Christ Quote by J. I. Packer
“Christ had no interest in gathering vast crowds of professed adherents who would melt away as soon as they found out what following Him actually demanded of them. In our own presentation of Christ's gospel, therefore, we need to lay a similar stress on the cost of following Christ and make sinners face it soberly before we urge them to respond to the message of free forgiveness. In common honesty, we must not conceal the fact that free forgiveness in one sense will cost everything.”
About This Quote
Source Book: Knowing God, 1973
Following Christ demands costly commitment; forgiveness is free but requires total surrender, not superficial belief.
In simple terms: True discipleship costs everything.
Key Takeaway
Embrace the full cost of faith.
Themes
faith
cost
forgiveness
commitment
Mood
reflective
serious
Type
theological
inspirational
When to use this quote
- church teaching
- personal discipleship
- missionary work
Key Concepts
theology
spiritual discipline
Questions to Reflect On
- Are you willing to sacrifice for your beliefs?
- What does “free forgiveness” truly mean?
A Different Perspective
Some may reject the high cost of true faith.
![“Christ and His Gospel will always be spoken against. If you know a gospel which is approved by the age and patronized[6] by the learned, that gospel is a lie!”–1893,” quote by Charles H. Spurgeon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/img-quotes/1a0/charles-h-spurgeon-1432_gospel_christ-and-his-gospel-will-always-be-spo_597671.jpg)
![“T]he church is not a place. It's not a building. It's not a preaching point. It's not a spiritual service provider. It's a people - the new covenant, blood-bought people of God. That's why Paul said, 'Christ loved the church and gave himself up for her' (Eph. 5:25). He didn't give himself up for a…” quote by Mark Dever](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/img-quotes/7a4/mark-dever-3175_blood_t-he-church-is-not-a-place-it-s-not-a-bu_3297.jpg)
