Striving to Be Good

1
Striving to Be Good
2

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

3
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!

4

• 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 1016-9, 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 4217, the Holy
  Quran

5

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

6
John 117 (NASB)

• For the Law was given through Moses grace and
  truth were realized through Jesus Christ.

7
No One is good but, One, that is, God.

• Matthew 1916-17 (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.

8
No One is good but, One, that is, God.

• The ruler wanted to be good perhaps he believed
  that he was good already!
• Yet, the whole of mankind has failed to be good

9
Romans 310-12 (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. "

10
No One is good but, One, that is, God.

• Sincerely, the young man essentially asks
  What does it take to be
  good?
• He called Jesus
  Good Teacher.
  Did he truly recognize Jesus as good?

11
God is the only Person who is truly good!

• Matt 1917a (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!

12
Psalms 865 (NASB)

• For Thou, Lord, art good, and ready to forgive,
  and abundant in lovingkindness to all who call
  upon Thee.

13
Psalm 11968 (NASB)

• Thou art good and doest good Teach me Thy
  statutes.

14

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

15
What Good Thing Shall I Do That I May Have
Eternal Life?

• To enter into life, keep the commandments (Mt
  1917b) PERFECTLY!
• Jesus taught that in order to go to Heaven, we
  must obey the Fathers will (Mat. 721-23),
  yet never in order to EARN our salvation.

16
An Attempt to Earn Salvation

• The young ruler evidently took such an approach,
  as if there was one good thing he could do to
  achieve eternal life, to finally
  be good!

17

• Yet, how could the young ruler gain eternal life
  by LAW KEEPING ALONE
  unless he kept the law PERFECTLY?

18
Romans 212-13 (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.

19
Romans 44 (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)

20
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 his failure to keep it perfectly.

21

• We know this was a test, for immediately the
  ruler asked the question Which ones? as if he
  needed to defend himself!

22
Matthew 1918a

• He said to Him, "Which ones?"

23
What Good Thing Shall I Do That I May Have
Eternal Life?

• To enter into life, keep the commandments (Mt
  1917b) PERFECTLY!
• Gods standards of goodness are much higher than
  we realize (Mat. 1918b-19).

24
Matthew 1918b-19

• 18 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.
  cf. Exod. 2012-16
  Lev. 1918

25

• This wasnt meant to be a perfect summary of all
  the commandments,
  (You know the commandments Mark 1019a)
  but commandments
  the ruler needed to hear again. A test!

26

• 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. 1920a)

27
Matthew 521-23 (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.

28
1 John 315 (NASB)

• Everyone who hates his brother is a murderer
  and you know that no murderer has eternal life
  abiding in him.

29
Matthew 527-28 (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.

30
The Parable of the Good Samaritan

• Luke 1029 (NASB) But wishing to justify
  himself, he said to Jesus, "And who is my
  neighbor?"

31

• Even our best efforts to keep Gods law falls
  short of Gods standards (Rom. 319-20, 23).

32
Romans 319-20 (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.

33
Romans 323 (NASB)

• For all have sinned and fall short of the glory
  of God.

34

• The rich young ruler needed to see that despite
  his best efforts, he was a
  sinner in need of Gods mercy (Luke 189-14),
  mercy that is given by following Christ.

35
What Then Will Make Us Complete?

• What do I still lack? (Mat.
  1920b)
  He asked the right person!
• The Lord knows all our sins, weaknesses,
  shortcomings, and deficiencies.

36
Psalms 13923-24 (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.

37

• In spite of our best efforts to obey God, we are
  still incomplete we cannot save ourselves
  without His help, mercy, and guidance.

38
Out of love for us, the Lord tells us exactly
what we need to hear.

• Mark 1021a (KJV) Then Jesus beholding him loved
  him, and said unto him
• Will we listen?

39
What Then Will Make Us Complete?

• What do I still lack? (Mat.
  1920b).
• If you want to be perfect Sacrifice
  everything for the Lord.
• Matt 1921 (KJV) Jesus said unto him, If thou
  wilt be perfect

40

• Jesus wasnt 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 wasnt meant to be the final item on a check
  off list of things to do to earn Heaven either!

41

• We can be perfect, complete, or spiritually
  mature (cf. James 12-4)
  if are
  willing to sacrifice everything to follow the
  Lord (Mat. 1921-22).

