Spiritual Gifts part 213: Impossible challenges lead us to the door of the cross.

Pastor-Teacher
John Farley
Wednesday,
January 11, 2012

Spiritual Gifts Part 214: Impossible challenges bring us to the door of the Cross.

Joh 14:20
“In that day you will know [experientially] that I am in My Father, and you in Me [union with Christ], and I in you [indwelling of TLJC].”

The fundamental change in Paul when He was called to teach mystery doctrine:
Christ in Him!
Gal 1:16; 2:20

The same is true of each and every believer - what a thing to discover! Col 1:27

Col 1:27
to whom God willed to make known what is the riches of the glory of this mystery among the Gentiles, which is Christ in you, the hope of glory.

Phi 3:10-11
that I may know Him and the power of His resurrection and the fellowship of His sufferings, being conformed to His death; in order that I may attain to the resurrection from the dead.

Paul wanted to come to know the power of Christ’s resurrection and he realized that that same power was at work inside him, Col 1:29 !!!

And Luke tells us that he was a “ruler”, so he was some kind of Jewish official, probably a member of the Sanhedrin.

Luke also tells us that this ruler was extremely rich.

Matthew tells us that he was a “young man”. neaniskos =
signified that he had reached the age of puberty but was not yet married.

In both Matthew and Mark’s gospels, this is the FIRST TIME that the phrase “eternal life” shows up in either gospel.

For the lawyer the question was theoretical.
With this rich young man, it’s personal.

The Old Testament use of “everlasting” speaks of God:
His essence, His grace, and His covenant with Israel.

Gen 21:33
Abraham planted a tamarisk tree at Beersheba, and there he called on the name of the Lord, the Everlasting God.

From the fall of man to the public ministry of Christ, the subject of eternal life is veiled, Gen 3:22.

Dan 12: 2
Many of those who sleep in the dust of the ground will awake, these to everlasting life, but the others to disgrace and everlasting contempt.

In fact, at the time of Christ, for a Jew to say “enter eternal life” was the same thing as saying “enter the kingdom”.

The Hebrew phrase is chayei olam = chay’yim (life)
o’ lam (beyond our view).

It was used for time in the distant past or the distant future as a time that is difficult to know or perceive.

The ultimate for the Jew in terms of such life was all wrapped up in the millennial kingdom on earth that the Messiah would usher in.

Joh 3:16
For God so loved the world, that He gave His only begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him shall not perish, but have eternal life.

Mat 19:16
And someone came to Him and said, "Teacher, what good thing shall I do that I may obtain eternal life?"

Joh 15:5
“I am the vine, you are the branches; he who abides in Me and I in him, he bears much fruit, for apart from Me you can do nothing.”

“Follow Me”. That is discipleship.

“Believe in Me” – that’s salvation.

Mat 19:17
“if you wish to enter into life, keep the commandments.”

Mat 19:20-21
20 The young man said to Him, "All these things I have kept; what am I still lacking?"

Mat 19:21
Jesus said to him, "If you wish to be complete, go and sell your possessions and give to the poor, and you will have treasure in heaven; and come, follow Me."

Jesus spoke to jar him from his misplaced confidence in himself.

Instead He gave the young man an impossible assignment that would make the point far more powerfully.

Our Lord purposely set out the challenge to reveal the deceitfulness and self-centered nature of the human heart.

 

 


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