The Relevance of the Gospel: Eternal Life and Grace

In a world where many question the relevance of Christian faith, it’s important to recognize that the longing for eternal life is not an outdated or irrelevant desire—it is deeply human. Across cultures and eras, from ancient emperors to modern billionaires, people have sought ways to transcend death and find lasting satisfaction. This longing is not just about living forever, but about living a flourishing, meaningful life in a place of true fulfillment. The Bible calls this “eternal life” or “the kingdom of God,” and both terms point to the salvation and wholeness that only God can provide.

We desire eternal life because we are designed for it. Ecclesiastes tells us that God has set eternity in our hearts; we instinctively sense that death and suffering are not as things should be. Like caged eagles longing to soar, our souls yearn for something more. Without eternal life, we are destitute—our lives marked by a desperate search for meaning and satisfaction.

Yet, the ways we seek eternal life often fall short. Some pursue fulfillment in anything but God—relationships, achievements, possessions—turning good things into ultimate things, or idols. These pursuits, while promising, always leave us empty, as illustrated by the story of Zach Koh, who found that only God could fill the “God-shaped hole” in his heart. Others approach God as employees, trying to earn His favor through good deeds and religious performance. This transactional mindset is incompatible with the gospel, which is not about what we do, but about what Christ has done for us. The law, when rightly understood, drives us to despair of our own efforts and into the arms of Jesus, who alone can save.

The right approach is to come to God as a child—utterly dependent, trusting, and empty-handed. Infants do not earn their parents’ love; they simply receive it. In the same way, we must lay down both our failures and our achievements, and trust in the grace of God. Jesus, the ultimate rich ruler, gave up everything to bring us into His family. His sacrificial love empowers us to trust Him and to find our satisfaction in Him alone.

For those still searching, the invitation is open: come to Jesus, who alone offers true rest and eternal life. For believers, the challenge is to daily resist self-righteousness and to cultivate a relationship with God marked by dependence, delight, and childlike trust.

Key Takeaways

• 1. Only God Fills the God-Shaped Hole Every human heart longs for something transcendent, but nothing in this world—no relationship, achievement, or possession—can truly satisfy. When we try to fill our deepest needs with anything but God, we end up disappointed and restless. True fulfillment comes only when we allow God to fill the space in our hearts that was made for Him. [13:20]
• 2. Self-Righteousness Is a Subtle Trap Approaching God as an employee, trying to earn His favor through good works or religious performance, leads to spiritual exhaustion and despair. The gospel is not about what we do, but about what Christ has already done. Only when we abandon self-reliance and receive God’s grace can we experience true rest and assurance. [19:19]
• 3. Come to God as a Dependent Child Jesus teaches that the kingdom of God belongs to those who come like children—utterly dependent, trusting, and without pretense. This posture of humility and trust is the only way to receive eternal life. It means letting go of both our pride and our shame, and simply receiving God’s love and acceptance. [25:51]
• 4. Christ’s Sacrifice Empowers Our Trust Jesus, the ultimate rich ruler, gave up everything to pursue and save us. His sacrificial love is the foundation and power for our faith. When we see what He has done for us, we are moved to trust Him fully and to find our deepest satisfaction in Him, not in our own efforts or achievements. [28:31]

Youtube Chapters

• [00:00] - Welcome
• [00:37] - Is the World Better Without Religion?
• [01:18] - Empirical Benefits of Christian Faith
• [02:21] - The Deeper Question: Why Faith Helps
• [03:18] - Humanity’s Search for Eternal Life
• [04:23] - Reading Mark 10:13-27
• [07:09] - Three Headings for Today
• [07:31] - Why We Desire Eternal Life
• [10:45] - Three Approaches to Eternal Life
• [11:34] - Zach Koh’s Story: The God-Shaped Hole
• [14:31] - Turning Good Things into Idols
• [17:23] - Coming to God as an Employee
• [19:19] - The Gospel: Done, Not Do
• [25:20] - Coming to God as a Child
• [28:31] - Jesus: The Ultimate Rich Ruler
• [30:39] - Signs of Self-Righteousness
• [33:24] - Love Constraining to Obedience
• [33:59] - Closing Prayer

