Luke 18:18-30 — Who are you following?

A: The Story

1. How do I get eternal life?

  1. Now a certain ruler asked him, �Good teacher, what must I do to inherit eternal life?�

2. The Cost of the Law

  1. Jesus said to him, �Why do you call me good? No one is good except God alone.
  2. You know the commandments: �Do not commit adultery, do not murder, do not steal, do not give false testimony, honour your father and mother.��
  3. The man replied, �I have wholeheartedly obeyed all these laws since my youth.�

3. The New Obedience

  1. When Jesus heard this, he said to him, �One thing you still lack. Sell all that you have and give the money to the poor, and you will have treasure in heaven, and come and follow me.�

4. The New Obedience is Impossible

  1. But when he heard this he became very sad, for he was extremely wealthy.

5. Parable of the Camel and the Needle’s Eye

  1. When Jesus noticed this, he said, �How hard it is for the rich to enter the kingdom of God!
  2. In fact, 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.�

6. The New Obedience is Impossible, but Possible with God

  1. Those who heard this said, �Then who can be saved?�
  2. He replied, �What is impossible with men is possible with God.�

7. The New Obedience

  1. And Peter said, �Look, we have left everything to follow you!�

8. The Cost of following Jesus

  1. Then Jesus said to them, �I tell you the truth, there is no one who has left house or wife or brothers or parents or children for the sake of God�s kingdom
Old Requirements New Requirements
Don�t steal other�s property leave your own behind
leave neighbour�s wife alone may have to leave your own wife
honour father & mother (care for them when old) leave them in response to a higher loyalty

9. This is how you get eternal life

  1. who will not receive many times more in this age—and in the age to come, eternal life.�

 

B: the Structure

C: the Application

What are we to do?

The message is broader