Keep in mind that the New Covenant did not come into existence until after Jesus death and Resurrection. When Jesus preached to His fellow Jews, He was under the Mosaic Law. You may not think so, but if Jesus preached the New Covenant to His fellow Jews prior to His death on the cross, Jesus would have failed to keep the Mosaic Covenant, which were in effect until Jesus death.

Some people imagine that the rich man of Matt 19:16-24 is indicative of rich people in general, and that this discourse between Jesus and the rich man somehow demonstrates that rich people are more sinful and evil than non-rich people, and/or their riches make it near impossible for them to get into Heaven. This is not at all the lesson Jesus is teaching.

Matt 19:16-22
And behold, one came to Him and said, "Teacher, what good thing shall I do that I may obtain eternal life?"

And He said to him, "Why are you asking Me about what is good? There is only One who is good; but if you wish to enter into life, keep the commandments."

He said to Him, "Which ones?"

And Jesus said, "You shall not commit murder; You shall not commit adultery; You shall not steal; You shall not bear false witness; Honor your father and mother; and You shall love your neighbor as yourself."

The young man said to Him, "All these things I have kept; what am I still lacking?"

Jesus said to him, "If you wish to be complete, go and sell your possessions and give to the poor, and you shall have treasure in heaven; and come, follow Me."

But when the young man heard this statement, he went away grieved; for he was one who owned much property." NAS

In the category of living a life of decency and goodness, This rich man of Matthew 19 is in the top one percentile of all people who ever been born on earth up to that time. His riches afford him easy opportunity to break the commandments in pursuit of Power, Wealth or Pleasure. Even more telling about this man's character is that he chooses to come to the light (Jesus). As it is written:

John 3:19-21
"This is the judgment, that the Light has come into the world, and men loved the darkness rather than the Light, for their deeds were evil. For everyone who does evil hates the Light, and does not come to the Light for fear that his deeds will be exposed. But he who practices the truth comes to the Light, so that his deeds may be manifested as having been wrought in God." NASU

But this rich man did not keep ALL the commandments set forth by Moses. Jesus drew out of him that he loved his material possessions more than God, a form of idolatry. The rich man walks away cause he could not bring himself to give up all his wealth. This single violation of the Mosaic Law made it impossible for the rich man to obtain eternal life under the Mosaic Law because he failed to keep the entire Mosaic Law - Every Jot and Title of it.

Jesus is not just addressing this rich man, He is also saying this to all the Jews:

Matt 19:23-24
"And Jesus said to His disciples, "Truly I say to you, it is hard for a rich man to enter the kingdom of heaven. 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."" NAS

Some people stop here and draw the false conclusion that the rich are more sinful in God’s eyes and are less likely to have eternal life. This is not so. But when we read on, we get rather profound context. However-

When the Disciples heard Jesus say this, they did not respond, "well that's really bad news for rich people, good thing we are poor and not rich." Rather, they became worried about their own salvation as they mulled over Jesus words of how this very exceptional decent rich man will never enter the Kingdom of God under the then prevailing Mosaic Law. This is revealed by their response:

Matt 19:25
"When the disciples heard this, they were very astonished and said, "Then who can be saved?"" NAS

Jesus then assures them that they need not worry, that this rich man, and they, can be each saved and attain eternal life, note also that Jesus response addresses all men will not be saved by keeping the Mosaic Law, not just rich people:

Matt 19:26
Jesus said to them, "With men this is impossible, but with God all things are possible." NAS

Thus Jesus makes it very clear that humans cannot do enough to save themselves by the keeping of the Mosaic Law. Jesus answered regarding the rich man's question by pointing out that he will never stop sinning enough or do enough good things to enter the kingdom of God and inherit eternal life. This is not the only time Jesus lets the Jewish people know that they will never be justified by their efforts to keep the Mosaic Law. He lets them know that if anyone has hatred in their heart that they are guilty of breaking the commandment prohibiting murder, and if anyone looks at a married woman with lust, he has already committed adultery with her in his heart. The bible categorically states that none will be saved by their ability to keep the Mosaic Laws.

God knew this even when He gave Moses that Law, before the people had a chance to break that Law, that they would never keep The Law:

"Then YHWH said to Moses, "Behold, the time for you to die is near, call Yeshua, and present yourselves at the tent of meeting so that I may commission him". ... And YHWH said to Moses, "Behold,you are about to lie down with your fathers; and this people will arise and play the harlot with strange gods of the land, into the midst of which they are going, and will forsake me and break My covenant that I have made with them". Deut. 31:14 & 16.

Jesus reiterates this same message to all Jews, who rely on their keeping of the Mosaic Law to obtain eternal life, yet it is that very law that dashes their hopes of eternal life.

