You Can Have Eternal Life

Series: Things Jesus Wants Us To Know

Part 18 - You Can Have Eternal Life

INTRO: We are continuing in the book of Luke. Continuing with the series, "Things Jesus Wants Us To Know." I know that Jesus is concerned about all of our lives. There are things He wants us to know. Why does He not just talk to us in person? He does not need to if we will but listen to His Holy Spirit. You see we have God's Word to use in our lives and learn of His desires for our serving Him well. Not only do we have a true record in God's word, the Bible, we have the Holy Spirit. See Jesus told us in John 14, 15, and 16 that the Comforter or Holy Spirit will help us. So there are things He wants us to know. That is the basis of this series.

Today, I want to continue in chapter 18. We have what is commonly called the Rich Young Ruler who asks the Lord an important question, "What shall I do to inherit eternal life?" I don't know about you, but that is something that is worth considering while we have an opportunity to accomplish it. You see, I think Jesus knew this young man. Maybe they had never met, but Jesus in His omniscience or all-powerful knew that man better than he did himself. I think He knew he would hear the Parable of the Tax Collector and Pharisee that we looked at last week. I think He knew its effect upon him. I think He knew his response would lead to this all-important question, "What shall I do to inherit eternal life?"

Let us read…

Luke 18:15 - 43

^{15And they brought unto him also infants, that he would touch them: but when his disciples saw it, they rebuked them.
^{16But Jesus called them unto him, and said, Suffer little children to come unto me, and forbid them not: for of such is the kingdom of God.
^{17Verily I say unto you, Whosoever shall not receive the kingdom of God as a little child shall in no wise enter therein.
^{18And a certain ruler asked him, saying, Good Master, what shall I do to inherit eternal life?
^{19And Jesus said unto him, Why callest thou me good? none is good, save one, that is, God.
^{20Thou knowest the commandments, Do not commit adultery, Do not kill, Do not steal, Do not bear false witness, Honour thy father and thy mother.
^{21And he said, All these have I kept from my youth up.
^{22Now when Jesus heard these things, he said unto him, Yet lackest thou one thing: sell all that thou hast, and distribute unto the poor, and thou shalt have treasure in heaven: and come, follow me.
^{23And when he heard this, he was very sorrowful: for he was very rich.
^{24And when Jesus saw that he was very sorrowful, he said, How hardly shall they that have riches enter into the kingdom of God!
^{25For it is easier for a camel to go through a needle’s eye, than for a rich man to enter into the kingdom of God.
^{26And they that heard it said, Who then can be saved?
^{27And he said, The things which are impossible with men are possible with God.
^{28Then Peter said, Lo, we have left all, and followed thee.
^{29And he said unto them, Verily I say unto you, There is no man that hath left house, or parents, or brethren, or wife, or children, for the kingdom of God’s sake,
^{30Who shall not receive manifold more in this present time, and in the world to come life everlasting.
^{31Then he took unto him the twelve, and said unto them, Behold, we go up to Jerusalem, and all things that are written by the prophets concerning the Son of man shall be accomplished.
^{32For he shall be delivered unto the Gentiles, and shall be mocked, and spitefully entreated, and spitted on:
^{33And they shall scourge him, and put him to death: and the third day he shall rise again.
^{34And they understood none of these things: and this saying was hid from them, neither knew they the things which were spoken.
^{35And it came to pass, that as he was come nigh unto Jericho, a certain blind man sat by the way side begging:
^{36And hearing the multitude pass by, he asked what it meant.
^{37And they told him, that Jesus of Nazareth passeth by.
^{38And he cried, saying, Jesus, thou Son of David, have mercy on me.
^{39And they which went before rebuked him, that he should hold his peace: but he cried so much the more, Thou Son of David, have mercy on me.
^{40And Jesus stood, and commanded him to be brought unto him: and when he was come near, he asked him,
^{41Saying, What wilt thou that I shall do unto thee? And he said, Lord, that I may receive my sight.
^{42And Jesus said unto him, Receive thy sight: thy faith hath saved thee.
^{43And immediately he received his sight, and followed him, glorifying God: and all the people, when they saw it, gave praise unto God.}}}}}}}}}}}}}}}}}}}}}}}}}}}}} When we look at the discourse between Christ and the ruler we can see that Christ exposed the young mans' heart and intentions. Jesus tried to get him to recognize his need for God. his inadequacy without him, and the sins that had invaded his life and practice.
We need to…

Desire God's goodness in our lives - 18a

^{18And a certain ruler asked him, saying, Good Master, what shall I do to inherit eternal life?

