What Must I Do to
Inherit Eternal Life?
Luke 18:18–27
Introduction
In Luke 18:18–27,
a man known as the rich young ruler came to Jesus asking, “Good
Teacher, what shall I do to inherit eternal life?” This sincere
question reflects the longing of every honest heart seeking
salvation and is answered directly by the Lord Himself.
Who Is Good?
The conversation
begins with the ruler calling Jesus “Good Teacher.” In the first
century, that title was rarely used for any rabbi or religious
leader. It was reserved for God alone. Jesus responded, “Why do you
call Me good? No one is good but One, that is, God.” Jesus wanted
this young ruler to think carefully about what he was saying. If he
truly believed Jesus was good, then he was admitting that Jesus was
divine. The ruler’s question about eternal life could not be
answered until he first recognized who was standing before him—God
in the flesh. The psalmist declared, “Oh that men would give thanks
to the Lord for His goodness” (Psalm 107:8). God’s goodness is
perfect and without flaw. Before salvation can ever be found, a
person must understand the goodness and authority of Christ.
The Command to
Keep God’s Word
Jesus then said,
“You know the commandments: Do not commit adultery, do not murder,
do not steal, do not bear false witness, honor your father and your
mother.” The ruler replied, “All these I have kept from my youth.”
He was confident in his moral record and his religious behavior. Yet
Jesus was preparing him for a deeper truth. Obedience is essential
to faith, but it must be complete. Partial obedience leaves the
heart unchanged. James reminds believers, “Be doers of the word and
not hearers only, deceiving yourselves” (James 1:22). A person
cannot inherit eternal life by simply agreeing with God’s word—he
must live it.
Jesus emphasized
commandments that govern relationships between people—honesty,
purity, and respect. But the ruler’s problem was with the
commandments that deal with devotion to God. His life was clean
outwardly, yet something was missing inwardly. He had religion, but
not surrender.
One Thing You
Lack
Jesus then spoke
directly to his heart: “You still lack one thing. Sell all that you
have and distribute to the poor, and you will have treasure in
heaven; and come, follow Me.” The command exposed the barrier
between this man and eternal life. His wealth had become his
identity and his security. Jesus’ instruction had three parts—sell
what you have, give to the poor, and follow Me. These steps
represented total trust in God and complete surrender of self.
Mark’s account
says that before Jesus spoke these words, He looked at the man and
loved him. That love was not condemnation; it was compassion. Jesus
saw what was holding him back. His riches were not evil in
themselves, but they had become his master. To enter eternal life,
that mastery had to end.
When the man
heard Jesus’ words, he became very sorrowful, for he was very rich.
The depth of his sorrow matched the depth of his wealth. He wanted
eternal life, but not enough to let go of what he loved most. He
stood at a spiritual crossroads—cling to his possessions or follow
the Lord. Sadly, he walked away with his treasure and lost his joy.
The Snare of
Riches
Jesus turned to
His disciples and said, “How hard it is for those who have riches to
enter the kingdom of God.” Wealth is a powerful test of faith. It
can be used for great good, but it can also harden the heart. Paul
warned Timothy, “The love of money is a root of all kinds of evil”
(1 Timothy 6:10). It draws people away from faith and pierces them
with many sorrows.
Jesus
illustrated this truth vividly: “It is easier for a camel to go
through the eye of a needle than for a rich man to enter the kingdom
of God.” The image is extreme for a reason. It shows how impossible
salvation becomes when the heart is tied to possessions. The problem
is not money itself—it is the misplaced trust that money represents.
Proverbs 28:6 says, “Better is the poor who walks in his integrity
than one perverse in his ways, though he be rich.” The poor man who
walks with God is wealthier than any ruler who walks away from Him.
The Power of
God to Save
When the
disciples heard these words, they were astonished and asked, “Who
then can be saved?” Many Jews believed that wealth was a sign of
God’s favor, so this teaching challenged everything they thought
they knew. Jesus answered, “The things which are impossible with men
are possible with God.” Salvation is not achieved by effort,
morality, or wealth—it is received through God’s transforming power.
