Jesus’ Gospel 30 AD “What Must I Do to Inherit Eternal Life?” Lk 10:25.
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Transcript of Jesus’ Gospel 30 AD “What Must I Do to Inherit Eternal Life?” Lk 10:25.
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Copyright Notice
A. Jesus’ Gospel is for All the Nations
B. The Key Question: “What Must I Do to Inherit Eternal Life?”
C. One Way or Four Ways?
D. The Day of Judgment
E. How well do I need to keep Jesus’ teachings?
F. Four Common Misconceptions about the point at which eternal life is gained
OUTLINE
• Jesus’ mission was to the world: “For God so loved the worldthat he gave his only Son, so that whoever believes in him will not perish but have everlasting life” Jn 3:16
• “Go and disciple all the nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and the Son and the Holy Spirit, teaching them to obey everything I have commanded you” Mt 28:19-20; & Mk 16:15 is similar
A. Jesus’ Gospel is for all the nations 1
• “This gospel of the kingdom will be preached throughout civilisation as a testimony to all the nations, and then the end will come” Mt 24:14; & Mk 13:10 is similar
A. Jesus’ Gospel is for all the nations 2
• At the judgment, those who haven’t kept Jesus’ teachings will be judged by them (Jn 12:47-50).
• Jesus will judge all the nations according to how they loved their neighbour (part of his teaching) (Mt 25:31-46).
Jesus’ Gospel is still in effect
• First believers functioned well with Jesus’ teachings alone in 30s AD, including Gentiles
Jesus’ Gospel worked for everyone in Acts 1-8
Phillip & Ethiopian Eunuch Acts 8 Peter & Cornelius Acts 10-11
A. Summary
Jesus’ gospel:• Applies to all nations • Applies at least until the day of Judgment
Therefore, Jesus’ gospel applies to us today.
B. What must I do to inherit eternal life?
*Love God but via Holy Spirit; love neighbour as in Law; no national commands.
1. Trust and believe Jesus
2. Keep Jesus’ teachings
4. Give up everything to follow Jesus
3. Keep most* of the Law Love GodLove Neighbour
• “For God so loved the world that he gave his only Son, so that everyone who trusts and believes him (lit. believes in him) will not perish but have everlasting life” Jn 3:16
+
What must I do to inherit eternal life:
1. Trust and Believe Jesus
• “…Whoever does not believe is judged already” Jn 3:18
“Believe in” = trust and believe
–
• “If anyone keeps my teaching, he will never see death in the age └to come
┘” John 8:51
• “The Father who sent me commanded me what to say and how to say it, and I know that his command leads to eternal life; so whatever I say is exactly what the Father has told me to say” John 12:49-50
+
+
What must I do to inherit eternal life:
2. Keep Jesus’ teachings
• “If anyone hears my words and does not obey them…The one who rejects me and does not accept my words has a judge—the word I have spoken will judge him at the last day.” Jn 12:47-48 NET
–
• “Teacher, what good thing must I do to gain eternal life?”“…If you want to enter into life, obey the commandments”Mt 19:16-18; and Mk 10:17, Lk 10:25, Lk 18:18
+
What must I do to inherit eternal life:
Love GodLove Neighbour
Love GodLove Neighbour
3. Keep most* of the Law – which ones?
An expert in the Law asks Jesus about eternal life
On one occasion an expert in the law stood up to test Jesus. “Teacher,” he asked, “what must I do to inherit eternal life?”
“What is written in the Law?” he [Jesus] replied. “How do you read it?”
He [the expert] answered: “ ‘Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your strength and with all your mind’; and, ‘Love your neighbor as yourself.’ ’’
“You have answered correctly,” Jesus replied. “Do this and you will live”.
Lk 10:25-28
+
3. Keep most* of the Law – which ones? Love GodLove Neighbour
A rich young man asks Jesus about eternal life
Now a man came up to Jesus and asked, “Teacher, what good thing must I do to get eternal life?”
“Why do you ask me about what is good?” Jesus replied. “There is One who is good. If you want to enter life, obey his (lit. the) commandments.”
