What shall I do that I may inherit eternal life?
Let's consider Mark 10:17~26
Mark 10:17 "Good Teacher, what shall I do that I may inherit eternal life?...if you want to enter into life, keep the commandments"
V. 17 what shall I do - he thought eternal life was had by the works of the law
V. 19 You know the commandments
Matt. 19:20 Rich Young Ruler -- What do I still lack?
V. 21 Jesus One thing you lack
V. 25 camel to go through the eye of a needle
Mark 10:26 When His disciples heard it, they were greatly astonished, saying, "Who then can be saved?"
Mark 10:27 "With man this is impossible, but not with God; all things are possible with God."
A/ Salvation begins and ends with God.
B/ Our faith begins and ends with God.
C/ It is impossible for man to do anything to "get to heaven."
D/ The only way into God s kingdom is by following Jesus Christ who lives in us.
E/ John 14:6 I am the way, the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through Me.
F/ Whatever wonderful ideas we could imagine, God s plan is greater!
Because of sin everyone requires salvation Rom. 3:23 for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God.
But by works no one receives salvation
Titus 3:5 not by works of righteousness which we have done, but according to His mercy He saved us, through the washing of regeneration and renewing of the Holy Spirit, and
Eph. 2:8,9 For by grace you have been saved through faith, and that not of yourselves; it is the gift of God, not of works, lest anyone should boast.
God desires all to be saved, that no one would suffer condemnation
John 3:16 "For God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him should not perish but have everlasting life. & 1 Tim. 2:4 who desires all men to be saved and to come to the knowledge of the truth
Lord, are there few who are saved?
Consider: Luke 13: 22~24 And He went through the cities and villages, teaching, and journeying toward Jerusalem. Then one said to Him, "Lord, are there few who are saved?" And He said to them, "Strive to enter through the narrow gate, for many, I say to you, will seek to enter and will not be able. & Matt. 7:14 "Because narrow is the gate and difficult is the way which leads to life, and there are few who find it.
A/ The understanding is that few shall be saved.
B/ We are told in scripture that few will find it
C/ Many are complacent and do not seek or strive.
D/ The word few warns us that not many are finding the narrow road.
E/ We are not told who asked the question.
F/ Purpose of the question -- curious, a trick, personal interest,??
G/ Christ never answers it, but calls to the one to strive to seek his own salvation.
Strive to enter: Strive to enter through the narrow gate
Strive. agonizo, from which we get our English word, agonize. In the plural number: Strive ye.
A/ To enter through the narrow gate, one must strive to enter.
B/ It is a narrow gate that one must enter to be born again or saved.
C/ Strive with God in prayer for your eyes to be opened to the truth.
D/ Strive as a helpless child eagerly to know the way of Salvation.
E/ Strive with your heart,- Be in agony.
F/ Strive as those that run for a prize; to exert ourselves to the utmost.
G/ Neglect is itself a choice, and as with all decisions, there are consequences.
Salvation is all God s work, entirely apart from our works. Because we live in this sinful flesh, it does involve a striving and a struggle. That's what Jesus means when he says, Strive to enter.
Seek to enter: many, I say to you, will seek to enter and will not be able.
A/ Breaking one commandment is sin (James 2:10), and sin is the gate of hell.
B/ We all have broken commandments and so all have sinned.
C/ You will seek to enter when it is too late because you did not strive to enter.
shall not be able; - Many will seek to enter in, and shall not be able; Luke 13:24b for many, I say to you, will seek to enter and will not be able.
A/ Opinion of holiness, and take some good steps towards it.
B/ They do not strive, therefore they do not seek to find the true path.
C/ Lose the prize, because they do not press forward
Sinners are already under a sentence of condemnation to hell. John 3:18, "He who believes in Him is not condemned; but he who does not believe is condemned already, because he has not believed in the name of the only begotten Son of God.
A/ Many sit in congregations, who feel completely at ease and do not seek.
B/ Many do not consider the fearful danger they are in.
C/ God has made no promises either of eternal life, or of any deliverance or preservation from eternal death for those who don t strive to find the truth.
Few are saved because..
