](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/heaven/) [Made](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/made/) [Overcoming](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/overcoming/) [Persons](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/persons/) [Race](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/race/) [Real](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/real/) [Real Christian](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/real-christian-248945/) [Religion](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/religion/) [Running](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/running/) [Sacrifice](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/sacrifice/) [Standards](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/standards/) [Victory](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/victory/) [War](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/war/) [Wilderness](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/wilderness/) [Winning](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/winning/) ## Related quotes > [I am a Christian according to my conscience in belief,in purpose and wish;Mnot of course by the orthodox standard. 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Who wants to suffer so they can find joy?" ~ Dianne Simmons”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michelle-sutton/no-wonder-being-a-real-christian-isn-t-popular-who-wants-to-suffer-so/) [Michelle Sutton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michelle-sutton/) > [More people have been brought into the church by the kindness of real Christian love than by all the theological arguments in the world.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-barclay/more-people-have-been-brought-into-the-church-by-the-kindness-of-real/) [William Barclay](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-barclay/) > [“But in a real Christian partnership, one member’s guidance is always submitted to the other’s for correction and confirmation.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/brother-andrew/but-in-a-real-christian-partnership-one-member-s-guidance-is-always/) [Brother Andrew](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/brother-andrew/) > [“No wonder being a real Christian isn't popular. Who wants to suffer so they can find joy?”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michelle-sutton/no-wonder-being-a-real-christian-isn-t-popular-who-wants-to-suffer-so-2/) [Michelle Sutton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michelle-sutton/) > [Of all the systems of morality, ancient or modern which have come under my observation, none appears to me so pure as that of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thomas-jefferson/of-all-the-systems-of-morality-ancient-or-modern-which-have-come/) [Thomas Jefferson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thomas-jefferson/) > [I am a real Christian - that is to say, a disciple of the doctrines of Jesus Christ.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thomas-jefferson/i-am-a-real-christian-that-is-to-say-a-disciple-of-the-doctrines-of/) [Thomas Jefferson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thomas-jefferson/) > [A real Christian is the one who can give his pet parrot to the town gossip](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/billy-graham/a-real-christian-is-the-one-who-can-give-his-pet-parrot-to-the-town/) [Billy Graham](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/billy-graham/) > [Religion is spelled 'D-O', because it consists of the things people do try to somehow gain God's forgiveness and favor. But the problem is…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bill-hybels/religion-is-spelled-d-o-because-it-consists-of-the-things-people-do/) [Bill Hybels](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bill-hybels/) > [In the Christian Story, mind and matter - invisible things and visible things - are both real. The Christian view is not the only…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/greg-koukl/in-the-christian-story-mind-and-matter-invisible-things-and-visible/) [Greg Koukl](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/greg-koukl/) > [A real Christian is a person who can give his pet parrot to the town gossip.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/billy-graham/a-real-christian-is-a-person-who-can-give-his-pet-parrot-to-the-town/) [Billy Graham](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/billy-graham/) > [The truth is the real Christian experience is truly about repenting every day because there is no Christian that doesn't sin.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stephen-baldwin/the-truth-is-the-real-christian-experience-is-truly-about-repenting/) [Stephen Baldwin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stephen-baldwin/) > [A real Christian in an odd number anyway. He feels supreme love for One whom he has never seen, talks familiarly every day to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/a-real-christian-in-an-odd-number-anyway-he-feels-supreme-love-for/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) ## More by J. C. Ryle > [When a person’s tongue is extensively wrong, it is absurd, no less than unscriptural, to say that their heart is right.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/j-c-ryle/when-a-person-s-tongue-is-extensively-wrong-it-is-absurd-no-less-than/) [J. C. Ryle](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/j-c-ryle/) > [Love should be the silver thread that runs through all your conduct.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/j-c-ryle/love-should-be-the-silver-thread-that-runs-through-all-your-conduct/) [J. C. Ryle](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/j-c-ryle/) > [Amidst the flood of dangerous reading, I plead for my Master's book; I call upon you not to forget the book of the soul.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/j-c-ryle/amidst-the-flood-of-dangerous-reading-i-plead-for-my-master-s-book-i/) [J. C. Ryle](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/j-c-ryle/) > [Persecution, in short, is like the goldsmith's stamp on real silver and gold - it is one of the marks of a converted man.