Brian’s Reviews > The Cost of Discipleship > Status Update

“It is not a question of stepping into the shoes of the disciples, or if any other of the New Testament characters. The only constant factor throughout is the sameness of Christ and of his call then and now. His word is the same, whether it was addressed during his earthly life…or whether it is speaking to us today. Here, as there, we receive the gracious summons to enter his kingdom and his glory.”

“It is to be observed that Jesus does not deprive the human heart of its instinctive needs - treasure, glory, and praise. But He gives it higher objects - the glory of God (John 5:44), the glorying in the cross (Gal. 6:14), and the treasure in Heaven.” (Matt. 6:20)

“…the evil will is still alive even in the followers of Christ, it still seeks to cut them off from fellowship with Him; and that is why they must also pray that the will of God may prevail more and more in their hearts every day and break down all defiance. In their end the whole world must bow before that will…Heaven and earth shall be subject to God.”

“The one thing that matters is practical obedience. This will…make…all of us free to become the child of God. Such is God’s diagnosis of man’s moral difficulties.”

“The idea of a situation in which faith is possible is only a way of stating the facts of a case in which the following two propositions…are equally true: only he who believes is obedient, and only he who is obedient believes.”