The Rich Ruler Luke 18 Vs 18 30

Welcome to Faith Bible Church. We're glad to have you all this week. I hope you all had a blessed week. I'm just gonna go over some quick announcements. Our missionary of the month is Miss Penny Hardin.

She is out of Vallejo, California. She works with the BMW death ministry. So just pray for her as she you know works with the communities out there. We also have a baby shower on June 1st at 11 a .m. Back in the fellowship hall.

That's gonna be for Miss Ramiah. That's gonna be ladies only so men you can't go but you can pray. We have Bible study on Wednesday June 5th at 5 30 p .m. And that's Ilgen is going to be going over a book called praying with Paul by DA Carson.

So If you want to check out that book, he also live streams the Bible study on YouTube on the Faith Bible Church YouTube page. So any questions you can ask any one of us and we'll point you in the right direction.

If you need a copy of the book as well. We might be able to help with that and if you're interested on that series with praying with Paul. All the previous live streams are on YouTube as well. Dear Lord, we thank you for getting us all here safely today Lord.

We pray for those that aren't here Lord we just pray Lord that you would bless them today and throughout the week Lord and we just pray that you know as we Hear your word and worship you today Lord that you would keep our hearts open to your truth Lord and that we can use what?

We learned today Lord to Grow in our relationship with you and we love you in Jesus name. Amen. Good morning. This is also Memorial Day weekend.

It's a good time to thank the Lord for those that have gone before us that are good in their lives.

In.

Supportive sacrifice for their country the country that we live in. It's not a perfect country. No man-made government is but we're thankful that we can express ourselves and Assemble the way we are to gather together as believers.

There's much fruit that has come from those that have given To us in that manner. So we just are thankful for God's common grace and Seeing us through to this point. This morning. We're gonna start. First song is going to be Oh Lord my My rock and my Redeemer and it's really written around Psalm 18 that reads I love you Oh Lord my strength the Lord is my rock and my fortress and my deliverer My rock my my God in whom I take refuge my shield and the horn of my salvation my stronghold and May that be our prayer today as we sing this song.

And just dwell upon the the words as as we sing that together. Let's stand.

On is one you're all very familiar with. It was written.

250 300 years ago a long time ago, but it still stands true today, and I think it's a Testament testament to to the Lord. And how even secular people in ceremonies still play this song. They don't really understand it possibly, but it's still present, especially at memorials.

So let's sing amazing grace.

Romans 4 1 through 4. Romans 4 1 through 4 and I'm reading in KJV. What then shall we say was gained by Abraham our forefather according to the flesh. For if Abraham was justified by works. He has something to boast about but not before God.

For what does the scripture say. Abraham believed God and it was counted to him as righteousness. Now to the one who works his wages are not counted as a gift, but as as his due. Thank the Lord for his work.

Her next song is my worth is not in what I own and some of you know this and some may not but I think it's Good to ask the question. I'd ask I'd pose it to you a couple questions. What do you boast in you know, we go through life and every day living and What are we boasting about as we go through our day, what are we bragging about if we could use that Secular term is it in Christ alone?

Is it? So let's think about that as we sing. My worth is not in what I own. Let's stand together, please.

Our last song is I surrender all. Do you want to remember as Harold said all the.

Soldiers who have Sacrificed their lives So that the freedom that God has given us freedom to live freedom to worship Are protected in this nation and they still are. The fact that we can gather here Is a testament to the faithfulness of the soldiers who laid down their lives.

For our sake that we may worship Christ Freely and we do want to remember them. Tomorrow we want to remember them every day, but especially tomorrow. Now let us turn to. Luke chapter 18 verses 18 through 30.

Luke chapter 18 verses 18 through 30. Now a certain ruler asked him Saying good teacher. What shall I do to inherit eternal life? So Jesus said to him Why do you call me good? No one is good, but one that is God.

You know the commandments do not commit adultery. Do not murder. Do not steal. Do not bear false witness. Honor your father and mother. And he said all these things I have kept from my youth. So when Jesus heard these things he said to him you still like one thing.

Sell all that you have and distribute to the poor and you will have treasure in heaven and come follow me. But when he heard this he became very sorrowful for he was very rich and When Jesus saw that he became very sorrowful.

He said how hard is it for those who have riches to enter the kingdom of God? For it is easier for a camel to go through the eye of the needle. Then for a rich man to enter the kingdom of God. And those who heard it said who then can be saved.

