Grace Over Works: Embracing True Discipleship

 

Summary

In today's gathering, we explored the profound themes of inadequacy and the pursuit of eternal life through the lens of Matthew 19:16-30. We began by acknowledging the human experience of inadequacy, which can stem from various sources such as personal insecurities, life circumstances, and, most critically, religious misconceptions. Many people around the world are trapped in a cycle of trying to earn God's favor through their deeds, a futile endeavor that leads to spiritual exhaustion. This is a deception that needs to be addressed with sound theology, as no human effort can achieve the moral perfection required for salvation.

We examined the encounter between Jesus and the rich young ruler, a story so significant that it is recorded in three of the four Gospels. This young man, despite his wealth and social standing, approached Jesus with a question that revealed his misunderstanding of salvation: "What good deed must I do to have eternal life?" Jesus' response was not to affirm the young man's efforts but to challenge his understanding of goodness and perfection. Jesus highlighted that only God is truly good and that moral perfection is the standard for entering heaven—a standard no human can meet on their own.

The rich young ruler's story serves as a reminder that outward piety and adherence to visible commandments are not enough. Jesus exposed the young man's hidden idolatry, showing that true discipleship requires surrendering all, including our hidden idols, to follow Christ. This narrative challenges us to examine our own hearts and recognize that salvation is a gift of grace, not a reward for our deeds.

As we reflect on this teaching, we are reminded that our ultimate reward is not found in earthly achievements or possessions but in the promise of eternal life with God. The call to follow Jesus is the greatest invitation we can receive, and it requires us to lay down our pride and self-reliance, embracing the righteousness of Christ as our only hope for salvation.

Key Takeaways:

1. Inadequacy and Religion: Many people struggle with feelings of inadequacy, often exacerbated by religious misconceptions that suggest we can earn God's favor through our deeds. This is a deception that leads to spiritual exhaustion and requires deliverance through proper theology. True peace comes from understanding that salvation is a gift of grace, not a result of our efforts. [06:53]

2. The Standard of Perfection: Jesus' interaction with the rich young ruler highlights that moral perfection is the standard for entering heaven, a standard only God can meet. This challenges us to recognize our need for a Savior and to rely on the righteousness of Christ rather than our own deeds. [12:38]

3. Hidden Idolatry: The story of the rich young ruler reveals that outward adherence to commandments is not enough; we must also address the hidden idols in our hearts. True discipleship requires surrendering all to follow Christ, recognizing that our ultimate reward is in Him. [39:05]

4. Eternal Perspective: Our focus should be on the eternal rewards promised by God, rather than temporary earthly gains. The promise of eternal life with God is the greatest reward, and it should motivate us to live faithfully and sacrificially for Christ. [46:52]

5. Mission and Proclamation: We are called to be on mission, sharing the gospel with those around us. This involves confronting sin and pointing people to the Savior who died for them. Our lives should reflect the urgency of the gospel and the hope of eternal life. [01:00:33]

Youtube Chapters:

- [00:00] - Welcome
- [01:57] - Acknowledging Human Weakness
- [03:51] - Introduction to Matthew 19
- [05:39] - The Struggle with Inadequacy
- [06:53] - Inadequacy and Religion
- [09:26] - The Rich Young Ruler's Question
- [10:59] - Seeking Eternal Life
- [12:08] - Jesus' Response and Correction
- [12:38] - The Standard of Perfection
- [18:14] - The Cost of Eternal Life
- [20:12] - The Visible Commandments
- [28:45] - Jesus' Loving Conviction
- [30:21] - The Criteria for Heaven
- [39:05] - Hidden Idolatry
- [46:52] - Eternal Perspective
- [01:00:33] - Mission and Proclamation

Study Guide

### Bible Study Discussion Guide

#### Bible Reading
- Matthew 19:16-30

#### Observation Questions
1. What question does the rich young ruler ask Jesus, and how does Jesus initially respond? ([10:59])
2. How does Jesus challenge the young man's understanding of goodness and moral perfection? ([12:08])
3. What specific commandments does Jesus mention to the young man, and what is the significance of these commandments? ([20:12])
4. How does the young man react to Jesus' final instruction, and what does this reveal about his priorities? ([39:05])

