Striving to Be “Good”

Do You Consider Yourself to Be a Good Person Do You Consider Yourself to Be a Good Person? Good Enough to Go to Heaven?

LET US RECOGNIZE… Meritorious Law-Keeping (Earning salvation by personal merit) to obtain salvation is a lost cause leading to a life of misery and uncertainty!

“Then, he whose balance (of good deeds) will be (found) heavy, Will be in a life of good pleasure and satisfaction. But he whose balance (of good deeds) will be (found) light,- Will have his home in a (bottomless) Pit.” – SURAH 101:6-9, The Holy Quran “It is Allah Who has sent down the Book in Truth, and the Balance (by which to weigh conduct). And what will make thee realize that perhaps the Hour is close at hand?” – SURAH 42:17, the Holy Quran

While Jesus taught the importance of keeping God’s law for salvation, He also taught what it means to be a true disciple of Christ who depends on God’s grace.

John 1:17 (NASB) For the Law was given through Moses; grace and truth were realized through Jesus Christ.

“No One is good but, One, that is, God.” Matthew 19:16-17 (KJV) 16 And, behold, one came and said unto him, Good Master, what good thing shall I do, that I may have eternal life? 17 And 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.

Romans 3:10-12 (NASB) 10 As it is written, "There is none righteous, not even one; 11 There is none who understands, There is none who seeks for God; 12 All have turned aside, together they have become useless; There is none who does good, There is not even one. "

God is the only Person who is truly good! Matt 19:17a (KJV) And he said unto him, Why callest thou me good? there is none good but one, that is, God… God is the standard of goodness!

Psalms 86:5 (NASB) For Thou, Lord, art good, and ready to forgive, and abundant in lovingkindness to all who call upon Thee.

Psalm 119:68 (NASB) Thou art good and doest good; Teach me Thy statutes.

Did the ruler actually recognize Jesus as “Good”. (i. e Did the ruler actually recognize Jesus as “Good”? (i.e. the Son of God)

“What Good Thing Shall I Do That I May Have Eternal Life?” “To enter into life, keep the commandments” (Mt 19:17b): PERFECTLY! Jesus taught that in order to go to Heaven, we must obey the Father’s will (Mat. 7:21-23), yet never in order to EARN our salvation.

How could the young ruler gain eternal life by law keeping alone unless he kept the law PERFECTLY?

Romans 2:12-13 (NASB) 12 For all who have sinned without the Law will also perish without the Law; and all who have sinned under the Law will be judged by the Law; For not the hearers of the Law are just before God, but the doers of the Law will be justified.

Romans 4:4 (NASB) Now to the one who works, (works to earn salvation – ML) his wage is not reckoned as a favor (grace), but as what is due. (what is owed to him – ML)

“If you wish to enter into life keep the commandments.” Jesus said this to test him, for Jesus knew that he was depending on law-keeping alone to be saved (and that he failed to keep it perfectly).

We know this was a test, for immediately the ruler asks the question “Which ones?” (Mat. 19:18) as if he needed to defend himself!

“What Good Thing Shall I Do That I May Have Eternal Life?” “To enter into life, keep the commandments” (Mt 19:17b): perfectly! God’s standards of goodness are higher than most people realize (Mat. 19:18b-19).

Matthew 19:18b-19 18 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; 19 Honor your father and mother; and You shall love your neighbor as yourself.”

This wasn’t meant to be a perfect summary of all the commandments, (“You know the commandments” Mark 10:19a) but commandments the ruler needed to hear again. A TEST!

Though sincere, the ruler did not keep the law as well as he thought he did! “The young man saith unto him, All these things have I kept from my youth up…” (Mat. 19:20a)

Matthew 5:21-23 (NASB) 21 "You have heard that the ancients were told, 'You shall not commit murder' and 'Whoever commits murder shall be liable to the court.' 22 "But I say to you that everyone who is angry with his brother shall be guilty before the court; and whoever shall say to his brother, 'Raca,' shall be guilty before the supreme court; and whoever shall say, 'You fool,' shall be guilty enough to go into the fiery hell.

1 John 3:15 (NASB) Everyone who hates his brother is a murderer; and you know that no murderer has eternal life abiding in him.

Matthew 5:27-28 (NASB) 27 "You have heard that it was said, 'You shall not commit adultery'; 28 but I say to you, that everyone who looks on a woman to lust for her has committed adultery with her already in his heart.

The Parable of the “Good Samaritan” Luke 10:29 (NASB) But wishing to justify himself, he said to Jesus, "And who is my neighbor?"

Romans 3:19-20 (NASB) 19 Now we know that whatever the Law says, it speaks to those who are under the Law, that every mouth may be closed, and all the world may become accountable to God; 20 because by the works of the Law (meritorious works - ML) no flesh will be justified in His sight; for through the Law comes the knowledge of sin.

Romans 3:23 (NASB) For all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God.

The rich young ruler needed to see that despite his best efforts, he was a sinner in need of God’s mercy (Luke 18:9-14), mercy that is given by following Christ.

What Then Will Make Us Complete? “What do I still lack?” (Mat. 19:20b): He asked the right person! The Lord knows all our sins, weaknesses, shortcomings, and deficiencies.

Psalms 139:23-24 (NASB) 23 Search me, O God, and know my heart; Try me and know my anxious thoughts; 24 And see if there be any hurtful way in me, and lead me in the everlasting way.

Out of love for us, the Lord tells us exactly what we need to hear. Mark 10:21a (KJV) Then Jesus beholding him loved him, and said unto him… “Will we listen?”