But he said the things which are impossible with men are possible with God. Then Peter said see we have left all and followed you and he said to them. Assuredly I say to you there is no one who has left house or parents or brothers or wife or children.

For the sake of the kingdom of God who shall not receive many times more in this present time and in the age to come eternal life. Let us pray. Father we are grateful for all that you have done in our lives.

We're especially grateful for your son Jesus who gave his life. To die for our sin on the cross. Facing the wrath that we deserved so that we may live in him. Help us to surrender all to him. Who deserves all things and help us to give him praise this morning.

Throughout this week. We pray that you would give us the strength to Give to him what does not even belong to us and help us to rely on him with everything we have in Jesus name.

Amen.

This passage.

Is.

Often mangled and misused. That I want to start with what it's not saying. This passage cannot be used to argue that wealth is sinful or that the rich cannot be saved. In fact the Bible shows a variety of wealthy people.

Yes, some are exploitative and sinful often like many kings of Israel. Yet some are faithful. Like Joseph and Job. In fact in Judaism The widely held view was that the wealthy Were especially blessed by God.

Consider all the heroes of the Old Testament. Abraham Jacob they were large landowners. And why did they prosper. Because God's hand was upon them. They knew it and others saw that Abraham was so wealthy that he had a private army that could defeat Kings.

Joseph Although a slave through God's salvific plan. Became the prime minister of Egypt the strongest nation in that world. David and Solomon were blessed by God to rule over God's kingdom at their prowess.

And. Then furthermore we get Daniel. Who was? Taken as an exile to Babylon and it ended up serving as the top official of not just one Empire, but two.

And.

That was all God's doing. They were wealthy. Now the problem is we try to read the ancient text with our cultural lens and What this cultural culture tries to do is that assume that the wealthy earned their wealth through unjust means Exploiting the poor or cheating others.

According to the Bible Wealth and power are not inherently sinful. They're not evil things. Our inherently negative view of wealth in this society is actually the result of Marxism driven by critical theory.

To clash social classes against each other to divide and to conquer. And You all see that in the media Academia and schools even public education. It's the wealthy that it's the the wealth gap or or the billionaires and millionaires that are ruining this country.

That's that's trying to divide the country that there's that's trying to divide the church even. Now, what is this text about? This text picks up right after the two positive examples of the true disciples.

Remember two weeks ago. We witnessed a humble text collector who just falls down cannot even lift his head up asking for mercy from God. He completely relies on God's mercy for the forgiveness of his sin.

Not on himself only on God and last week we covered the significance of having a childlike faith a faith that solely depends on God as an infant would just depend on his mama and Papa and This text starts with a rich man who wants to enter the kingdom of God.

It is about salvation it is about inheriting eternal life and What makes the followers of Jesus distinct? After all you cannot enter the kingdom of God without trusting its King. Who made it possible?

For the entrance through his precious blood. Hence this passage uses the kingdom of God eternal life salvation. Interchangeable, you'll see all three concepts, but they're talking about the same thing.

What does it mean to be under? King Jesus and what does it mean to live eternally? So I will use them interchangeably as well. The question for today is one of the most important questions to consider.

How does a person enter the kingdom of God? How does a person enter the kingdom of God? And the main point of this text is that only the true disciples who are completely committed to Christ Can enter the kingdom of God?

Only the true disciples who are completed completely committed to Christ can enter the kingdom of God. The first question to consider is Who will not inherit the kingdom of God who will not inherit the kingdom of God?

First it is not possible possible for those who trust in themselves to inherit the kingdom of God. It is not possible For those who trust in themselves to enter the kingdom of God. Following the discussion regarding the children and the kingdom of God.

We actually see a negative example of Someone who does not depend on God fully Verse 18 now a certain ruler asked him saying good teacher. What shall I do to inherit eternal life? While the children and the text collector showed how the disciples must rely on God completely.

This interaction shows what not to do it's the negative example a certain ruler probably signifies a religious figure most likely an influential lay Pharisee remember Pharisees they were Very well educated in the whole of Old Testament.

Not just the law and they had a lot of influence because the popular. The crowd gave them the popular support. They were by no means chief priests or priestly class, but because of the popular support they were very powerful.

In.

Judea.

Now.

This ruler an influential lay Pharisee Asked Jesus a question that we have seen before. Actually in chapter 10 verse 25 when a lawyer came to ask Jesus What shall I do to inherit eternal life? It's almost verbatim because in this case, however, he He uses the term good teacher.

