Sermon Tone Analysis
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18 A ruler asked Him, "Good Teacher, what must I do to inherit eternal life?" 19 "Why do you call Me good?" Jesus asked him.
"No one is good but One-God.
20 You know the commandments: Do not commit adultery; do not murder; do not steal; do not bear false witness; honor your father and mother.
" 21 "I have kept all these from my youth," he said.
22 When Jesus heard this, He told him, "You still lack one thing: sell all that you have and distribute it to the poor, and you will have treasure in heaven.
Then come, follow Me." 23 After he heard this, he became extremely sad, because he was very rich.
I want to tag this text this morning, “A Very Costly Decision”
OPENING PRAYER
INTRO
[Len Bias]
In 1986, the Washington D.C native and University of Maryland All-American, Len Bias, was reportedly the next star chosen to continue the historic legacy of the Boston Celtics franchise.
They said he was going to change the game.
They said he could have been the best ever.
That’s what they said...
He was drafted with the second overall pick in the 86 draft on June 17th.
Two days later he was pronounced dead of a cocaine overdose.
What was supposed to be a celebratory night, turned into a fatal morning.
A life with so much promise and potential, gone—just like that (snap).
His decision to use cocaine was a very costly decision.
[Roller Coaster Hat Story]
The story is told of a young man at Six Flags who lost his hat while riding a roller coaster.
When the ride came to an end he got off and began to search for it only to find it behind a fence which had a very obvious sign that read, “Proceed No Further Upon Fear of Bodily Injury.”
Faced with the decision to heed the warning of the sign or to attempt to recover his hat, he decided to jump the fence avoiding all procaution.
As he reached out for the hat, he was struck by a roller coaster and instantly killed.
His decision cost him dearly
[Lifetime Decisions]
It has been estimated that the average person makes nearly 900 million conscious decisions in a 70 year lifespan.
Many of these decisions come as a response to questions we’ve asked ourselves
What’s the weather like today?
What clothes do I wear today?
Who is going to win the game tonight?
But some of the deepest questions have nothing to do with the weather, your wardrobe, or winning a game.
The deepest questions usually revolve around life and death.
How did we get here?
Where did we come from?
Where are we going?
How do we get there?
Many religions and philosophies have tried to answer these very weighty questions.
The answers of which often result in certain decisions as it pertains to how we live.
Yet, in all life’s searching, one thing remains constant, death is certain.
Where we go after death--is not.
If I was to walk down your aisle this morning and interview every person in the room and ask you to take a survey on where you want to end up after you die, 100% of the people surveyed would answer, “heaven.”
If I was to walk down your aisle this morning and interview every person in the room and ask you to take a survey on where you want to end up after you die, 100% of the people surveyed would answer, “heaven.”
So how does that happen?
How does a person come to the point where he or she is certain beyond a shadow of a doubt that heaven will be a reality for them beyond the grave?
So how does that happen.
How does a person come to the point where he or she is certain beyond a shadow of a doubt that heaven will be a reality for them beyond the grave?
This is the tension of our text this morning.
And yet all it takes is one decision, to cost you everything.
Yet this is exactly what is happening in this text this morning.
CONTEXT
In this passage we’re introduced to the ruler who is known for his extreme riches, his external righteousness, and he is seeking eternal rewards.
This account is a part of a larger context of in which Luke addresses one’s salvation.
He uses three metaphors regarding the subject
a. justification
b. entrance into the kingdom of God
c. inheriting eternal life
Our passage is where he addresses salvation through this metaphor of eternal life.
3 things we see in light of this encounter between the ruler and Jesus are
Eternal Life Isn’t Based On Words
2. Eternal Life Isn’t Based On Works
3. Eternal Life Is Based On Worship
I. ETERNAL LIFE ISN’T BASED ON WORDS (vv.
18-19)
One of the first things we find out about this ruler who comes to Jesus is that he is good with his words.
He reminds me of the salesman who knows how to build rapport with the customer, because he knows that people buy from who they like.
So he comes at Jesus with his sales script, “Good Teacher.”
When Jesus hears this he asks the ruler why he calls him good?
At first glance it may appear as though Jesus is distancing himself from any association with being good.
Then when Jesus says “There is no one good except one- God”, it may appear that Jesus is also disconnecting himself from his divinity.
But upon further review Jesus is actually cutting through the flattery.
Without the ruler even realizing what is happening in this moment, Jesus is actually showing divine nature by seeing the heart of the young ruler.
THE IRONY of the matter is that: Jesus is good & Jesus is God but the young ruler doesn’t know who Jesus really is.
The title “teacher” was used in the Luke’s gospel by strangers and not followers of Jesus.
Followers of Jesus addressed him as “Master.”
It was an address that showed one’s submission to his authority and power.
The title “teacher” also gives us more understanding about this because the term “teacher” was used in the Luke’s gospel by strangers and not followers of Jesus.
Those followers of Jesus addressed him as “Master.”
It was an address that showed one’s submission to his authority and Lordship.
When Jesus questions the ruler by asking “Why do you call me good” it appears he is avoiding equality with God the Father.
So for the ruler to use the term teacher actually revealed the condition of his heart lacking the relational connectivity to please God.
But actually, he’s affirming it.
See, eternal life requires more than merely lip service, it requires heart transformation.
But the nature of every person is that we have been born into sin.
That God has a standard of perfection of which all have fallen short.
That we have been formed in iniquity and have been born with our spiritual umbilical cord severed from God.
There is no one who is good...
...except one ----- Jesus.
And in essence what Jesus is saying is “Don’t call me good unless you are ready to call me God.”
This ruler’s words weren’t enough to get him eternal life.
Paul said to the Corinthian church in not with lofty words so that their salvation wouldn’t be in the eloquence of his presentation but that it would be in the essence of his proclamation of Jesus Christ crucified.
Paul said to the Corinthian church in not with lofty words so that their salvation wouldn’t be in the eloquence of his presentation but that it would be in the essence of his proclamation of Jesus Christ crucified.
Paul said to the Corinthian church in not with lofty words so that their salvation wouldn’t be in the eloquence of his presentation but that it would be in the essence of his proclamation of Jesus Christ crucified.
That the power of God unto salvation is found in the message of the gospel that Christ died, he was buried, and he rose again!
This should encourage you as you share your faith with others.
You don’t have to always have the perfect words.
So is Jesus saying he isn’t good?
No.
Somehow we do this, we come to Jesus with all kinds of words and try and dress up our mess but Jesus sees through it.
THE IRONY: Jesus is good & Jesus is God but the young ruler doesn’t know who Jesus really is.
The “Rich Young Ruler” had no clue that he was talking to the “Rich Old Ruler.”
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