Sovereign Grace
Doctrines
Concerning 'THE GOSPEL' - JESUS CHRIST
FOUR IMPORTANT QUESTIONS
Matthew
19:16-26
Full Page Version
These verses of Inspiration record a very sad,
but very instructive incident. The rich young ruler came to the
Lord Jesus concerned for his soul and for eternity. Yet, he went
away without eternal life because he was very rich. With sorrow
he counted the cost of following Christ and decided the price was
too great. He wanted Christ and the world. When he could not have
both, he chose the world and despised the Son of God. What a sad,
sad story this is! Yet, within the story four questions are
raised. The answers to these four questions need to be understood
by all.
- “WHAT GOOD THING SHALL I DO, THAT I MAY HAVE
ETERNAL LIFE?” On the surface, this
question may appear to be a noble one, one that any
thoughtful person ought to ask. But it is a question that
betrays a very proud, self-righteous heart. This man
presumed that he was sufficient in himself to meet
whatever demands God himself might put upon him! In
essence, he was saying, “Master, you tell me what
God requires, and I will do it.” Being ignorant of
God’s righteousness, he thought he could establish
righteousness for himself (Rom.
10:3). What folly! Sinful man cannot produce
righteousness (Gal. 3:10). God demands two things
from all men that no mere man can ever produce:
righteousness and satisfaction; obedience and atonement.
Without these two things we cannot be made holy and we
cannot see the Lord (Heb.
12:14). Christ brought in everlasting righteousness.
And Christ made atonement for the sins of his people when
he died as our Substitute.
- “WHY CALLEST THOU ME GOOD?”
After raising this question, our Lord explained,
“There is none good but one, that is, God.” Let
us never forget that no man is good in God’s eyes by
nature. And no man can make himself good by doing good.
“For there is none that doeth good, no, not
one!” The only man in the world, since the fall of
Adam, who was good and did good, is the God-man Christ
Jesus. And his goodness is of infinite merit for his
people. His obedience is good. His sacrifice is good. God
himself cannot refuse it! Because he is God, this good
man, the God-man, is an effectual, all-sufficient Savior.
- “WHAT LACK I YET?” You may,
like this rich young ruler, be very moral. But “one
thing thou lackest.” And that “one thing”
is faith in Christ, a faith that surrenders all to him as
Lord. He proved his lack of faith by his refusal to
surrender to and obey Christ as his Lord.
- “WHO THEN CAN BE SAVED?” With
men it is impossible, “but with God all things are
possible.” If salvation is up to man, or depends
upon man, no one could ever be saved, rich or poor. But
since “salvation is of the Lord,” salvation is
not only possible, but absolutely certain for God’s
elect. Every chosen, redeemed, and called sinner shall be
saved. All hell cannot prevent it! Trust Christ alone as
your Lord and Savior. If you do, the Lord God has saved
you by his marvelous grace.
Grace Baptist Church of Danville -
Grace For Today Radio Message #626
2734 Old Stanford Road - Danville, Kentucky 40422-9438
Donald S. Fortner, Pastor -Telephone 606-236-8235 - Email
grace@mis.net
Thank You
Address all questions to pastor
Don Fortner, e-mail grace@mis.net