Some rest in - Riches Mark 10: 23~25 Then Jesus looked around and said to His disciples, "How hard it is for those who have riches to enter the kingdom of God!" And the disciples were astonished at His words. But Jesus answered again and said to them, "Children, how hard it is for those who trust in riches to enter the kingdom of God! "It is easier for a camel to go through the eye of a needle than for a rich man to enter the kingdom of God.
The way to heaven is compared to a needle's eye.
A/ The rich are drawn in the world of materialism, wealth, wants and desires.
B/ The rich sets his heart upon his riches, to get to heaven.
Nothing less than the grace of God will enable a rich man to get over this difficulty.
Some rest in - Tradition - Matt. 15:3 He answered and said to them, "Why do you also transgress the commandment of God because of your tradition?
Traditions you were raised to believe can have a powerful influence on how you view the basics of life.
Some rest in desire for - Sensual and Worldly pleasures -1 John 2:16 For all that is in the world the lust of the flesh, the lust of the eyes, and the pride of life is not of the Father but is of the world.
Many fill their lives with the world and feel they need no more. - Eph. 2:3 among whom also we all once conducted ourselves in the lusts of our flesh, fulfilling the desires of the flesh and of the mind, and were by nature children of wrath, just as the others.
Some rest in - Works - Eph. 2:8,9 For by grace you have been saved through faith, and that not of yourselves; it is the gift of God, not of works, lest anyone should boast.
Some rest in - Denominational beliefs What is taught or suggested by an given Church as a way to God
Many are deceived by human viewpoints, opinions and assumptions that they will make it to heaven but sadly will never make it there. - Col. 2:8 Beware lest anyone cheat you through philosophy and empty deceit, according to the tradition of men, according to the basic principles of the world, and not according to Christ.
Some blinded by the Devil 2 Cor. 4:4 whose minds the god of this age has blinded, who do not believe, lest the light of the gospel of the glory of Christ, who is the image of God, should shine on them. & 1 Cor. 2:14 But the natural man does not receive the things of the Spirit of God, for they are foolishness to him; nor can he know them, because they are spiritually discerned.
What must I do to be saved?
Acts 16:29~31 Then he called for a light, ran in, and fell down trembling before Paul and Silas. And he brought them out and said, "Sirs, what must I do to be saved?" So they said, "Believe on the Lord Jesus Christ, and you will be saved, you and your household."
It is not that the jailor referred here to his personal safety. He had seen that the prison doors had been miraculously opened, and the bonds of the prisoners all loosed, yet not one of them had escaped: He was convinced in his heart that he was lost, and needed salvation; and therefore his earnest inquiry is how he should obtain it.
Acts 16:31 Believe on the Lord Jesus Christ, and you will be saved,
Rom. 10:13 For "whoever calls on the name of the LORD shall be saved."
Psalm 95:7,8 Today, if you hear his voice, harden not your heart.
Who then can be saved?
Lord, are there few who are saved?
What must I do to be saved?
REMEMBER...
1. Only eight souls were saved during The Flood -Gen. 7:21-23; 1Peter 3:20; 2Pe 2:5
2. Only three souls escaped the destruction of Sodom and Gomorrah - Gen. 19:24-30
The door of mercy and grace are open, when Noah was safe in the ark, God shut the door.
Any time you hear God s voice, open your heart to it. Don t stop your ears and thus run the risk, there may not be a next time.
When the Lord died upon Calvary, He made salvation available to all men without exception.
Matt. 7:21~23 "Not everyone who says to Me, Lord, Lord, shall enter the kingdom of heaven, but he who does the will of My Father in heaven. Many will say to Me in that day, Lord, Lord, have we not prophesied in Your name, cast out demons in Your name, and done many wonders in Your name? And then I will declare to them, I never knew you; depart from Me, you who practice lawlessness!
Many go along way in religious circles, open profession, Christian service, orthodox
Many kept it up a long time, not silenced by men or openly disowned by Christ
Many were fatally mistaken and found out a terrible way, I never knew you
Not, I once knew you but not anymore, but I never knew you.
Jesus says, I am the way and the truth and the life. No one comes to the Father, except through me.
Jesus says, I am the door for the sheep. I am the door. If anyone enters by me, he will be saved.
A/ Acknowledge that God is real
B/ Agree with God that you are a sinner
C/ Believe or trust that Jesus paid the penalty for your sin
D/ Rom. 10:13 for whoever calls on the name of the Lord shall be saved