Flattery.

This question what shall I do to inherit eternal life is a rather Chris curious question. What shall I do to inherit eternal life? For one. You normally can't do anything to inherit something. If you want to inherit you have to be born in the right family.

And as many of you know, that is not something you can't do anything about. So in this case if you want to inherit eternal life. The question is you have to be born in The family of God or belong to God in one way or another.

Because he is the one who gives eternal life. However, the question is odd because what can you do? To be born into the right family in this case the family of God. This question shows the rulers Self-reliant mindset.

There's got to be something I can do to achieve eternal life. I Can achieve eternal life on my own effort. God will have to give it to me. When I have done, right? And compared to the humble text collector, we've seen a couple weeks ago who falls before God and cannot even look up and completely depends on God for mercy.

Or Even the children who completely have to depend on their parents to survive. This certain ruler is self-dependent and self-focused. This ruler believes that he can reach God's standard on his own strength.

He will be able to be good enough. After all he's not like the others. Instead of dismissing such a ridiculous question Jesus rather interacts with this ruler. First. Jesus addresses how he is addressed.

Why do you call me good? No one is good except God alone. Now this may sound troubling at first, but we do need to consider the context of this conversation. The context determines the meaning of the verse.

First Jesus is not denying his deity here, but rather correcting the rulers flippant use of the word good. Remember in the Jewish culture. Only God was good. A rabbi would never call himself good. A rabbi a Jewish teacher.

A Student would not call his teacher good. Such title was reserved for God alone now because this man obviously does not know of Jesus divinity. This rich man has no business of calling Jesus good unless he truly understood that Jesus is God.

Here Jesus wants the man to consider the implication of the title good teacher. Second Jesus wants the ruler to actually focus on the right response to God. In order to receive eternal life rather than flattering his way into eternal life.

The ruler needs to focus on God rather than his ability to flatter. Then Jesus starts with the law, you know the commandments. Do not commit adultery. Do not murder. Do not steal. Do not bear false witness.

Honor your father and your mother. The Jewish tradition believe that if you obeyed God, well That you would live that's how you would live. Now this does not mean you can earn your salvation. After all the whole gospel of Luke that we've been following would show otherwise.

In fact the Context of this chapter would show otherwise. The previous two passages show that you had to be humbly completely Trusting in God alone for salvation not anything they've done. Now what Jesus is doing is actually rhetorically brilliant.

He is letting the ruler see with his own eyes the folly of his belief. And this is a masterful strategy instead of just straightforwardly telling him you Heretic, how dare you believe that after all the Jews had the notion that you are saved by faith after all the the Romans passage that Brendan read to us was exactly that the father of the Jews Abraham the great father.

What was his righteousness based upon not through his works.

But.

His faith. Instead of just straightforwardly saying you're wrong. Sometimes it is more effective to let them see their folly by going along with their point. Follow them in their own wrong path. Let them see the implications.

Let them see the result of their false belief. Okay, so it yes you believe that and then what? Can you do it? Is that possible? Guide them along the path of their desire and let them see for themselves the flawed result.

That's what Jesus is doing here. So Jesus goes along with the rulers premise. You know the commandments do not commit adultery. Do not murder. Do not steal. Do not bear false witness. Honor your father and mother.

If you study The Old Testament law the Ten Commandments you would notice that they're not the full Ten Commandments. And if you can count you would notice that they're not the full Ten Commandments. Rather they are the second half of the Ten Commandments.

The seventh the sixth eighth ninth and fifth. I Cannot command comment on the order of these commandments. I tried I what is the reason why is it seven six eight nine five? The only thing I could notice was that they're all negative until the last one.

That's positive honor. But one thing is clear they all have to do with what God wants his people to do. In order to love one another and I think the reason why Jesus points These commandments out rather than the first half is because these acts done to each other are concrete.

You can tell when they have been obeyed or not. Right, you know if you you know, if you commit adultery, it's obvious. You can't accidentally commit adultery, right? Oh, no, you're not my wife. Right, it's it's you can't do that.

You can't accidentally murder. There's a malice of forethought and you have to commit the act. And When when you do commit these acts, it's not only you who know but everyone else around you would know.

Hence this young man claims all these things I have kept from my youth. The man Confidently responds that he has done all of them. The ruler according to his eyes has passed the test.