How? We should…
Seek it out - 18b
Recognize God's part is needed - 19
He wants us to…
Practice the basics - 20,21

These are relational commandments he quotes. In another gospel, he sums them up by saying, "Thou shalt Love thy neighbor as thyself." So when we are obedient to these, we can see they…
Protect us
Point us the right direction
Pull us closer to God

Please Him when we do them (understand they do not bring salvation, but are right for us to do them)
Promote respect of God's Word and of His followers
Permit trust to be developed within our relationships because we do them
And they are a…
Preamble to better things to come

But with all that, we need better. He wants us to know we need to…

Go a little farther that just trying to align our lives with a set of rules
Grab the joy that He brings to our lives

Lay down the unneeded things in our lives
Latch onto Jesus
Live for Him (as a child)
Then we can…
\Live a contagious life full of joy, happiness, and great expectation

This is where verses 15-17 come into play…
^{15And they brought unto him also infants, that he would touch them: but when his disciples saw it, they rebuked them.
^{16But Jesus called them unto him, and said, Suffer little children to come unto me, and forbid them not: for of such is the kingdom of God.
^{17Verily I say unto you, Whosoever shall not receive the kingdom of God as a little child shall in no wise enter therein.}}
It is in verses 24-30 we see the need for us to…
Determine to defeat those things in life that holds us back, hides His blessings, or hinders our life with Him

Here it was an issue with money. It could be other things in our lives that cause us problems or separate us from His love.

These things in our lives can…
Strangle us spiritually
Stifle our hope - 28
Substitute a "feel" attitude for faith
Swap our goals for God's goals and directives
Slow us down in our spiritual life

We can also see here that we need to…
Delight in godly sacrifice

^{28Then Peter said, Lo, we have left all, and followed thee.
^{29And he said unto them, Verily I say unto you, There is no man that hath left house, or parents, or brethren, or wife, or children, for the kingdom of God’s sake,
^{30Who shall not receive manifold more in this present time, and in the world to come life everlasting.}}

We need to be willing to…
Leave it all behind
Let Him lead and us follow
Love Him more than anything or anyone
We will
Enjoy all the blessings in this and the life to come

The Rich Young Ruler could have had this. Yet, he chose to walk away. He walked away from a sure thing. He turned his back on the one who could help him. He chose to either never consider of delay grasping or grabbing the needed help in his life.
So when we look at this we can see the key that Jesus has told us…
Jesus will fulfill all that the Christ should need to do

^{31Then he took unto him the twelve, and said unto them, Behold, we go up to Jerusalem, and all things that are written by the prophets concerning the Son of man shall be accomplished.
^{32For he shall be delivered unto the Gentiles, and shall be mocked, and spitefully entreated, and spitted on:
^{33And they shall scourge him, and put him to death: and the third day he shall rise again.}}
We must accept Him to receive eternal life

So, let us look at a few questions that arise…
Why did he ask, yet trudge away empty?

Desire was too self-centered

Over valued his part
Underrated God's grace and mercy
Played by the "rules" thus he MUST BE RIGHT (wrong)
His heart was not really in it (in a right manner)

Actually in this case his wallet was not in it

What was Christ really saying to him?

God is the only sinless one (BTW-Jesus was God in the flesh) - 19
God has high standards - 24-26
God has "high" success rates in impossible situations - 27; 35-43
God has the highest rewards plan available - 29-30
God has the highest retention rate going - 43

^{43And immediately he received his sight, and followed him, glorifying God: and all the people, when they saw it, gave praise unto God.

Jesus asked the blind man, "What do you want Me to do for you?"

He wanted his sight.
I ask you today, what do you want the Lord to do for you?
Will you call upon Him or just walk away?

Gary Marcum - New Beginnings Church - 072907am}}}}}