42
Matthew 1921-22 (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.

43

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

44

• For the rich young ruler, his
  problem was his riches which he loved more than
  the riches of Heaven
  (Mat. 619-21 cf. 1 Tim. 69-10).

45

• To complete your obedience, you need to ask
  yourself Just how much do I love the Lord?
  (Mat. 2237 / Deut. 65).
• Would I be willing to give up anything that the
  Lord asks of me?

46
Hebrews 121 (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.

47
Obedience perfects our love

• 1 John 25 (NASB) but whoever keeps His word, in
  him the love of God has truly been perfected

48
Obedience perfects our faith

• James 222 (NASB) You see that faith was working
  with his works, and as a result of the works,
  faith was perfected

49
What Then Will Make Us Complete?

• What do I still lack? (Mat.
  1920b).
• If you want to be perfect Sacrifice
  everything for the Lord.
• And come, take up the cross, and follow Me
  (Mark 1021 / Mat. 1921).

50

• The ruler, who believed he was just about good
  enough to be saved, still needed to learn to
  deny himself in order to be saved (cf. Mat.
  1624).

51

• He needed to take up his cross, (i.e. put to
  death self and sin) (Rom. 66 Gal. 524).

52

• Most of all, he needed to follow
  Jesus who was indeed good who being the
  Christ the Son of God had the words of eternal
  life! (John 668-69).

53
Follow Jesus, the Source
of Eternal Life!

• Hebrews 59 (NASB)
• And having been made perfect, He became to all
  those who obey Him the source of eternal
  salvation.

54

• Followers of Jesus must submit to
  His gospel and obey His command to be baptized in
  His name for salvation.

55
Mark 1616 (NASB)

• "He who has believed and has been baptized shall
  be saved but he who has disbelieved shall be
  condemned.

56
Acts 238 (NASB)

• And Peter said to them, "Repent, and let each of
  you be baptized in the name of Jesus Christ for
  the forgiveness of your sins and you shall
  receive the gift of the Holy Spirit.

57
Salvation is Made Possible by God.

• Who then can be saved? (Mat. 1923-25).

58
Matt 1923-24 (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.

59
Matt 1925 (KJV)

• When his disciples heard it, they were
  exceedingly amazed, saying, Who then can be
  saved?

60

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

61

• 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!?!

62
Salvation is Made Possible by God.

• Who then can be saved? (Mat. 1923-25).
• With God all things are possible (Mat. 1926).

63

• Every person must choose to repent, otherwise
  repentance would not be commanded
  (e.g. Luke 133 Acts 238 319 1730 Rom.
  24 2 Cor. 710). God does not do
  everything!

64

• Yet, the changes we need to make for our
  salvation can only be achieved with Gods help
  (Mat. 1926).

65
Matthew 1926 (KJV)

• But Jesus beheld them, and said unto them, With
  men this is impossible but with God all things
  are possible.

66

• 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!

67

• The rulers love for riches would not disappear
  just by selling what he had.
  He needed Gods help for
  lasting change.

68
With God all things are possible

• It does not matter if a person is a rich man
  (Mat. 2757), a violent aggressor (1 Tim. 113),
  or an immoral drunkard (1 Cor.
  69-11).
• In Christ, all changes God requires of us can be
  made by His help!

69
Romans 64 (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.
  421-24

70
2 Corinthians 517 (NASB)

• Therefore if any man is in Christ, he is a new
  creature the old things passed away behold, new
  things have come.

71
Salvation is Made Possible by God.

• Who then can be saved? (Mat. 1923-25).
• With God all things are possible (Mat. 1926).
• You who have followed Me will inherit eternal
  life. (Mat. 1927-30).

72
Matthew 1927 (KJV)

• Then answered Peter and said unto him, Behold,
  we have forsaken all, and followed thee what
  shall we have therefore?

73
Matthew 1928 (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.

74
Matthew 1928 (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.

75

• Though we have left everything to follow Jesus,
  the reward of eternal life will make all
  sacrifices we made well worth it!!!
  (cf. Mark 1028-31 Rom 818)

76

• Jesus doesnt demand perfect law-keeping to be
  saved, but he does require us to
  suffer for His sake and do our best to obey
  Him.

77
2 Timothy 18 (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

78
2 Timothy 19 (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,

79

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