If I convert to Christianity, I will be persecuted. Should I follow Jesus?

The Cost of Following Jesus

If I convert to Christianity, I will be persecuted. Should I follow Jesus? We're going to answer that question. You can also discover more on GotQuestions .org. Converting to Christianity means becoming a follower of Jesus by faith.

Crowds flocked to Jesus, but most were not his true followers. They wanted to experience healing of their diseases, see Jesus cast out demons, and eat their fill of the bread he miraculously provided.

Jesus warned them of the cost of following him. Then he called the crowd to him, along with his disciples, and said, If anyone would come after me, he must deny himself and take up his cross and follow me.

For whoever wants to save his life will lose it, but whoever loses his life for me and for the gospel will save it. What good is it for man to gain the whole world, yet forfeit his soul? Or what can a man give in exchange for his soul?

If anyone is ashamed of me and my words in this adulterous and sinful generation, the Son of Man will be ashamed of him when he comes in his Father's glory with the holy.

Angels.

Counting the Cost of Discipleship

Would you follow your own fleshly desires, or would you deny yourself and follow Jesus? Do you value your earthly life or eternal life? You pursue what you treasure. You go to work and sweat because you know the rewards of a paycheck outweigh the temporary pleasure of reclining at home in front of the TV.

Would you follow Jesus? Count the cost. Following Jesus costs your own life. Following Jesus may cost the loss of family and friends. Following Jesus may cost the loss of your possessions. Jesus said to him, If you wish to be complete, go and sell your possessions and give to the poor, and you will have treasure in heaven.

And come, follow me. Following Jesus will cost facing persecution. God's people have always faced persecution. The prophets were reviled, tortured, and killed. History records that ten of Jesus' disciples were executed for preaching Christ.

Tradition states that Peter insisted on being crucified upside down because he counted himself unworthy to die in the same manner as his Lord. The apostle Paul was jailed, beaten, shipwrecked, and stoned numerous times for preaching Christ.

But he considered suffering not even worth mentioning compared to the reward he knew awaited in paradise. Following Jesus doesn't necessarily mean you'll lose your possessions, family, friends, and physical life.

Persecution, Grace, and Eternal Reward

But are you willing? Persecution brings earthly and heavenly rewards. Through persecution, the Lord stays with believers. He knows their limits and gives grace. He rewards them in heaven. He works persecution for good, shaping the believer's character and glorifying himself.

The rewards far outweigh the cost of following Jesus. Jesus suffered and died on the cross to take the believer's punishment for sin. The only way of forgiveness and eternal life is through faith in the Lord Jesus.

Although a Christian's enduring persecution does not add any saving merit to the perfect work of Christ, a true believer will faithfully follow Jesus through suffering. That answers the question, if I convert to Christianity, I will be persecuted.

Should I follow Jesus? On our website, GotQuestions .org, you'll find a deeper discussion and recommended resources. If this helped you, give us a thumbs up and click subscribe. Meanwhile, if you'd like to study more, click the bell and check out these other questions.