Is your goodness good enough??
Notes
Transcript
Handout
17 As he was setting out on a journey, a man ran up, knelt down before him, and asked him, “Good teacher, what must I do to inherit eternal life?”
18 “Why do you call me good?” Jesus asked him. “No one is good except God alone.
19 You know the commandments: Do not murder; do not commit adultery; do not steal; do not bear false witness; do not defraud; honor your father and mother.”
20 He said to him, “Teacher, I have kept all these from my youth.”
21 Looking at him, Jesus loved him and said to him, “You lack one thing: Go, sell all you have and give to the poor, and you will have treasure in heaven. Then come, follow me.”
22 But he was dismayed by this demand, and he went away grieving, because he had many possessions.
23 Jesus looked around and said to his disciples, “How hard it is for those who have wealth to enter the kingdom of God!”
24 The disciples were astonished at his words. Again Jesus said to them, “Children, how hard it is to enter the kingdom of God!
25 It is easier for a camel to go through the eye of a needle than for a rich person to enter the kingdom of God.”
26 They were even more astonished, saying to one another, “Then who can be saved?”
27 Looking at them, Jesus said, “With man it is impossible, but not with God, because all things are possible with God.”
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=u92Me3i0mjU
Since the 1969 publication of The Psychology of Self-Esteem, in which Nathaniel Branden opined that self-esteem was the single most important facet of a person, the belief that one must do whatever he can to achieve positive self-esteem has become a movement with broad societal effects. Anything potentially damaging to kids’ self-esteem was axed. Competitions were frowned upon. Soccer coaches stopped counting goals and handed out trophies to everyone. Teachers threw out their red pencils. Criticism was replaced with ubiquitous, even undeserved, praise.
Children were not only praised for less than noteworthy achievements, they were also shielded from any events or experiences that might be damaging to their self-esteem. Healthy competition was replaced by ribbons and prizes just for showing up. Failure was considered so potentially harmful to well-being that it had to be avoided at all costs. Doing so, we were promised, would save our children from drug abuse and criminal behavior.15,16,18 The Psychology of Self Esteem(Baumeister)
It all seemed like a good idea, but we are now beginning to see the error of our ways. Not only did we not see the promised decreases in vice, we found we had created new unforeseen problems. Individuals who are not subjected to failure and who are the recipients of constant praise without substance never learn to develop frustration tolerance. Vacuous praise discourages rather than encourages hard work and persistence. Rather than responding to disappointment and failure with increased effort, individuals who are indiscriminately praised more often opt to simply give up.
-The Bible was ahead of the curve once again on this one. 2 Timothy 4:3 “3For the time will come when they will not endure sound doctrine; but wanting to have their ears tickled, they will accumulate for themselves teachers in accordance to their own desires
-This doctrine has crept into the church “he saw the best in me when others saw the worse in me” this song sounds good, but it is biblically unsound and deceptive.
-The church environment is one in which people don’t sin, but make mistakes….kids are no longer out of control, but they have anxiety….This is because that we live in a culture that does not consider itself to be wretched sinners, in need of anything.
-People don’t come to church for redemption, salvation, and accountability they just want some spiritual help from the “man upstairs”
-There was a man in NT who also had a pretty high self-esteem, which caused him to miss the opportunity of a lifetime.
I. The Request
I. The Request
17 As he was setting out on a journey, a man ran up, knelt down before him, and asked him, “Good teacher, what must I do to inherit eternal life?”
Exposition
(v.17) This young man approached Jesus having the right external posture; he came and knelt in front of Jesus acknowledging who he was. He understood that he was in the presence of somebody unique. He then posed to him the age-old question “what shall I do to inherit eternal life?” This question has perplexed man since the beginning of time….. Acts 16:30 “30and after he brought them out, he said, “Sirs, what must I do to be saved?”…..Job 14:14 “If a man dies, will he live again? All the days of my struggle I will wait Until my change comes….explain the book of Job age.