He's in.

And of course the begs the question then what's your problem? Why are you standing before Jesus asking how to get into. There's something wrong. There's there's something that's bothering him. Now, how does Jesus respond to this.

So when Jesus heard these things he said to him you still like one thing. Sell all that you have and distribute to the poor and you will have treasure in heaven and come follow me. Jesus gets to the heart of the problem.

You may have obeyed the law on your own strength. Now, can you trust God? With your life. Sure, you know, they're there. There are people who are not saved and and who may not even believe in God. They can live an outwardly obedient life.

Not committing adultery not stealing not murdering. But what Jesus gets to is? Can you trust God? Can you depend on God? Can you just rely on God? Because at the core of eternal life is Your dependence on God your faith in God.

So everything that you have give it all away and then follow me. And This is a command that is specifically tailored toward the rich ruler. Because his ultimate allegiance that we will see. Is his wealth not God?

Remember Jesus never commands This to other wealthy disciples in the New Testament. Think about Nicodemus John 3. He is a Pharisee ruler to Jesus never tells Nicodemus when he asked How do we enter the kingdom?

Not sell everything you have. Nicodemus rather. You must be born again. Nothing about his wealth or Joseph of Arimathea who donated his Personal family tomb that's never been used to Jesus. Who bought hundred pounds of spices to anoint Jesus.

Jesus never commanded him to give anything away and Later in a couple of weeks. We'll see even Zacchaeus the chief tax collector chief tax collector would have been really wealthy. Whom we will meet in a couple of weeks and Jesus never tells them tells him to sell everything and give it away.

He himself does desires. I want to make it right. So the wealth is not the problem here, but the rulers passionate devotion to wealth. Hence Jesus prescribes this man to get rid of what he is most dependent and committed to.

And.

It's not just to give away the wealth positively follow Jesus. Get rid of the thing that you are totally committed to. But have a new allegiance. Right. It's not just put off. It's put off and put on.

Have the right commitment and it or in order to have the right commitment you must not be committed to something else that you're committed to and. The question is will he? Be humble enough to follow the path of the tax collector and the children that we've seen.

And. The key to this command is not surrendering wealth, but completely committing to God. That's the key. This will show the ruler that deep inside his heart his priority is not God. Deep inside his heart.

His ultimate trust is not God. Hence we see the result in verse 23. But when he heard this he became very sorrowful for he was very rich. The irony of this result is palpable first. The fellow Jews would have normally considered someone like him a rich ruler the very recipient of God's blessing.

Man, if anyone is saved it's him. If anyone's blessed by God, that's him. But it was the very sign of God's blessing that precisely prevented the rich ruler from Entering into eternal life God's ultimate blessing.

Second. Although the ruler may have avoided breaking the second half of the Ten Commandments with his own strength. His very devotion to his wealth made him break the very first one. You shall not have any other God before me.

Although the command to liquidate all you own may not apply to us directly. The principle of not having any security other than Jesus applies to all of us. We cannot inherit eternal life when our security is something or someone else.

Oftentimes people trust their obedience to God over Christ's obedience on the cross and This comes in various forms. For example if your security is in your church attendance. Then it is precisely the church attendance that will prevent you from entering eternal life.

Now don't get me wrong. We are commanded to fellowship in person. We are commanded to hear the teaching and preaching of the word. And we're commanded to worship God together even through music. That's what that's the psalm that we went over sing to the Lord sing to the Lord sing to the Lord.

In fact, the fact that we can gather to worship God together is a tremendous blessing. Yet if that is what you are relying on. How involved you are in the church how long you've been part of the church?

That very blessing will prevent you from being with the blesser himself. If You believe that your church involvement is what saves you then you have the wrong Savior. You have the wrong God. There is a way There is a way to focus on the gift so much that you miss the giver.

On the other side of the same coin is the perpetual guilt that you may experience when you sin against God. It may look so different the one it seems so boastful and that this one seems So lowly, but I will tell you it's not lowly at all.

When when sin that you've committed haunts you at night, how could I have done it again? I Promise I would stop. How can God ever forgive me? And you've heard of Jesus mercy on the cross yet it is still hard to believe.

This is actually another sign that you're relying on your own strength. Rather than the ultimate source of security God himself. You're relying on your own record rather than Christ's perfect record. And this is why it keeps you at night.

