Rich Young Ruler - Was He Shortchanged?

RICH YOUNG RULER: WAS HE SHORTCHANGED?

We’ve all heard the story of the rich, young ruler in Luke 18. He asked the Lord a straight-forward question, ‘Good Master, what shall I do to inherit eternal life?’ Now that’s a question many people have pondered; and this guy actually had a chance to ask God himself! But, did the Lord Jesus answer, as many Christians would today, that he must simply believe on him and be saved by Grace through faith in him alone? Absolutely not! Jesus said to the young man, ‘Thou knowest the commandments. Do not commit adultery. Do not kill. Do not steal. Do not bear false witness. Honour thy father and mother.’ When the young man insisted, ‘All these have I kept from my youth up,’ the Lord did not contradict him but added, ‘Yet lackest thou one thing: sell all that thou hast, and distribute unto the poor, and thou shalt have treasure in heaven; and come, follow me.’ The young man went away ‘very sorrowful; for he was very rich.’ Let’s think about Jesus’ answer for a moment. In order to inherit eternal life, one must keep the commandments, and sell everything and follow him. Is this the gospel we’re saved by? Our apostle says clearly in so many places that it is not! ‘Knowing that a man is not justified by the works of the law, but by the faith of Jesus Christ; even we have believed in Jesus Christ, that we might be justified by the faith of Christ, and not by the works of the law; for by the works of the law shall no flesh be justified.’ (Galatians 2:16). I think we all agree that we have not kept the commandments; but what about selling everything we have? Some say, ‘You must be willing to do it, but you don’t really have to.’ Others insist, ‘You must not make money or possessions your idol, that’s all.’ But think for a moment. Is there any promise we must make in order to be saved? ‘Believe on the Lord Jesus Christ, and thou shalt be saved, and thy house.’ Either Paul forgot to tell the jailer about it in Acts 16, or something had clearly changed by that time!

Many point out that the Lord knew the state of the young man’s heart; that he was unwilling to part with his possessions. And, of course, that’s true. But would we have made a better showing had we been faced with the same choice the day we first believed? My point is, though, that we weren’t faced with this same choice because we’re saved by a different gospel! The Lord Jesus Christ was at that time calling out a remnant from Israel willing to separate itself from the apostate national religion. This remnant would obey the Mosaic Law in a God-honoring spirit, and strip themselves of all possessions (Luke 14:33) in preparation for relying totally upon God’s providence in the time, when, without the mark, they could not buy or sell. A water baptism of repentance was also required; and, after the Cross, submitted to in Jesus’ Name. (Acts 2:38). He that endured unto the end of the Tribulation would inherit eternal life in the kingdom on earth. These requirements will be reinstated when God resumes His program with Israel after our departure. (1 Thess. 4:14-18; Rom. 11:25). In this dispensation of the grace of God (Eph. 3:2), given to Paul ‘to you-ward,’ (Eph. 3:1), God is calling out a heavenly people to be fellowheirs with Christ of all things by forming a new creature, the Body of Christ. This Body, of which Christ is the Head, is made up of all that believe the gospel of Christ - that he died for our sins, was buried and rose again - ‘for it is the power of God unto salvation to everyone that believeth; to the Jew first, and also to the Greek.’ (Romans 1:16). Who knows, maybe the ruler in our story was still around to hear the new ‘good news’ that God gave to Paul; and perhaps he simply believed and was saved. Here’s hoping he did; and that you have, too!