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"But if you wish to enter into life, keep the commandments." Then he said to Him, "Which ones?" And Jesus said, "You shall not commit murder; you shall not commit adultery; you shall not steal; you shall not bear false witness; honor your father and mother, and you shall love your neighbor as yourself'" (Matt. 19:17b-19).
According to Jesus, the Son of God, keeping the commandments that He mentioned is required in order to "enter into life." (Matt. 19:16-17).
So did Jesus have it wrong?
If what you wrote is true, then Jesus was a miserable failure at communicating. At no time during their conversation did Jesus tell the young man that keeping the five or six commandments He had listed had no bearing on him obtaining eternal life. Rather, Jesus let the man walk away believing that he not only had to keep those five or six commandments, but that he also had to sell his possessions and give to the poor if he wanted to obtain eternal life. This fact is undeniable. The rich man walked away sadly because that is what he believed, and rightfully so, because that is what Jesus plainly communicated to him.
If anyone afterwards would have asked the young ruler what Jesus said he needed to do to obtain eternal life, he would have affirmed that he needed to keep five or six commandments as well as sell his possessions and give to the poor. This is also undeniable. Thus, if Jesus wanted the rich ruler to think that obtaining eternal life had nothing to do with keeping commandments, He accomplished the exact opposite of what He intended.
Katie
The man had asked Jesus what he needed to do in order to inherit salvation. He thought that he could earn eternal life by keeping the commandments. And so Jesus told him what was necessary if he were to be saved by commandment keeping. Jesus' point was that no one can be saved by keeping the commandments since no one can keep the commandments perfectly. And the man to whom Jesus had said this demonstrated that fact when after being told to sell all that he had and give it to the poor he went away grieving because he could not bring himself to obey that command. When the disciples then asked Jesus who can be saved, Jesus responded by saying, ''with people it is impossible, but not with God; for all things are possible with God.'' (Matthew 19:16:26; Mark 10:17-27).
Again, Jesus' point was that no one can keep the commandments perfectly, no one can obey God perfectly and therefore no one can be saved by keeping the commandments. We aren't told whether or not the man to whom Jesus had spoken later came to believe on Christ for eternal life.
On another occasion when Jesus was asked by the crowd to whom He was speaking, what works of God could they do to be saved, Jesus responded by saying that there was but one thing, which He called a work, in contrast to the works that the crowd had asked about, that they needed to do. And that was to believe on Him (John 6:27-29).
As James said;
James 2:10 For whoever keeps the whole law and yet stumbles in one point, he has become guilty of all.
Jesus did not teach that you can earn eternal life by keeping the commandments. He taught the exact opposite.
because this is like the third or fourth thread started from this poster about his/her friend who has nice cars and wears nice clothes but loves Jesus and wants to go to heaven...
The man had asked Jesus what he needed to do in order to inherit salvation. He thought that he could earn eternal life by keeping the commandments. And so Jesus told him what was necessary if he were to be saved by commandment keeping. Jesus' point was that no one can be saved by keeping the commandments since no one can keep the commandments perfectly. And the man to whom Jesus had said this demonstrated that fact when after being told to sell all that he had and give it to the poor he went away grieving because he could not bring himself to obey that command. When the disciples then asked Jesus who can be saved, Jesus responded by saying, ''with people it is impossible, but not with God; for all things are possible with God.'' (Matthew 19:16:26; Mark 10:17-27).
Again, Jesus' point was that no one can keep the commandments perfectly, no one can obey God perfectly and therefore no one can be saved by keeping the commandments. We aren't told whether or not the man to whom Jesus had spoken later came to believe on Christ for eternal life.
On another occasion when Jesus was asked by the crowd to whom He was speaking, what works of God could they do to be saved, Jesus responded by saying that there was but one thing, which He called a work, in contrast to the works that the crowd had asked about, that they needed to do. And that was to believe on Him (John 6:27-29).
As James said;
James 2:10 For whoever keeps the whole law and yet stumbles in one point, he has become guilty of all.
Jesus did not teach that you can earn eternal life by keeping the commandments. He taught the exact opposite.
No...Jesus reply to him was based on his question "what must I do?"...
