early Christian versus modern Christian

Jesusthekingofking said:

Jesus declared, “How hard it will be for those who have wealth to enter the kingdom of God!” He then states that 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.

How many Christian today take this verse literally? I can bet at the early church they are strong - poor, persecuted and died for the faith..

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God Bless, For me I take everything what Jesus says seriously including this verse about not entering the Kingdom of God as a rich man, because of the love of money over God and loving this world over God. So many people are like this, and I used to be too. People don't want to take it literal because they probably have wealth or love money, and instead of repenting from the world and love of money, they say it's not literal, but could risk going to hell. Jesus told us to preach repentance and remission of sin, which includes repenting from loving money and the world.

For myself, before being 'born of spirit', I used be very money focused because I have overwhelming debt and see money like most people as freedom and safety, and I wanted a better life and future for my family. But have been in debt for so long, I am not sure if I will get out.

When I was mainly focused on money and trying to get out of debt all the time, I would be tormented first thing in the morning all day and night about money issues, and attacks from the evil one, my dreams would turn to nightmares like thoughts of suicide and severe negative self talk, aggressive and angry towards others, depressed and sad all the time, until Jesus saved me helping me repent from all that, even though I still have the debt and no income due to being recently unemployed due to COVID-19.

I don't really care to much about money issues like before of get those attacks or torment, Jesus truly freed me from that torture I was putting myself through because I realized that it's just part of the world and doesn't matter in the end.

But that doesn't mean I wouldn't mind if I could clear my debts and grow my family, but doesn't really care if I am rich or not, so often I think I am meant to be poor with debt forever, if that's what's meant to be, and if I was rich with the love of money I may have never found Jesus Christ, my Lord and Saviour. Thank you Jesus Christ.

Jesusthekingofking said:

Jesus declared, “How hard it will be for those who have wealth to enter the kingdom of God!” He then states that 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.

How many Christian today take this verse literally? I can bet at the early church they are strong - poor, persecuted and died for the faith..

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No such thing as "early Christians", nor "modern Christians": it's just Christians, period.

That dichotomy exists, not to reflect on the Christians that were before us, but to explain away their Christianity as non-current for today.

It's like saying 'early angels' vs 'modern angels'...

Or comparing how God was 'back in the day', to how He is now...

To make those comparisons requires a set of presuppositions that deny what God has already said about Himself, angels, and His Church.

The real comparison, that no one dares to make, is the one the Spirit makes, repeatedly, in the scriptures, which is, the comparison of true Christians over and against false Christians.

Maybe we should just obey the Lord, and start judging amongst ourselves, instead of judging the world--the world is already condemned.

Rene Loup said:

Yes, this is 100% true. What was going through my mind while writing my previous posts was "What would be a better indicator of true character? Spending that wealth on drugs and prostitutes, or donating to charities and beneficial projects?"

This Bible passage NEEDS to be pointed out. Thank you for this contribution.

Bible Gateway passage: 1 Corinthians 13 - King James Version
Bible Gateway passage: 1 Corinthians 13 - New King James Version
Bible Gateway passage: 1 Corinthians 13 - New International Version
Bible Gateway passage: 1 Corinthians 13 - International Children’s Bible


~1 Corinthians 13:1-13 (NKJV)

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If only this rich man understand, what has been spoken:

And all these blessings shall come upon you and overtake you, if you obey the voice of the LORD your God. -Deuteronomy 28:2

If only this rich man’s heart was enlightened with the word, he would know what treasure in heaven the Lord spoke of those who come and follow Him:

having the eyes of your hearts enlightened, that you may know what is the hope to which he has called you, what are the riches of his glorious inheritance in the saints, -Ephesians 1:18

So the blessings of obeying the voice of God is more than all that rich man have.

That is why our Lord told us to His disciples after the rich man went away and He told us this promise:

Jesus said to them, "Truly, I say to you, in the new world, when the Son of Man will sit on his glorious throne, you who have followed me will also sit on twelve thrones, judging the twelve tribes of Israel. -Matthew 19:28

And everyone who has left houses or brothers or sisters or father or mother or children or lands, for my name's sake, will receive a hundredfold and will inherit eternal life. -Matthew 19:29

Selah ( Pause to reflect )

why it is easier for a camel to go through the eye of a needle?

Why our Lord considered camel for this parable ?

It is because camel before they go through desert experience, they always prepare water in their humps as they carry their burdens through their journey to a city.

But many who are rich in this present world have not prepared their hearts. Many have not come to the water. They are not like the tree planted by the water that send its root by the stream. When heat comes or when prosecution or tribulation comes on account of the word, they endure only for a little while before they fall off.

So the Lord tells us His disciples to consider the camel who have gone through the desert experience and enter the city.

The Lord tried to tell us His disciples that like camel, we will go through desert experience in order to know what is in our hearts.

As we have heard:
And you shall remember the whole way that the LORD your God has led you these forty years in the wilderness, that he might humble you, testing you to know what was in your heart, whether you would keep his commandments or not. -Deuteronomy 8:2

As camel go through desert experience, so we will, too.

How the camel survive the desert ? Isn’t it water ? Yes, therefore, we need a spiritual drink so that we can be saved.

For we heard: For I do not want you to be unaware, brothers, that our fathers were all under the cloud, and all passed through the sea, -1 Corinthians 10:1
and all were baptized into Moses in the cloud and in the sea, -1 Corinthians 10:2
and all ate the same spiritual food, -1 Corinthians 10:3
and all drank the same spiritual drink. For they drank from the spiritual Rock that followed them, and the Rock was Christ. -1 Corinthians 10:4

So, it is of importance that we drink the same spiritual drink, the spiritual Rock, and the Rock that is Christ.