“Which ones?” the man inquired.
Jesus replied, “Do not murder, do not commit adultery, do not steal, do not give false testimony, honor your father and mother, and love your neighbor as yourself.”
Mt 19:16-19
+
3. Keep most* of the Law – which ones? Love GodLove Neighbour
What must I do to inherit eternal life:
3. Keep most* of the Law – which ones? Love GodLove Neighbour
Love God with all your heart soul mind and
strength Lk 10:25-28
(but via Holy Spirit rather than via temple Jn 4:21-24 Mk 13:2)
Love your neighbour as yourself Mt
19:19, Lk 10:25-28
No adultery Mt 19:18, Mk
10:19, Lk 18:20
No murder Mt 19:18, Mk
10:19, Lk 18:20
No steal Mt 19:18, Mk 10:19,
Lk 18:20
No defraud Mk 10:19
No false testimony Mt 19:18, Mk
10:19, Lk 18:20
Honour father and mother Mt
19:19, Mk 10:19, Lk 18:20
What must I do to inherit eternal life:
Love God
Believe in JesusWorshipForgiveness of sin, sacrifice=JesusPrayerHear from GodClean & Unclean ♥
Love Neighbour
Same as Law, plus a new command:Love as Jesus loved them
National
New CovenantJesus’ teachings
(New covenant is an individual covenant, not
national)VIA HOLY SPIRIT
Most functions stillbut via Holy Spirit,not temple
Absent from New Covenant
3. Keep most* of the Law – which ones? Love GodLove Neighbour
• [Explaining the parable of the weeds] “As the weeds are pulled up and burned in the fire, so it will be at the end of this age. The Son of Man will send out his angels, and they will weed out of his kingdom everything that causes people to fall away and everyone who does lawlessness, and they will throw them into the fiery furnace, where there will be weeping and gnashing of teeth. Then the righteous will shine like the sun in the kingdom of their Father” Mt 13:40-43
• “Not everyone who says to me, ‘Lord, Lord,’ will enter the kingdom of heaven, but only those who do what my Father in heaven wants. Many people will say to me on that day, ‘Lord, Lord, didn’t we prophesy in your name, and drive out demons in your name and perform many miracles in your name?’ Then I will tell them plainly, ‘I never knew you. Away from me, you workers of lawlessness (ergazomenoi tēn anomian)” Mt 7:23
–
–
What must I do to inherit eternal life:
3. Keep most* of the Law – which ones? Love GodLove Neighbour
• (To the man who asked what he needed to do to gain eternal life): “If you want to be complete, go, sell your possessions and give to the poor, and you will have treasure in heaven. Then come, follow me.” Mt 19:21
+
What must I do to inherit eternal life:
4. Give up everything to follow Jesus
• “Whoever wants to save his life will lose it, but whoever loses his life for my sake and for the gospel will save it.” Mk 8:35
• “Anyone who does not give up everything he has cannot be my disciple” Lk 14:33
+–
–
Summary for inheriting eternal life:
*Love God but via Holy Spirit; love neighbour as in Law; no national commands.
1. Trusting and believing Jesus
2. Keeping Jesus’ teachings
4. Giving up everything to follow Jesus
3. Keeping most* of the Law
What must I do to inherit eternal life:
Love GodLove Neighbour
C. One Way or Four Ways?
Eternal Life
One pathway?
*Love God but via Holy Spirit; love neighbour as in Law; no national commands.
Eternal Life
Believein Jesus
Keep Jesus’
teaching
Keep most* of the Law
Give up everythingto follow
Jesus
Four different ways?
Believe in Jesus
Keep his teaching
Keep most* of the Law
Give up everything else to follow Jesus
No condition can be omitted
• Believing in Jesus: “Whoever does not believe is judged already because he has not believed in the name of God’s only Son” Jn 3:18
*Love God but via Holy Spirit; love neighbour as in Law; no national commands.
