The Kingdom of God
and
The Rich Young Ruler
Can a rich man enter The Kingdom of God? Scripture says it's hard, but why is it
easier for a camel to go through the eye of a needle than for a rich man
to enter the kingdom of God." ...what does that mean?
The Kingdom of God Revealed
The story is recorded in Matt 19:16, Mark 10:17-22; and Luke
18:18-23 and begins with a young man asking Jesus a question.... paraphrased.
'Now behold, one came and said to Him(Jesus), "Good Teacher, what good thing shall I do that I may have eternal life?"
So Jesus said to him, "Why do you call Me good? No one is good but One, that is, God.' This statement Jesus answered sounds a little out of place but it really is the key to what is going on here.
The conversation continues as Jesus is speaking, He says, “But if you want to enter into life, keep the commandments." The young man said to Him, "All these things I have kept from my youth. What do I still lack?”
Then Jesus, looking at him, loved him, and said to him, "One thing you lack: If you want to be perfect, go, sell whatever you have and give to the poor, and you will have treasure in heaven; and come, take up the cross, and follow Me."
The rich young ruler couldn't do it. But was sad at this word, and went away sorrowful, for he had great possessions, he was very prosperous. Then Jesus looked around and said to His disciples, "How hard it is for those who have riches to enter The Kingdom of God
Disciples, Astonished at His words
Sell all that you have... And the disciples were greatly astonished at His words saying among themselves, "Who then can be saved?" But Jesus looked at them and said, "With men it is impossible, but not with God; for with God all things are possible."
How can anyone sell everything? If you have to sell everything to be saved, who then can be saved, as the disciple said? Jesus answered and said, The things which are impossible with men are possible with God.
Jesus said it was hard for a rich man to enter into The Kingdom of God. Like a camel struggles through the passageway in the city wall, which was called, eye of the needle, so to does a rich man struggle to enter The Kingdom of God.
The Kingdom of God is a supernatural realm and needs to be entered by supernatural means.
It's hard for a rich man not to trust in his wealth. Riches deceitfully promise security. Focusing only on getting rich leads your focus off trusting the Word of God. Mark 13:22 says the deceitfulness of riches choke the word - and it becomes unfruitful.
Take up THE Cross
Jesus gave instructions to the rich young ruler; if you want to enter into life, keep the commandments. Obedience leads to life, but If you want to be perfect, take up the Cross and follow me.
The Cross is what JESUS did. Our good works show our faith, but we are saved by what HE did. Trusting yourself, your riches, your own abilities are natural things of this world. To give up all reliance on self and rely on God and His Word is supernatural, it is of The Kingdom of God.
But who can give up everything? Who can give up on everything natural and rely only on God alone?... it is impossible with men but all things are possible with God.
As Paul says it in Galatians 2:20; I have been crucified with Christ; it is no longer I who live, but Christ lives in me; and the life which I now live in the flesh, I live by faith in the son of God, who loved me and gave himself for me.
Walk in the Spirit
and you shall not
fulfill the lust of the flesh
Jesus lived His life being lead by the Spirit. He Communicating continually
with the Father (pray without ceasing.) to the point that He did not do
anything that He did not see the Father doing.
Jesus who was in the flesh did not walk according to the flesh. Jesus who is God in the flesh had to completely rely on His Father in Heaven to live that perfect life in the flesh. How much more must this be true for you and me?
Walk in the Spirit and you shall not fulfill the lust of the
flesh. "Follow Me",
Keys to Entering
The Kingdom of God
The first thing that Jesus answered the rich young ruler is a key to understanding how to enter The Kingdom of God.
Jesus said,"Why do you call Me good? No one is good but One, that is, God."
Then Jesus said, "If you want to be perfect, take up the Cross and follow me."
Jesus chose to denied HIS FLESH and only do what He saw His Father do. He only spoke what He heard the Father speak. Jesus in the flesh, relied only on The Father to do in Him whatsoever He will. We also can follow Jesus by choosing to rest in God alone.
It is written, Jesus was tempted in all things yet did not sin. Jesus in the flesh did not want to be crucified, but He said,"Father, if it is Your will, take this cup away from Me; nevertheless not My will, but Yours, be done." Luke 22:40 NKJV.
The Word became flesh and dwelt among us. He became one of us to show us the way. Jesus walked after the Spirit and not the flesh. WE can do this also. How? Jesus said, "He who abides in me and I in him, bears much fruit, for without me you can do nothing." (John 15:4) Jesus said I and the Father are one.
Believe ONLY
(only,with no doubt)
that HE will do it in you
Believe that He will do it. He called you and He will finish the work he has begun in you. The ability to live perfect is not in you separate from God but it is possible with God. That's how you fulfill the command, Be ye perfect even as I am perfect.
Jesus loved the rich young ruler and said, If you want to be perfect, go, sell what you have and give to the poor, and you will have treasure in heaven; and come, follow me.
The Scripture says it best. Philippians 3:7-9
...but what things were gain to me, these I have counted loss for Christ. Yet indeed I also count all things loss for the excellence of the knowledge of Christ Jesus my Lord, for whom I have suffered the loss of all things, and count them as rubbish that I may gain Christ and be found in him, not having my own righteousness, which is from the law, but that which is through faith in Christ, the righteousness which is from God by faith;
Rely only on God by entering His rest through faith.
Jesus said, "He who abides in me and I in him, bears much fruit, for without me you can do nothing." (John 15:4) Jesus said I and the Father are one.
Acts 17: 27–28
... He is not far from each one of us; for in Him we live and move and have our being...
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