Jn 5:39-47
You search the Scriptures because you think that in them you have eternal life; it is these that testify about Me; and you are unwilling to come to Me so that you may have life. I do not receive glory from men; but I know you, that you do not have the love of God in yourselves. … Do not think that I will accuse you before the Father; the one who accuses you is Moses, in whom you have set your hope. For if you believed Moses, you would believe Me, for he wrote about Me. But if you do not believe his writings, how will you believe My words?" NASU

Well, if no one is capable of keeping the Mosaic Law, who then can be saved?

In this exchange with the rich man and the ensuing conversation with His disciples, Jesus hints at the fact that there is another way to enter God's Kingdom and obtain eternal life. It will turn out to be the only REAL way to be saved and have eternal life and life abundantly. But the apostle's do not know about that yet and, though semi-relieved by Jesus last words, they are still concerned about their future. Peter's speaks for their mutual worries on this issue of salvation:

Matt 19:27-30
"Then Peter answered and said to Him, "Behold, we have left everything and followed you; what then will there be for us?"

And Jesus said to them, "Truly I say to you, that you who have followed Me, in the regeneration when the Son of Man will sit on His glorious throne, you also shall sit upon twelve thrones, judging the twelve tribes of Israel. "And everyone who has left houses or brothers or sisters or father or mother or children or farms for My name's sake, shall receive many times as much, and shall inherit eternal life.” NAS

Jesus would later reveal the good news as to how all people, rich or poor, may have eternal life, good life with joy and peace, life abundantly:

John 3:14-18
"As Moses lifted up the serpent in the wilderness, even so must the Son of Man be lifted up; so that whoever believes will in Him have eternal life. For God so loved the world, that He gave His only begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him shall not perish, but have eternal life. For God did not send the Son into the world to judge the world, but that the world might be saved through Him. He who believes in Him is not judged; he who does not believe has been judged already, because he has not believed in the name of the only begotten Son of God."

To be saved and receive eternal life, LIFE ABUNDANTLY gets no easier than this. Just believe Jesus. We are saved by His faith.


John 6:37-40
"All that the Father gives Me will come to Me, and the one who comes to Me I will certainly not cast out. For I have come down from heaven, not to do My own will, but the will of Him who sent Me.

"This is the will of Him who sent Me, that of all that He has given Me I lose nothing, but raise it up on the last day. For this is the will of My Father, that everyone who beholds the Son and believes in Him will have eternal life, and I Myself will raise him up on the last day."

Our salvation can not be any easier than as described in John 6:37-40.

Matt 11:26-30
"Yes, Father, for this way was well-pleasing in Your sight. All things have been handed over to Me by My Father; and no one knows the Son except the Father; nor does anyone know the Father except the Son, and anyone to whom the Son wills to reveal Him.

"Come to Me, all who are weary and heavy-laden, and I will give you rest. Take My yoke upon you and learn from Me, for I am gentle and humble in heart, and YOU WILL FIND REST FOR YOUR SOULS. For My yoke is easy and My burden is light."

_________________
Arthur Biele

Wow, this is great. I've read it 4 or 5 times but I haven't been able to absorb everything. Thank you very much.

Do you have other studies of the text like this? There are SO SO MANY verses that are being taken out of context today, it's unbelievable.

Why Jesus’ Words Are In The New Covenant
http://www.kingdomwarriors.com/wordpress/?p=1102

This is not one of those Bill Johnson healer guys who proclaim that if you are not healed of all your diseases, you aren't a christian. Those guys are false teacher who want to heal because of their egos. They believe they are not regular christians but super christians.

by joliboy11 on 2011/9/16 6:46:36 wrote:

"Why Jesus’ Words Are In The New Covenant
http://www.kingdomwarriors.com/wordpress/?p=1102"

An on target Christian message. I left a note there to provide a little clarification. The 'Good News' Jesus hinted at prior to His death and Resurrection, Jesus openly revealed to His Apostles and disciples after His Resurrection, and they received the indwelling Holy Spirit, whom all Christians receive, by Whom our very nature is transformed to do the good God always desired us to do, God's work in us. We merely need to walk with Him and talk with Him daily, and actuate the changes He makes in us, that we may truly love one another and do the good He created us to do.

_________________
Arthur Biele

Thank yoliboy11,

For making us aware of this site.

Truly,
Elizabeth

Elizabeth.

That website is full of false teaching. I had friends study the same DHT techniques taught by Curry Blake. Emmanuel is clearly a student of those teaching. He is very slippery because the teachings sounds so legit at first.

They essentially believe that since we are sons of God, we should have victory over every disease in our life and if we don't, we are not truly a christian.

I have went out on healing evangelism outreaches with these guys, none of these people are actually healed, they cannot produce one medical document saying they are healed, it's a fraud. At that moment, everyone says they are healed. It's a lot of tricky words also.