It would be scary to look at your own record to think that that's what saves you. The way out of this vortex is that you need to stop trusting yourself and trusting it. Start trusting in Jesus. When you sin, don't just sit on it as if you have to make yourself Miserable enough at a certain level.

When you sin, don't just hold on to it in your heart as if you're punishing yourself. Because you're not the judge. You must immediately go to Jesus. You must race to Jesus. Because he is the one who died to forgive your sin and he's not calling you to die for your own sin.

Don't listen to the lies in your head. Because Jesus will always take you in. Don't listen to the lies. You've told yourself The lie that Jesus is tired of forgiving you. Now he lives he's risen to know that you are forgiven.

He lives to intercede for us. Scripture says he didn't stay in the grave. He lives. Why to intercede for you? Why do you need intercession. Because we keep on sinning. You don't need Mary. You don't need other saints who died.

You just need one intercessor and it is Jesus himself and Because Jesus keeps on interceding for you. That's the reason why we're not falling into hell this moment. We have an intercessor right next to God and he's got himself and He alone is the one you trust.

There's nothing more you can add to him. He has already suffered the full wrath of God for your sake. What makes you think that he will turn you away this time? It's been paid for his blood purifies the filthiest sin.

His death on the cross completely covers all of your sins as I've said before there is no Leftover wrath for you because it's been done. He cried out it is finished when you are reminded of your past sin.

The only person you can rely on is Jesus Christ alone. You don't rely on your record. You don't rely on Future promises of good deeds that you will commit to. You hold dearly to Christ's atoning death on the cross and that alone now, how is it possible for anyone?

To enter the kingdom of God. Right, we just got to see the negative example what not to do, but how is it possible? Although it is impossible for the self-dependent to be saved without God. Those who totally rely on Christ will receive present and eschatological blessings of his kingdom.

Although it is impossible for the self-dependent to be saved without God. Those who totally rely on Christ will receive present and eschatological blessings of his kingdom after the interaction with the rich ruler.

Jesus unpacks what happens with his disciples and When Jesus saw that he became very sorrowful. He said How hard is it for those who have riches to enter the kingdom of God? This statement itself would have been shocking to the early disciples.

To emphasize Jesus lesson. He illustrates it for it is easier. For a camel to go through the eye of a needle then for a rich man to enter the enter the kingdom of God consider a camel. Most of us probably haven't seen them really except when you go to the zoo.

They are the largest domesticated animal in that area of Middle East. What about the eye of a needle. It would have been one of the smallest holes that of an Ancient person would have to deal with in their ordinary life.

Now I know there is some commentator who says well, I have the needles is actually um a Gate, it's a name of a gate and and you know a camel can't enter it unless he you know bows down to enter it. There's no evidence of that gate ever existing.

I think it's a way of smoothing out like because it sounds so Crazy like how how can a rich man be saved then right? Well, we'll get to that. What this means is clearly it would be impossible for a rich person to enter the kingdom of God.

Now, why is this significant? Unlike the modern age as I've said the ancient Jews Viewed wealth as a blessing from God for their faithfulness. For example psalm 128 verses 1 through 2 says blessed are all who fear the Lord who walk in obedience to him.

You will eat the fruit of your labor. Blessings and prosperity will be yours. Hence many great and wealthy figures like Job Abraham David were all made wealthy by God alone. So if anyone had it all together it was the wealthy.

The wealthy were the varsity team. Right. Hence the next question that the disciples ask in shock makes sense. Then who can be saved? If not the blessed blessed ones of God. What chance do we have right this this was not a discussion on are the poor?

They're they're the good ones. No, no, no by saying even the wealthy. It's impossible for them to be saved. Was actually a testament against even everyone else. That's why they're asking who then can be saved.

Right if the varsity gets the cut.

Who makes the team?

Right.

Hence the disciples are Shocked. And before we go over Jesus answer we it's important to note that wealth is not inherently evil. Jesus is not saying it is more impossible for the rich to be saved than the poor.

That is not what he said rather Jesus is using the physical representation of the Wealthy to describe the spiritual reality of his kingdom. Because in real life. Take a look the rich do not need Anything materially because they can rely on Themselves their wealth.

They're self-sufficient. They do not need others for provision. This attitude when it is applied spiritually, however becomes quite deadly. If you do not see that you need God to enter the kingdom of God It is as difficult as a camel trying to go through the eye of a needle in fact, whether you're wealthy or not and And if you're depending on yourself to inherit the eternal life It will be impossible.