As camel store water in their humps, our hearts need to be consistently filled with living water.

So, like those who have gone through spiritual desert experience, can relate that their souls were suffering.

Therefore, it is of importance that we come to the water. ( see Revelations 22:16-17 )

Jesusthekingofking said:

Jesus declared, “How hard it will be for those who have wealth to enter the kingdom of God!” He then states that 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.

How many Christian today take this verse literally? I can bet at the early church they are strong - poor, persecuted and died for the faith..

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Perhaps 1 in 1000 Christians in North America and Western Europe take said warning seriously today.

I think Jesus'complete answer hits the nail right on the head.

He said, "All things are possible with God."

No need to go into myth or hearsay here, its plain enough.

Yes, I believe the topic has been adequately answered. 'Tis neither riches nor poverty that save a person, but the gift of faith that comes through Jesus Christ. However it is true that the poor find it easier to trust for they have nothing else to lean on.

Godliness with contentment is the Bible way.

Can you forsake all and follow/ serve him? Many have done it only to find their lives greatly increased and enriched by him. Who can count the riches of our treasure in heaven? Treasure that will not be taken away.

I can testify that God is no one's debtor and am ready to give it all up again, just to experience the joys of trusting him as he blesses and so abundantly. All that I am blessed with in this life is nothing and I know that my reward in heaven is great. Hallelujah!

Just like that rich man had been called by the Lord to come and follow Him. We are also called to to come and follow Him.

When we are with the Lord, we don’t have to fear. For He has told us this:

Have I not commanded you? Be strong and courageous. Do not be frightened, and do not be dismayed, for the LORD your God is with you wherever you go." -Joshua 1:9

When our Heavenly Father the living fountain of waters is with us, we shall not be thirsty again.

For we shall be filled with His love;

For the living water that our Lord will give us will become in us a spring of water welling up to eternal life.

That is why our Lord have said this:

16 “I, Yeshua, have sent my angel to give you this testimony for the Messianic communities. I am the Root and Offspring of David, the bright Morning Star. 17 The Spirit and the Bride say, ‘Come!’ Let anyone who hears say, ‘Come!’ And let anyone who is thirsty come — let anyone who wishes, take the water of life free of charge.”-Revelation 22:16-17

it means that if God gives us wealth, we give, share, it's like a circle in my opinion

What burden do the camel carry ?
This is what we have heard:

Owe no one anything, except to love each other, for the one who loves another has fulfilled the law. -Romans 13:8

We, the Lord’s disciples have this burden to carry, that is, to love one another. That is why the Lord said that it is easier for a camel to go through the eye of a needle.

For those who are like camels have kept the faith by hearing His words of love.

For this is what we have heard:
Open the gates, that the righteous nation that keeps faith may enter in. -Isaiah 26:2

So, the gate of Heaven is opened to those who are made righteous in Christ Jesus. For they keep their faith by hearing His words of His love.

Jesusthekingofking said:

so the point Jesus said to the rich man isn't really wanting us Christian to sell all our possession to help the poor?

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Jesus was offering this rich young man what he lacked, that is, to be perfect, and do what He have said.

If he would be willing to take the Lord’s offer, then he will have to do what He has said.

When the Lord made an offer like that to someone, I suggest that person to consider what it is written in Deuteronomy 28:2-5.

Then he will understand what Jesus actually offered was more than what he possessed.

That is why our Lord have told His disciples who have done what He has said :

Jesus said to them, "Truly, I say to you, in the new world, when the Son of Man will sit on his glorious throne, you who have followed me will also sit on twelve thrones, judging the twelve tribes of Israel. -Matthew 19:28

When Jesus have told this, we know that the Lord have offered to His disciples more than what they had then.

Does not the Lord compare the eye of a needle with entering the kingdom of God ? Yes, He is.

For we also have heard what He has said :
For the gate is narrow and the way is hard that leads to life, and those who find it are few. -Matthew 7:14

The Lord is telling us how narrow is the eye of a needle. So to whom the Lord have given this understanding. For this is what we have heard:

Then the disciples came and said to him, "Why do you speak to them in parables?" -Matthew 13:10

And he answered them, "To you it has been given to know the secrets of the kingdom of heaven, but to them it has not been given. -Matthew 13:11

Aren’t the disciples of the Lord given to know the secrets of the kingdom? Yes, they are.

This is what we have heard from the Lord’s disciple, Peter:

For this very reason, make every effort to supplement your faith with virtue, and virtue with knowledge, -2 Peter 1:5

and knowledge with self-control, and self-control with steadfastness, and steadfastness with godliness, -2 Peter 1:6

and godliness with brotherly affection, and brotherly affection with love. -2 Peter 1:7

For if these qualities are yours and are increasing, they keep you from being ineffective or unfruitful in the knowledge of our Lord Jesus Christ. -2 Peter 1:8

For whoever lacks these qualities is so nearsighted that he is blind, having forgotten that he was cleansed from his former sins. -2 Peter 1:9

Therefore, brothers, be all the more diligent to confirm your calling and election, for if you practice these qualities you will never fall. -2 Peter 1:10

For in this way there will be richly provided for you an entrance into the eternal kingdom of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. -2 Peter 1:11

So, brothers, we are called to have these qualities that apostle Peter mention in increasing measure so that we are provided an entrance to the kingdom of Heaven where our Lord is now.

Therefore, let us live our life worthy of our Lord Jesus Christ who calls to His glory and goodness.