#### Interpretation Questions
1. Why does Jesus emphasize that only God is truly good, and how does this relate to the concept of moral perfection? ([12:38])
2. How does the story of the rich young ruler illustrate the danger of hidden idolatry in one's life? ([39:05])
3. What does Jesus mean when he says it is difficult for a rich person to enter the kingdom of heaven, and how does this apply to modern believers? ([44:00])
4. How does Jesus' promise of eternal rewards challenge the disciples' understanding of sacrifice and reward? ([46:52])

#### Application Questions
1. Reflect on a time when you felt inadequate in your spiritual journey. How did you address these feelings, and what role did your understanding of grace play in overcoming them? ([06:53])
2. Consider the hidden idols in your life that may be hindering your relationship with Christ. What steps can you take to surrender these to God? ([39:05])
3. How can you shift your focus from earthly achievements to the eternal rewards promised by God? What practical changes can you make in your daily life to reflect this shift? ([46:52])
4. In what ways can you be more intentional about sharing the gospel with those around you, especially in confronting sin and pointing them to Christ? ([01:00:33])
5. How do you respond to the idea that moral perfection is the standard for heaven, and how does this understanding impact your reliance on Christ's righteousness? ([30:21])
6. Identify a specific area in your life where you rely on your own efforts rather than God's grace. How can you begin to trust more in God's provision and less in your self-reliance? ([06:53])
7. How can you cultivate a heart of gratitude for the invitation to follow Jesus, despite your imperfections and insecurities? ([34:39])

Devotional

Day 1: The Futility of Earning God's Favor
Many people struggle with feelings of inadequacy, often exacerbated by religious misconceptions that suggest we can earn God's favor through our deeds. This is a deception that leads to spiritual exhaustion and requires deliverance through proper theology. True peace comes from understanding that salvation is a gift of grace, not a result of our efforts. [06:53]

"For by grace you have been saved through faith. And this is not your own doing; it is the gift of God, not a result of works, so that no one may boast." (Ephesians 2:8-9, ESV)

Reflection: In what areas of your life do you find yourself trying to earn God's favor? How can you remind yourself today that His grace is a gift, not something you can achieve through your own efforts?


Day 2: The Impossibility of Moral Perfection
Jesus' interaction with the rich young ruler highlights that moral perfection is the standard for entering heaven, a standard only God can meet. This challenges us to recognize our need for a Savior and to rely on the righteousness of Christ rather than our own deeds. [12:38]

"For whoever keeps the whole law but fails in one point has become guilty of all of it." (James 2:10, ESV)

Reflection: Consider a time when you felt you had to be perfect to be accepted by God. How can you shift your focus from your own efforts to the sufficiency of Christ's righteousness today?


Day 3: Surrendering Hidden Idols
The story of the rich young ruler reveals that outward adherence to commandments is not enough; we must also address the hidden idols in our hearts. True discipleship requires surrendering all to follow Christ, recognizing that our ultimate reward is in Him. [39:05]

"Little children, keep yourselves from idols." (1 John 5:21, ESV)

Reflection: What hidden idols might be present in your life that you need to surrender to God? How can you begin to let go of these idols and fully commit to following Christ today?


Day 4: Living with an Eternal Perspective
Our focus should be on the eternal rewards promised by God, rather than temporary earthly gains. The promise of eternal life with God is the greatest reward, and it should motivate us to live faithfully and sacrificially for Christ. [46:52]

"So we do not lose heart. Though our outer self is wasting away, our inner self is being renewed day by day. For this light momentary affliction is preparing for us an eternal weight of glory beyond all comparison." (2 Corinthians 4:16-17, ESV)

Reflection: How can you shift your focus from temporary earthly achievements to the eternal rewards promised by God? What practical steps can you take today to live with an eternal perspective?


