In Luke, Jesus talked with a rich ruler who asked Jesus what did he have to do to inherit eternal life. He was rich and self-reliant and so he was used to doing everything himself. So Jesus told him to keep the commands of the Mosaic law. The rich ruler told Jesus he had already been doing that since he was a youth. Jesus, knowing how self-reliant the man was, told him that he still lacked one thing. He told him to go sell everything he had and give to the poor, and then come follow Him.
When the rich ruler heard this last thing, he became very sad because he had great wealth. He wasn't willing to give up all he had to follow Jesus. Why not? Pride, self-righteousness, self-reliance. He did not feel like he needed to sell all he had and follow Jesus because he was following Mosaic law and making it on his own. He thought he could earn eternal life through his own effort. He thought he could save himself. He learned he couldn't and that's why he became sad. He was completely self-reliant and could not see he needed the mercy of God which was standing right in front of Him.
Jesus Christ is the mercy of God given to man so that they might believe in Him and inherit the free gift of eternal life.
The only Way to receive eternal life is by believing in God's one and only Son Jesus Christ. We cannot save ourselves. We cannot get eternal life on our own. Only God can save us. Only He can give us the free gift of eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord.
So now, back to the story. At the end, Jesus said it was hard for a rich man to enter the kingdom of God. Why do you think that is?
Because rich people are self-reliant, self-made people. They take care of their own affairs and handle everything themselves. So it is hard for them to be born again and enter the kingdom of God because they might think they do not need God or His mercy. Having done everything themselves to get where they are, they might feel like they are good enough to go to heaven or can achieve eternal life on their own. They cannot though. None of us can. Why not? Because eternal life is a GIFT from God. It is something to be received. God saves us through Jesus Christ His Son.
Luke 18:18-27 NIV
[18] A certain ruler asked him, “Good teacher, what must I do to inherit eternal life?” [19] “Why do you call me good?” Jesus answered. “No one is good—except God alone. [20] You know the commandments: ‘You shall not commit adultery, you shall not murder, you shall not steal, you shall not give false testimony, honor your father and mother.’” [21] “All these I have kept since I was a boy,” he said. [22] When Jesus heard this, he said to him, “You still lack one thing. Sell everything you have and give to the poor, and you will have treasure in heaven. Then come, follow me.” [23] When he heard this, he became very sad, because he was very wealthy. [24] Jesus looked at him and said, “How hard it is for the rich to enter the kingdom of God! [25] Indeed, it is easier for a camel to go through the eye of a needle than for someone who is rich to enter the kingdom of God.” [26] Those who heard this asked, “Who then can be saved?” [27] Jesus replied, “What is impossible with man is possible with God.”
"Everything is possible for the one who believes," Jesus said. Anyone can go to heaven whether rich or poor. Come to Jesus Christ today!!!
Love you all,
Jeffrey Post
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