Hence, how does Jesus respond? The things which you are impossible with men are possible with God. Right. Jesus doesn't say. Yep. You don't want to be wealthy just give it up right that's that's that's what all these Catholic monks.

That's what they're following. Right just get rid of all the pleasures of life what Jesus is saying, although the self-sufficient cannot save themselves. It's not impossible with God. God can soften the hearts of the self-focused Self-reliant people to totally trust him.

God can still work. God can still save. No one is ever too far from Christ's redemptive reach and No heart is too hard for Jesus tender touch of salvation. That's what Jesus is saying. He is not Isolating the rich as this especially hard people to save or especially impossible people to save.

What he's saying is the self-dependent they they can't save themselves.

But.

God can still save. God can still transform their hearts. God can transform their lives. From self-dependent to God dependent. Now after Jesus shocking teaching Peter jumps up to put his two cents in.

And Peter said see we we have left all infollowed you.

Instead of rebuking Peter for his Rather self-centered remark Jesus makes an overarching statement regarding what it means to be his true disciples. So he said to them assuredly I say to you There is no one who has left house or parents or brothers or wife or children For the sake of the kingdom of God who shall not receive many times more in this present time and in the age to come eternal life.

The mark of the true disciple is those who are willing to commit Jesus first and foremost. Their allegiance to Christ is above their house or land material security and Any family member relational security the latter points to an especially Shocking claim because family was very important in the ancient Jewish culture.

Remember parents did not have 401k retirement for retirement back then. Instead they had children. Children were expected to take care of their aging parents. That's even part of the Ten Commandments to honor them.

Children were commanded by God to honor their parents or even be put to death in of very specific rebellious cases. Familial ties were so much more important to them than to us. But Jesus tells them his disciples will have to choose him and the gospel over any of the material or familial ties.

Now does that mean? Christians have nothing going for them. If Jesus ended there just Christians are supposed to just suffer. That's there. That's the point. However, Jesus doesn't end there. In fact, Jesus promises a greater blessing for those who leave everything behind in order to Come fully follow him.

They will receive manifold of the things they have given up now an eternal life later. Now, how can that be first. When you follow Jesus you're not Only saved from your sin, but you are saved into a new family of believers.

And when you look around yourselves Even though you may not know the very people around you they are your brothers sisters mothers in Christ. They may not be related to you by blood but are spiritually tied to you by Christ's blood.

A Much stronger connection.

And.

Some of you may have Experienced that reality for quite some time. Your siblings may not like you to talk about Jesus and they might be annoyed by your biblical worldview. Maybe your parents disowned you because of your faith in Christ.

Or your children are no longer walking with Jesus and living the exact opposite way that you've raised them to. This is heartbreaking and you have been praying for these people daily.

Yet.

Jesus never leaves you by yourself. But he provides a deeper community in him. Jesus is not only promising the future rewards of eternal life that that was the very thing that the rich ruler came for.

But he is promising a reward now if you commit to him and that is a new family in Christ. People you see today you meet today if they're truly Christians. They're the very people you're going to enjoy all eternity with.

You may not see them again after this week. That's that's a possibility. But you're gonna have all eternity to know each other. You're gonna have all the eternity to spend together and Without the effects of sin and without the presence of sin.

They're gonna be some of the most interesting Enjoyable pleasant people that you'll ever meet and that's the reward You get On numerous brothers and sisters in Christ and Some of them may willingly die for you and that's what they got.

We're giving up all the things to follow Jesus and That's what we get. The promise of the reward for the kingdom is now through his People and also later when all things will be restored. When you will live eternally.

When the remnants of sin are gone when you that tiredness that that Frustration of fighting against temptation will be just history. When even back pain is no longer there. That's been nagging at you for years.

That no medicine can really get rid of. That's the future reward and you commit your life to Jesus by believing in Him that he died for your sin and that he rose from the dead. You get both. Not just eternal life, but your present life will be blessed Through his people and as true disciples of Christ our primary and most important commitment is to Jesus.

Thus the true mark of Christian living is a complete commitment and dependence on Christ despite Any circumstances here and I I will end with a verse From an old hymn that depicts our dependence on Christ.

My faith has found a resting place not in device nor creed. I Trust the ever-living one his wounds for me shall plead. I need no art their argument. I need no other plea. It is enough that Jesus died and he died for me.