2012-07-07 - What's Your View?

Originally Preached 2009-07-08 ~ Part 2

2. Are You a Good Person? v.20-21

   The rich young ruler also gave the wrong answer about his sin. The ruler thought he was good. He claimed to obey the ten commandments. But the Bible tells us that none of us are perfect. In fact that is what the law does, it points out that we are not good people. Romans 3:23 says, "We all have sinned." Jesus named five commandments in his discussion. What five did he not name?

   1. Have no other gods but me
   2. Have no graven images
   3. Don't take God's name in vain
   4. Remember the Sabbath
   5. Don't covet

   In truth, he may have obeyed the ones Jesus mentioned but he struggled with at least two of these.

   Money was a god to him because it came before Jesus. He coveted and wanted the riches of the world. Warren Wiersbe wrote, "Jesus knew the young man's heart, so instead of preaching to him about covetousness, He asked him to do something that a covetous person would not do … This young man was possessed by the love of money and he would not let go."

3. What's It Take to Get to Heaven? v. 23-24

   The nameless rich man thought he could do something to guarantee his place in heaven. When Jesus told him what he could do, he refused. He wanted salvation on his terms not on God's terms. But God doesn't play like that. This man answered three questions with three wrong answers so the man went away sad.

4. Closing

   Now as a comparison with let us look at the blind man's answers later in this chapter.

   Luke 18:35-43

   ³⁵ As Jesus approached Jericho, a blind man was sitting by the roadside begging. ³⁶ When he heard the crowd going by, he asked what was happening. ³⁷ They told him, "Jesus of Nazareth is passing by." ³⁸ He called out, "Jesus, Son of David, have mercy on me!" ³⁹ Those who led the way rebuked him and told him to be quiet, but he shouted all the more, "Son of David, have mercy on me!" ⁴⁰ Jesus stopped and ordered the man to be brought to him. When he came near, Jesus asked him, ⁴¹ "What do you want me to do for you?" "Lord, I want to see," he replied. ⁴² Jesus said to him, "Receive your sight; your faith has healed you." ⁴³ Immediately he received his sight and followed Jesus, praising God. When all the people saw it, they also praised God.

   The blind man said Jesus is the Son of David – a title for the true Messiah, Christ, Savior. The blind man begged for mercy. He didn't think he had earned anything. The blind man had faith in Jesus.

   The rich man left his own way sad. The blind man went Jesus' way happy and praising God. The rich man went away poor. The blind man went away rich. The rich man went away blind. The blind man went away seeing. How did you answer these three questions? If you answered any wrong you can make them right.

IHFHBOH
Adam

acdum@hotmail.com
http://www.cfdevotionals.org

All scripture references from KJV unless otherwise noted.