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RULER:
WAS HE SHORT-
CHANGED?
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.’
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!