rich young ruler - was he shortchanged?

8/14/2019 Rich Young Ruler - Was He Shortchanged?

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RICH YOUNG

RULER:WAS HE SHORT-

CHANGED?


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Weve all heard the story of the rich, young ruler in Luke 18. He

asked the Lord a straight-forward question, Good Master, what shall

I do to inherit eternal life? Now thats a question many people have

pondered; and this guy actually had a chance to ask God himself!

But, did the Lord Jesus answer, as many Christians would today, thathe must simply believe on him and be saved by Grace through faith

in him alone? Absolutely not!

Jesus said to the young man, Thou knowest the commandments. Do

not commit adultery. Do not kill. Do not steal. Do not bear false

witness. Honour thy father and mother. When the young man

insisted, All these have I kept from my youth up, the Lord did not

contradict him but added, Yet lackest thou one thing: sell all that

thou hast, and distribute unto the poor, and thou shalt have treasure

in heaven; and come, follow me. The young man went away very

sorrowful; for he was very rich.

Lets think about Jesus answer for a moment. In order to inherit

eternal life, one must keep the commandments, and sell everything

and follow him. Is this the gospel were saved by? Our apostle says

clearly in so many places that it is not! Knowing that a man is notjustified by the works of the law, but by the faith of Jesus Christ;

even we have believed in Jesus Christ, that we might be justified by

the faith of Christ, and not by the works of the law; for by the works

of the law shall no flesh be justified. (Galatians 2:16). I think we all

agree that we have not kept the commandments; but what about

selling everything we have? Some say, You must be willing to do it,

but you dont really have to. Others insist, You must not makemoney or possessions your idol, thats all. But think for a moment.

Is there any promise we must make in order to be saved? Believe on

the Lord Jesus Christ, and thou shalt be saved, and thy house. Either

Paul forgot to tell the jailer about it in Acts 16, or something had

clearly changed by that time!
http://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Luke%2018;&version=9;http://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Luke%2018;&version=9;


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Many point out that the Lord knew the state of the young mans

heart; that he was unwilling to part with his possessions. And, of

course, thats true. But would we have made a better showing had

we been faced with the same choice the day we first believed? Mypoint is, though, that we werent faced with this same choice because

were saved by a different gospel!

The Lord Jesus Christ was at that time calling out a remnant from

Israel willing to separate itself from the apostate national religion.

This remnant would obey the Mosaic Law in a God-honoring spirit,

and strip themselves of all possessions (Luke 14:33) in preparation

for relying totally upon Gods providence in the time, when, without

the mark, they could not buy or sell. A water baptism of repentance

was also required; and, after the Cross, submitted to in Jesus Name.

(Acts 2:38). He that endured unto the end of the Tribulation would

inherit eternal life in the kingdom on earth. These requirements will

be reinstated when God resumes His program with Israel after our

departure. (1 Thess. 4:14-18; Rom. 11:25).

In this dispensation of the grace of God (Eph. 3:2), given to Paul to

you-ward, (Eph. 3:1), God is calling out a heavenly people to be

fellowheirs with Christ of all things by forming a new creature, the

Body of Christ. This Body, of which Christ is the Head, is made up

of all that believe the gospel of Christ - that he died for our sins, was

buried and rose again - for it is the power of God unto salvation to

everyone that believeth; to the Jew first, and also to the Greek.(Romans 1:16). Who knows, maybe the ruler in our story was still

around to hear the new good news that God gave to Paul; and

perhaps he simply believed and was saved. Heres hoping he did;

and that you have, too!
http://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Luke%2014:33&version=9http://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Acts%202:38;&version=9;http://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=1%20Thessalonians%204:14-18;&version=9;http://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=1%20Thessalonians%204:14-18;&version=9;http://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Ephesians%203:2;&version=9;http://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Ephesians%203:1;&version=9;http://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Luke%2014:33&version=9http://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Acts%202:38;&version=9;http://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=1%20Thessalonians%204:14-18;&version=9;http://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=1%20Thessalonians%204:14-18;&version=9;http://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Ephesians%203:2;&version=9;http://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Ephesians%203:1;&version=9;

rich young ruler - was he shortchanged?

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