Bible Reading

Mark 10:13-27 (ESV) —
> 13 And they were bringing children to him that he might touch them, and the disciples rebuked them. 14 But when Jesus saw it, he was indignant and said to them, “Let the children come to me; do not hinder them, for to such belongs the kingdom of God. 15 Truly, I say to you, whoever does not receive the kingdom of God like a child shall not enter it.” 16 And he took them in his arms and blessed them, laying his hands on them.
>
> 17 And as he was setting out on his journey, a man ran up and knelt before him and asked him, “Good Teacher, what must I do to inherit eternal life?” 18 And Jesus said to him, “Why do you call me good? No one is good except God alone. 19 You know the commandments: ‘Do not murder, Do not commit adultery, Do not steal, Do not bear false witness, Do not defraud, Honor your father and mother.’” 20 And he said to him, “Teacher, all these I have kept from my youth.” 21 And Jesus, looking at him, loved him, and said to him, “You lack one thing: go, sell all that you have and give to the poor, and you will have treasure in heaven; and come, follow me.” 22 Disheartened by the saying, he went away sorrowful, for he had great possessions.
>
> 23 And Jesus looked around and said to his disciples, “How difficult it will be for those who have wealth to enter the kingdom of God!” 24 And the disciples were amazed at his words. But Jesus said to them again, “Children, how difficult it is to enter the kingdom of God! 25 It is easier for a camel to go through the eye of a needle than for a rich person to enter the kingdom of God.” 26 And they were exceedingly astonished, and said to him, “Then who can be saved?” 27 Jesus looked at them and said, “With man it is impossible, but not with God. For all things are possible with God.”

Observation Questions

1. In Mark 10:13-16, what does Jesus say about who can enter the kingdom of God, and what does He mean by receiving it “like a child”?
2. What was the rich young man’s question to Jesus, and how did Jesus respond to him? ([05:27])
3. According to the passage, what was the young man’s reaction when Jesus told him to sell all he had and follow Him? What does this reveal about his heart? ([06:11])
4. How do the disciples react to Jesus’ teaching about wealth and entering the kingdom of God? What is Jesus’ final answer to their question about who can be saved? ([06:38])

Interpretation Questions

1. The sermon says that the longing for eternal life is deeply human and not outdated. Why does the preacher say we are “designed” for eternal life, and how does Ecclesiastes 3:11 support this? ([09:02])
2. The preacher describes two wrong approaches to seeking eternal life: pursuing fulfillment in anything but God, and coming to God as an employee. What are the dangers of each approach, and why do they ultimately fail to satisfy? ([13:20] and [19:19])
3. What does it mean to come to God “as a child” according to both the passage and the sermon? How is this different from coming as an employee or someone trying to earn God’s favor? ([25:51])
4. The sermon calls Jesus “the ultimate rich ruler” who gave up everything for us. How does this truth empower believers to trust God and find satisfaction in Him? ([28:31])

Application Questions

1. The sermon talks about a “God-shaped hole” in every heart that only God can fill. What are some things you have tried to use to fill that hole in your own life? How did those things leave you feeling in the end? ([13:20])
2. The preacher warns about turning good things (like relationships, achievements, or possessions) into “God things” or idols. Are there any good things in your life right now that you are tempted to make ultimate? How can you recognize when this is happening? ([14:31])
3. The sermon describes self-righteousness as a “subtle trap” and warns against approaching God as an employee. Have you ever found yourself trying to earn God’s favor through your good works or religious performance? What signs in your life might show this mindset? ([19:19] and [30:39])
4. Jesus says we must come to God like children—dependent, trusting, and empty-handed. What would it look like for you to approach God this way in your daily life? Are there areas where you struggle to let go of control or self-reliance? ([25:51])
5. The preacher shared about his own struggle with spiritual exhaustion and despair when trying to be “good enough” for God. Have you ever experienced something similar? How did you respond, and what helped you move forward? ([21:44])
6. The sermon challenges believers to resist self-righteousness daily and to cultivate a relationship with God marked by dependence and delight. What practical steps can you take this week to grow in childlike trust and dependence on God? ([31:11])
7. Jesus’ sacrificial love is described as the foundation for our faith and trust. How does reflecting on what Jesus gave up for you change the way you view your own achievements, failures, or desires for fulfillment? ([28:31])