Never mind what any man or any churches teach,But isn't what God requires the most important? Should not His Word be the standard of truth?
What Does God Require?
When asked what one must to do inherit eternal life, Christ answered, �Keep the commandments� (Matt.19:17). He went on to list some of the commandments from the Torah, including �You shall love your neighbor as yourself� (verse 19). Paul wrote definitively that all the commandments are �summed up in this saying, namely, �You shall love your neighbor as yourself.� Love does no harm to a neighbor; therefore love is the fulfilling of the law� (Rom.13:9-10).
Micah the prophet put it this way: �He has shown you, O man, what is good; and what does the LORD require of you but to do justly, to love mercy [lovingkindness], and to walk humbly with your God?� (Micah 6:8).
Solomon summarized it by saying, �Let us hear the conclusion of the whole matter: Fear God and keep His commandments, for this is man�s all� (Eccl.12:13).
There is going to be an accounting � by every human being. Those who really serve God during this life, who are given the understanding of God�s Word and purpose and knowledge of salvation, will be judged at the coming of the Messiah, Jesus Christ!
As Peter wrote, �For the time has come for judgment to begin at the house of God; and if it begin with us first, what will be the end of those who do not obey the gospel of God? If the righteous one is scarcely saved, where will the ungodly and sinner appear?� (I Pet.4:17-18).
But what about those who don�t understand all God�s commandments? What about those who have been deceived, misled, and don�t understand the commandments of God? How will they be judged?
A Special, Unique Calling
God is not calling everyone to His Truth at this time. As Christ put it, �No one can come to Me unless the Father who sent Me draws him; and I will raise him up at the last day . . . Therefore everyone who has heard and learned from the Father comes to Me� (John 6:44-45).
He repeated this truth in verse 65: �Therefore have I said to you that no one can come to Me unless it has been granted to him by My Father.� After this, many disciples became offended at His words, and �went back and walked with Him no more� (v.66).
It is all a matter of calling. Some are called of God now, to be His servants, and to be among the �first fruits� of God�s Kingdom. They will receive their reward when Christ comes, on the day of His return to earth (I Cor.15:50-52; I Thess.4:14-17).
For those who are called NOW, during this Age, they, in order to be saved, must repent From their heart of sin, which is transgressing God�s law, disobedience to God, Accept Christ as Savior,For past sins, Be Baptised, And receive The Holy Spirit as a gift, and then Continue Faithful till the day they die (see Acts 2:38; 3:19; 4:12; 5:32; Matt.24:13; Luke 9:62).Why is this so hard to understand?
The apostle John declared, of Christ�s second coming, �The nations were angry, and Your wrath has come, and the time of the dead, that they should be judged, and that You should REWARD YOUR SERVANTS the prophets and the saints, and those who fear Your name, small and great� (Rev.11:18). How can you fear God if you don't obey His Word?
When asked what one must to do inherit eternal life, Christ answered, �Keep the commandments� (Matt.19:17). He went on to list some of the commandments from the Torah, including �You shall love your neighbor as yourself� (verse 19).
WALTER: Remember Ron that this context was about Jesus talking to a Jew who was under "the Mosaic Covenant". But it is important to finish the verse that you left out and let's look at more of the passage.
Mat 19:16 Now behold, one came and said to Him, "Good Teacher, what good thing shall I do that I may have eternal life?"
Mat 19:17 So He said to him, "Why do you call Me good? No one is good but One, that is, God. But if you want to enter into life, keep the commandments."
Mat 19:18 He said to Him, "Which ones?" Jesus said, " 'YOU SHALL NOT MURDER,' 'YOU SHALL NOT COMMIT ADULTERY,' 'YOU SHALL NOT STEAL,' 'YOU SHALL NOT BEAR FALSE WITNESS,'
Mat 19:19 'HONOR YOUR FATHER AND YOUR MOTHER,' and, 'YOU SHALL LOVE YOUR NEIGHBOR AS YOURSELF.' "
Mat 19:20 The young man said to Him, "All these things I have kept from my youth. What do I still lack?"
Notice that this young man still perceived that he was lacking something.
Mat 19:21 Jesus said to him, "If you want to be perfect, go, sell what you have and give to the poor, and you will have treasure in heaven; and come, follow Me."
Notice that Jesus made the point that one must be a "follower of Jesus".
Mat 19:22 But when the young man heard that saying, he went away sorrowful, for he had great possessions.
Mat 19:23 Then Jesus said to His disciples, "Assuredly, I say to you that it is hard for a rich man to enter the kingdom of heaven.
Mat 19:24 And again I say to you, 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."
Mat 19:25 When His disciples heard it, they were greatly astonished, saying, "Who then can be saved?"
Mat 19:26 But Jesus looked at them and said to them, "With men this is impossible, but with God all things are possible."
The point of this passage is not about being able to keep "the LAW" or that we are suppose to because no one can and only JEWS were under that Covenant, not Gentiles. The point is about surrendering to and following Jesus.
Very good points Walter. You brought out some things in ways that I had not thought about before.
I know Micah 6:8 was quoted. That is one of my favorite verses. I just wanted to say that. :hearts:
Micah 6:8 The LORD God has told us what is right and what he demands: "See that justice is done, let mercy be your first concern, and humbly obey your God."
Here it is from The Message bible:
"But he's already made it plain how to live, what to do, what God is looking for in men and women. It's quite simple: Do what is fair and just to your neighbor, be compassionate and loyal in your love, And don't take yourself too seriously - take God seriously."
And in The New Living Translation:
"No, O people, the LORD has already told you what is good, and this is what he requires: to do what is right, to love mercy, and to walk humbly with your God."
Act justly (be gracious)
Love mercy
Walk humbly
:hearts: Don't you just love the Word of God? :hearts:
