Approaching Christ (Part A)

Unbroken witness from Adam to the future Genesis to Revelation packs for 12 more is there salvation in any other, for there is no other name under heaven given among men by which we must be saved is only through Jesus Christ. So after this finite life. There is an afterlife but will it be eternal life or eternal existence or will it be eternal life that is up to the individual. This is cross reference radio with our pastor and teacher Rick Gaston. Rick is the pastor of Calvary Chapel Mechanicsville. Pastor Rick is currently teaching through the book of Mark, please stay with us after today's message to hear more information about cross reference radio, specifically how you can get a free copy of this teaching today. Pastor Rick will begin a brand-new study called approaching Christ in Mark chapter 10 Mark's gospel chapter 10 versus 13 to 31. Then they brought little children to him that he might touch them, but the disciples rebuked those who brought them but when Jesus sought he was greatly displeased and said to them, let the little children come to me do not forbid them for of such is the kingdom of God. Assuredly, I say to you, whoever does not receive the kingdom of God as a little child will by no means enter it and he took them up in his arms, laid his hands on them and bless them now as he was going out on the road, one came running, knelt before him and asked good teacher, what shall I do that I may inherit eternal life. So Jesus said to him what you call me good, no one is good but one, that is God. You know the commandments, do not commit adultery, do not murder. Do not steal, do not bear false witness, do not defraud, honor your father and your mother answered and said to him, teacher, all these things I have kept from my youth.

Then Jesus looking at him, loved him and said to him, one thing you lack go your way, sell whatever you have and give to the poor, and you will have treasure in heaven and come, take up the cross and follow me. But he was sad at this word went away sorrowful, for he had great possessions. Then Jesus looked around and said to his disciples how hard it is for those who have riches to enter the kingdom of God and the disciples were astonished at his words. But Jesus answered again and said to them, children, how hard it is for those who trust in riches to enter the kingdom of God.

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. They were greatly astonished, saying among themselves, who then can be saved. But Jesus looked at them and said with men it is impossible, but not with God, but with God all things are possible. Then Peter began to say to him see we have left all and followed use.

Jesus answered and said assuredly, I say to you, there is no one who has left house or brothers or sisters or father or mother or wife or children or lands, for my sake and the Gospels, who shall not receive a hundredfold now in this time, houses and brothers and sisters and mothers and children and lands in with persecutions in the age to come eternal life.

But many who are first will be last. The last first approaching Christ.

That's what we are considering this morning because there are two approaches to him.

The mother's with the infants and there of course is the rich young ruler and the mothers of course, had come to have the children blessed that he would touch them and bless them, which he did and the young man of great wealth and authority came to have his dedication confirmed now in verse 13 and they brought the little children to him that he might touch them, but the disciples rebuked those who brought them this they brought the little children to him.

Part well. This follows, of course, the teachings on divorce and all of the Gospels that give account. The record of these exchanges. A family is to be protected. That is the idea. The word little children in the Greek indicates that they were infants and toddlers. It says here in verse 13, but Jesus route, but the disciples rebuked those who brought them. They tended to be a wee bit overprotective sometimes there other times that Jesus certainly benefited from their being protective of the crowds coming to him previously. They forbade an outsider from casting out demons because he wasn't part of their group just gave a lesson on that later Greeks will come to speak to Jesus, but they have to go to the apostles and so they approach Philip and say Sir, we wish to see Jesus and versus the case Bill goes to Andrew and Andrew, of course, goes to the Lord and so this day we can't be too hard on them. They had a job to do, but sometimes they overdid it. Sounds like us. Sometimes we can be as zealous to a fault, so he certainly addresses this with them.

Verse 14 but when Jesus thought he was greatly displeased and said to them, let the little children come to me and do not forbid them for of such is the kingdom of God. When Jesus saw it, well, he was going let this have a passive no way these mothers come a lot my part. My child is to be just think it's bless him and his disciples are not now bola go away.

Maybe later. And of course Christ sees this and he pounces on it is not going let this go now. Unfortunately I've gotta pause here. This is not about sitting in the adult service of the church people of do that.

I think it's very unfortunate and kinda mean sometimes, but this is about bringing the child to the knowledge of Christ in every parent need to take heed that if you are not bringing your child to Christ, God's got a problem with you. It's been one to and of course we have the children service where they can receive Christ on their level and it is quite meaningful. That way, children's ministry of Jesus is no more here in the sanctuary than he is in the children's area is just as much.

He's not a well you know you get 90% of him. If you come in the sanctuary was the only level 10% in the children's measure unless of course, ridiculous, and so they bring the children to him. The disciples thought that Jesus was too important to be bothered with the small children and Jesus bought the that the children were too important to not be brought to him and so this is straightened out.

