It is not easy. Matthew 16:24

If any man come after [M]e...


Christ, when He would invite sinners to "come unto me" He would tell them that there is rest to be found in Him. He would invite those who were heavy ladened and knew they were heavy ladened and felt the heavy burden to find rest in Him. However, let us not stop short of His invitation as many do. He does invite sinners to find rest in Him but He also invites those who come to Him to "Take my yoke upon you..." My readers, there is rest to be found and it is found under the lordship of God's Son. John states that "[Christ's] commandments are not grevous."
Some preachers tell their hearers that salvation is easy. My reader, salvation is not easy. Salvation was not easy for Him Who secured that salvation for repentant and believing sinners and it will not be easy for those secured. Shall we expect a life of ease when the Master received no such life? No.
Is the doctrinal truth of salvation easy? Yes and no. To understand that there is no salvation outside of Christ is simple (2 Cor. 11:3). Young children understand this truth. If you are saved today you can understand the simplicity of the Gospel or good news that God has sent a Saviour.
It was stated above that the doctrinal truth of salvation is easy but then again it is not. There are many aspects of the gospel, for example the Scriptures speak of the gospel of God, of the kingdom, of hope, of grace, of Jesus, of Christ, etc. Each of the above signify an important aspect of the gospel and worthy of our study and meditation.
Is the experimental side of salvation easy? No and again no. Look at the words of Christ, "If any man will come after me, let him deny himself and take up his cross, and follow me." Reader, does that sound easy? If you say, "yes" then the writer must conclude you to be ignorant of God's salvation. Our Lord states further, "Strive to enter in at the strait gate..." He tells us also that, "...he that endureth (eth = continues) to the end shall be saved."
Does this writer believe that salvation is "by works of righteousness which we have done"? God forbid! Salvation is by "grace alone, through faith alone, in Christ alone." However our Lord wants us to "count the cost" because He knows there is a cost. What is this cost? Denial of self, the taking up of your cross, following Him and there by enduring until the end.
Please do not confuse salvation with justification. Justification states that believers are legally forgiven and "made" righteous in Christ. Justification does not have tenses, Justification is accomplished or it is not accomplished. Salvation, in accordance with Roman 8 spands from eternity past through to eternity future. Salvation consists of election, justification, sanctification and finally glorification. Salvation is not easy. Salvation was not easy for the Master and it will not be easy for the servant. If you, my reader, are not being sanctified (progressive) your were never justified. as Jacob and Esau were twins so is justification and sanctification.
The sanctified are the justified. Paul and Habakkuk state that, "the just shall live by faith." The living of faith is not easy. The life of faith is "a fight" and therefore cannot be easy.