Eternal Life

Mark 10:17-27

To the ones that were here Wed. night, I apologize for going back through this Divine encounter between the Rich Young Ruler and Jesus.

I also will say that this sermon might touch a nerve, as it did with me. I am just giving a preface top what the Lord has laid on my heart for the past few days.

Let’s look in now on this Divine encounter, this is not a parable, this was an actual event told by 3 of the Gospel writers. We will use some from all of the Gospels to understand the young man and Jesus’ answer or command. Let’s read all the way through and then we will discuss....

The main focus of this encounter is the man’s life and his heart.

We know from Matthew’s acct. that he was young, we also know from Luke’s that he was a ruler. Possibly a ruler of a synagogue. We also know that he was rich from all 3 accts. Matt. & Mark using the phrase “great possessions” and Luke stating that he was “very rich”

To be a ruler at a young age was almost impossible. This young man must have displayed integrity and leadership capabilities to be a ruler.

This position was reserved for the “grey hair”. The more experienced and seasoned.

So this young man was impressive and he was rich, probably family money. The which he was in charge of, for some reason, probably his character and integrity.

He had a lot to be proud of about himself.

Mark’s acct. has this Rich Young Ruler running to Jesus and kneeling at His feet.

This shows a high level of sincerity.

The young man calls Jesus “Good Master”

Most scholars and historians have looked back and can’t find anywhere that Jews referred to any leader, teacher, or anyone as good.

That was reserved only for God.

Jesus exposes that in the rebuttal. “Why do you call Me Good? There is none good, but One, that is God”

Jesus knew their custom and the question was asked in a way referring to their not using good but God only.

In other words: “You call nobody Good but God alone, are you saying that I am God?”

The answer to that seems to point to yes. Nicodemus told Jesus that no one could do what He had done unless they had come from God.

This young man was sincere and recognized the deity of Jesus Christ. Now to the question.....

What must I do to inherit eternal life?

This man had something missing! He had all the things that the world offers. He even had some that the church would even deem great qualities. Some would even jump at the chance to get him involved at their church.

Everything in this man’s life seemed perfect, but he was missing something. Jesus knew it and so did this man....In Matt. he asked Jesus after he said that he followed the law: “what do I yet lack?”

Something was missing! He was following all the commands of God, so he thought, but inwardly there was something missing???? What was it?

The forever fellowship/relationship with God the Father and Jesus Christ.

c. John 17:3 And this is life eternal, that they might know thee the only true God, and Jesus Christ, whom thou hast sent.

d. 1 John 1:1–4 That which was from the beginning, which we have heard, which we have seen with our eyes, which we have looked upon, and our hands have handled, of the Word of life; 2 (For the life was manifested, and we have seen it, and bear witness, and shew unto you that eternal life, which was with the Father, and was manifested unto us;) 3 That which we have seen and heard declare we unto you, that ye also may have fellowship with us: and truly our fellowship is with the Father, and with his Son Jesus Christ. 4 And these things write we unto you, that your joy may be full.

We see from this Divine encounter, that this man didn’t have the TRUE eternal life! We foolishly look at eternal life as living forever and when we do we minimize the exact experience! This is forever living in fellowship with the Father and His Son Jesus! That is the true life! The is what was intended in the beginning!

The young man missed it because he wasn’t willing to give up whatever he had or was holding on to, to obtain it.

Matter of fact, this young man didn’t keep all of the commandments, there is 2 that he did lack in and that in turn caused his lack.....Exodus 20:1-6....

a. Exodus 20:1–6 And God spake all these words, saying, 2 I am the Lord thy God, which have brought thee out of the land of Egypt, out of the house of bondage. 3 Thou shalt have no other gods before me. 4 Thou shalt not make unto thee any graven image, or any likeness of any thing that is in heaven above, or that is in the earth beneath, or that is in the water under the earth: 5 Thou shalt not bow down thyself to them, nor serve them: for I the Lord thy God am a jealous God, visiting the iniquity of the fathers upon the children unto the third and fourth generation of them that hate me; 6 And shewing mercy unto thousands of them that love me, and keep my commandments.

b. The first 2 lead us to the greatest commandment: Matthew 22:37–38 Jesus said unto him, Thou shalt love the Lord thy God with all thy heart, and with all thy soul, and with all thy mind. 38 This is the first and great commandment.

c. This is truly what he lacked! Jesus stated and asked in Matthew 16:25-26 “For whosoever will save his life shall lose it: and whosoever will lose his life for my sake shall find it. 26 For what is a man profited, if he shall gain the whole world, and lose his own soul? or what shall a man give in exchange for his soul?”

