Not the Gospel, But the Cost: Understanding Luke 9:23

By - Pastor Freddy Cortez, National Capital Bible Church

Originally shared at the Men’s Prayer Breakfast at National Capital Bible Church. Edited slightly for blog readers and personal reflection.

Some verses in Scripture hit differently—not just because of their content, but because of how they’ve been handled from the pulpit. Luke 9:23 is one of those verses.

“If anyone desires to come after Me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross daily, and follow Me.” (Luke 9:23, NKJV)

That’s a bold call. But is Jesus laying down the terms for how someone receives eternal life? Or is He describing the path a believer walks after salvation has already been settled?

That distinction matters more than most people realize. When we confuse the invitation to follow Christ with the message that gives life, we blur the line between grace and effort—and that can quietly distort the gospel.

What Some Have Been Taught

It’s not uncommon to hear this verse preached as if it were Jesus’ altar call:

• “Come after Me” is treated like a command to surrender every part of your life in order to be saved.

• “Deny yourself” becomes a requirement to abandon all personal ambition or comfort as proof of repentance.

• “Take up your cross” is described as the willingness to suffer—even die—as evidence of saving faith.

• “Follow Me” is presented not as an invitation, but as a mandatory test of whether your faith is real.

In that framework, salvation starts to look like a contract: you give up everything, and in return, God gives you life. But is that what Jesus meant?

Let’s Look at the Context

To answer that, we have to step back and see the setting.

Just a few verses earlier, in Luke 9:18–20, we read:

“And it happened, as He was alone praying, that His disciples joined Him, and He asked them, saying, ‘Who do the crowds say that I am?’ So they answered and said, ‘John the Baptist, but some say Elijah…’ He said to them, ‘But who do you say that I am?’ Peter answered and said, ‘The Christ of God.’”

This moment wasn’t about a crowd of skeptics. Jesus was speaking privately with His disciples—men who had already come to believe in Him. Peter’s confession shows they recognized Him as the Messiah.

Then, in verse 22, Jesus begins to share the shocking news that He would suffer, be rejected, and ultimately killed before rising again.

It’s only after that moment—after faith has already been expressed and relationship established—that He says:

“If anyone desires to come after Me…”

He isn’t giving a gospel invitation. He’s inviting committed believers to count the cost of walking with Him.

The Greek Gives Us More Clarity

The phrase “if anyone desires” uses the Greek verb θέλει (thelēi), which is present active indicative, third person singular. It’s not a command; it’s an observation. Jesus is essentially saying, “If someone wants to go deeper with Me…”

Then come three aorist imperatives:

• ἀρνησάσθω (arnēsasthō) — “let him deny”

• ἀράτω (aratō) — “let him take up”

• ἀκολουθείτω (akoloutheitō) — “let him follow”

These are decisive calls to action—but they’re addressed to people who are already part of His circle. He’s urging those who belong to Him to live like it—fully and intentionally.

What Jesus Was Actually Asking

1. Deny yourself: This isn’t about self-loathing or monastic legalism. It’s about learning to say “no” to the flesh when it competes with God’s will. It’s a posture of daily surrender—not to earn salvation, but because we belong to Christ.

2. Take up your cross daily: In Jesus’ day, the cross wasn’t a symbol; it was a death sentence. To carry a cross meant you were marked as someone under judgment. Jesus is telling believers: “Be ready to suffer for Me, even if the world misunderstands or rejects you.”

3. Follow Me: This isn’t an entry requirement for the kingdom; it’s the daily walk of discipleship. You don’t follow to become saved—you follow because you already are.

Where It All Goes Wrong

If we confuse discipleship with the gospel itself, we risk losing both.

Suddenly, faith starts to sound like effort. Assurance becomes elusive. And the gift of eternal life is turned into something you have to prove or maintain through performance.

But the message of Scripture is clear: Eternal life is a gift, not a goal. It’s received by faith alone in Christ alone (John 3:16; Ephesians 2:8–9). No commitment required. Just belief.

Once you’ve believed, the journey begins—but not because you’re trying to earn your place. You’re walking with the One who gave you that place by grace.

A Word for Believers

Luke 9:23 is not a test to see if you're truly saved. It’s a challenge to those who are saved—to follow Jesus with all that you are. It’s not about checking boxes. It’s about becoming more like Him day by day.

And that will cost you. But it’s worth it.

A Word for Those Still Unsure

If you’ve never believed in Jesus Christ alone for the free gift of eternal life, now is the time. He died for your sins, rose again, and offers you everlasting life—not as a reward, but as a gift to all who simply believe (John 6:47).

You don’t have to follow Him to get it. You just have to believe Him.

Final Thought

Jesus never confused salvation with discipleship. Neither should we.

If you’ve already believed, then Luke 9:23 is your invitation to go deeper—not to get more saved, but to walk more closely.

He doesn’t just give eternal life. He also gives purpose, strength, and presence for the road ahead.

And when you follow Him, you’ll find that He never calls you to go anywhere He hasn’t gone first.

This post was written by Pastor Freddy Cortez of National Capital Bible Church in Springfield, VA. If you have questions about this post or Christianity in general, please contact us today!