Counting the Cost

In this Bible passage, Paul is encouraging followers of Jesus to walk in the reality of how demanding it can be to stand up for the One in whom they have chosen to believe. While Jesus walked on the Earth, He made it very clear that, if we make the choice to follow Him, we are choosing to be in opposition to a hostile spiritual realm, operating in the world, that hates His truth and hates those who speak it. He said, “If the world hates you, understand that it hated Me first” (John 15:18). Jesus was not exaggerating the challenges.

Last year, over four and a half thousand Christians around the world were murdered for their faith, and evidence suggests that extreme hostility towards those who hold to the truths of the Bible will only increase in the days ahead. Authentic Christianity is not a religious organisation trying to improve the moral standards of this world but rather a spiritual movement that proclaims a divine Kingdom utterly opposed to the spiritual ruler of this rebellious world and all that he promotes.

That spiritual movement is wholly dependent on the person and teaching of Jesus Christ, who came to defeat this defiling world ruler and to break the hold that he has on countless lives. It is indeed a spiritual battle, certainly already won by Jesus but a battle that will do much damage until the culmination of victory.

In view of all this, Jesus has given His followers this powerful assurance, both truthful and comforting: “In this world you will have tribulation. But take courage; I have overcome the world!” (John 16:33).