CAN WE EARN OUR WAY TO HEAVEN? Mark 10:17-31

INTRO In last Sunday’s message, Dr. Allan Meyer made 2 key points about the 10 commandments: God never intended the 10 commandments to be a means for getting into heaven He pointed out that the 10 commandments were only given to the Israelites after he had delivered them from slavery in Egypt In other words, God only gave them the 10 commandments after they were saved

INTRO In last Sunday’s message, Dr. Allan Meyer made 2 key points about the 10 commandments: Nor do we keep the 10 commandments for God to like us

“Can a good person earn their way to heaven?” A recent Barna research carried out in the USA posed this question to 6,242 church going folks: The percentage of those responding “yes” were as follows: Assembly of God 22% Baptist 38% Presbyterian 52% Lutheran 54% Episcopalian 58% Methodist 59% Roman Catholic 82% “Can a good person earn their way to heaven?” Likewise story of the rich young ruler in Mark 10 appears to give this impression as well ….

BIBLE PASSAGE As Jesus started on his way, a man ran up to him and fell on his knees before him. “Good teacher,” he asked, “what must I do to inherit eternal life?” 18 “Why do you call me good?” Jesus answered. “No one is good—except God alone.  19 You know the commandments: ‘You shall not murder, you shall not commit adultery, you shall not steal, you shall not give false testimony, you shall not defraud, honor your father and mother.’”

BIBLE PASSAGE 20 “Teacher,” he declared, “all these I have kept since I was a boy.” 21 Jesus looked at him and loved him. “One thing you lack,” he said. “Go, sell everything you have and give to the poor, and you will have treasure in heaven. Then come, follow me.” 22 At this the man’s face fell. He went away sad, because he had great wealth. 23 Jesus looked around and said to his disciples, “How hard it is for the rich to enter the kingdom of God!”

BIBLE PASSAGE 24 The disciples were amazed at his words. But Jesus said again, “Children, how hard it is to enter the kingdom of God! 25 It is easier for a camel to go through the eye of a needle than for someone who is rich to enter the kingdom of God.” 26 The disciples were even more amazed, and said to each other, “Who then can be saved?” 27 Jesus looked at them and said, “With man this is impossible, but not with God; all things are possible with God.”

BIBLE PASSAGE 28 Then Peter spoke up, “We have left everything to follow you!” 29 “Truly I tell you,” Jesus replied, “no one who has left home or brothers or sisters or mother or father or children or fields for me and the gospel30 will fail to receive a hundred times as much in this present age: homes, brothers, sisters, mothers, children and fields—along with persecutions—and in the age to come eternal life. 31 But many who are first will be last, and the last first.”

THE STORY OF THE RICH YOUNG MAN * Found in all the 3 synoptic gospels of Matthew, Mark and Luke.

WHAT WAS THE PERSONAL BACKGROUND OF THIS RICH YOUNG MAN? Paul deals with them in the following ways: Paul exhibits the spirit of humility and gentleness of Christ in dealing with the opposition Paul challenges the unfair charge of alternating between timidity and boldness from his critics Several key observations…

He was of high social standing He was eager or enthusiastic 1 2 Luke 18:8 describes him as a ruler Implication: a member of the Jewish Sanhedrin, the highest religious ruling council in Israel He came running to Jesus in verse 17: 17 As Jesus started on his way, a man ran up to him and fell on his knees before him.

He was humble and respectful 3 He knelt before Jesus.

He was very wealthy 4 See Mark 10:22 22 At this the man’s face fell. He went away sad, because he had great wealth. * Don’t you think he easily qualifies for membership in any church today?

WHAT WAS HIS PRIMARY CONCERN IN LIFE BY COMING TO JESUS? He asked Jesus an ultimate question in verse 17: 17 What must I do to inherit eternal life?

This rich young ruler certainly posed the right question to Jesus. So what was this rich young ruler actually asking? A need for us to grasp Jewish religious concepts. Jews divide human history into 2 distinct stages:

The Present Age … which is infused with sin and evil after the Fall of Adam and Eve 1

The Age to Come … which is characterised by universal peace or ‘shalom’ with the coming of the Messiah * So this rich young ruler wanted to live in a place of total bliss forever

* Jesus himself made the same promise to his followers in Mark 10:29-30 29 “Truly I tell you,” Jesus replied, “no one who has left home or brothers or sisters or mother or father or children or fields for me and the gospel30 will fail to receive a hundred times as much in this present age: homes, brothers, sisters, mothers, children and fields—along with persecutions—and in the age to come eternal life

HOW DID JESUS RESPOND TO THIS RICH YOUNG RULER’S QUESTION? Paul deals with them in the following ways: Paul exhibits the spirit of humility and gentleness of Christ in dealing with the opposition Paul challenges the unfair charge of alternating between timidity and boldness from his critics A 2-fold response on the part of Jesus…

By seizing the opportunity to educate this ruler about who God is 1 See verse 18: By seizing the opportunity to educate this ruler about who God is 18 “Why do you call me good?” Jesus answered. “No one is good—except God alone.

