This was Sunday, February 12th message. Enjoy.

In Mark 10:17-27 a young man came to Jesus and asked him what he shall do to inherit eternal life. Jesus mentions just a few of the Ten Commandments to him. The man replies by saying that he has taken care not to violate any of these.

Why didn’t Jesus mention all ten of the commandments to him? It could be because the young man had the idea that if he treated other people in a good manner, then this would be considered the prerequisite to inheriting eternal life.

Jesus didn’t say to the young man that he didn’t follow those particular commandments concerning treating other people in the manner mentioned. What he revealed to him was that obedience to God is more than just external actions, but also it involves one’s inward attitudes. And that the only one who can change these inward attitudes, is Christ himself.

The young man trusted in self attainment or self righteous achievement coupled with a love for money.

How many of us have trusted in someone, something, or some action as the basis for determining that we have merited God’s favor, and thus we have concluded that when we die, we will go to heaven?

Jesus told the young man to sell all that he has and give to the poor, take up the cross, and follow Him. Eternal life involves a total self abandonment to a total dependence on Christ, as to who he is and what he has done.

His covetous attitude toward riches simply revealed the inward attitude of the heart. What if he had sold all that he had and gave to the poor, would this have secured his eternal standing? No, because Jesus said to him not only must you sell all that you have and give to the poor, but you must take up the cross and follow me.

Just because we change an outward action, this doesn’t change the attitude of the heart. We can begrudgingly do something that someone else wants us to do, while the covetousness of the heart remains. It’s the attitude behind the action, which needs to be addressed.

Obeying the Ten Commandments in the performing of good works to others is not enough to inherit eternal life. There needs to be a change of the heart, which only can occur by taking up the cross and following Jesus.

There are others who believe that performing good works is the basis for meriting God’s favor, and thus believe that as a result they will go to heaven.

In John 6:24-29 the multitudes have witnessed the miracle of feeding 5000 people with only 5 barley loaves and 2 small fishes.

Jesus and his disciples have left the area and have gone to Capernaum.

Some of the people have also gone to Capernaum in order to find Jesus. Finding him there, they ask him, when did you arrive?

Jesus perceived that they followed him, because he supplied the temporal supply of their daily need.

He replies to them by saying work not as a priority for physical food, which soon loses its effects, but work for food for the inner man, this food being Christ himself, which abides unto everlasting life.

They responded back and asked, what are we to do as a habit in order to merit salvation? Jesus said this is the work of God that you believe on him whom God has sent, this person being Himself.

And still there are others in 1 Cor 13:1-13, who believe that if they do something extraordinary such as giving all of their possessions to feed the poor or giving their body in martyrdom as a witness of the truth, then this will merit their way to heaven.

Don’t these extraordinary actions mentioned above indicate that the person performing them is operating in love? Yes.

The question is, is the love which the person is operating in, human love or the love of the Holy Spirit?

How does a person know which love he/she is operating in?

First, divine love is received. It’s not something that we are born with. Divine love comes from the Holy Spirit, who we receive when we believe in Jesus Christ.

To many church goers believing in Jesus means that we simply believe that he is one of the members of the trinity. To others, because they have heard of Jesus name since they were little kids, when they went to catechism and were taught that he is the son of God, they will say that they believe in him. There are those that say that they receive him every week by means of partaking of communion.

To me, believing in Jesus means that we are aware that we are a sinner, who needs someone else to take over our life. Believing in Christ means that there is a total self abnegation to a total self dependence on someone else, this someone else being Jesus Christ.

Believing in Jesus means that we believe in Him as God, who preexisted time; came to earth in the form of a man, but still as God; born of a virgin; lived a sinless life; died on a cross paying the penalty for the sins of the whole world satisfying the demands of payment for sin that God the Father required; forgave all sin; rose from the dead after 3 days, not to die again; ascended into heaven; and is seated at the right hand of God the Father.

If you believe in this Jesus, then the scriptures state that you will receive another member of the trinity called the Holy Spirit, who will provide for us God’s presence, God’s spiritual gifts, God’s assurance of heaven, and will teach us how to have God’s perspective toward your self, others, and the circumstances of life.

Do you know this Jesus?

If not, then read along and confess with your mouth. I know that I am a sinner and I need you to take over my life. I believe in you Jesus as God, who preexisted time; came to earth in the form of a man, but still ad God; born of a virgin; lived a sinless life; died on a cross paying the penalty for the sins of the whole world satisfying the demands of payment for sin that God the Father required; forgave all sin; rose from the dead after 3 days, not to die again; ascended into heaven; and is seated at the right hand of God the Father.

Now send the Holy Spirit to come into my life and indwell. Hallelujah. You are a child of God. Enjoy your new life in Christ.

Mark 10:17-27

17 And when he was gone forth into the way, there came one running, and kneeled to him, and asked him, Good Master, what shall I do that I may inherit eternal life?

18 And Jesus said unto him, Why callest thou me good? there is none good but one, that is, God.

19 Thou knowest the commandments, Do not commit adultery, Do not kill, Do not steal, Do not bear false witness, Defraud not, Honour thy father and mother.

20 And he answered and said unto him, Master, all these have I observed from my youth.

21 Then Jesus beholding him loved him, and said unto him, One thing thou lackest: go thy way, sell whatsoever thou hast, and give to the poor, and thou shalt have treasure in heaven: and come, take up the cross, and follow me.

22 And he was sad at that saying, and went away grieved: for he had great possessions.

23 And Jesus looked round about, and saith unto his disciples, How hardly shall they that have riches enter into the kingdom of God!

24 And the disciples were astonished at his words. But Jesus answereth again, and saith unto them, Children, how hard is it for them that trust in riches to enter into the kingdom of God!

25 It is easier for a camel to go through the eye of a needle, than for a rich man to enter into the kingdom of God.

26 And they were astonished out of measure, saying among themselves, Who then can be saved?

27 And Jesus looking upon them saith, With men it is impossible, but not with God: for with God all things are possible.

John 6:24-29

24 When the people therefore saw that Jesus was not there, neither his disciples, they also took shipping, and came to Capernaum, seeking for Jesus.

25 And when they had found him on the other side of the sea, they said unto him, Rabbi, when camest thou hither?

26 Jesus answered them and said, Verily, verily, I say unto you, Ye seek me, not because ye saw the miracles, but because ye did eat of the loaves, and were filled.

27 Labour not for the meat which perisheth, but for that meat which endureth unto everlasting life, which the Son of man shall give unto you: for him hath God the Father sealed.

28 Then said they unto him, What shall we do, that we might work the works of God?

29 Jesus answered and said unto them, This is the work of God, that ye believe on him whom he hath sent.

1 Cor 13:1-13

3 And though I bestow all my goods to feed the poor, and though I give my body to be burned, and have not charity, it profiteth me nothing.