–
Love GodLove Neighbour
• Keeping Jesus’ teachings: “If anyone hears my words and does not obey them… The one who rejects me and does not accept my words has a judge—the word I have spoken will judge him at the last day.” Jn 12:47-48 NET
• Keeping the Law: Jesus will say to some at the Judgment, “Away from me, you workers of lawlessness (ergazomenoi tēn anomian)” Mt 7:2
• Giving up everything: “Any of you who does not give up everything he has cannot be my disciple” Lk 14:33
–
–
–
One Path to Eternal Life
• Trust & believe Jesus = obey his teachings• Obey Jesus’ teachings = keep most* of the Law• Obey Jesus’ teachings => give up everything
*Love God but via Holy Spirit; love neighbour as in Law; no national commands.
Trust and believe Jesus
Keep Jesus’ teachings
Keep most* of the Law
Give up everything
Those with Eternal Life
Trust and believe Jesus,
Keep Jesus’ teaching,
Keep most* of the Law, and
Give up everything to follow Jesus
eg good husband loves his wife faithful provides for family -- all are equivalent
One Path to Destruction
*Love God but via Holy Spirit; love neighbour as in Law; no national commands.
Don’t believe Jesus
Don’t keep Jesus’
teachings
Don’t keep most* of the Law
Don’t give up
everything
Those who are Lost
Don’t “believe in” Jesus,
Don’t keep Jesus’ teachings,
Don’t keep most* of the Law, and
Don’t give up everything to follow Jesus
• Trust & believe Jesus = obey his teachings• Obey Jesus’ teachings = keep most* of the Law• Obey Jesus’ teachings => give up everything
eg bad husband hates his wife sleeps around neglects his family -- all are equivalent
1. The Judgment of the Nations (Mt 25:31-46)
“When the Son of Man comes in his glory, and all the angels with him, he will sit on his throne in heavenly glory. All the nations will be gathered before him, and he will separate the people one from another as a shepherd separates the sheep from the goats. He will put the sheep on his right and the goats on his left.
Then the King will say to those on his right, ‘Come, you who are blessed by my Father; take your inheritance, the kingdom prepared for you since the creation of the world. For I was hungry and you gave me something to eat, I was thirsty and you gave me some-thing to drink, I was a stranger and you invited me in, I needed clothes and you clothed me, I was sick and you looked after me, I was in prison and you came to visit me.’
Then the righteous will answer him, ‘Lord, when did we see you hungry and feed you, or thirsty and give you something to drink? When did we see you a stranger and invite you in, or needing clothes and clothe you? When did we see you sick or in prison and go to visit you?’ The King will reply, ‘I tell you the truth, whatever you did for one of the least of these brothers of mine, you did for me.’
DESTROYED
1. The Judgment of the Nations (cont’d) (Mt 25:31-46)
Cared for the needs of the hungry, thirsty, stranger, unclothed, sick, prisoners.
Did not care for people’s needs
… Then he will say to those on his left, ‘Depart from me, you who are cursed, into the eternal fire prepared for the devil and his angels. For I was hungry and you gave me nothing to eat, I was thirsty and you gave me nothing to drink, I was a stranger and you did not invite me in, I needed clothes and you did not clothe me, I was sick and in prison and you did not look after me.’ They also will answer, ‘Lord, when did we see you hungry or thirsty or a stranger or needing clothes or sick or in prison, and did not help you?’ He will reply, ‘I tell you the truth, whatever you did not do for one of the least of these, you did not do for me.’ Then they will go away to eternal punishment, but the righteous to eternal life.”
ETERNAL LIFE
DESTROYEDETERNAL LIFE
2. Entering the Kingdom (Mt 7:21-23)
“Not everyone who says to me, ‘Lord, Lord,’ will enter the kingdom of heaven, but only those who do what my Father in heaven wants.