The Lord can change the heart that is bound by greed, pride, or
self-reliance. He can make a man new, reshaping him for eternity.
Every person
must come to the same place as the rich young ruler—facing the truth
about what stands between them and God. The answer Jesus gave then
is still the answer today: surrender, obedience, and faith that
acts. Only those who trust Christ completely will inherit eternal
life.
What Must I Do
to Inherit Eternal Life? Sermon Outline
I. The
Question of Eternity – Luke 18:18
• The rich young ruler’s question reflects every soul’s deepest
concern.
• Eternal life cannot be inherited through birth, wealth, or status.
• Every person must come face-to-face with Jesus to find the answer.
II.
Recognizing Who Is Good – Luke 18:19; Psalm 107:8
• Jesus challenges the man’s understanding of goodness.
• Only God is truly good; goodness originates in His divine nature.
• Calling Jesus “good” is an acknowledgment of His deity.
III. The
Commandments and Personal Responsibility – Luke 18:20–21; James
1:22–25
• Jesus lists moral commandments governing relationships.
• Obedience must flow from faith, not pride.
• Outward morality without inward surrender is incomplete.
• God expects action—being a doer of the Word, not a hearer only.
IV. One
Thing You Lack – Luke 18:22; Mark 10:21
• Jesus exposes the heart of the issue: misplaced trust.
• The command to sell, give, and follow reveals total surrender.
• The man’s possessions became his barrier to obedience.
• True discipleship demands full commitment to Christ.
V. The
Sorrow of the Unwilling – Luke 18:23
• The ruler’s grief shows divided loyalty.
• He wanted eternal life but refused the cost of discipleship.
• Choosing the world over Christ leads to emptiness.
VI. The
Danger of Riches – Luke 18:24–25; 1 Timothy 6:10; Proverbs 28:6
• Wealth can easily become an idol if loved more than God.
• The love of money leads to pride and spiritual ruin.
• Integrity is worth more than prosperity.
• The camel-and-needle image shows the impossibility of salvation
through self-trust.
VII. The
Power of Divine Possibility – Luke 18:26–27
• What is impossible for man is possible with God.
• The Lord can transform hearts enslaved to the world.
• True change requires repentance and divine grace.
• Salvation is found through complete dependence on Christ.
VIII. The
Call to Follow – Luke 9:23
• Jesus calls every disciple to take up the cross daily.
• Following Him requires sacrifice and trust above all else.
• Eternal life belongs to those who surrender entirely.
Call to Action
Each person must
face the same question the rich young ruler asked: “What must I do
to inherit eternal life?” Jesus’ response remains clear—recognize
who He is, obey His Word, and remove whatever stands between your
soul and the Savior. If wealth, pride, or distraction holds you
back, ask God for the strength to change. Salvation comes only
through full surrender to Christ.
Key Takeaways
• Eternal life
begins with recognizing Jesus as divine (Luke 18:19).
• Obedience must come from sincere faith (James 1:22).
• True discipleship requires surrender of all barriers (Luke 18:22).
• The love of money endangers the soul (1 Timothy 6:10).
• With God, transformation is possible (Luke 18:27).
Scripture
Reference List
•
Luke 18:18–27 –
The rich young ruler’s question and Jesus’ reply.
• Psalm 107:8 –
The Lord alone is good.
• James 1:22–25 –
Be doers of the Word, not hearers only.
• Mark 10:21 –
Jesus looked on the man with love before challenging him.
• 1 Timothy 6:10
– The love of money is a root of all kinds of evil.
• Proverbs 28:6 –
Integrity of the poor surpasses the riches of the perverse.
• Luke 9:23 – The
call to take up the cross daily and follow Christ.
Sermon prepared by Bobby
Stafford
The church of Christ at
Granby, MO
Located at
516 East Pine St.
P.O. Box 664
Granby, Mo. 64844
(417) 472-7109
For more lessons and
Sermons, please visit
granbychurchofchrist.org/
granbychurchofchrist.com/
|
The
church of Christ
.jpg){kind=small}