This is truly the question before all of us today, am I making this more difficult, well if by giving up everything to obtain Christ then, YES! If everything or something is causing you not to have that eternal/forever fellowship with God and Jesus, are you willing to give it up? This young man knew he was missing it, but it wasn’t worth giving up his idol! There are many idols, I can go through pages and pages of idols, that we can have our passions drawn to!

The question to ask is “do I have this fellowship with God and Jesus Christ”?

Then some things happened this week that caused my heart to stir! I had a conversation and then I listened to a sermon about the falling away that Paul tells us that will come before Jesus returns.

The conversation: I have been looking for some Biblical software that has historical and cultural readings, to enhance the study of Scriptures, knowing the background of that day. This certain software company had a questionnaire that you answer to find out what type of program you need.

I went through the questions, telling them about the reason why I needed and then I got to the last question, in which I was asked what doctrine do I adhere to. There was many: evangelical, methodist, weslyan, anglican, pentacostal/charismatic, reformed, baptist, and there was quite a few more.

The guy asked me what did I consider myself? It hit me like a ton of bricks, we are labeled or defined by man’s doctrine! I fall under Christ and Him Crucified!

You cannot get through a study of Scripture without someone pushing their agenda! Calvinism, Armanism, Baptist, Freewill Baptist, Church of Christ, speaking in tongue or not, do we just sit there or do we move around, so many things hinge upon where we worship or who we worship with. I had a gentlemen tell me about their search for a pastor, he said “I just want someone that just don’t stand behind a pulpit”

None of these things have anything to do with fellowship with God the Father and His Son Jesus Christ.

Yes, I know that there are some denominations or teachings that are false, but I will say that we are seeming to go back down to Egypt!

What are we willing to give up just to be with Jesus? What are willing to walk away from to obtain Jesus Christ!

There is a passage in Isaiah 30 & 31, where God is dealing with His people the people of faith!

The people of Israel had went back to Egypt to help them in their time of trouble with the Assyrians. God had already time and time again told them to trust Him and continually proved Himself worthy of their trust!

But they wanted no part of the Holy One of Israel, nor did they even consult with Him!

Isaiah 30:9-11 ........Let us hear no more about the Holy One of Israel!!!

Ancient words but alive and powerful today! We do not truly seek after the Holy One of Israel, we seek after denominations, styles, politics, causes.........our hearts are not directed to the Holy One of Israel!

He delivered us from this world, correct? Why are we still living for it? Is there something missing? I believe the true question is: Is there Someone missing? We try to find the fellowship of the Godhead through writers, speakers, music, church buildings, curriculum, styles of worship! The One and Only True God is found in knowing Him, this is the true eternal life! He gave us a spoken Word, inspired totally by Him! We still cannot agree on it, we spend more time arguing over translations than revealing the Truth of Jesus Christ!

Are some dangerous, yes! But when will we seek the Holy One of Israel?! When will we desire to have Him feed us?!

Philippians 3:3-6 ..............Paul was alot like this Rich Young Ruler, he could take a whole lot of confidence in the flesh. Worldly fame, worldly riches, assuming blamelessness before God.

Philippians 3:7-11 .......That I may know Him! He abandoned all his earthly wealth and prestige and took on the sufferings of Jesus, so that he may KNOW Christ!

The emphasis is on gaining a deeper knowledge and intimacy with Jesus Christ the Son of God! In so doing we will also know God, because Jesus said “if you have seen Me, you have seen the Father!

I just wonder if we have considered this eternal life (forever fellowship with God the Father and His Son Jesus Christ), just what are we willing to give up to know Him?! Some of you might already have. Some are still holding to sins, holding onto your status, holding onto the things most precious to you!

1. Some even sell God short and feel like they have lost, because they have stumbled along their journey!

2. Friend, let me tell you don’t sell Him short, allow God to use you, abandon that pity ship you are on and get in the Glory Ship! The Old Ship of Zion! It looks rough but Jesus is my captain and that is all I need!

I have no right to love anything so well that I cannot give it up for God.