In Matthew 19:16-30 the story of that rich young man who came to Jesus is described.
The young man goes to Jesus and asks Him a question "... Good Master, what good thing shall I do, that I may have eternal life?"
Jesus answers back saying something strange, "... if thou wilt enter into life, keep the commandments..." It is strange because He should had led the young man to Himself, not to the Law. Why did He do that? We see the reason for that from what the young man said, "All these things have I kept from my youth up: what lack I yet?". The young man feels that although he had done all those since he was a kid he still feels he is lacking. Then Jesus gives him the solution and draws him to Himself. Jesus said unto him, "If thou wilt be perfect, go and sell that thou hast, and give to the poor, and thou shalt have treasure in heaven: AND COME AND FOLLOW ME."
BUT, there is always a "but". The "but" is that that guy should give all his possesions to the poor first. This is the narrow gate that we must enter when we believe in Christ in order to come to the narrow path which leads to heaven. Matthew 7:13-14, "Enter ye in at the strait gate: for wide is the gate, and broad is the way, that leadeth to destruction, and many there be which go in thereat: 14Because strait is the gate, and narrow is the way, which leadeth unto life, and few there be that find it."
There is always a narrow gate which one should pass through when coming to Christ. For that young man that was his riches. For me it is something else, for you it is something else, for him/her something else. There is always something in our lives that we must leave behind if we want to follow Jesus. It may be riches, maybe a specific way iof living, passions, ambitions, friends, relatives, maybe a career in a field that is inconsistent with our faith, anything really that could be an obstacle on our way to Heaven.
The Law is little preached these days so there is little conviction of sin .
In another gospel it is what must I do to inherit eternal life ( Luke 18:18 ) but thanks for drawing attention to that account for we need all 4 gospels fora full picture . But here it is what good thing must I do . Very interesting .
There is a way of salvation and to lead people to,Christ a person has to be led along that way . It's not riches alone that was a hinderance but fir him it was his riches.
It says that " Jesus loved him" The terrible thing is that the fact that God lives you does not save yiu .
It is that love expressed in and through Jesus Christ . The great tragedy was that when he turned away sorrowful he turned his back on the love of God and with each step away from the Lord was a step away from theLight and from the truth into darkness .
The Lord did not chase after him . Some; very few get another opportunity but no man should count on it . We never hear of the man again .
"Let us then put aside every weight and the sin that so easily besets us.."
Paul was talking to people already saved ,but we can lose much by not so doing .
The same incident according to Mark. ( Mark 10 20-21)
"20And he answered and said unto him, Master, all these have I observed from my youth. 21Then Jesus beholding him loved him, ..."
Didn't Jesus love him before him saying that he had done all that since he was young?
God loves everybody. "For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life." John 3:16
But there is a special love for His children. "Behold, what manner of love the Father hath bestowed upon us, that we should be called the sons of God: therefore the world knoweth us not, because it knew him not." 1 John 3:1
And even more love for those of His children who are careful to obey His commandements. "He that hath my commandments, and keepeth them, he it is that loveth me: and he that loveth me shall be loved of my Father, and I will love him, and will manifest myself to him." John 14:21
Actually it is like a father with many kids who is pleased by the one who behaves himself.
But God loves everybody.
Once we were riding with a friend and his family. And we were talking about God and salvation. Then one asked what is that God wishes more than everything? And one of the little kids said "God wants All people to be saved". We knew that it was God who talked. The thing is that God can not decide for us. The choice is in our hands.
That it is recorded that " Jesus loved him" is significant . That he walked away from that love was tragic for he loved his riches more than Christ .
The scriptures is " that God is not willing that any should perish but that all should come to a knowledge of the truth " The implication is that if fir whatever reason you do not come to a knowledge of the truth you will perish .
" As Moses lifted up the serpent in the wilderness so shall the Son of Man be lifted up( on the cross) and if I be lifted up,I will draw all me; not me" in that He said ALL none therefore are excluded .
To resist the irristable is to bring destruction upon your own head and to deny the irrefutable is to bring damnation upon yiur own; soul .
As I said the fact that Gods loves you does not in of and by itself save you. It's not exposure to truth that changes a person but there response to it .
Judas was exposed for 3 1/2 years walked with the Lord was involved in ministry but was never changed but rather grew worse .
" He did not say this because he loved the poor but because he carried the bag" He was a thief .
