What Must I Do to Inherit Eternal Life?

Numbers 32; Numbers 33; Mark 10
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Scripture

Mark 10

The Rich Man

17 As Jesus was starting out on his way to Jerusalem, a man came running up to him, knelt down, and asked, “Good Teacher, what must I do to inherit eternal life?”
18 “Why do you call me good?” Jesus asked. “Only God is truly good. 19 But to answer your question, you know the commandments: ‘You must not murder. You must not commit adultery. You must not steal. You must not testify falsely. You must not cheat anyone. Honor your father and mother.’”

20 “Teacher,” the man replied, “I’ve obeyed all these commandments since I was young.”

21 Looking at the man, Jesus felt genuine love for him. “There is still one thing you haven’t done,” he told him. “Go and sell all your possessions and give the money to the poor, and you will have treasure in heaven. Then come, follow me.”
22 At this the man’s face fell, and he went away sad, for he had many possessions.

23 Jesus looked around and said to his disciples, “How hard it is for the rich to enter the Kingdom of God!” 24 This amazed them. But Jesus said again, “Dear children, it is very hard to enter the Kingdom of God. 25 In fact, it is easier for a camel to go through the eye of a needle than for a rich person to enter the Kingdom of God!”

26 The disciples were astounded. “Then who in the world can be saved?” they asked.
27 Jesus looked at them intently and said, “Humanly speaking, it is impossible. But not with God. Everything is possible with God.”
28 Then Peter began to speak up. “We’ve given up everything to follow you,” he said.
29 “Yes,” Jesus replied, “and I assure you that everyone who has given up house or brothers or sisters or mother or father or children or property, for my sake and for the Good News, 30 will receive now in return a hundred times as many houses, brothers, sisters, mothers, children, and property—along with persecution. And in the world to come that person will have eternal life. 31 But many who are the greatest now will be least important then, and those who seem least important now will be the greatest then.

Observation

There is something that a person must “do” to inherit eternal life. The word “inherit” helps us find the answer to what a person must “do”! The Philippian jailor asked the Apostle Paul a similar question but under very different circumstances when he asked Paul, “What must I do to be saved?” Paul’s answer was that the jailor needed to “do” one thing and that one thing was “believe” believe in the Lord Jesus Christ and you will be saved.”

This rich young ruler had a big problem with “believing” because he believed and put his trust in the wrong thing. His “god” was his wealth and Jesus told him to get rid of his wealth and trust God and he would have eternal life. You see he did ok keeping some of the 10 commandments but he had failed to keep the main ones that dealt with his relationship with God. He had allowed his wealth to become his god and God said that we are to have no other gods but Him. His love for his possessions kept him out of heaven.

Application

I will inherit eternal life because God is my Heavenly Father. He is my Lord and my Savior and I put my entire trust and all of my faith in Him to save me. I will not be disappointed.

Prayer

Heavenly Father, thank You for saving me. Thank You that I don’t have to depend on working my way into Heaven. I will inherit Heaven because I am one of your children. Thank You for giving me eternal life. I pray that You keep us safe as we travel today. I pray that you teach us what we need to help us to help our church to grow.

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