-The Rich young ruler asks Jesus a loaded question and Jesus knew it. In (v.22) it says that this man had great possession. This let’s you know the real context to his question. He was not looking for Jesus to be Lord over his life. He was looking for an addition not a transformation.
-This man was between 25-40 years old and he was most likely a Pharisees, scribes, or Lawyers. Luke 18:18 gives us more information about him. Luke tell us he was A-ruler so for the sake of this sermon we are going to call him “The CEO”
(v.17) This CEO was like a Dan Gilbert the owner of quicken loans trying to make good relationships with Realtors. He was looking to get into a mutually beneficial relationship with Jesus, whereby which he would scratch Jesus back, and the Jesus would scratch his back.
(v.17) The key is “what must I do to Inherit” in these times an inheritance was not given on the basis of gift, but it was an obligation that the father had to fulfill for his children So in a sense the Rich young ruler by his question was saying “What must I do to become one of your sons” “Once I become your son then by law I will receive an inheritance”
Key point: Inheritance does not kick in till death. While salvation is an immediate possession. This man was not really looking for reform/redemption but more wealth. He is looking for something to add to his portfolio.
Quote
Egotism is one of the repulsive manifestations of pride. It is the practice of thinking and speaking much of oneself, the habit of magnifying one’s attainments or importance. It leads one to consider everything in its relation to himself rather than in relation to God and the welfare of his people…J. Oswald Sanders
Application
1. A sinner cannot reform themselves.
2. True Salvation is transformation not addition.
Transition Statement:
What was the wise King’s response to the young ruler question?
II. The Response
II. The Response
18 “Why do you call me good?” Jesus asked him. “No one is good except God alone.
19 You know the commandments: Do not murder; do not commit adultery; do not steal; do not bear false witness; do not defraud; honor your father and mother.”
(EXP)(18) Jesus answers his question by asking him a different question. He asks “why do you call me good? No one is good except God alone” this is a powerful statement of rebuke towards this Rich young ruler. Jesus was challenging this young man understanding of the word “Good”
He was using the term too loosely.
a. Explain Good Subjectively
movies
food
morality
b. Explain Good Objectively in relation to the absolute purity of Jesus and his standard
20 For I tell you, unless your righteousness surpasses that of the scribes and Pharisees, you will never get into the kingdom of heaven.
(20) The Pharisees were externally pure and perfect. In their external action they meet the standard of God. The problem was internal not external.
Jesus is saying in this text that only God is truly “Good” (not based on anyone’s opinion) he is the standard, so as you call yourself good is it God you are comparing yourself to:
Romans 3:10 “10 as it is written: There is no one righteous, not even one.”
I Peter 2:21-22 “21 For you were called to this, because Christ also suffered for you, leaving you an example, that you should follow in his steps. 22 He did not commit sin, and no deceit was found in his mouth;”
-Jesus then answer the rich young ruler question directly by quoting Exodus 20:13-16 all of these where related to how we treat our neighbor. He quoted the 5-9 commandments. And strategically left off 1-3.
1 Then God spoke all these words:
2 I am the Lord your God, who brought you out of the land of Egypt, out of the place of slavery.
3 Do not have other gods besides me.
4 Do not make an idol for yourself, whether in the shape of anything in the heavens above or on the earth below or in the waters under the earth.
5 Do not bow in worship to them, and do not serve them; for I, the Lord your God, am a jealous God, bringing the consequences of the fathers’ iniquity on the children to the third and fourth generations of those who hate me,
6 but showing faithful love to a thousand generations of those who love me and keep my commands.
7 Do not misuse the name of the Lord your God, because the Lord will not leave anyone unpunished who misuses his name.
Jesus purposely left these off
What was the Rich Young Ruler Response?
Mark 10:20 “20 He said to him, “Teacher, I have kept all these from my youth.”
He says this with absolute confidence. He is telling Jesus I have meet the standard of the law. The young Ruler would be one that all of us would say “He is a good person”
21 Looking at him, Jesus loved him and said to him, “You lack one thing: Go, sell all you have and give to the poor, and you will have treasure in heaven. Then come, follow me.”