By asking this ruler whether he knew the 10 commandments 2 See verse 19: By asking this ruler whether he knew the 10 commandments 19 You know the commandments: ‘You shall not murder, you shall not commit adultery, you shall not steal, you shall not give false testimony, you shall not defraud, honor your father and mother.’ * Was Jesus implying here that to inherit eternal life, the rich young ruler just needed to keep the 10 commandments?

WHAT WAS THE REPLY OF THIS RICH YOUNG RULER TO JESUS? He gave a very confident reply about his moral uprightness: 20 “Teacher,” he declared, “all these I have kept since I was a boy.”

Here Jesus was merely testing this rich young ruler by quoting only the last 6 commandments. A need for us to understand the structure and nature of the 10 commandments:

STRUCTURE The 10 commandments can be divided into 2 major sections: The vertical relationship between God and man Dealing with man’s obligation towards God in the first 4 commandments * Could be summed up under "'Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your strength and with all your mind.”

STRUCTURE The 10 commandments can be divided into 2 major sections: The horizontal relationship between man and man Dealing with man’s responsibility towards his fellow man in the last 6 commandments * Could be summed up under “Love your neighbour as you love yourself.” Application: Can we honestly declare that we are able to keep both commandments in our lives?

The primary meaning of sin is our wrongdoing towards God first NATURE The 10 commandments provide us with a deeper understanding of the biblical definition of sin. The primary meaning of sin is our wrongdoing towards God first The example of Joseph in Genesis 39. See verse 9: 9 No one is greater in this house than I am. My master has withheld nothing from me except you, because you are his wife. How then could I do such a wicked thing and sin against God?”

NATURE The 10 commandments provide us with a deeper understanding of the biblical definition of sin. The secondary meaning of sin is our wrongdoing towards our fellow human beings This is found in the last 6 commandments. Application: How do you and I understand the issue of sin today?

WHAT WAS THE FINAL COMMAND OF JESUS TO THIS RICH YOUNG RULER? See verse 21: 21 Jesus looked at him and loved him. “One thing you lack,” he said. “Go, sell everything you have and give to the poor, and you will have treasure in heaven. Then come, follow me.”

Jesus commanded this man to forsake his wealth 1 Jesus commanded this man to forsake his wealth Why? Because material wealth had become this man’s personal idol So this man was clearly guilty of breaking the first commandment itself: “You shall have no other gods before me.”

Jesus commanded this man to forsake his wealth 1 Jesus commanded this man to forsake his wealth * Likewise do you and I acknowledge that we are guilty in one way or another of failing to uphold this first commandment in our lives?

Jesus told this rich young ruler to care for the poor 2 Jesus told this rich young ruler to care for the poor Jesus knew that rich young ruler had been hoarding wealth only for himself 3 Jesus offered this rich young ruler an eternal treasure Jesus would never asked a person to forsake something without replacing it with something far better

Jesus called this rich young ruler to become his lifelong follower 4 Jesus called this rich young ruler to become his lifelong follower Jesus actually invited this man to the greatest spiritual adventure in life SPECIAL NOTE Jesus spoke these words with love. See verse 21 21 Jesus looked at him and loved him. 

Application: Do you and I have complete trust in all the promises of Jesus since they are motivated by divine love for our eternal welfare?

WHAT WAS THE FINAL RESPONSE OF THIS RICH YOUNG RULER TO JESUS? See verse 22: 22 At this the man’s face fell. He went away sad, because he had great wealth

Billy Graham: “This man came with the right attitude, asked the right question, but made the wrong final decision.” * How tragic! Application: What final decision have you and I made regarding our eternal destiny?

CONCLUSION Are you and I fully aware that the 10 commandments openly shows how sinful and guilty we are before a holy God? See Romans 3:20 See Romans 4:15 20 For no one can ever be made right with God by doing what the law commands. The law simply shows us how sinful we are [New Living Translation] 15 because the law brings wrath. And where there is no law there is no transgression

CONCLUSION Without a shadow of doubt, it is utterly impossible for anyone of us to earn our way to heaven. What then is the role of the 10 commandments for today? a) They enshrine God’s absolute moral standard They bring condemnation to us, which only divine grace can resolve.

CONCLUSION EPHESIANS 2:8-9 For it is by grace you have been saved, through faith—and this is not from yourselves, it is the gift of God— 9 not by works, so that no one can boast.