- Aug 25, 2018
- 2,446
- 651
- 68
- Country
- United States
- Gender
- Male
- Faith
- Christian
- Marital Status
- Single
Didn't the rich young ruler boast to Christ that he kept all the commandments? What did Jesus say to him? But to be clear here, you are absolutely correct one must completely keep all that is written in the Law to enter heaven without a single blemish of sin. Meaning this person has to be perfectly righteous and holy. So, please tell me who has ever done that after the Fall? Besides Jesus a course.
What you are missing here fhansen, is that no one is good, all have fallen short of the glory of God. All have sinned and are under the curse of the Law. Why? Under the curse of the Law, because the Law brings knowledge of sin, which then brings God judgement and wrath against it. This is Law preaching to expose our sinful condition before a Holy God and the need for Mercy, which is the only place for a sinner! And sinners need a Redeemer, not exhortation (directions or DIY project to save yourself). No sinner can ever save himself through his/hers activity (works), of any kind.
Look here at what Paul says in Romans 10:
1 Brothers, my heart’s desire and prayer to God for them is that they may be saved. 2 For I bear them witness that they have a zeal for God, but not according to knowledge. 3 For, being ignorant of the righteousness of God, and seeking to establish their own, they did not submit to God’s righteousness. 4 For Christ is the end of the law for righteousness to everyone who believes.
So, here you have Jews who have a zeal for God, but not according to knowledge. What is Paul saying here? These Jews think they don't need the Gospel, because the Gospel is for sinners, not righteous men. They seek to establish their own righteousness and do not submit to God's righteousness. What does Paul mean by this? Well, instead of having Faith in the Gospel promise and receive the Righteousness of God, they refuse to submit and accept this. Why? because it is a stumbling block for the Jews. They refuse to submit that Free Righteousness could be given Freely through the Proclamation of the Gospel Promise. For Christ is the end of the Law for Righteousness to everyone who believes. Meaning Christ merited the Righteousness by fulfilling the Law by His Active/Passive Obedience which is given or imputed to those who Believe in Christ and what he has done.
You can play games with God's Word, but Lord Jesus taught that the only faith by which we are granted eternal life is a faith by which we make a firm decision to renounce serving sin, and commit to become his disciples following him, and obeying all things he commands of us - that is the Great Commission for all nations (Matthew 28:19-20; John 15:10).
IF that is not the faith you have in Lord Jesus, then you are not in "The Faith" of the Gospel.
Christ only gives Eternal Life to the sheep who listen to and follow him. (John 10:27-28)
Matthew 10:38 (WEB) He who doesn’t take his cross and follow after me isn’t worthy of me.
Repentance, dying to sin to follow Christ in righteousness is what Baptism represents (Matthew 28:19-20; Romans 6:1-8).
You will not take part in the Resurrection of Lord Jesus if your faith does not manifest by repentance, dying to the old life of sin, and rising to follow Christ in righteousness - walking in newness of life.
2 Corinthians 7:10 (WEB) For godly sorrow produces repentance to salvation
Luke 24:46-47 The Great Commission
46 He said to them, “Thus it is written, and thus it was necessary for the Christ to suffer and to rise from the dead the third day, 47 and that repentance for the forgiveness of sins should be preached in his name to all the nations, beginning at Jerusalem.
Matthew 28:19-20 The Great Commission
Go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them [disciples] in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, 20 teaching them [disciples] to obey all things that I commanded you.
Romans 6:1-8 (WEB) What shall we say then? Shall we continue in sin, that grace may abound? 2 May it never be! We who died to sin, how could we live in it any longer? 3 Or don’t you know that all we who were baptized into Christ Jesus were baptized into his death? 4 We were buried therefore with him through baptism into death, that just as Christ was raised from the dead through the glory of the Father, so we also might walk in newness of life. 5 For if we have become united with him in the likeness of his death, we will also be part of his resurrection; 6 knowing this, that our old man was crucified with him, that the body of sin might be done away with, so that we would no longer be in bondage to sin. 7 For he who has died has been freed from sin. 8 But if we died with Christ, we believe that we will also live with him
Upvote
0