This document provides an overview of the rewards and costs of being a disciple of Christ. It discusses how discipleship involves suffering, hardship, persecution and self-denial in this life, as seen in the examples of apostles Paul and John who endured much. However, it also highlights the eternal rewards of discipleship, which include an imperishable inheritance in heaven, a glorious transformation of the body, and seeing God face to face in a perfect new creation. The document encourages focusing on gaining entrance into heaven rather than earthly things.

2. We’re going to read the entire th chapter of
.
It paints a wonderful picture of the hope we
have in Jesus.

3. NIV For we know that if the
earthly tent we live in is destroyed, we have a
building from God, an eternal house in heaven,
not built by human hands. Meanwhile we
groan, longing to be clothed instead with our
heavenly dwelling, because when we are
clothed, we will not be found naked.

4. For while we are in this tent, we groan and are
burdened, because we do not wish to be
unclothed but to be clothed instead with our
heavenly dwelling, so that what is mortal may
be swallowed up by life. Now the one who has
fashioned us for this very purpose is God, who
has given us the Spirit as a deposit,
guaranteeing what is to come.

5. Therefore we are always confident and know
that as long as we are at home in the body we
are away from the Lord. For we live by faith,
not by sight. We are confident, I say, and
would prefer to be away from the body and at
home with the Lord. So we make it our goal to
please him, whether we are at home in the body
or away from it.

6. For we must all appear before the judgment seat
of Christ, so that each of us may receive what is
due us for the things done while in the body,
whether good or bad.
Since, then, we know what it is to fear the Lord,
we try to persuade others. What we are is plain to
God, and I hope it is also plain to your conscience.
We are not trying to commend ourselves to you
again, but are giving you an opportunity to take
pride in us, so that you can answer those who take
pride in what is seen rather than in what is in the
heart.

7. If we are “out of our mind,” as some say, it is
for God; if we are in our right mind, it is for you.
For Christ’s love compels us, because we are
convinced that one died for all, and therefore all
died. And he died for all, that those who live
should no longer live for themselves but for him
who died for them and was raised again.

8. So from now on we regard no one from a
worldly point of view. Though we once regarded
Christ in this way, we do so no longer.
Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, the new
creation has come: The old has gone, the new is
here! All this is from God, who reconciled us
to himself through Christ and gave us the
ministry of reconciliation:

9. that God was reconciling the world to himself
in Christ, not counting people’s sins against
them. And he has committed to us the message
of reconciliation. We are therefore Christ’s
ambassadors, as though God were making his
appeal through us. We implore you on Christ’s
behalf: Be reconciled to God. God made him
who had no sin to be sin for us, so that in him
we might become the righteousness of God.

10. The st verse says it all! God made him who
had no sin to be sin for us,
That could only be Jesus.
If we review and other Scriptures it
becomes evident Jesus came to take our
punishment for sin.

11. He knew no sin, but our sin was put on Him, so
that in him we might become the righteousness
of God.
Why did Jesus humble Himself and take on
human form and offer to take our punishment?

12. that God was reconciling the world to himself
in Christ, not counting people’s sins against
them. And he has committed to us the message
of reconciliation.

13. All of this was done so we have a building from
God, an eternal house in heaven, not built by
human hands.

14. Because of this great gift, We are confident, I
say, and would prefer to be away from the body
and at home with the Lord. So we make it our
goal to please him, whether we are at home in
the body or away from it.

15. Our ambition, goal, what keeps us going,
should,
NO, MUST, BE
PLEASING GOD!
With this in mind, we are given marching orders
in the last few verses we read.

16. Verse 18c…gave us the ministry of
reconciliation.
Verse 19c…And he has committed to us the
message of reconciliation.
Verse 20a…We are therefore Christ’s
ambassadors.
How are we to accomplish our task?
Verse 20c…We implore you on Christ’s behalf:
Be reconciled to God,

17. Why do we strive to please God serving as
Ambassadors for Christ, fulfilling our ministry
by spreading the message of reconciliation?
So that as many people as possible receive their
eternal home in the heavens.

18. THE COST
OF
DISCIPLESHIP

19. Before one's own self
NIV Then he said to them all:
"Whoever wants to be my disciple must deny
themselves and take up their cross daily and
follow me. For whoever wants to save their
life will lose it, but whoever loses their life for
me will save it.

20. Before anyone else, including family
NIV "If anyone comes to me and
does not hate father and mother, wife and
children, brothers and sisters—yes, even their
own life—such a person cannot be my disciple.

21. NIV "Do not suppose that I have
come to bring peace to the earth. I did not come
to bring peace, but a sword. For I have come
to turn "'a man against his father, a daughter
against her mother, a daughter-in-law against
her mother-in-law— a man's enemies will be
the members of his own household.'
"Anyone who loves their father or mother more
than me is not worthy of me; anyone who loves
their son or daughter more than me is not
worthy of me.

22. Before anything the world has to offer.
NIV What good is it for someone to
gain the whole world, and yet lose or forfeit their
very self?
NIV In the same way, those of you
who do not give up everything you have cannot
be my disciples.