Do what my Father in heaven wants
Didn’t keep the Lawdespite calling Jesus
‘Lord’ and doing miracles
Many will say to me on that day, ‘Lord, Lord, didn’t we prophesy in your name, and drive out demons in your name and perform many miracles in your name?’ Then I will tell them plainly, ‘I never knew you. Away from me, you workers of Lawlessness’” (ergazomenoi tēn anomian)
DESTROYEDETERNAL LIFE
3. The End of the Age (Mt 13:40-43)
The Parable of the Weeds Explained
“As the weeds are pulled up and burned in the fire, so it will be at the end of the age. The Son of Man will send out his angels, and they will weed out of his kingdom everything that causes people to fall away and all who do Lawlessness (poiountas tēn anomian) and throw them into the fiery furnace, where there will be weeping and gnashing of teeth. Then the righteous will shine like the sun in the kingdom of their Father.”
“The righteous”Don’t do the Law;
cause people to fall away
4. The Narrow Door (Lk 13:23-28)
Make Every Effort
“Someone asked him, “Lord, are only a few people going to be saved?” He said to them, “Make every effort to enter through the narrow door, because many, I tell you, will try to enter and will not be able to. Once the owner of the house gets up and closes the door, you will stand outside knocking and pleading, ‘Sir, open the door for us.’ But he will answer, ‘I don’t know you or where you come from.’
DESTROYEDETERNAL LIFE
4. The Narrow Door (cont’d)
(Lk 13:23-28)
Then you will say, ‘We ate and drank with you, and you taught in our streets.’ But he will reply, ‘I don’t know you or where you come from. Away from me, all you workers of unrighteousness!’ (ergatai tēs adikias) There will be weeping there, and gnashing of teeth, when you see Abraham, Isaac and Jacob and all the prophets in the kingdom of God, but you yourselves thrown out. “
“Make every effort to enter”;patriarchs & prophets
Don’t do righteous-ness, despite knowing
Jesus and his teachings
DESTROYEDETERNAL LIFE
5. The Resurrection (Jn 5:28-29)
“A time is coming when everyone in their graves will hear his voice and will come out. Those who have done good will rise to live, and those who have done evil will rise to be condemned.”
Did good Did evil
DESTROYEDETERNAL LIFE
6. Jesus’ Final Words in Public (Jn 12:47-50)
“If someone hears my teachings but does not keep them, I do not judge him; I didn’t come to judge the world, but to save it. The person who rejects me and does not accept my teaching will be judged by the teachings I spoke; that will judge him on the last day. For I haven’t spoken on my own behalf; but the Father who sent me has commanded me what to say and speak. I know that his command leads to eternal life, so whatever I say is just what the Father has told me to say.”
(Keep what Jesus said from the Father)
Rejects Jesus and does not keep his
teaching
DESTROYED
Summary of the Day of Judgement 1 ETERNAL LIFE DESTROYED
Judgment of NationsMt 25:31-46
“The righteous” who helped their neighbours when hungry, thirsty, sick, naked, in prison, homeless
Did not help their neighbours in need
Entry to the KingdomMt 7:21-23
Those who do what the Father wants
“Workers of lawlessness”, despite calling Jesus “Lord” and doing miracles in his name
The Resurrection Jn 5:28-29
“have done good” “have done evil”
The End of the AgeMt 13:40-43
“The righteous” All who “do lawlessness” and all that makes people fall away
The Narrow Gate Lk 13:22-30
(Those who “make every effort”; patriarchs and prophets)
“workers of unrighteousness” despite eating with Jesus and hearing his teaching
Last Words in PublicJn 12:47-50
Keep the words Jesus said
from the Father
Do not keep Jesus’ words
ETERNAL LIFE DESTROYED
The righteous who do good as taught by Jesus and the Law
The unrighteous who do not do good as taught by Jesus & the Law
My destiny depends upon my actions
Summary of the Day of Judgement 2
?
How Well do I Need to Keep Jesus’ Teachings?
[A teacher asked Jesus], “What must I do to inherit eternal life?” [Jesus] said to him, “What is written in the Law? How do you read it?”[The teacher] answered, “Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your strength and with all your mind’; and, ‘Love your neighbor as yourself’”.[Jesus] said, “You have answered correctly. Do this and you will live.” Lk 10:25-28
“Someone asked him, “Lord, are only a few people going to be saved?” He said to them, “Make every effort (agonizomai=struggle, fight) to enter through the narrow door, because many, I tell you, will try to enter and will not be able to.” Lk 13:23-24
“Any of you who does not give up everything he has cannot be my disciple” Lk 14:33
How Well do I Need to Keep Jesus’ Teachings?
