And you also were included in Christ when you heard the message of truth, the gospel of your salvation. When you believed, you were marked in him with a seal, the promised Holy Spirit, who is a deposit guaranteeing our inheritance until the redemption of those who are God’s possession—to the praise of his glory.

-Ephesians 1:13-14

Just then a man came up to Jesus and asked, "Teacher, what good thing must I do to get eternal life?" "Why do you ask me about what is good?" Jesus replied. "There is only One who is good. If you want to enter life, keep the commandments." "Which ones?" he inquired. Jesus replied, “You shall not murder, you shall not commit adultery, you shall not steal, you shall not give false testimony, honor your father and mother,’ and ‘love your neighbor as yourself.’” “All these I have kept,” the young man said. “What do I still lack?” Jesus answered, “If you want to be perfect, go, sell your possessions and give to the poor, and you will have treasure in heaven. Then come, follow me.” When the young man heard this, he went away sad, because he had great wealth. Then Jesus said to his disciples, “Truly I tell you, it is hard for someone who is rich to enter the kingdom of heaven. Again I tell you, it is easier for a camel to go through the eye of a needle than for someone who is rich to enter the kingdom of God.” When the disciples heard this, they were greatly astonished and asked, “Who then can be saved?

-Matthew 19:16-25

The Rich Young Ruler is rich in two ways:

1. Moral Wealth: Moral Excellence

2. Financial Wealth: In his mind, his money is proof od his goodness

There is an idea that the two things go together: Righteousness and Wealth.

“If I do good, I will do well.”

“If you’ve done well it's because you did good.”

The assumption of Job's friends:

"Somewhere in your youth you must have done something really bad, otherwise God would not allow this suffering into your life."

In the land of Uz there lived a man whose name was Job. This man was blameless and upright; he feared God and shunned evil.

-Job 1:1-2

You have heard that it was said, ‘Love your neighbor and hate your enemy.’ But I tell you, love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you, that you may be children of your Father in heaven. He causes his sun to rise on the evil and the good, and sends rain on the righteous and the unrighteous.

-Matthew 5:43-45

The attitude of the Rich Young Ruler:

I am righteous under the law, and I can prove that with my wealth.

Yet, Something is still lacking!

Jesus’s Response:

1. You are not good. “No one is good but God.”

2. You are not wealthy. If you want to be wealthy go sell everything you have and give it to the poor.

Why does Jesus tell the Rich Young Ruler to “Go sell everything you have and give it to the poor?”

Jesus answered, ’If you want to be perfect, go, sell your possessions and give to the poor, and you will have treasure in heaven. Then come, follow me.’ When the young man heard this, he went away sad, because he had great wealth.

-Matthew 19:21-22

Jesus sees right through everything to the real issue in the Rich Young Ruler’s life.

First Truth: If you want to be right with God, you must admit you’re not good.

When you discover the real Jesus, you will have one of two responses:

One: You will bow down, submit, and worship.

Two: You will go away offended.

Second Truth: If you want to be good with God, you must allow Him to smash your religious views.

Two False Assumptions:

1. Christianity is something you can add.

2. Christianity is something you do.

Jesus says when you come to Him you can come to Him…

1. Trusting in your efforts or Christ’s

2. Trusting in your goodness or Christ’s

3. Trusting in your righteousness or Christ’s

4. You can relate to Him on the basis of law or grace

Until you understand that all the goodness in the world does not give you the “right” to stand in the presence of God, you will never humble yourself to receive the gift of His son.

Third Truth: If you want to be experience God you must give Him your dreams.

What is your greatest fear? What is your greatest pursuit?

Until you give those things completely and fully to God, your heart will know something is missing.

Sure signs of Hidden Holiness:

1. You live like a tenant, not an owner.

2. You live like a committed Christ-follower, not a consumer.

3. You sow generously, not sparingly.

Greed surrenders to generosity at the point of conversion.

There is nothing more valuable than meeting Jesus!

Do not rejoice that the demons are subject to you but rejoice that your names are written in heaven.

-Luke 10:20

Where is your name written in heaven?

Old Testament: 

There are to be twelve stones, one for each of the names of the sons of Israel, each engraved like a seal with the name of one of the twelve tribes.

-Exodus 28:21

New Testament:

See, I have engraved you on the palms of my hands...

-Isaiah 49:16

Make a Decision