But this common here of such is the kingdom of God within this statement he extends salvation to the young and the impaired within this statement.

Those who cannot exercise faith.

Maybe they have a handicap mentally meant mentally to just not able to exercise faith. God knows how to deal with that in a very wonderful way. He's not saying that these little ones deserve heaven. No one deserves heaven. They are sinners to their born in sin, but they have not again not had a chance to exercise faith in Genesis God says this Abraham says this to God.

Far be it from you to do such a thing as this to slay the righteous with the wicked, so that the righteous should be as the wicked far be it from you shall not the judge of all the earth do right which God would respond.

You got that right, Abraham, that's right, I always do right and so those that the children that die before they are to get a chance to live with a die before their born or maybe there have a handicap along the way God covers this. These will be in heaven is quite remarkable. He knows what he's doing and we by faith know that he knows what he is doing and so not that again they are free from inherited sin and inherited sin. Sin from Adam. We all have that but that they are not directly accountable as we who can exercise. Of course, free will and way that they could not. This is the case and shown a chapter for the last verse of Jonah God speaking to the prophet rebuking him and encouraging him at the same time he says should I not pitting men of that great city in which no more than 120,000 persons who cannot discern between the right hand and the left.

Scott is saying there's a lot of little children from down right from left. Should I not have mercy on them to and he leaves it at that. Look at that was thank you Lord for your mercy, because also God of mom as much as he loves the children he does not stop loving the children as one that child becomes old.

Love does not diminish. So no matter how old you are, God loves you as much then as he did in the beginning effect Isaiah points that out God's thing.

I will not forsake you. I will still be with you. Thank God for that verse 15. Surely, I say to you, whoever does not receive the kingdom of God as a little child will by no means enter it.

This is now about the adult he is using the children as an object lesson, you could say this is about salvation.

He will then deal with serving when he gets to the rich young ruler, but you cannot receive God's blessings in this life and the benefits after this life. If you do not yield to God as these little children yield. This is what is coming out. The child is used to illustrate this point.

Infants and toddlers. They are really without active resistance. This is what distinguishes them from everybody else. They are not independent. They are totally dependent.

God is saying that's what I want from the center that comes to me. I want that sinner to depend on me as though they were this little infant is little toddler in either parent infants don't fight, they don't. They really don't resist not intentionally.

They don't hate good, they don't hate. They are not at war with God, and they are not at war with Mandisa characteristics that he is pointing us to be like to scan and it would make you say what is it about the job. I can't be cute again so that cannot be it says, for such is the kingdom of God. Those not at war with God.

Not at war with man those who are not hating those who are not resisting those who are not writing those of the ones that enter the kingdom of God and yet we understand Lord when I come to you. I line up with all those things in my spirit what my flesh does not cooperate in their courses. The story of the battle between the spirit and the flesh is as dealt with very much in Paul's letters first 16 now and he took them up in his arms, laid his hands on them and bless them. This is prophetic. This is a prophetic signature that this is Messiah you you couple this action with his miracles and his teachings and his virtuous life and the surrounding all the witnesses to the said this man is the only man we know that is lining up with what the prophet said Messiah would be nobody else can do these things. Isaiah chapter 40 verse 11, he will feed his flock like a shepherd. He will gather the lambs with his arm and carry them in his bosom and gently lead those who are with young and we see him doing this right here in this chapter is dealing with everybody else and little children. The parities dealing with the maulers as sheep and lambs is loving on them. Whatever happened to these little children. What did they grow up to be what will never know that this life, but it is a very important question to those who hear that question asked about them you in the in the church. Children that are brought up in the church. Christ is laid his hands on you when you hear the word of God preached in the New Testament act out around you crisis drawing you up in his arms. What's gonna happen to you.

Are you going to continue and raise your children to love the kingdom to worship the King, or are you going to fall away. And this is a question again that you should ask yourselves what am I going to do with this Bible knowledge. I don't have to go out into the world and learn what wrong is to appreciate what God says, I can appreciate what God says to avoid what wrong is. So what are you going to do ball is in your court as we would say verse 17 now as he was going out on the road, one came running, knelt before him and ask him good teacher, what shall I do that I may inherit eternal life.

I love this man Christ into and over the years I preached in this section quite a few times. Evidently he was someone of importance at all three of the Gospels ring in on this man and add to the story a little bit here little bit there and he is reverent to Christ, which is remarkable. He's a man of of authority is the young ruler. He probably oversees a synagogue, a Jewish assembly and he is wealthy he is in his 30s and early 30s young ruler, and to be a ruling it have to be over 30.

Matthew tells us that he was young and at this time. In Christ ministry hostility from the Jewish authorities was on the increase so for him to publicly display this reverence was was impressive is eager about it the right prices leaving the city, runs up in front of them.