These mean wholehearted, the best I can, giving up everything else; but NOT sinless perfection.
(Jesus’ sacrifice provides forgiveness for sins.)
Sinlessperfection
No effort
Some effort
Wholehearted
best effort
Forgiven by virtue of Jesus’ sacrifice
Requirement of Jesus’ teachings and new covenant
EFFORT
How Well do I Need to Keep Jesus’ Teachings?
With all my heart soul strength & mind; NOT sinless perfection.
God 100%doing only what
God leads me into
Relaxed, giving only 100% in a sustainable lifestyle
Pastor & church 10%
Parents 10%
Spouse 20%
Employment 60% Children 15%
House 10% Fears 5%
Stressed, burdened and burnt-out giving 160% of sustainable time & effort
God 20%
Please myself 10%
How Well do I Need to Keep Jesus’ Teachings?
As we follow Jesus
100%
50%
Areas of life loving God as he directs
Areas of life
With all my heart soul strength & mind, NOT sinless perfection.
How Well do I Need to Keep Jesus’ Teachings?
As we follow Jesus
100%
50%
Areas of life loving God as he directs
Areas of life
With all my heart soul strength & mind, NOT sinless perfection.
ETERNAL LIFE
How Well do I Need to Keep Jesus’ Teachings?
As we follow Jesus
100%
50%
Areas of life loving God as he directs
Areas of life
With all my heart soul strength & mind, NOT sinless perfection.
Areas of life under other masters
ETERNAL LIFE
How Well do I Need to Keep Jesus’ Teachings?
As we follow Jesus
100%
50%
Areas of life loving God as he directs
Level
With all my heart soul strength & mind, NOT sinless perfection.
Areas of life under other masters
SINSIN
ETERNAL LIFE
How Well do I Need to Keep Jesus’ Teachings?
As we follow Jesus
100%
50%
Areas of life loving God as he directs
Areas of life under other masters
With all my heart soul strength & mind, NOT sinless perfection.
Level
SINSINRIGHTEOUS ACTIONS
ETERNAL LIFE
Stages in bringing an area under God
Under other master: do my own thing, do what I feel like, what everyone else does or wants me to do; I don’t hear God in this area
Area of life (under other master)
Area of life (under other master)
Stages in bringing an area under God
…and if I say yes and do it, the area begins to come under God
Area of life (under other master)
Stages in bringing an area under God
God asks me to do something further in this area…
Area of life (under other master)
Stages in bringing an area under God
…and if I say yes and do it, the area comes further under God
Area of life (under other master)
Stages in bringing an area under God
God asks me to do something further in this area…
Area of life (under other master)
Stages in bringing an area under God
…and if I say yes and do it, the area comes further under God
Area of life (under other master)
Stages in bringing an area under God
God asks me to do something further in this area…
Area of life (under God)
Stages in bringing an area under God
…and if I say yes and do it, God then considers the whole area to be under his control (He knows I’ll do anything he asks).
Area of life (under other master)
Stages in bringing an area under God
An area may get stuck if we baulk on one issue, even if we’ve done many other things God has asked
Area of life (under other master)
Stages in bringing an area under God
God may ask me to do something big in an area….
Area of life (under God)
Stages in bringing an area under God
…which would bring the whole area under his control in one go
How Well do I Need to Keep Jesus’ Teachings?
As we follow Jesus
100%
50%
Areas of life loving God as he directs
Areas of life
With all my heart soul strength & mind, NOT sinless perfection.
