The Gospel:

The Gospel: Good News!

Two “Talking Points” -

Two “Talking Points” - 1) God Saves Sinners!

Two “Talking Points” - 1) God Saves Sinners!2) Jesus is Lord!

What do I have to do to get to heaven? How do I know that I’m living as I should?What good thing must I do to inherit eternal life?

“Teacher, what good deed must I do to have eternal life?”

- Matthew 19:16 (ESV)

And he said to him, “Why do you ask me about what is good? There is only one who is good. If you would enter life, keep the commandments.”

- v. 17 (ESV)

He said to him, “Which ones?” And Jesus said, “You shall not murder, You shall not commit adultery, You shall not steal, You shall not bear false witness, Honor your father and mother, and You shall not love your neighbor as yourself.”

- vv. 18-19 (ESV)

The young man said to him, “All these I have kept. What do I still lack?”

- v. 20 (ESV)

The “You have heard that it was said to those of old, ‘You shall not murder; and whoever murders will be liable to judgment.’ But I say to you that everyone who is angry with his brother will be liable to judgment’ whoever insults his brother will be liable to the council; and whoever says, ‘You fool!’ will be liable to the hell of fire.”

- Matthew 5:21-22 (ESV)

Jesus said to him, “If you would be perfect, go, sell what you possess and give to the poor, and you will have treasure in heaven; and come, follow me.”

- v. 21 (ESV)

When the young man heard this he went away sorrowful, for he had great possessions.

- v. 22 (ESV)

It was not because he had possessions; it was because his possessions had him.

“What rules do I need to obey while I love something other than God?” says Religion.

“The man of course did not think that his riches were worth more than eternal life, but he must have told himself that he really did not have to give up his wealth to gain it.”

- Herman Ridderbos

“That Jesus did not command all his followers to sell all their possessions gives comfort only to the kind of people whom he would issue the command.”

- Robert Gundry

You can have wealth and follow Jesus, but you cannot love wealth and follow Jesus. And it is very easy to love wealth.

And Jesus said to his disciples, “Truly, I say to you, only with difficulty will a rich person enter the kingdom of heaven. Again I tell you, 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.”

- vv. 23-24 (ESV)

Big Point: If you want heaven, you’ve got to get rid of whatever is getting in the way of following Jesus… and then you need to follow Jesus!