The man had asked Jesus what he needed to do in order to inherit salvation. He thought that he could earn eternal life by keeping the commandments. And so Jesus told him what was necessary if he were to be saved by commandment keeping. Jesus' point was that no one can be saved by keeping the commandments since no one can keep the commandments perfectly. And the man to whom Jesus had said this demonstrated that fact when after being told to sell all that he had and give it to the poor he went away grieving because he could not bring himself to obey that command. When the disciples then asked Jesus who can be saved, Jesus responded by saying, ''with people it is impossible, but not with God; for all things are possible with God.'' (Matthew 19:16:26; Mark 10:17-27).
Again, Jesus' point was that no one can keep the commandments perfectly, no one can obey God perfectly and therefore no one can be saved by keeping the commandments. We aren't told whether or not the man to whom Jesus had spoken later came to believe on Christ for eternal life.
On another occasion when Jesus was asked by the crowd to whom He was speaking, what works of God could they do to be saved, Jesus responded by saying that there was but one thing, which He called a work, in contrast to the works that the crowd had asked about, that they needed to do. And that was to believe on Him (John 6:27-29).
As James said;
James 2:10 For whoever keeps the whole law and yet stumbles in one point, he has become guilty of all.
Jesus did not teach that you can earn eternal life by keeping the commandments. He taught the exact opposite.
Quote:
Originally Posted by Richard1965
No...Jesus reply to him was based on his question "what must I do?"...
What in blue blazes do you think I just said in my first three sentences?
What in blue blazes do you think I just said in my first three sentences?
You said that the man thought he had to keep the commandments...That is not what he asked Jesus, he asked how to inherit eternal life and Jesus told him to keep the commandments...There is nothing there that implies that the man thought he had to keep the commandments....
The man had asked Jesus what he needed to do in order to inherit salvation. He thought that he could earn eternal life by keeping the commandments. And so Jesus told him what was necessary if he were to be saved by commandment keeping. Jesus' point was that no one can be saved by keeping the commandments since no one can keep the commandments perfectly. And the man to whom Jesus had said this demonstrated that fact when after being told to sell all that he had and give it to the poor he went away grieving because he could not bring himself to obey that command. When the disciples then asked Jesus who can be saved, Jesus responded by saying, ''with people it is impossible, but not with God; for all things are possible with God.'' (Matthew 19:16:26; Mark 10:17-27).
Again, Jesus' point was that no one can keep the commandments perfectly, no one can obey God perfectly and therefore no one can be saved by keeping the commandments. We aren't told whether or not the man to whom Jesus had spoken later came to believe on Christ for eternal life.
On another occasion when Jesus was asked by the crowd to whom He was speaking, what works of God could they do to be saved, Jesus responded by saying that there was but one thing, which He called a work, in contrast to the works that the crowd had asked about, that they needed to do. And that was to believe on Him (John 6:27-29).
As James said;
James 2:10 For whoever keeps the whole law and yet stumbles in one point, he has become guilty of all.
Jesus did not teach that you can earn eternal life by keeping the commandments. He taught the exact opposite.
When Jesus' disciples heard Him compare the difficulty of rich people entering God's kingdom, they "were very astonished" and asked, "Then who can be saved?" (Matt. 19:25) The disciples were shocked to learn how difficult it would be for wealthy people to be saved. Jesus replied to their astonishment by saying, "With people this is impossible, but with God all things are possible (Matt. 19:26).
Jesus was responding to His disciples' questioning, not how rich people can be saved, but how ANYONE can be saved. And Jesus made it clear that salvation is only possible because God's grace makes possible what otherwise would be impossible.
In spite of all Jesus just told the rich young ruler, YOU are saying God's grace would make it possible for wealthy people to enter God's kingdom. They really don't need to care for the poor. That, is an incredible perversion of Jesus' words.
Jesus could not possibly have meant, "Rich people really don't need to concern themselves with the poor, because God's grace will get them into heaven."
How tragic it is that, while the rich ruler believed what Jesus plainly told him and walked sadly away, multitudes of professing Christians who lack exactly what he lacked are rejoicing in the "assurance of their salvation," believing that Jesus' words to the rich ruler have no application to them. They are goats who think they are sheep, but who will one day discover only too late the terrible truth.
