One Thing You Lack

Luke 18:18-30

Key Verse 18:22

This passage shows us: 1) the practical stumbling blocks that must be overcome in coming to and following Jesus, the way of eternal life; 2) the way to overcome these stumbling blocks; and 3) the reward for overcoming them and actually following Jesus. 

1. Compare the man's question in verse 18 and Jesus' answer in verse 19. The Scripture says that Jesus is good and without sin. (2Co 5:21; 1Jn 3:5) Yet why might Jesus have said, "No one is good -- except God alone"?  

               

** Jesus might have said this in order to let the man know that he is no good, that through his own work it is impossible for him to inherit eternal life, for on his own no matter what he does he would still fail to inherit eternal life. 

Job 14:4 Who can bring what is pure from the impure? No one! 

Jeremiah 13:23 Can the Ethiopian change his skin or the leopard its spots? Neither can you do good who are accustomed to doing evil.

Romans 3:23 For all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God,

Romans 3:10 As it is written: "There is no one righteous, not even one;

2. Verses 20-23 indicate that Jesus asked the man to sell everything he had (his great wealth) and give to the poor in order to help him mean business in coming and following Jesus. Why is it necessary for one to come and follow Jesus to inherit eternal life? What is the "one thing" you lack in following Jesus? [In other words, what is the one thing that hinders you from coming to and following Jesus?]  

** Jesus is the way to God the Father who is the source of life eternal. It is sin that separates man from God the source of life. Jesus came to set aside the sin barrier. Although Jesus had no sin Jesus came to be sin for us, so that in him we might become the righteousness of God, and thereby be connected/restored back to God for eternal life.

2 Corinthians 5:21 God made him who had no sin to be sin for us, so that in him we might become the righteousness of God.

 

** Examples are: 1) love of money (like home) (or houses or fields as in Matthew 19:29); and 2) love of people (other than Jesus) like wife, children, brothers or sisters, etc. as listed in v. 29. Other examples include love of oneself (Matthew 10:39).  

3. Read verses 24-27. What solution does Jesus' answer (27) offer for such people as this man? 

** Faith in God who is better than all that is good looking. 

Once one has faith in God who is truly worthy, one can exchange everything and everyone for God. So we say, "What is better is the enemy of what is best, and unless we let go of what is better it is impossible for the best to fall into our lap."  

4. Read verses 28-30 and describe the promises given to those who follow Jesus at all cost. 

** Two categories: one hundred times more than what we give up while in this world, and eternal life in the age to come.