What Then Will Make Us Complete? “What do I still lack?” (Mat. 19:20b). “If you want to be perfect…”: Matt 19:21 (KJV) Jesus said unto him, If thou wilt be perfect…

Jesus wasn’t saying that by doing this one thing he would be “perfect” in the sense that he would be a flawless, sinless man, or “good.” This wasn’t meant to be the final item on a check off list of things to do to earn Heaven.

We can be “perfect”, complete, or spiritually mature (cf We can be “perfect”, complete, or spiritually mature (cf. James 1:2-4) if are willing to sacrifice everything to follow the Lord (Mat. 19:21-22).

Matthew 19:21-22 (KJV) 21 Jesus 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. 22 But when the young man heard that saying, he went away sorrowful: for he had great possessions.

We may acknowledge like the ruler, that obedience is required for salvation, yet are we willing to be corrected by the Lord?

For the rich young ruler, his problem was his riches which he loved more than the riches of Heaven (Mat. 6:19-21; cf. 1 Tim. 6:9-10).

To complete your obedience, you need to ask yourself: “Just how much do I love the Lord?” (Mat. 22:37 / Deut. 6:5). Would I be willing to give up anything that the Lord asks of me?

Hebrews 12:1 (NKJV) Therefore we also, since we are surrounded by so great a cloud of witnesses, let us lay aside every weight, and the sin which so easily ensnares us, and let us run with endurance the race that is set before us.

Obedience perfects our love: 1 John 2:5 (NASB) but whoever keeps His word, in him the love of God has truly been perfected…

Obedience perfects our faith: James 2:22 (NASB) You see that faith was working with his works, and as a result of the works, faith was perfected;

What Then Will Make Us Complete? “What do I still lack?” (Mat. 19:20b). “If you want to be perfect…”: Sacrifice everything for the Lord. “And come, take up the cross, and follow Me” (Mark 10:21 / Mat. 19:21; cf. Mat. 16:24).

Most of all, he needed to follow Jesus who was indeed “good” Most of all, he needed to follow Jesus who was indeed “good”. Jesus Christ the Son of God has the words of eternal life! (John 6:68-69).

Mark 16:16 (NASB) "He who has believed and has been baptized shall be saved; but he who has disbelieved shall be condemned.

Salvation is Made Possible by God. “Who then can be saved?” (Mat. 19:23-25).

Matt 19:23-24 (KJV) 23 Then said Jesus unto his disciples, Verily I say unto you, That a rich man shall hardly enter into the kingdom of heaven. 24 And 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.

Matt 19:25 (KJV) When his disciples heard it, they were exceedingly amazed, saying, Who then can be saved?

So many people have a hard time doing what the Lord requires to be saved, unwilling to make the needed sacrifice.

To the rich young ruler, Jesus asked the impossible: “What To the rich young ruler, Jesus asked the impossible: “What! Sell all I have and give it to the poor? How could I do such a thing!?!”

Salvation is Made Possible by God. “Who then can be saved?” (Mat. 19:23-25). “With God all things are possible” (Mat. 19:26).

Every person must choose to repent, otherwise repentance would not be commanded. * God does not do everything!

Yet, the changes we need to make for our salvation can only be achieved with God’s help (Mat. 19:26).

Matthew 19:26 (KJV) But Jesus beheld them, and said unto them, With men this is impossible; but with God all things are possible.

True spiritual change is not accomplished solely on our own; had the ruler put his trust in Jesus, he would not have turned away so quickly!

In Christ, all changes God requires of us can be made by His help!

Romans 6:4 (NASB) Therefore we have been buried with Him through baptism into death, in order that as Christ was raised from the dead through the glory of the Father, so we too might walk in newness of life. - cf. Eph. 4:21-24

2 Corinthians 5:17 (NASB) Therefore if any man is in Christ, he is a new creature; the old things passed away; behold, new things have come.

Philippians 4:13 (NKJV) I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me.

Salvation is Made Possible by God. “Who then can be saved?” (Mat. 19:23-25). “With God all things are possible” (Mat. 19:26). “You who have followed Me will… inherit eternal life.” (Mat. 19:27-30).

Matthew 19:27 (KJV) Then answered Peter and said unto him, Behold, we have forsaken all, and followed thee; what shall we have therefore?

Matthew 19:28 (KJV) 28 And Jesus said unto them, Verily I say unto you, That ye which have followed me, in the regeneration when the Son of man shall sit in the throne of his glory, ye also shall sit upon twelve thrones, judging the twelve tribes of Israel. 29 And every one that hath forsaken houses, or brethren, or sisters, or father, or mother, or wife, or children, or lands, for my name's sake, shall receive an hundredfold, and shall inherit everlasting life. 30 But many that are first shall be last; and the last shall be first.

Matthew 19:28 (KJV) 29 And every one that hath forsaken houses, or brethren, or sisters, or father, or mother, or wife, or children, or lands, for my name's sake, shall receive an hundredfold, and shall inherit everlasting life. 30 But many that are first shall be last; and the last shall be first.

Jesus doesn’t demand perfect law-keeping to be saved, but he does require us to suffer for His sake and do our best to obey Him.

2 Timothy 1:8 (NASB) Therefore do not be ashamed of the testimony of our Lord, or of me His prisoner; but join with me in suffering for the gospel according to the power of God…

2 Timothy 1:9 (NASB) … who has saved us, and called us with a holy calling, not according to our works, but according to His own purpose and grace which was granted us in Christ Jesus from all eternity,

Only by the Help of God is it Possible to be “Good.” Let Us Follow Jesus our “Good Master” and Be Willing to Forsake All for His Name Sake!