23. We must be willing to bear our own cross.
NIV And whoever does not carry
their cross and follow me cannot be my disciple.

24. Living in an ungodly world, we may find that
following Christ sometimes involves ridicule
and persecution.
NIV In fact, everyone who wants
to live a godly life in Christ Jesus will be
persecuted,

25. The persecution may be physical.
NIV Dear friends, do not be
surprised at the fiery ordeal that has come on
you to test you, as though something strange
were happening to you. But rejoice
inasmuch as you participate in the sufferings of
Christ, so that you may be overjoyed when his
glory is revealed.

26. The persecution may be verbal.
NIV "But to you who are listening I
say: Love your enemies, do good to those who
hate you, bless those who curse you, pray
for those who mistreat you.

27. Other things we must endure for Christ's sake:
Personal weaknesses in our struggle against
sin.
NIV No, I strike a blow to my
body and make it my slave so that after I have
preached to others, I myself will not be
disqualified for the prize.

28. Disappointments brought on by failing brethren.
NIV Who is weak, and I do
not feel weak? Who is led into sin, and I do not
inwardly burn?
Whose apathy and neglect produce slothful service.
Whose irregular attendance makes it difficult to
depend on them.
Whose unwillingness to serve creates extra burdens
on those who do serve.
Whose murmuring hinders the efforts of those who
try to do something.

29. Even if blessed to escape such things, we must
still be willing to expend time and effort in
promoting the cause of Christ in positive ways.
Sometimes alone, or with few to help.
Sometimes in difficult places, where few
appreciate your efforts.

30. Yes, discipleship can be costly.
We are often "hindered", "burdened", with
"trials, toils and tears" and "many a heartache".
But the Lord tells us through His Word that
"Heaven Will Surely Be Worth It All".

31. What a place Heaven will be.
The Apostle John was given a glimpse into
heaven.
Let’s take a look and see what he saw.

32. NIV Then I saw “a new heaven
and a new earth,” for the first heaven and the
first earth had passed away, and there was no
longer any sea. I saw the Holy City, the new
Jerusalem, coming down out of heaven from
God, prepared as a bride beautifully dressed for
her husband.

33. And I heard a loud voice from the throne
saying, “Look! God’s dwelling place is now
among the people, and he will dwell with them.
They will be his people, and God himself will be
with them and be their God. ‘He will wipe
every tear from their eyes. There will be no more
death’ or mourning or crying or pain, for the old
order of things has passed away.”

34. He who was seated on the throne said, “I am
making everything new!” Then he said, “Write
this down, for these words are trustworthy and
true.”
He said to me: “It is done. I am the Alpha and
the Omega, the Beginning and the End. To the
thirsty I will give water without cost from the
spring of the water of life.

35. Those who are victorious will inherit all this,
and I will be their God and they will be my
children. But the cowardly, the unbelieving,
the vile, the murderers, the sexually immoral,
those who practice magic arts, the idolaters and
all liars—they will be consigned to the fiery lake
of burning sulfur. This is the second death.”

36. One of the seven angels who had the seven
bowls full of the seven last plagues came and
said to me, “Come, I will show you the bride, the
wife of the Lamb.” And he carried me away in
the Spirit to a mountain great and high, and
showed me the Holy City, Jerusalem, coming
down out of heaven from God.

37. It shone with the gloryofGod, and its
was like that of a very precious jewel, like a
, as . It had a great, high
wall with twelve gates, and with twelve angels at
the gates. On the gates were written the names
of the twelve tribes of Israel. There were
three gates on the east, three on the north, three
on the south and three on the west.

38. The wall of the city had twelve foundations,
and on them were the names of the twelve
apostles of the Lamb.
The angel who talked with me had a
measuring rod of to measure the city, its
gates and its walls. The city was laid out like
a square, as long as it was wide. He measured
the city with the rod and found it to be 12,000
stadia in length, and as wide and high as it is
long.

39. The angel measured the wall using human
measurement, and it was 144 cubits thick.
The wall was made of , and the city of
pure , as . The foundations
of the city walls were decorated with every kind
of precious stone. The first foundation was
, the second , the third , the
fourth ,

40. the fifth onyx, the sixth , the seventh
, the eighth , the ninth , the
tenth , the eleventh , and the
twelfth . The twelve gates were
twelve , each gate made of a single .
The great street of the city was of , as pure
as .

41. I did not see a temple in the city, because the
and the are its temple.
The city does not need the sun or the moon to
shine on it, for the gloryofGodgives it , and
the is its . The nations will walk by
its , and the kings of the earth will bring
their splendor into it.

42. On no day will its gates ever be shut, for
there will be no night there. The glory and
honor of the nations will be brought into it.
Nothing impure will ever enter it, nor will anyone
who does what is shameful or deceitful, but only
those whose names are written in the Lamb’s
book of life.

43. Last week we looked at the alternative to
pleasing God.
Eternal fire, darkness, no rest, separation
from all that is good… from God.

44. Wouldn’t we rather focus our efforts and thoughts
on gaining entrance into that
BEAUTIFUL,
WONDERFUL,
PERFECT,
CITY
God has prepared for His people?