_________________
Ron Halverson

Excellent post InTheLight, Ron,

agree on every single point, Paul is clear about that his "my gospel" is identical to "the gospel of our Lord Jesus Christ"

2 Thessalonians 1:7  And to you who are troubled rest with us, when the Lord Jesus shall be revealed from heaven with his mighty angels, In flaming fire taking vengeance on them that know not God, and that obey not the gospel of our Lord Jesus Christ:


and it's always 'faith' that saves, not 'doing' - or as Jesus said:

For had ye believed Moses, ye would have believed me: for he wrote of me. But if ye believe not his writings, how shall ye believe my words? John 5:46

What was missing in order to believe Moses? Faith.

What is missing in order to believe Jesus? Faith.

ARTB writes.........

"Keep in mind that the New Covenant did not come into existence until after Jesus death and Resurrection. When Jesus preached to His fellow Jews, He was under the Mosaic Law. You may not think so, but if Jesus preached the New Covenant to His fellow Jews prior to His death on the cross, Jesus would have failed to keep the Mosaic Covenant, which were in effect until Jesus death."

Jesus preached the Gospel to the Jews, its why He came to them. He preached it on the sermon on the mount and it was radical and the people were astonished and had never heard such things. He preached it when He told them that they must be born again of water and the Spirit, He preached the good news and He did it all prior to the cross. The cross and the ressurection were the proof of His teachings and the culmination of the prophecies about Him. When He said " It is finished,' it indeed was, it was the fulfilment of all things.

Artb writes.........

"To be saved and receive eternal life, LIFE ABUNDANTLY gets no easier than this. Just believe Jesus. We are saved by His faith."

Oh boy, here we go :( The Greek word for " believe," is pist-to-o. This word " believe,' may be the most abused word in the Scriptures. This word implies " to put ones trust in, to commit, to trust' There are millions of people who believe that Jesus is the Son of God, that mental assent to an abstarct truth saves no one. Yet when one commits his life into Jesus's hand, when one trusts Jesus with his eternal soul, puts his life into His hand, then that one is saved. Jesus says it best......

"Mat 16:24 Then said Jesus unto his disciples, If any man will come after me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross, and follow me.
Mat 16:25 For whosoever will save his life shall lose it: and whosoever will lose his life for my sake shall find it.

This verse is not talking about martyrdom ( although many who heard it would be martyred) Jesus was talking about giving up your life, your old man, dying to who you were and becoming a new creature in Christ. Listen to Jesus flesh this teaching out with examples........

"Luk 14:26 If any man come to me, and hate not his father, and mother, and wife, and children, and brethren, and sisters, yea, and his own life also, he cannot be my disciple.
Luk 14:27 And whosoever doth not bear his cross, and come after me, cannot be my disciple.
Luk 14:28 For which of you, intending to build a tower, sitteth not down first, and counteth the cost, whether he have sufficient to finish it?
Luk 14:29 Lest haply, after he hath laid the foundation, and is not able to finish it, all that behold it begin to mock him,
Luk 14:30 Saying, This man began to build, and was not able to finish.
Luk 14:31 Or what king, going to make war against another king, sitteth not down first, and consulteth whether he be able with ten thousand to meet him that cometh against him with twenty thousand?
Luk 14:32 Or else, while the other is yet a great way off, he sendeth an ambassage, and desireth conditions of peace.
Luk 14:33 So likewise, whosoever he be of you that forsaketh not all that he hath, he cannot be my disciple.

People who do not count the cost, people who are not willing to "lose their lives,' cannot and will not become disciples, oh they will start of but they will not finish and they become a mockery and there we have much of professing Christendom, half finished towers and defeated in battle after battle.

As for the money part of this teaching, the Scriptures make it plain, the love or the desire for wealth is the root of all evil, those who desire to be rich are run through with multiple troubles. There are and have always been two great worries for mankind, no matter where you are from. health and wealth. Whether its how much money you have or how many pigs you own or whatever the currency, men derive their security in the abundance of their possesions. Health, sickness and disease and death have terrfied mankind always. Witchdoctors and charlatans have prospered for thousands of years because of this. Some things never change. Yet, in Christ, whether rich or poor, sickness or health, we know that our Saviour never leaves us nor forsakes us. Christians can rejoice in the deepest dungeons or sit down to a feast and rejoice at the abundance the Lord has provided, but whatever the state, the genuine man or woman of God will be content. Peace and contentment, freedom from anxiety, these are the things that all men seek, and some have found in Christ. This is the Gospel of Christ. Why spend one minute being anxious, much rather consider the lillies of the field for they neither toil nor spin, do they brothers and sisters? yet Solomon in all his glory was not arrayed in such splendor as the grass of the field which is here today and gone tomorrow. We cannot add one inch to our height, therefore we simply trust in God who knows that we have needs. Its simple, its beautiful and its not complicated.......brother Frank