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/j-c-ryle/persecution-in-short-is-like-the-goldsmith-s-stamp-on-real-silver-and/) [J. C. Ryle](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/j-c-ryle/) > [The parent who tries to train without setting a good example is building with one hand, and pulling down with the other.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/j-c-ryle/the-parent-who-tries-to-train-without-setting-a-good-example-is/) [J. C. Ryle](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/j-c-ryle/) > [We are all naturally self-righteous. It is the family disease of all the children of Adam.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/j-c-ryle/we-are-all-naturally-self-righteous-it-is-the-family-disease-of-all/) [J. C. Ryle](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/j-c-ryle/) > [Sunday morning, before we go to hear the Word of God preached...let us not rush into God’s presence careless, reckless, and unprepared, as if…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/j-c-ryle/sunday-morning-before-we-go-to-hear-the-word-of-god-preached-let-us/) [J. C. Ryle](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/j-c-ryle/) > [The true secret of spiritual strength is self-distrust and deep humilty.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/j-c-ryle/the-true-secret-of-spiritual-strength-is-self-distrust-and-deep/) [J. C. Ryle](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/j-c-ryle/) > [That Bible is read best, which is practised most.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/j-c-ryle/that-bible-is-read-best-which-is-practised-most/) [J. C. Ryle](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/j-c-ryle/) > [O Christian, look up and take comfort. Jesus has prepared a place for you, and those who follow Him shall never perish, neither shall…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/j-c-ryle/o-christian-look-up-and-take-comfort-jesus-has-prepared-a-place-for/) [J. C. Ryle](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/j-c-ryle/) > [Let your Christianity be so unmistakable, your eye so single, your heart so whole, your walk so straightforward, that all who see you may…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/j-c-ryle/let-your-christianity-be-so-unmistakable-your-eye-so-single-your/) [J. C. Ryle](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/j-c-ryle/) > [Let it be a settled principle ...that men's salvation, if saved, is wholly of God; and that man's ruin, if lost, is wholly of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/j-c-ryle/let-it-be-a-settled-principle-that-men-s-salvation-if-saved-is-wholly/) [J. C. Ryle](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/j-c-ryle/) > [That Bible is read best - which is practiced most!](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/j-c-ryle/that-bible-is-read-best-which-is-practiced-most/) [J. C. Ryle](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/j-c-ryle/) > [If we would know whether our faith is genuine, we do well to ask ourselves how we are living.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/j-c-ryle/if-we-would-know-whether-our-faith-is-genuine-we-do-well-to-ask/) [J. C. Ryle](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/j-c-ryle/) > [To be born again is, as it were, to enter upon a new existence, to have a new mind, a new heart, new views,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/j-c-ryle/to-be-born-again-is-as-it-were-to-enter-upon-a-new-existence-to-have/) [J. C. Ryle](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/j-c-ryle/) [Explore all 369 J. C. Ryle quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/j-c-ryle/) ## More Arms quotes > [I genuinely did not expect more than half our nation to choose to walk away from our long-term allies into the arms of our…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/brian-reade/i-genuinely-did-not-expect-more-than-half-our-nation-to-choose-to/) [Brian Reade](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/brian-reade/) > [I don't wear a watch because I want my arms to weigh the same. So if somebody asks me what time it is, I…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mitch-hedberg/i-don-t-wear-a-watch-because-i-want-my-arms-to-weigh-the-same-so-if/) [Mitch Hedberg](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mitch-hedberg/) > [Preaching to the choir actually arms the choir with arguments and elevates the choir's discourse. There's a reason the right does it and does…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dan-savage/preaching-to-the-choir-actually-arms-the-choir-with-arguments-and/) [Dan Savage](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dan-savage/) > [He caught her, she fell, he caught her in his arms, he held her tightly unconscious of what he was doing. He held her…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/victor-hugo/he-caught-her-she-fell-he-caught-her-in-his-arms-he-held-her-tightly/) [Victor Hugo](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/victor-hugo/) > [Are we fighting?" I asked Morelli. "No. Were discussing." "Are you sure?" "Am I yelling?" Morelli asked. "Is my face purple? Are the cords…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/janet-evanovich/are-we-fighting-i-asked-morelli-no-were-discussing-are-you-sure-am-i/) [Janet Evanovich](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/janet-evanovich/) > [A home isn't just a roof over our heads. A home is a place where we feel loved and where we love others. It's…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/hermann-hesse/a-home-isn-t-just-a-roof-over-our-heads-a-home-is-a-place-where-we/) [Hermann Hesse](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/hermann-hesse/) > [Comerado, this is no book,Who touches this, touches a man,(Is it night? Are we here alone?)It is I you hold, and who holds you,I…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/walt-whitman/comerado-this-is-no-book-who-touches-this-touches-a-man-is-it-night/) [Walt Whitman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/walt-whitman/) > [Even the stove and the refrigerator looked human, I mean good human - they seemed to have arms and voices and they said, hang…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/charles-bukowski/even-the-stove-and-the-refrigerator-looked-human-i-mean-good-human/) [Charles Bukowski](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/charles-bukowski/) > [I separated the joints, the arm joints, the leg joints, and had to do two boilings. 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