Eternal Choices by Dr. Adrain Rogers

[Saintscruiser]

I will probably break this one down like I did the other one.

Eternal Choices - Mark 10:17 - Dr. Adrain Rogers.....Part 1

People can listen to sermons and join a church but never be radically, dramatically, eternally changed. They have religion, but they have never met God. They have never been converted. That's what I see going on in the story of the rich young ruler, the man who asked Jesus what he must do to inherit eternal life. I want to lay on your heart four things that come directly out of this passage.

1) Proud men at their best are sinners at their worst. Outwardly this man had much to admire. I like his eagerness, I like his humility, how he bowed before Jesus, the peasant prophet. He had his mind on spiritual things. He was morally clean and successful. Yet Jesus didn't praise or pet or flatter him. The average church would have made this guy the church treasurer, but Jesus was rough with him. Jesus pointed out that no one is good but God and He Himself is God. He forbade the man to make his human goodness a substitute for the new birth.

2) God's perfect law condemns man's sinful pride. It might sound like Jesus is teaching salvation by commandment keeping, but is saying just the opposite, that no one is saved by keeping the commandments. This man thought he had kept all of God's rules; but this man had an idol in his life. His god was gold. His creed was greed. Far from keeping the whole law, the rich young ruler had broken it all because his heart wasn't right. Jesus helped this man see that he was a sinner. He showed him the futility of trying to behave himself into heaven.

3) Jesus taught this young man that no man can serve two masters. One God is enough for everybody. Now if you have some other god in your life, in order to be a Christian, in order to go to Heaven, you must turn from that idol to God. This turning is called repentance. And here's where many people miss salvation. They hear a preacher and want to go to heaven, but they think they can hold on to their gods and just add in Jesus as one more god. But they must turn away from their worthless god.

(Part 2 is in post directly under this one.)

 

[Saintscruiser]

Eternal Choices by Dr. Adrain Rogers - Mark 10:17 - Part 2

4) Whatever master a man chooses will master that man. Whey you turn from sin, you must in faith turn to Jesus. This man needed a new master. When Jesus said, "Come....and follow Me," Jesus gave him a choice (Mark 10:21). I can see this young man breathe hard and bite his lip. He thinks about all he has and all that he's been trusting for so long. He thinks about Jesus and His offer of eternal life. Then there's a choice. Finally, he says to Jesus, "No, no, no." And he turns back to his idol. Demons shout with glee. Angels weep.

Who knows what this young man might have been? He might have been another Timothy. He may have been another apostle Paul. He might have been in God's "Who's Who," but now he's in "Who's Not." And he's in hell and he doesn't have his treasure. He has his false god that will torment him for all eternity. And Jesus let him go. And He'll let you go also.

Faith isn't mere nodding your head to theological facts about Jesus. It is enthroning Jesus. And your eternal destiny depends upon this. Have you seen the truth Jesus lovingly but firmly shared with this young man? You can't be saved by keeping the commandments. And you can't keep your wealth either. Jesus was not talking about losing everything. He was talking about finding everything - about having treasure in heaven.

Friend, choose eternal life. Acknowledge that there is none good but God. Let go of any false idols in your life. Repent of your sin, take up your cross, and follow Him. Give your heart to Jesus the Christ and allow Him to be Lord of your life.

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When I was looking through my Bible for another sermonette, the Bible sort of went to this. I was going to look further for another one, but the Lord said a very gentle "No. This is the one." So, I typed my little fingers to the bone! The Lord knows I said that with a smile. I think He probably threw away my daddy's mold once I was born. I can't wait for ya'll to meet him....I mean after you see Jesus and have a reunion with your loved ones.....you're in for a treat....cross my heart!!!