Pastor Welton Watson, Central Baptist Church “And a certain ruler asked him saying, Good Master, what shall I do to inherit eternal life?” Luke 18:18. In Matthew 19:13, we find the same story with the same question asked with more detail added: “Good Master, what good thing shall I do, that I may have eternal life?” Now this young ruler, this successful man of importance and position, has asked Jesus, who, he believes is nothing more than a travelling Rabbi, the most important question that can ever be asked by any human being. He is simply asking, “How can I be saved and go to heaven?” The problem with the question was that Jesus could see the self righteous attitude of this young man. Here’s the problem that this man, and many in our society today have: he wants to get to heaven by his works and bypass the work that Jesus has done on the cross. We know that won’t work because Cain already tried that way back in the beginning. He tried to present the work of his own hands, and God rejected it, but accepted the blood offering of Abel. “Without shedding of blood is no remission.” Hebrews 9:22.
Here’s the question that this ruler asked, “What good thing shall I do?” This has to do with his works, or deeds, and according to the scriptures, there is no salvation in that. Works are only applied to our account after salvation, and they are very important then.
The Bible teaches plainly that salvation is of the Lord; Psalm 3:8 “Salvation belongeth unto the Lord.” Psalm 37:39 “But the salvation of the righteous is of the Lord: he is their strength in the time of trouble.” We find thatActs 4:12 teaches “Neither is there salvation in any other: for there is none other name under heaven given among men, whereby we must be saved.”
This young man had the idea that salvation was dependent upon him and his works. He was hoping for an answer that would magnify: 1. His Position – He was a ruler, Luke 18; 18. Surely that is worthy of some privilege.
2. His Possessions –He was very rich. Luke 18:23. Maybe he can give enough to get in. 1 Peter 1:18, 19 “For as much as ye know that ye were not redeemed with corruptible things as silver and gold,…19. But with the precious blood of Christ, as of a lamb without blemish and without spot.”
3. His Performance – He was a worker; “What good thing shall I do?” Matthew 19:16. The Bible teaches in Titus 3:5 “Not by works of righteousness which we
have done, but according to his mercy, he saved us.” Without the cleansing blood of Christ applied to our lives, all that we do and are, is found in Isaiah 64:6 “But we are all as an unclean thing, and all our righteousness’s are as filthy rags; and we all do fade as a leaf, and our iniquities have taken us away.”
Jesus answers the question by shattering his self righteousness. If keeping the law and giving up all we have could save us, no one would be saved! James 2:10 “For whosoever shall keep the whole law, and yet offend in one point, he is guilty of all.” We can’t keep it. It is impossible for man to save himself. There is nothing we can do, but trust Christ. In Matthew 19:25, 26 the disciples, after hearing his conversation with this man said, “Who then can be saved?” Jesus answers in verse 26 “… With men this is impossible; but with God all things are possible.”
Ephesians 2:8, 9 “For by grace are ye saved, through faith; and that not of yourselves: it is the gift of God: 9. Not of works, lest any man should boast.” Our total dependence must be on Christ and the work he did on the cross!!! Jesus said, “No man cometh unto the Father, but by me.”