45. THE REWARDS
OF
DISCIPLESHIP

46. A man who endured much hardship.
NIV Are they servants of
Christ? (I am out of my mind to talk like this.) I
am more. I have worked much harder, been in
prison more frequently, been flogged more
severely, and been exposed to death again and
again. Five times I received from the Jews
the forty lashes minus one.

47. Three times I was beaten with rods, once I
was pelted with stones, three times I was
shipwrecked, I spent a night and a day in the
open sea, I have been constantly on the
move. I have been in danger from rivers, in
danger from bandits, in danger from my fellow
Jews, in danger from Gentiles; in danger in the
city, in danger in the country, in danger at sea;
and in danger from false believers.

48. I have labored and toiled and have often
gone without sleep; I have known hunger and
thirst and have often gone without food; I have
been cold and naked. Besides everything
else, I face daily the pressure of my concern for
all the churches.

49. Yet looked forward to, as we read earlier:
A house not made with hands
NIV For we know that if the
earthly tent we live in is destroyed, we have a
building from God, an eternal house in heaven,
not built by human hands..

50. The riches of God's grace.
NIV in order that in the
coming ages he might show the
incomparable riches of his grace,
expressed in his kindness to us in
Christ Jesus.

51. A glorious transformation
NIV But our citizenship is in
heaven. And we eagerly await a Savior from
there, the Lord Jesus Christ, who, by the
power that enables him to bring everything
under his control, will transform our lowly
bodies so that they will be like his glorious
body.

52. A crown of righteousness
NIV Now there is in store for me
the crown of righteousness, which the Lord, the
righteous Judge, will award to me on that day—
and not only to me, but also to all who have
longed for his appearing.

53. A heavenly kingdom
NET The Lord will rescue me
from every evil attack and will bring me safely to
his heavenly kingdom. To him be glory for ever
and ever. Amen.

54. NIV For it seems to me that
God has put us apostles on display at the end of
the procession, like those condemned to die in
the arena. We have been made a spectacle to
the whole universe, to angels as well as to
human beings.

55. We are fools for Christ, but you are so wise
in Christ! We are weak, but you are strong! You
are honored, we are dishonored! To this very
hour we go hungry and thirsty, we are in rags,
we are brutally treated, we are homeless.

56. We work hard with our own hands. When we
are cursed, we bless; when we are persecuted,
we endure it; when we are slandered, we
answer kindly. We have become the scum of the
earth, the garbage of the world—right up to this
moment.

57. A man who likewise suffered hardship
yet looked forward to:
An inheritance imperishable, undefiled,
reserved in heaven.
NIV and into an inheritance that can
never perish, spoil or fade. This inheritance is
kept in heaven for you,

58. A new heavens and new earth, in which
righteousness dwells.
NIV But in keeping with his promise
we are looking forward to a new heaven and a
new earth, where righteousness dwells.
So then, dear friends, since you are looking
forward to this, make every effort to be found
spotless, blameless and at peace with him.

59. A man who suffered tribulation and exile.
NIV I, John, your brother and
companion in the suffering and kingdom and
patient endurance that are ours in Jesus, was
on the island of Patmos because of the word of
God and the testimony of Jesus.

60. Yet was blessed to be shown:
The bliss of those who were triumphant over
tribulation.
NET After this I looked, and
there before me was a great multitude that no
one could count, from every nation, tribe,
people and language, standing before the
throne and before the Lamb. They were wearing
white robes and were holding palm branches in
their hands.

61. And they cried out in a loud voice:
“Salvation belongs to our God,
who sits on the throne,
and to the Lamb.”

62. Then one of the elders asked me, “These in
white robes—who are they, and where did they
come from?”
I answered, “Sir, you know.”
And he said, “These are they who have come
out of the great tribulation; they have washed
their robes and made them white in the blood of
the Lamb.

63. Therefore,
“they are before the throne of God
and serve him day and night in his temple;
and he who sits on the throne
will shelter them with his presence.
‘Never again will they hunger;
never again will they thirst.
The sun will not beat down on them,’ nor any
scorching heat.

64. For the Lamb at the center of the throne
will be their shepherd;
‘he will lead them to springs of living water.’
‘And God will wipe away every tear from their
eyes.’”

65. We already read about how he was shown the
wonders of Heaven and the destiny of the
redeemed, forever with God.
Can there be any comparison between a few
years of service, even with hardship,
and an eternity of bliss in the presence of God?

66. We have read the words of those like Paul,
Peter, and John.
What if they could return and speak to us
today?
What if our loved ones who died in Christ could
return and speak to us today?
Would they not tell us,
"Heaven Will Surely Be Worth It All?"

67. Whatever the cost of following Jesus in this life,
may the words of the Holy Scripture remind and
comfort us to be faithful and persevere.

68. NIV So do not throw away your
confidence; it will be richly rewarded.
You need to persevere so that when you have
done the will of God, you will receive what he
has promised.

69. It is imperative we strive to please God serving
as Ambassadors for Christ, fulfilling our
ministry by spreading the message of
reconciliation!

70. Reconciliation
With God
Means
Eternal
Glory!!!