So. . .what must I do to be saved?

sermon by Manfred Schreyer

Mark 10:17:31 (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 inherit eternal life?" :18 "Why do you call me good?" Jesus answered. "No one is good–except God alone. :19 You know the commandments: 'Do not murder, do not commit adultery, do not steal, do not give false testimony, do not defraud, honor your father and mother.'"

:20 "Teacher," he declared, "all these I have kept since I was a boy." :21 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.":22 At this the man's face fell. He went away sad, because he had great wealth. :23 Jesus looked around and said to his disciples, "How hard it is for the rich to enter the kingdom of God!" :24 The disciples were amazed at his words. But Jesus said again, "Children, how hard it is to enter the kingdom of God! :25 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." :26 The disciples were even more amazed, and said to each other, "Who then can be saved?" :27 Jesus looked at them and said, "With man this is impossible, but not with God; all things are possible with God."

:28 Peter said to him, "We have left everything to follow you!"

:29 "I tell you the truth," Jesus replied, "no one who has left home or brothers or sisters or mother or father or children or fields for me and the gospel :30 will fail to receive a hundred times as much in this present age (homes, brothers, sisters, mothers, children and fields--and with them, persecutions) and in the age to come, eternal life. :31 But many who are first will be last, and the last first."

Luke 18:18-30 (NIV) A certain ruler asked him, "Good teacher, what must I do to inherit eternal life?" :19 "Why do you call me good?" Jesus answered. "No one is good--except God alone. :20 You know the commandments: 'Do not commit adultery, do not murder, do not steal, do not give false testimony, honor your father and mother.'"

:21 "All these I have kept since I was a boy," he said.

Luke 18:22 When Jesus heard this, he said to him, "You still lack one thing. Sell everything you have and give to the poor, and you will have treasure in heaven. Then come, follow me." :23 When he heard this, he became very sad, because he was a man of great wealth. :24 Jesus looked at him and said, "How hard it is for the rich to enter the kingdom of God!

:25 Indeed, 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." :26 Those who heard this asked, "Who then can be saved?" :27 Jesus replied, "What is impossible with men is possible with God." :28 Peter said to him, "We have left all we had to follow you!" :29 "I tell you the truth," Jesus said to them, "no one who has left home or wife or brothers or parents or children for the sake of the kingdom of God :30 will fail to receive many times as much in this age and, in the age to come, eternal life."

      Most of us have heard this story during Bible Study or in a sermon. Commonly the church overall has come to an understanding that riches can keep you from entering the Kingdom of God.

      To a degree that is correct, but there is a story behind the story.

      Here is a man who approached Jesus, and he, as a ruler or rich man, kneels before Jesus recognizing him as good.

      He is the guy who has done everything right in life. Just like many/some of us. We recognize Jesus in worship, in prayer and observance of God’s commandments . . . and we then expect that we enter eternal life.

      Just like the man who met Jesus. Though he has the knowledge of doing the right thing and accepting Jesus, he must have felt as if something is missing in his life.

      And Jesus has the answer for him. Jesus says that he must relinquish everything he owns . . . and without any hesitation the man turns around, after no wagering second and walks away. The story tells us that he went away sad.

      And Jesus sums the event up in saying that the treasures of this earth hold us hostage and they literally prevent us from entering into the kingdom. ("Children, how hard it is" some manuscripts "who trust in riches")

      Why? Can’t I be rich and go to heaven? Can’t I see the wealth I accumulate as a blessing from God? Can’t I be the one who does good things with my money?

      How many apostles do you think took their treasure along to travel with Jesus? How many of them stopped and did some business while traveling with Jesus?

      And then there is Peter . . . "So, who then can one be saved?" Peter’s question infers that he did not get the entire picture of the conversation.

      I believe that I have talked about Peter more then anyone else in the bible in this church. I love Peter, because I can identify with Peter.

      I sometimes, even though I read my bible and I pray I still sometimes do not understand what God is saying. (And even more often I do not understand why God is saying certain things)

      So Peter for me is the one who wants to know and is sometimes ignorant and makes human assumptions.

      Well, if you read the story Jesus says that the young ruler cannot walk the life of blessing and that the young man is really unable to follow Jesus.

      First we have to know why Jesus came to this earth: He came to proclaim God’s will for us and then he gave Himself for us as atonement for the sins we have committed.

      In return he asks us to take up His cross. Jesus asks us to make God the priority in our life. We cannot follow Jesus is we rely on the security which is human created here on earth . . .

      It is funny but Jesus told the young man in so many words: "Are you proud of yourself that you did not kill anyone? Are you proud that you did not rob a bank? Are you proud you did not have a one night stand with someone? Do you in all honesty believe you are able to reach eternal live like that? Listen fellow, you do not get to heaven for being good and trying to do the right thing, because all of you fall short. . . .BUT what you must do is to follow me." I want all of you, because you belong to me. You are my creation, I gave you the gift of life, I am the life.

      I am telling you these are hard terms! The story teaches us that it is NOT enough to "get saved" and to follow the commandments. Remember Jesus tells us in the Gospel that we are to love our neighbors as ourselves . . . because if we do not love them we are unable to love God.

      "OK . . . so I get saved (I kneel before my savor) I will love my neighbor (Even the ones who I can’t stand) and you now want me to follow you Jesus?"

      Well I think here is the clincher: First of all we are never able to love our neighbor if we possess more then they have or if they possess more then we have. The reason we do not like people in most case has its roots in financial issues, pride issues, etc.

      Though Jesus uses the analogy of financial wealth I am to tell you that he also meant a number of other things such as pride, habits that keep us from following Him, etc.

      I know people who have hundreds of thousands of Dollars wrapped up in stock options. They are betting that certain stock will move up or bet they will go down. They follow the option trades on their PC, their cell, call in. ..and so forth. They bet that their bet will be the right one. If you are a good trader you will make a LITTLE money (OK, everything is relative), because chances are that you will lose, but again if you are good you will also pick winners. The point is that these traders are consumed by their trades and expiration dates, etc. They have no other things on their mind, but this financial endeavor.

      They are good people. They attend church . . . maybe they even lead a Bible study . . . but the truth is they are not consumed by leading people to Christ, or to pick up the cross. .their daily habit consumes them. And the habit is to follow their earthly treasures and not to walk with Jesus.

      Jesus says: Give it up! Jesus says that if you want to follow him and proclaim His word "Give it Up"

 

"Two things I ask of you, O LORD; do not refuse me before I die: Keep falsehood and lies far from me; give me neither poverty nor riches, but give me only my daily bread. Otherwise, I may have too much and disown you and say, `Who is the LORD?' Or I may become poor and steal, and so dishonor the name of my God." Proverbs 30:7-9