What Must We Do?

1st video lesson for 2014, I pray there will be many more to come as I vow a closer walk with Jesus. Below are my notes.

Please turn with me to Mt chapter 19 beginning with verse 16. Well Happy New Year everyone. This should be a time for us to examine ourselves and see where we stand with the Lord and how we can grow even closer to Him. Just like that song we opened up with, “Just a closer walk with Thee.” If you didn't listen, the link is in the about section on YouTube at the top.

The Rich Young Man
(Mark 10:17-31; Luke 18:18-30)

16And, behold, one came and said unto him, Good Master, what good thing shall I do, that I may have eternal life? 17And he said unto him, Why callest thou me good? there is none good but one, that is, God: but if thou wilt enter into life, keep the commandments. 18He saith unto him, Which? Jesus said, Thou shalt do no murder, Thou shalt not commit adultery, Thou shalt not steal, Thou shalt not bear false witness, 19Honour thy father and thy mother: and, Thou shalt love thy neighbour as thyself. 20The young man saith unto him, All these things have I kept from my youth up: what lack I yet? 21Jesus said unto him, If thou wilt be perfect, go and sell that thou hast, and give to the poor, and thou shalt have treasure in heaven: and come and follow me. 22But when the young man heard that saying, he went away sorrowful: for he had great possessions.

23Then said Jesus unto his disciples, Verily I say unto you, That a rich man shall hardly enter into the kingdom of heaven. 24And again I say unto you, It is easier for a camel to go through the eye of a needle, than for a rich man to enter into the kingdom of God. 25When his disciples heard it, they were exceedingly amazed, saying, Who then can be saved? 26But Jesus beheld them, and said unto them, With men this is impossible; but with God all things are possible.

At first glance, this verse seems to say that obeying the commandments gets us into heaven. However that is not the case at all. Only by becoming born again do we enter by faith in Jesus. We will want to obey but it's only by the power of the Spirit that we can. We are embedded with our old sin nature and all we do is sin without the Spirit's leading. Jesus was merely questioning this man to see how he would respond. Would he humble himself and state that he has failed in keeping the commandments? Or would he proclaim to be perfect by obeying all the commands? The latter is self righteousness at it's finest.

If we break one command, we break em all. Even if we think we are decent at keeping the commandments, check this out. If you have ever hated someone then you are a murderer at heart in God's eyes. 1John 3:15 Whosoever hateth his brother is a murderer: and ye know that no murderer hath eternal life abiding in him. God's standards are so high, it is IMPOSSIBLE to keep the commandments. The sooner people realize this the better. Then they will see the absolutely necessity of needing a perfect Savior.

Generally human beings think they are good enough to enter heaven. This is indeed the greatest lie that Satan has ever and will ever promote. Some say his greatest lie is that he doesn't even exist but I beg to differ. Most believe he does exist so I toss that lie far below this one. Lies, he is full of them as that is his nature. John 8:44..He was a murderer from the beginning, and abode not in the truth, because there is no truth in him. When he speaketh a lie, he speaketh of his own: for he is a liar, and the father of it. I witness to a lot of people and I always hear this "good person" bit. I'm not surprised as religion promotes this. If people would just read their Bibles, this lie would not be so prevalent in society. We see this lie exposed right in our passage in verse 17.. there is none good but one, that is, God. Satan has done a marvelous job at corrupting this world and blinding them to the truth in Christ. Rev 12:9..Satan, which deceiveth the whole world. It's unfortunate but hey the Bible tells us this is how it would be. So take courage and share the truth to shed light on this blatant lie.

Faith, indeed, is belief in action, and is dead and profitless if inoperative; so that true obedience is the outcome of true faith. -pulpit commentary;biblehub.com

Thus numbers forsake Christ, loving this present world: they feel convictions and desires, but they depart sorrowful, perhaps trembling. It behoves us to try ourselves in these matters, for the Lord will try us. -Matthew Henry

This Christ said, in order to show, that it is impossible to enter into, or obtain eternal life by the works of the law, since no man can perfectly keep it; and to unhinge this man from off the legal foundation on which he was, that he might drop all his dependencies on doing good things, and come to him for righteousness and life. -John Gill

If thou wilt enter into life, keep the commandments. The Lord had evidently asked his first question to prepare the way for this direction. He has, in saying that no man is absolutely good, said that no man can keep the commandments perfectly. -People's New Testament

Keep the commandments - That is, do what God has commanded. He in the next verses informs him what he meant by the commandments. Jesus said this, doubtless, to try him, and to convince him that he had by no means kept the commandments, and that in supposing he had he was altogether deceived. The young man thought he had kept them, and was relying on them for salvation. It was of great importance, therefore, to convince him that he was, after all, a sinner. Christ did not mean to say that any man would be saved by the works of the law, for the Bible teaches plainly that such will not be the case, Romans 3:20, Romans 3:28; Romans 4:6; Galatians 2:16; Ephesians 2:9; 2 Timothy 1:9. -Albert Barnes

Rom 3:20 Therefore by the deeds of the law there shall no flesh be justified in his sight: for by the law is the knowledge of sin.

Rom 3:28 Therefore we conclude that a man is justified by faith without the deeds of the law.

Rom 4:6 Even as David also describeth the blessedness of the man, unto whom God imputeth righteousness without works,

Gal 2:16 Knowing that a man is not justified by the works of the law, but by the faith of Jesus Christ, even we have believed in Jesus Christ, that we might be justified by the faith of Christ, and not by the works of the law: for by the works of the law shall no flesh be justified.

Eph 2:8-9 For by grace are ye saved through faith; and that not of yourselves: it is the gift of God: Not of works, lest any man should boast.

2Tim 1:9 Who hath saved us, and called us with an holy calling, not according to our works, but according to his own purpose and grace, which was given us in Christ Jesus before the world began,

In reality, his wealth was his god, his idol, and he would not give it up. Thus he violated the first and greatest commandment. -Life App Study Bible

Ex 20:3 Thou shalt have no other gods before me.

Mt 22:36-38 Master, which is the great commandment in the law? Jesus said unto him, Thou shalt love the Lord thy God with all thy heart, and with all thy soul, and with all thy mind. This is the first and great commandment.

I'm gonna share a few notes with you from the MacArthur Bible Commentary. Pg 1160-1161; 1129.

Mt 5:3 Blessed are the poor in spirit: for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.

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