In the end he sold the truth fir 30 pieces of silver and. Betrayed the Christ .
In Matthew 19:16-30 the story of that rich young man who came to Jesus is described.
The young man goes to Jesus and asks Him a question "... Good Master, what good thing shall I do, that I may have eternal life?"
Jesus answers back saying something strange, "... if thou wilt enter into life, keep the commandments..." It is strange because He should had led the young man to Himself, not to the Law. Why did He do that? We see the reason for that from what the young man said, "All these things have I kept from my youth up: what lack I yet?". The young man feels that although he had done all those since he was a kid he still feels he is lacking. Then Jesus gives him the solution and draws him to Himself. Jesus said unto him, "If thou wilt be perfect, go and sell that thou hast, and give to the poor, and thou shalt have treasure in heaven: AND COME AND FOLLOW ME."
BUT, there is always a "but". The "but" is that that guy should give all his possesions to the poor first. This is the narrow gate that we must enter when we believe in Christ in order to come to the narrow path which leads to heaven. Matthew 7:13-14, "Enter ye in at the strait gate: for wide is the gate, and broad is the way, that leadeth to destruction, and many there be which go in thereat: 14Because strait is the gate, and narrow is the way, which leadeth unto life, and few there be that find it."
There is always a narrow gate which one should pass through when coming to Christ. For that young man that was his riches. For me it is something else, for you it is something else, for him/her something else. There is always something in our lives that we must leave behind if we want to follow Jesus. It may be riches, maybe a specific way iof living, passions, ambitions, friends, relatives, maybe a career in a field that is inconsistent with our faith, anything really that could be an obstacle on our way to Heaven.
Are we willing to leave them behind?
In another gospel it is what must I do to inherit eternal life ( Luke 18:18 ) but thanks for drawing attention to that account for we need all 4 gospels fora full picture . But here it is what good thing must I do . Very interesting .
There is a way of salvation and to lead people to,Christ a person has to be led along that way . It's not riches alone that was a hinderance but fir him it was his riches.
It says that " Jesus loved him" The terrible thing is that the fact that God lives you does not save yiu .
It is that love expressed in and through Jesus Christ . The great tragedy was that when he turned away sorrowful he turned his back on the love of God and with each step away from the Lord was a step away from theLight and from the truth into darkness .
The Lord did not chase after him . Some; very few get another opportunity but no man should count on it . We never hear of the man again .
"Let us then put aside every weight and the sin that so easily besets us.."
Paul was talking to people already saved ,but we can lose much by not so doing .
The same incident according to Mark. ( Mark 10 20-21)
"20And he answered and said unto him, Master, all these have I observed from my youth. 21Then Jesus beholding him loved him, ..."
Didn't Jesus love him before him saying that he had done all that since he was young?
God loves everybody. "For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life." John 3:16
But there is a special love for His children. "Behold, what manner of love the Father hath bestowed upon us, that we should be called the sons of God: therefore the world knoweth us not, because it knew him not." 1 John 3:1
And even more love for those of His children who are careful to obey His commandements. "He that hath my commandments, and keepeth them, he it is that loveth me: and he that loveth me shall be loved of my Father, and I will love him, and will manifest myself to him." John 14:21
Actually it is like a father with many kids who is pleased by the one who behaves himself.
But God loves everybody.
Once we were riding with a friend and his family. And we were talking about God and salvation. Then one asked what is that God wishes more than everything? And one of the little kids said "God wants All people to be saved". We knew that it was God who talked. The thing is that God can not decide for us. The choice is in our hands.
GBU
The scriptures is " that God is not willing that any should perish but that all should come to a knowledge of the truth " The implication is that if fir whatever reason you do not come to a knowledge of the truth you will perish .
" As Moses lifted up the serpent in the wilderness so shall the Son of Man be lifted up( on the cross) and if I be lifted up,I will draw all me; not me" in that He said ALL none therefore are excluded .
To resist the irristable is to bring destruction upon your own head and to deny the irrefutable is to bring damnation upon yiur own; soul .
As I said the fact that Gods loves you does not in of and by itself save you. It's not exposure to truth that changes a person but there response to it .
Judas was exposed for 3 1/2 years walked with the Lord was involved in ministry but was never changed but rather grew worse .
" He did not say this because he loved the poor but because he carried the bag" He was a thief .
In the end he sold the truth fir 30 pieces of silver and. Betrayed the Christ .
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