There are two parables in Matthew that deal with the worth or value of our salvation. They are the parables of the hidden treasure and the pearl of great price. In recent years it has been fashionable to interpret these parables with the idea that the treasure and the pearl represent the church and the One making the purchase as Jesus Christ. While that is a novel way of looking at these parables and there certainly is some truth in the matter that Christ has given an immeasurable price for the church, it seems to me that the correct message we are to receive is that for those who have heard and understood the gospel it is required that they forsake all else to follow Him. This truth is born out in the interchange that Christ has with the rich young ruler. He is urged to sell all that he has, distribute it to the poor, take up his cross and follow the Savior.
It is my suspicion that the former interpretation is designed with two purposes in mind: first, to exalt man in his image as to his own worth and second, to make the matter of salvation a more easy and less demanding decision. Teachers of the Word have struggled with these modern ideas recently. It is likely the reason for John MacArthur's book, “Lordship Salvation”. It is also the reason we often hear the term, “easy believism”.
Christ requires a costly commitment from those who choose to follow Him. This is likely the reason we see such resistance to the doctrine of holiness as applied to the believer today, they have come through a door of little or no requirement upon them.
As you read the gospels I think you will find that Christ requires much more of His followers than is often preached in our pulpits these days.
