Luke 18:15-29 Children, the Rich Man and Reward v15-17 The people were wanting Jesus to pray for and bless their babies. Jewish Parents would often bring their infants to rabbi's to bless them. The disciples thought that Jesus had more important matters to attend to and would not want to be disturbed.
'the kingdom of God belongs to such as these' - When we think of infants, they have a deep trust and reliance in their parents. Jesus counts the babies as important; as he does any person. There is no person who should be devalued in the eyes of Christ. Jesus would never turn anyone away who was seeking after him. Jesus will always welcome those who seek him.
"Blessed are those who hunger and thirst for righteousness, for they will be filled." Matthew 5:6
"It is not age per se that is in view but childlike qualities such as trust, openness, and the absence of holier-than-thou attitudes." Gaebelein, Expositors Bible Commentary
Opportunity for VBS service 18-22nd June Prayer meeting on Wednesday June 13th.
Are you hindering anyone you know from coming to God? Have you made a judgment call on who should be in church or not? On who is acceptable or not to Jesus?
We need to receive the Kingdom of God like a baby i.e. by simply trusting in our heavenly father, depending upon him for salvation and loving him.
Do you trust in God this morning? Are you dependent upon him? Do you struggle to trust God because you are too reliant on yourself?
I trust you Jesus for_____ Lord, I am depending on you in ____ situation. Thank you for your love. v18-27 'What must I do?' This is a very religious person who by his own efforts is trying to get into heaven. There is nothing we can do by our own merits to inherit eternal life.
"But because of his great love for us, God, who is rich in mercy, 5 made us alive with Christ even when we were dead in transgressions—it is by grace you have been saved. 6 And God raised us up with Christ and seated us with him in the heavenly realms in Christ Jesus, 7 in order that in the coming ages he might show the incomparable riches of his grace, expressed in his kindness to us in Christ Jesus. 8 For it is by grace you have been saved, through faith—and this is not from yourselves, it is the gift of God— 9 not by works, so that no one can boast." Ephesians 2:4-9
"Jesus answered, “I am the way and the truth and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me." John 14:6
That's what he says to the ruler, 'Then come, follow me.' v22
"This ruler sought reassurance, some way of knowing for sure that he had eternal life. He wanted Jesus to measure and grade his qualifications, or to give him some task he could do to assure his own immortality." NIV, Life Application Bible
Are you trying to earn your way into heaven? Do you serve God out of love or to be considered good enough? v19 'Good teacher' Jesus says only God is good. The ruler is right to say that Jesus is good because that would mean that Jesus is God, which of course he is. The problem is the ruler does not believe in him!
The ruler is self-righteous and has a similar attitude to that of the Pharisees. As long as he ticks the right boxes he believes that he is saved. He arrogantly believes that he has kept the commandments and never deviated from them. However, no one is able to keep the law perfectly accept Jesus because he was sinless. The ironic issue at hand here is that the ruler falsely believes that he has not broken any of the commandments since he was a boy! However, the first commandment is:
"Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your strength." Deuteronomy 6:5
He has broken the first commandment because clearly he loves his money more than God! His wealth and comfort have become an idol to him.
Do you love anything more than Christ this morning? What is the idol in your life? What can you not part with?
The ruler believes that he is 'good' but the only one good enough is God who happens to be standing in front of him! (Compare the ruler with Zacchaeus in Luke 19 to see the right response to Jesus with regards to wealth).
Do you ask, "What must I do to inherit eternal life?"
"For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life." John 3:16
Believe in the Lord Jesus Christ.
"Jesus said to her, “I am the resurrection and the life. The one who believes in me will live, even though they die. Do you believe this?” John 11:25
We need to believe that Jesus Christ was born of a virgin and is the Son of God (Luke 1:26-33), that he died on the cross at calvary, that he was laid in a tomb and that God raised him to life 3 days later - just as he predicted.
"For what I received I passed on to you as of first importance: that Christ died for our sins according to the Scriptures, 4 that he was buried, that he was raised on the third day according to the Scriptures," 1 Corinthians 15:3,4
We need to believe that he died for our sins and he forgives us when we repent.
"He is the atoning sacrifice for our sins, and not only for ours but also for the sins of the whole world." 1 John 2:1
We need to believe that his sacrifice was total and complete. He died for sins past, present and future.
"And by that will, we have been made holy through the sacrifice of the body of Jesus Christ once for all." Hebrews 10:10
We need to believe that he is our Savior.
"That is why we labor and strive, because we have put our hope in the living God, who is the Savior of all people, and especially of those who believe." 1 Timothy 4:10
We need to believe that we can know him personally and never be separated from his love.
"For I am convinced that neither death nor life, neither angels nor demons, neither the present nor the future, nor any powers, 39 neither height nor depth, nor anything else in all creation, will be able to separate us from the love of God that is in Christ Jesus our Lord." Romans 8:38,39
We need to believe that he is coming back again. As King of Kings and Lord of Lords
"so Christ was sacrificed once to take away the sins of many; and he will appear a second time, not to bear sin, but to bring salvation to those who are waiting for him." Hebrews 9:28
We need to believe that there is no other way for mankind to be saved.
"Salvation is found in no one else, for there is no other name under heaven given to mankind by which we must be saved.” Acts 4:12
We need to believe that he has rescued us from spiritual darkness.
"When Jesus spoke again to the people, he said, “I am the light of the world. Whoever follows me will never walk in darkness, but will have the light of life.” John 8:12
Do you believe these things about Jesus are true? Are you following him in your daily life? Is there anything hindering your belief? v28-30 Those who follow Jesus will receive spiritual blessings, 'many times as much in this age and in, the age to come, eternal life'. These spiritual blessings are of far greater worth than worldly wealth.
"Praise be to the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who has blessed us in the heavenly realms with every spiritual blessing in Christ. 4 For he chose us in him before the creation of the world to be holy and blameless in his sight. In love 5 he predestined us for adoption to sonship through Jesus Christ, in accordance with his pleasure and will— 6 to the praise of his glorious grace, which he has freely given us in the One he loves. 7 In him we have redemption through his blood, the forgiveness of sins, in accordance with the riches of God’s grace 8 that he lavished on us. With all wisdom and understanding, 9 he made known to us the mystery of his will according to his good pleasure, which he purposed in Christ, 10 to be put into effect when
the times reach their fulfillment—to bring unity to all things in heaven and on earth under Christ.11 In him we were also chosen, having been predestined according to the plan of him who works out everything in conformity with the purpose of his will, 12 in order that we, who were the first to put our hope in Christ, might be for the praise of his glory. 13 And you also were included in Christ when you heard the message of truth, the gospel of your salvation. When you believed, you were marked in him with a seal, the promised Holy Spirit, 14 who is a deposit guaranteeing our inheritance until the redemption of those who are God’s possession—to the praise of his glory." Ephesians 1:3-14