(v.21) “then Jesus, looking at him, loved him” This is powerful it tells us two things:
a. God loves even the unbeliever
b. Jesus loves passion, sincerity and commitment. Even if its displaced.
(v.21) Jesus brings one more challenge to him---This challenge should tell you something about the omniscience of God (he knows what you love the most)
MK 10:21 “21 Looking at him, Jesus loved him and said to him, “You lack one thing: Go, sell all you have and give to the poor, and you will have treasure in heaven. Then come, follow me.”
a. Jesus attacked his Idol (although this man had kept the bottom half of the Law, he broke that first one)
1 Then God spoke all these words:
2 I am the Lord your God, who brought you out of the land of Egypt, out of the place of slavery.
3 Do not have other gods besides me.
b. Jesus asked this man to sell his possession
Is that a prerequisite of salvation??
1. He answered the man question “what must I do to inherit eternal life?” You must keep the whole law without stumbling. If you are looking to please God with your works then you must do it according to the OT Law.
2. And yes; Jesus still requires a willingness to get rid of all your idols before you receive him into your life. We call that repentance.
Application
1. As we survey our own life the question is “do we have a subjective or objective understanding of our own goodness?
2. It would be nice if God judge us next to our co-workers, or to the people down at county jail, when he judges us it will be against his Son
3. It is better to be describe as godly, than Good.
III. The Reaction
III. The Reaction
-MK 10:22
22 But he was dismayed by this demand, and he went away grieving, because he had many possessions.
Exposition
(22) Jesus last challenge led this young brother to despair, he decided that he would rather have earthly wealth, than heavenly wealth. He made a temporal decision that will have eternal consequences.
-The Rich young ruler wanted Jesus; just not to the extent that he would sell all his goods. He wanted Jesus + Riches
-The Rich young ruler left disappointed, but he did not have to
Application
1. This response tells you something about human nature. When you think about morals most of us construct a system of morals that is comfortable for us. Our flesh will always want to minimize our weaknesses, magnify our strengths. Our moral compass cannot be determined by our flesh. It must be determined by an external standard
2. The young ruler told Jesus that he kept the commandments, but he broke the first one. He would have known that Commandment, but he thought that he loved God. His wealth had blinded him.
IV. Jesus conclusion
IV. Jesus conclusion
23 Jesus looked around and said to his disciples, “How hard it is for those who have wealth to enter the kingdom of God!”
24 The disciples were astonished at his words. Again Jesus said to them, “Children, how hard it is to enter the kingdom of God!
25 It is easier for a camel to go through the eye of a needle than for a rich person to enter the kingdom of God.”
26 They were even more astonished, saying to one another, “Then who can be saved?”
27 Looking at them, Jesus said, “With man it is impossible, but not with God, because all things are possible with God.”
Exposition
(v.23) Jesus then began to teach on this narrative to his disciples. He makes a strong imperative statement in front of the crowd
“Children, how hard it is to enter the kingdom of God?
(v.24-25) Jesus then uses a idiom “it is easier for a camel to go through the eye of a needle, than for a rich man to inherit the kingdom of God” to show the absolute impossibility of a person to save themselves. He uses riches because often money, success, fame, position get in the way of the HS call to repentance, and service.
Why does wealth become such a stumbling-block to peoples salvation?
Wealth gives a false sense of God’s favor
Wealth increase our own false sense of goodness
4 Wealth attracts many friends, but a poor person is separated from his friend.
(v.26)The Disciples were distraught they ask who then could be save.
Explain the perplexity! (the disciples assumed because of this man great wealth that he was highly favored by God)
27 Looking at them, Jesus said, “With man it is impossible, but not with God, because all things are possible with God.”
Open the Doors of the Church
-Jesus answer v27 The answer is the Grace of God, without which no man can know/see God…To understand you must understand the depth of sin