The Rich Young Ruler

-

A rich young ruler in Israel came to Christ asking Him how to obtain eternal life. And though he received from the Lord a clear answer he did not, as far as we can tell, follow the Master’s advice. He went away sorrowing because of his great wealth with which he was not willing to part, Luke 18:23. He became an example of how great riches can be a reason why people err from the way of salvation. Many people in our time would rather keep their wealth than come to Christ for salvation. The mammon of unrighteousness becomes their idol in preference to the true God.

The Lord saw how very sorrowful that man was, and since He knows what is in man, John 2:25, He perceived how his wealth stood between him and eternal life. The Saviour said, ‘How hardly shall they that have riches enter into the kingdom of God!’ Luke 18:24. He likened it to the passage of a camel, the largest common animal, through the eye of the needle, v. 25. To the Jewish mind at the time being rich was a sign of God’s favour. Therefore, those words of the Lord drew from His audience the reaction, ‘Who then can be saved?’ v. 26. If there was so much difficulty for the favoured rich to be saved, how can anyone else be saved?

The Lord, however, has spoken of it as a difficulty, not an impossibility. His answer to their question pointed them to the truth that ‘with God nothing is impossible’, Gen. 18:14. Our God is able to save both poor and rich. ‘The things which are impossible with men are possible with God’, Luke 18:27.

We see God’s almighty power both in creation, Heb. 1:3, and in providence, Acts 17:28. But when it came to providing salvation for mankind it took more than His power! It took the incarnation, death, and resurrection of His blessed Son, Heb. 1:3. Thus, He made purification for sin by the sacrifice of Himself. How remarkable to see Him on the way to the cross, talking about the value of His sacrifice in the sight of God! Hence He could assure the crowd that day that ‘he is able also to save them to the uttermost that come to God by him’, 7:25, regardless of whether they are materially rich or poor.


Mikhael, B. (2010). August 6th: Who Then Can Be Saved? (Luke 18:18–30). In K. Totton (Ed.), Day by Day: Bible Questions (p. 237). Bristol, UK: Precious Seed.

Popular posts from this blog

Speaking in tongues for today - Charles Stanley

-
Image
There are diversities of gifts, but the same Spirit. … But the manifestation of the Spirit is given to each one for the profit of all. … And God has appointed these in the church: first apostles, second prophets, third teachers, after that miracles, then gifts of healing, helps, administrations, varieties of tongues. … Do all speak with tongues? Do all interpret? But earnestly desire the best gifts. And yet I show you a more excellent way - 1 Corinthians 12:4, 7, 28, 30—31 The Lord Jesus Christ had come and gone. The church—newly birthed—was in a transition time. The new covenant was seen as a threat to the Jewish leaders; therefore, there was persecution for those who had chosen to follow Christ. The new religion, in its infant stages, had no Bible, few leaders, and absolutely no support from the government. Astounding that it survived, isn’t it?  How in the world did it survive with so little going for it? Power. Not just a force, but mighty, visible power. This new church
Read more

What is the glory (kabod) of God?

-
Image
2 CORINTHIANS 4:17 "This light momentary affliction is preparing for us an eternal weight of glory beyond all comparison." Scripture places a high value on God 's glory, and it is not hard to figure out why. Since the inherent glory of the Lord is something that He will not share with others (Isa. 42:8), we know that His glory is something that He prizes highly; indeed, He prizes it more highly than anything else. We should, therefore, set the glory of God as the goal and overarching emphasis of our lives. Whatever we lose for the sake of making the Lord's glory known will be worth it when we see the dazzling light and beauty of; the divine glory (28:5; Rev. 21:23). Glory has to do with light and beauty, but those aspects do not sum up what the Bible means when it speaks of the glory of God. Interestingly, the Hebrew word kabod , which is translated into English as "glory," has the root meaning of "weight" or "heaviness."
Read more

The Holy Spirit causes us to cry out: Abba, Father

-
Image
Pentecostés. Óleo sobre lienzo, 275 × 127 cm. Madrid, Museo del Prado. (Photo credit: Wikipedia ) To bring out the same truth in another way, Paul says God sent Jesus (as a Man) to live under the Law in order “to redeem those under law, that we [Jews and Gentiles ] might receive the full rights [adoption] of sons” ( Galatians 4:5).  By “full rights” or “adoption” he means entering into the privileges and responsibilities of sonship. He uses it also of the sonship of Israel (Romans 9:4). Galatians 4:1, 2 indicate that the son and heir of a wealthy family in Paul’s day would be treated as a slave until he became of age.  Then he would receive the adoption, that is, all the rights, privileges, and responsibilities that belonged to an adult member of that family. Adoption was also used in the modern sense, so that Gentiles who were not sons of Abraham became true heirs, true sons of God , by faith.  Jesus died, not just to save us from the fires of hell, but to make it p
Read more