Day 5: The Urgency of the Gospel Mission
We are called to be on mission, sharing the gospel with those around us. This involves confronting sin and pointing people to the Savior who died for them. Our lives should reflect the urgency of the gospel and the hope of eternal life. [01:00:33]

"And he said to them, 'Go into all the world and proclaim the gospel to the whole creation.'" (Mark 16:15, ESV)

Reflection: Who in your life needs to hear the message of the gospel? How can you take a step today to share the hope of eternal life with them?

Quotes



And inadequacy is driving them in. Exercises of futility, trying to get things from God or trying to perform for God or trying to earn things with God that, listen to me, they just absolutely cannot. That area of inadequacy, I think, is more crippling because there is no healing for that. [00:07:11]

It is religious men and women who think that through good behavior and performance, they can actually earn approval from God as if anything they are doing can actually make them righteous in the sight of God. It is crippling. It is tiring. There is no bottom for that. That is a bottomless pit that human beings will always be in because we will never know when we have done enough, quote unquote, to please God. [00:08:22]

Jesus responds to him in verse 17. And he said to him, why do you ask about what is good? Another translator says, or another writer says, why do you call me good? There is only one who is good. If you would enter life, keep the commandments. So now Jesus does two things here. He corrects him, and he teaches him. [00:11:54]

This is very important because this is not like the word, you did a good job. You say to a child, the word here in Greek means moral perfection. It means moral excellence. And so what Christ is saying, there is no human being with moral excellence. There is no human being with moral perfection. Therefore, there is no human being who is good. [00:12:38]

The criteria for heaven, watch, is perfection. Perfection as if you are God himself. Morally perfect is the criteria for heaven. This begs a question. Who then can earn their way there? Who can earn their way to heaven? You should have the answer to that. No one. [00:30:21]

You and I who are saved, look at me. You have nothing to boast in except the cross and the work of Christ. This is why I keep preaching to you, Christ, because I want you to love Christ. I want you to adore Christ. I want him to be the hero of your heart, your mind, and your house. [00:31:18]

And what Jesus gives him is the greatest invitation any human being will ever get in this lifetime come and follow me there is no greater invitation a human being will get in this lifetime than an invitation from Christ to say just come and follow me I got insecurities come I got brokenness come I got issues from my past come [00:36:16]

Man, this man walked away from an invitation to follow Jesus personally. Like, this is not like you and I who have not seen him. You're standing in front of Christ, God in the flesh, telling you join my ministry and you turn away from the greatest invitation he would ever receive because what the Lord was really trying to show him that he was violating the first commandment. [00:39:05]

This is for everyone who felt like they've sacrificed for the Lord. Lord, I'm coming down. I've sacrificed for the Lord. I've moved. I've given up jobs. I've come out of bad relationships. You told me get rid of this boyfriend or girlfriend. You told me sell this house. You told me Philip Anthony Mitchell giveaway this car. [00:44:55]

Everybody pay attention to the text. And then Jesus says to him, watch last verses. Then Jesus said to them, truly, I say to you in the new world, when the son of man will sit on his glory, his throne, you who have followed me will also sit on twelve thrones, judging the twelve tribes of Israel and everyone who has left houses or brothers or sisters or father or mother or children or lands for my name's sake will see that word promise. [00:46:52]

Help us to be faithful proclaimers of the, biblical gospel and help us to be thankful for the rewards that are coming in eternity for the sufferings of this present time are not worthy to be compared to the glory that shall be revealed. I pray that over all of these salvation for some and fire for others in the mighty and the majestic and the matchless name of our Lord and savior, Jesus Christ, somebody just by faith, give God praise. [01:02:54]

The Lord in his providence would he raise up a disciple from this church because we are about spreading the gospel and because that disciple saw her assignment as a volunteer in a nursing home as I'm on assignment for Christ wherever we are had enough sensitivity in the moment to lead this elderly woman near death [00:58:03]

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Transcript
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