Don't Walk Away
Pastor Erickson preaches from Mark 10 on the rich young ruler, who ran to Jesus and was loved by him, yet went away grieved because he would not give up the one thing that stood between him and eternity. He calls people to stop measuring their own goodness, admit their need of a Savior, let Jesus deal with their one thing, and repent and be baptized rather than walk away.
The message in 6 points
Who then can be saved
He reads Mark 10, where the rich young ruler goes away grieved and Jesus says it is easier for a camel to go through the eye of a needle than for a rich man to enter the kingdom. From verse 22 he takes his title: do not walk away.
37:42A ruler who ran to Jesus
People then thought riches showed God's favor, so the disciples were shocked. Going back to verse 17, he notes that a dignified ruler ran and knelt before Jesus, a sign of real desperation, unlike Nicodemus coming by night or the leaders who tried to trap Jesus.
40:45There is none good but God
Jesus corrects the young man's idea of good, which was only being better than others. We cannot compare ourselves among ourselves, because there is none righteous, and God looks on the heart and sees the motives behind closed doors.
47:30Jesus beholding him loved him
Jesus lists the commandments and the young man says he has kept them. Pastor Erickson says Jesus works in the present, not judging our past or prejudging our future, and he loves people right now, whether they feel good enough or not.
58:17One thing thou lackest
People who love you will tell you the truth, and conviction is a friend. Jesus named the one issue holding everything else back, but the young man loved something more than following Jesus and perhaps did not want to change his way of life.
1:08:09Admit your need and do not walk away
The encounter showed the young man he was lost, and only someone who admits his need is ready for the plan of salvation. He calls people to fix their one thing, repent, be baptized in Jesus name, and receive the Holy Ghost instead of walking away.
1:17:25
In his words
“God chooses to work in the present. He's not going to judge us for past, and he's also not going to look into our future and pre-judge us for the future.”
“Jesus loves us enough to convict us on whatever is keeping us from having a relationship with him.”
“You've got to get lost before you can get saved. He didn't see himself as being lost. A person that doesn't see themselves as being lost is not ready to hear the Plan of Salvation.”
Taken word for word from the video, with punctuation added.
Scripture
He reads
Mark 10:17-26
17And when he was gone forth into the way, there came one running, and kneeled to him, and asked him, Good Master, what shall I do that I may inherit eternal life? 18And Jesus said unto him, Why callest thou me good? there is none good but one, that is, God. 19Thou knowest the commandments, Do not commit adultery, Do not kill, Do not steal, Do not bear false witness, Defraud not, Honour thy father and mother. 20And he answered and said unto him, Master, all these have I observed from my youth. 21Then Jesus beholding him loved him, and said unto him, One thing thou lackest: go thy way, sell whatsoever thou hast, and give to the poor, and thou shalt have treasure in heaven: and come, take up the cross, and follow me. 22And he was sad at that saying, and went away grieved: for he had great possessions. 23And Jesus looked round about, and saith unto his disciples, How hardly shall they that have riches enter into the kingdom of God! 24And the disciples were astonished at his words. But Jesus answereth again, and saith unto them, Children, how hard is it for them that trust in riches to enter into the kingdom of God! 25It is easier for a camel to go through the eye of a needle, than for a rich man to enter into the kingdom of God. 26And they were astonished out of measure, saying among themselves, Who then can be saved?
King James Version.
Romans 3:10-12
10As it is written, There is none righteous, no, not one: 11There is none that understandeth, there is none that seeketh after God. 12They are all gone out of the way, they are together become unprofitable; there is none that doeth good, no, not one.
King James Version.
Acts 2:38-39
38Then Peter said unto them, Repent, and be baptized every one of you in the name of Jesus Christ for the remission of sins, and ye shall receive the gift of the Holy Ghost. 39For the promise is unto you, and to your children, and to all that are afar off, even as many as the LORD our God shall call.
King James Version.
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