Charles,

I had been originally taught that the pearl of great price was about what we had to sacrifice to be saved, but it looks more like it is picture of what Jesus sacrificed for us. We didn't purchase him, but he purchased us with his blood.

Acts 20:28 Take heed therefore unto yourselves, and to all the flock, over the which the Holy Ghost hath made you overseers, to feed the church of God, which he hath purchased with his own blood.

Ephesians 1:14 Which is the earnest of our inheritance until the redemption of the purchased possession, unto the praise of his glory.

The only time "count the cost" is mentioned is in Luke 14, where it is talking about cross bearing or not - it wasn't speaking about their "cost" of getting saved:

Luke 14:26 If any man come to me, and hate not his father, and mother, and wife, and children, and brethren, and sisters, yea, and his own life also, he cannot be my disciple.

 27 And whosoever doth not bear his cross, and come after me, cannot be my disciple.

 28 For which of you, intending to build a tower, sitteth not down first, and counteth the cost, whether he have sufficient to finish it?

You are correct about it being free:

Romans 6:23 For the wages of sin is death; but the gift of God is eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord.

Romans 5:15 But not as the offence, so also is the free gift. For if through the offence of one many be dead, much more the grace of God, and the gift by grace, which is by one man, Jesus Christ, hath abounded unto many.

Ephesians 2:8 For by grace are ye saved through faith; and that not of yourselves: it is the gift of God:

 9 Not of works, lest any man should boast.

Thank you,

Gino