You said that the man thought he had to keep the commandments...That is not what he asked Jesus, he asked how to inherit eternal life and Jesus told him to keep the commandments...There is nothing there that implies that the man thought he had to keep the commandments....
You're picking at gnats in order to troll. The Jews were under the Mosaic Law and knew that they were supposed to keep the commandments. The man asked Jesus what he needed to do to inherit eternal life and Jesus told him to keep the commandments which is impossible to do perfectly.
When Jesus' disciples heard Him compare the difficulty of rich people entering God's kingdom, they "were very astonished" and asked, "Then who can be saved?" (Matt. 19:25) The disciples were shocked to learn how difficult it would be for wealthy people to be saved. Jesus replied to their astonishment by saying, "With people this is impossible, but with God all things are possible (Matt. 19:26).
Jesus was responding to His disciples' questioning, not how rich people can be saved, but how ANYONE can be saved. And Jesus made it clear that salvation is only possible because God's grace makes possible what otherwise would be impossible.
In spite of all Jesus just told the rich young ruler, YOU are saying God's grace would make it possible for wealthy people to enter God's kingdom. They really don't need to care for the poor. That, is an incredible perversion of Jesus' words.
Jesus could not possibly have meant, "Rich people really don't need to concern themselves with the poor, because God's grace will get them into heaven."
How tragic it is that, while the rich ruler believed what Jesus plainly told him and walked sadly away, multitudes of professing Christians who lack exactly what he lacked are rejoicing in the "assurance of their salvation," believing that Jesus' words to the rich ruler have no application to them. They are goats who think they are sheep, but who will one day discover only too late the terrible truth.
The rich can certainly enter into God's kingdom. King David was rich and God called him a man after His own heart. God's grace has made it possible for everyone who simply trusts in Christ Jesus to have eternal life. God does not give eternal life as a reward which you can earn, but offers it only as a free gift. If you attempt to earn eternal life then you have rejected the gift and remain under condemnation. You don't do anything for a free gift except to take possession of it. Jesus did not teach salvation by commandment keeping. Again, Jesus made it clear that eternal life is through believing in Him, and not by works (John 6:27-28).
Works have their place but they are never the basis for attaining eternal life.
You're picking at gnats in order to troll. The Jews were under the Mosaic Law and knew that they were supposed to keep the commandments. The man asked Jesus what he needed to do to inherit eternal life and Jesus told him to keep the commandments which is impossible to do perfectly.
Jesus knew it was impossible to keep the commandments, but He taught repentance and forgiveness. The very best christians sometimes steal, murder, commit aldultery, etc. Unless they repent, they will perish.
Paul understood God's grace better than you or me. He wrote,
"know ye not that the unrighteous shall not inherit the kingdom of God? Be not deceived: neither fornicators, nor idolaters, nor adulterers, nor effeminate, nor abusers of themselves with mankind,..." 1 Cor 6:9
The rich can certainly enter into God's kingdom. King David was rich and God called him a man after His own heart. God's grace has made it possible for everyone who simply trusts in Christ Jesus to have eternal life. God does not give eternal life as a reward which you can earn, but offers it only as a free gift. If you attempt to earn eternal life then you have rejected the gift and remain under condemnation. You don't do anything for a free gift except to take possession of it. Jesus did not teach salvation by commandment keeping. Again, Jesus made it clear that eternal life is through believing in Him, and not by works (John 6:27-28).
Works have their place but they are never the basis for attaining eternal life.
You are diverting. Of course the rich can enter heaven IF they repent and care for the poor.
When the young man asked Jesus what he must do to obtain eternal life, Jesus had the perfect opportunity to say there is nothing you can do. But He said no such thing. Instead Jesus said, "keep the commandments." He went so far as to list six of them. Yet you contradict Jesus.
When the young man asked, "What am I lacking?" Jesus told him to sell his posessions and give to the poor.
Yet YOU say these things are not necessary to obtain eternal life. Again you contradict Jesus.
Jesus never breathed a word about earning salvation. This is your teaching, not Jesus' teaching.
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