Eternal Life
Notes
Transcript
There are things that we all struggle with holding onto in this life. We all say “God you can have this part of my life but not that.” There is a constant battle with complete surrender. Frankly, some never completely surrender to God. Such is the case for a young man in our text today.
Turn in your Bibles to Mark 10:17-22
Jesus had just finished rebuking his disciples for trying to send some children away. Jesus used this to show teach his disciples of how we must all come to him. He said:
14 But when Jesus saw it, he was much displeased, and said unto them, Suffer the little children to come unto me, and forbid them not: for of such is the kingdom of God.
15 Verily I say unto you, Whosoever shall not receive the kingdom of God as a little child, he shall not enter therein.
Just as he finishes saying this, a young man comes running up to him. This young man did not hear what Jesus said about the children. Had he, he may not have asked Jesus the question that he did.
17 And when he was gone forth into the way, there came one running, and kneeled to him, and asked him, Good Master, what shall I do that I may inherit eternal life?
18 And Jesus said unto him, Why callest thou me good? there is none good but one, that is, God.
19 Thou knowest the commandments, Do not commit adultery, Do not kill, Do not steal, Do not bear false witness, Defraud not, Honour thy father and mother.
20 And he answered and said unto him, Master, all these have I observed from my youth.
21 Then Jesus beholding him loved him, and said unto him, One thing thou lackest: go thy way, sell whatsoever thou hast, and give to the poor, and thou shalt have treasure in heaven: and come, take up the cross, and follow me.
22 And he was sad at that saying, and went away grieved: for he had great possessions.
I. “What Shall I Do...?”
1. “Good Master”
We think of the title master as being a Lord or Ruler. However, in the New Testament, it means teacher.
This young man recognized Jesus as a teacher and was going to him for information.
2. “What shall I do that I may inherit eternal life?”
The focus of his question was himself.
This man wanted to earn his way to heaven.
II. “Thou Knowest The Commandments”
Jesus shares with him the last 6 commandments.
These are the commandments that pertain to our interaction with others.
5 - Honor thy father and thy mother
6 - Thou shalt not kill
7 - Thou shalt not commit adultery
8 - Thou shalt not steal
9 - Thou shalt not bear false witness (lie)
10 - Thou shalt not covet
III. “All these have I observed from my youth”
“Master, all these have I observed from my youth.”
Obviously this young man did not hear Jesus’s sermon on the mount.
He would have realized that God’s standard is so much higher than what we can achieve
While we may work to try not to sin, the scripture tells us that:
6 All we like sheep have gone astray; We have turned every one to his own way; And the Lord hath laid on him the iniquity of us all.
IV. “Jesus beholding him loved him”
Jesus was not trying to run this man off.
He loved him.
He would have gladly accepted him.
He would have gladly saved him.
V. “One thing thou lackest”
What was it that Jesus said this man lacked?
What was it that prevented him from entering the kingdom of heaven?
The first four commandments.
Jesus told the young man “Make me your Lord.”
Put me above everyone else.
Put me above everything else.
Jesus knew that the ultimate test for this young man was his wealth. Jesus asked him to give up his wealth, his joy, his security, and make him his Lord.
VI. “And he was sad at that saying, and went away grieved: for he had great possessions”
This was the breaking point.
He could not give everything up for Jesus.
He had to remain in control of his life.
He was trusting in himself to get to heaven. When he was asked to trust in Jesus, to trust in God, he could not humble himself.
His life was his life and if he had to give that up to get eternal life, heaven wasn’t worth it.
Conclusion:
While this young man was trying to understand how to get to heaven, he found that he was unwilling to do that which was necessary to be saved. Salvation requires surrender to God. There is no “I” in the work of salvation.
Jesus paid it all,
all to him I owe.
Sin had left a crimson stain,
He washed it white as snow
There is no salvation for those who try to get their by their own power. If you are lost, you must confess your that you are a sinner and believe that Jesus paid the price for your sins on the cross of Calvary. Then, he rose from the grave claiming victory over death and the grave.
If you are saved, what are you struggling with holding back from God. Where do you struggle with drawing the line. “God this is yours, but this is mine” Ask God to help you surrender everything to him, even if that means giving it up.