ETERNAL LIFEHERE
Not here
Not enough
Hear his teachings (Lk 6:46-49, Lk 13:22-30)
Call him “Lord” (Mt 7:21-23, Lk 6:46-49)
Know him personally (Lk 13:22-30, “we ate and drank with you”)
Jesus warned that these are not enough:
1
Have good intentions (Mt 21:28-32, son said yes but didn’t go)
Pretend to be righteous (Mt 23:25-33, hypocrites)
Make some effort to follow him, but not fully committed(Lk 14:33 “give up everything”, Lk 13:22-30 “make every effort”)
Jesus warned that these are not enough:
2
Do miracles and drive out demons and prophesy in his name (Mt 7:21-23)
Follow him for a while only (Mt 10:22, Mt 24:13, “he who stands firm to the end will be saved”; Jn 15:6 “not remain in me”; Mt 13:21 “falls away”; Lk 12:35-48 “be ready”)
Jesus warned that these are not enough:
3
How Well do I Need to Keep Jesus’ Teachings?
With all my heart soul strength & mind, NOT sinless perfection.
As we follow Jesus
100%
50%
Areas of life loving God as he directs
ETERNAL LIFEHERE
Not enough
Hear his teachings; know him personally
Call him “Lord”Make some effort
Have good intentions
Prophesy, do miraclesAppear righteous
F. Five Truths to Correct
Five Common Misconceptions about
the Point at Which Eternal Life is
Gained
Misconceptions arise because…
• People ignore Jesus’ plain language teachings on “eternal life”, “entering the Kingdom” and the day of judgement.
• People take an isolated verse, incident or parable, misinterpret it (often by not understanding the meaning of a word), and draw conclusions contrary to Jesus’ teachings.Eg “saved” (sōzō) and “justified” (dikaioō) have broader meanings and don’t always refer to gaining eternal life in Jesus’ teachings.
There are levels of believing, eg: • “little faith” (Mt 6:30, 7:20)• “great faith” (Mt 15:28, Lk 7:9)• “increase our faith” (Lk 17:5)
There are levels of believing in Jesus, from acknowledging his existence to trusting and obeying him with everything I have. (See Jn 2:11, Cana)
#1: “Believe in Jesus” means quite a high level of
faith
When Jesus promised eternal life to those who “believe in him”, he didn’t specify (in the same verse) the level of believing/faith required.
His other teachings show that the required level of “believing in him” is quite high (involves action, with all my heart, giving up everything etc).
Astronomical faith
Believe nothing
Believe facts about Jesus
Trust and obey in some areas of life Requirement of Jesus’
teachings and new covenant
Trust with all my heart, giving up everything
Not here
FAITH
Misconception #1:
Thinking that “believing in Jesus” means a low level of
faith and that we can gain eternal life by just believing
facts about Jesus and calling him “Lord”
Astronomical faith
Believe nothing
Believe facts about Jesus
Trust and obey in some areas of life Requirement of Jesus’
teachings and new covenant
Trust with all my heart, giving up everything
Not here
FAITH
“Saved” = sōzō G5392 = saved or rescued from any peril
(pie chart shows its usagein the four gospels).
#2: “Saved” doesn’t always refer to eternal life
Eternally 16
Disease 11(NIV “healed”)
Crucifixion 11
Dying 5Drowning 2
Sin 2Demons 1 Other 6
“Your faith has healed (sōzō) you” Mt 9:22 (woman with bleeding)
Jesus said to the sinful woman (who kissed his feet), “Your faith has saved (sōzō) you” Lk 7:50 (from certain sins)
Misconception #2:
Thinking that when Jesus told a person they were
“saved” (sōzō) from something, they had gained
eternal life without keeping his teachings
The thief on the cross had lost everything,was nailed to a cross, and had an hour to live;he wasn’t capable of much, but he did as muchas he could—accepted his loss, repented of his sins, and acknowledged Jesus as innocent and the rightful king of Israel. (Lk 23:40-43).
If I have more strength and possessions than thethief on the cross, then God will expect more of me.
“With all my heart and soul and mind and strength” and “give up everything I have” means God expects me to do what I’m capable of—not what others are capable of.
Jesus praised the widow who gave tuppence because it was all she had (Mk 12:41-44), though it was a smaller amount than what the rich gave.
