July
17, 2003
ENTER
INTO LIFE
"If
you want to enter into life, keep the commandments" (Matthew
19:17, NKJV).
One day
an individual came to Jesus "and said to Him, 'Good Teacher,
what good thing shall I do that I may have eternal life?'
Jesus 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.' 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,' 'Honor your
father and your mother,' and 'You shall love your neighbor
as yourself.' The young man said to Him, 'All these
things I have kept from my youth. What do I still lack?' 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.' But
when the young man heard that saying he went away sorrowful,
for he had great possessions" (Matthew 19:16-22).
Jesus
obviously was referring here to the last six of the ten commandments.
When the young man asked what he still lacked, Jesus lumped
the first four commandments into His statement when He said,
"come, follow Me."
The first four commandments relate to our love, respect and
duty to God. Many people today believe that the ten commandments
were done away at the cross. However, that was not the attitude
of Jesus. Jesus said, "Assuredly,
I say to you, till haven and earth pass away, one jot or one
tittle will by no means pass from the law till all is fulfilled"
(Matthew 5:18). He also further instructed His Disciples just
before His crucifixion, "If you
love Me, keep My commandments... He who has My commandments
and keeps them, it is he who loves Me... If anyone loves Me,
he will keep My word." (John 14:15, 21, 23).
God's
commandments given to Moses on Mount Sinai were for the protection
of society. They are principles of love and respect for one
another and for God. If these principles were incorporated
into the lives of everyone living, what a wonderful society
it would be. This is the society represented by the kingdom
of heaven that God is building, one person at a time. The
commandments are not what save us. Our relationship to Jesus
and to God is what saves us. However, when we have that special
relationship with God, He promises to put His law into our
minds and hearts (see Jeremiah 31:33). Paul testified, "Love
does no harm to a neighbor; therefore love is the fulfillment
of the law" (Romans 13:10).
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