Mark 10:17-22

This is the story of the rich young man who comes to Jesus asking how he can be saved. In my last posting I asked how we can say we love our neighbor, if we have not shared the gospel with them? This story illustrates how Jesuus shared the gospel. What better opening question is there than for someone to come up to you and ask how they can be saved? Here is what happened (from the NIV):

"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 inheret eternal life?"

"Why do you call me good?" Jesus answered. "No one is good--except God alone. You know the commandments: 'Do not murder, do not commit adultery, do not steal, do not give false testimony, not not defraud, honor your father and mother.'"

"Teacher," he declared, "all these I have kept since I was a boy."

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."

At this the man's face fell. He went away sad, because he had great wealth."

What did Jesus do? He took the rich young man to the Ten Commandments. When the the rich young man would not admit to having broken any of the commandments--in other words he thought he was a good person--Jesus then showed that the rich man was breaking the first and second commandments right at that moment.

Have no other Gods before me - the rich man's wealth was a "god" that he held in high esteem that God almighty creator of the universe.

Do not make idols - the rich man's wealth was an idol that he worshipped instead of God.

People can not be saved until they know they need saving. How well have you kept the Ten Commandments? Have you ever told a lie? Have you ever stolen anything? Have you ever looked at another person with lust--Jesus said that if you look at another person with lust you have committed adultery in your heart. Have you ever used the name of God in vain (as a cuss word for example)? These are just four of the Ten Commandments.

When you stand before God to be judged will you be innocent or guilty of breaking his commandments? Will you be going to heaven or hell?

Read the above story again. Jesus said that "No one is good--except God alone." Only God is good. All of us like to think that we are a good person, but we are not. We have broken God's laws and must pay the penalty. That penalty is death, it is called hell. For example, the Bible says that liars will spend eternity in the lake of fire. Have you every told a lie? Even a small "white" lie?

But there is good news. For there to be justice the penalty you owe for breaking God's laws must be paid. Jesus has done that for you. He has paid your penalty. He offers this to you as a free gift. All you need to do is accept this gift. Turn away from disobeying God and strive to obey His commands, and trust that Jesus has paid the penalty for every time in the past (and future) that you have broken God's laws.