#3: God expects of me what I am capable of, not what others are capable of
Misconception #3:
Thinking that the thief on the cross gained eternal life
by acknowledging his sin and calling Jesus “Lord”, and
therefore we can gain eternal life by doing no more
#4: “Grace” means a gift, and includes conditional gifts
Unconditional gift (grace)The government gives $10,000 to every man, woman & child.God gives sun and rain to both the righteous and the wicked.
GRACE
Conditional gifts are still grace
Conditional gift (grace)Govt gives $10,000 to some—those with no criminal record.God gives eternal life to some—who keep Jesus’ teachings.
Not grace;Fair exchange
Earned or Paid forThe government gives me $10,000 for doing 3 months of full-time labour for them.If I could give God something of equal value to eternal life,then I could buy it or earn it (not possible).
GRACE
Eternal life is a conditional gift
God’s Grace
Sent JesusJesus taught us the WayJesus died as a sacrifice
Offers forgiveness for SinsSent Holy Spirit to earth
My choice to believe and obey
Keep his
teachings
Don’t
LostNo blessings
Believe
Not
God GivesEternal LifeHoly Spirit
Many Blessings
unconditional
GRACE
conditional
GRACEMY RESPONSIBILITY to believe and obey
Eternal life is a conditional gift
Sinlessperfection
No effort
Some effort
Wholehearted
best effort
Forgiven by virtue of Jesus’ sacrifice
GRACEMY RESPONSIBILITY to believe and obey
Jesus didn’t teach about God’s “grace”
Jesus spoke the “grace” word (charis) only 4 times:• “If you love those who love you, what credit is that to you?” Lk 6:32
(ie “what grace are you showing?”)
• “If you do good to those who are good to you, what credit is that to you?” Lk 6:33
• “If you lend to those from whom you expect repayment, what credit is that to you?” Lk 6:34
• “Would he thank the servant because he did what he was told to do?” Lk 17:9
Jesus’ teachings are mostly about what we need to do before God will give us eternal life.
Misconception #4:
Thinking that grace always means an unconditional
gift and therefore we don’t need to meet any
requirements or do anything to gain eternal life
The tax collector prayed a humble prayer and went home “justified” or “considered righteous” (dikaioō G1467). (NIV adds “…before God” but it’s not in the Greek text). Lk 18:9-14
“Considered righteous” (dikaioō G1467) refers to the action described, ie his humble prayer was considered the right way to pray.
#5: ‘Considered righteous’/ ‘justified’ (dikaioō) can refer to the person as being righteous overall, or to just one action
dikaioō G1467 means to consider or declare righteous; ‘justify’. May apply to the person’s whole life or just one action, eg:
“Wasn’t Rahab the prostitute also considered righteous (dikaioō) for what she did when she gave lodging to the spies and sent them off in a different direction?” James 2:25
Misconception #5:
Thinking that the tax collector gained eternal life merely by
saying a humble prayer acknowledging his sinfulness, and
therefore we can gain eternal life as easily
Summary: To inherit eternal life, I need to:
*Love God but via Holy Spirit; love neighbour as in Law; no national commands.
1. Trust and believe Jesus
2. Keep Jesus’ teachings
4. Give up everything I have to follow Jesus
3. Keep most* of the Law Love GodLove Neighbour
with all my heart & mind & soul & strength, making every effort, giving up everything else (but not necessarily sinless)
To inherit eternal life, I need to:
Keep Jesus’ teachings
(love God, love neighbour)
with all my heart & mind & soul & strength
(in all areas of my life)
As we follow Jesus
100%
50%
Areas of life loving God as he directs
Areas of life
Areas of life under other masters
ETERNAL LIFE
Vanity
Money & possessions
Judgmental
Racism Single vow Attitude to parents
“Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind and with all your strength; and love your neighbour as yourself. … Do this and you will live [eternal life].” Luke 10:25-28
• Does the Holy Spirit want to say anything to me regarding Jesus’ gospel?
• What implications does it have for me?
Listen to the Holy Spirit
HS