I guess in front of him and kneels down and shows this great respect now is not yet asked thing all of the Messiah ship and the deity of Christ, did not do with the be careful Christ lived in the days of transition. The church was not yet born, we can we will when we look back we cannot look back lies only after Pentecost, we have to remember they were still Jewish and the church was a foreign concept as we know it now, but evidently this man had been moved by something Jesus said or did bowl he asked him good teacher, what shall I do that I may inherit eternal life, respectful, formal greeting to a religious rabbi teacher of the Jews, and he had material possessions, so he was not seeking material prosperity had that already is coming for spiritual direction is quite upfront with this and unashamed about it and so he should be unashamed about nothing to be ashamed with is nothing shameful about this, but there's a basic era and what he asked the Lord what shall I do that I may inherit typically do not inherit salvation. Of course it is. It is something that is a gift of God and someone's inheritance is something that we received from someone else when they die and so is a little there. Nothing big is it's not something that Christ draws up to something we should be mindful of. We we have this inheritance in Christ because of his death we receive it is nothing we can do these is what can I do to inherit what you don't. Do you receive an inheritance from the one deceased typically can sometimes people put stipulations on it as well. You do this and that we get the money or whatever else it is eternal life he brings up salvation of the soul that is exactly what he is talking about now. Eternal life is more than eternal existence. There's a difference. Everyone will exist eternally. But where where will you what will your ZIP Code be heaven or hell.

This is what it is all about. Of course Christ alone is the way to eternal life rejecting Christ as a way to eternal existence.

The story of CS Lewis walking to the cemetery.

He sees a tombstone that says all dressed up and nowhere to go and Lewis comments to his friends you wish and that is very accurate because there is somewhere you going, you're all dressed up and you are going somewhere through Christ alone. Is there eternal life not more than just existence Romans 623 of verse.

We love to hear the wages of sin is death. Death proves sin, but the gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord.

By faith we receive it by trusting the record that we've that has been handed to us, this unbroken witness from Adam into the future.

From Genesis to Revelation.

Acts 412. Nor is there salvation in any other, for there is no other name under heaven given among men by which we must be saved. It is only through Jesus Christ.

And so after this finite life.

There is an afterlife but will it be eternal life or eternal existence or will it be eternal life that is up to the individual. Verse 18. So Jesus said to him, why do you call me good one is good but one, that is God. Now Christ is not saying don't call me good is just extracting from the man.

The confession was she really doesn't get what the apostles got the question they were in fact they got us so much they recorded it and preserved it, and we have it and it is loaded with insight on the character in the person of Jesus Christ and so what he is saying here why do you call me good he's saying you talking about relative good are you are you saying that I am relatively good relic related to the rabbis and other good men or are you saying I am absolutely good as God Almighty is absolutely good. So which one is it so you can just really Lord throw that out there and him and he doesn't. You know the answer my question you fall he doesn't do anything like that no one is good but one says that is God.

He is not just owning it. He is just bringing this up because how many people do we come across in life it's a lot and I'm a good person.

God's going to let me in heaven. Let's ridiculous. In fact, it's insulting.

It's damning because what you are saying is that God is vicious for allowing Jesus to die such a death on the cross and there was another way all the time. There is no other way is through Christ and they are either arrogant or ignorant all come back to that. Maybe you want to promise you anything to me only accountable, we Christians, we don't want to commit sarcasm a little lighthearted but not entirely. Verse 19. You know the commandments, do not commit adultery, do not murder do not still do not bear false witness, do not defraud, honor your father and your mother. I love that. He says you know that you know the Scripture Chris is that like they don't know the Bible can I type 2% anyway. He Christ is quoting six of the 10 Commandments here he is quoting the second table to Louis with the two tables of the command of the first one is between man and God.

You have no other gods before me know idols remember the Sabbath you lead the don't take a look name in vain.

At the first table between man and God. The second table is between a man and man in the presence of God and that would be these here do not commit adultery, murder, steel bear false witness, defraud, the fraud is an interpretive paraphrase of the Lord on covet, because if you really want something to get that to really get it into to become sin. You have to you know break some rules to bring it about possessed her craftiness and so he gives an interpretive rendering of that and but the heaves of the first four because they were obvious. This man certainly honored the first four commandments first 20 and he answered and said to him, teacher, all these things I have kept from my youth. Now this is important. He says what do I do to inherit eternal life. Jesus tells him what to do and he says I've done that that establishes a fact to me reason why have to say this because most commentators I find are very harsh to this young man that got them in hell you know they think that this is only about the salvation of the soul is much more here than just that. But Christ told him what to do.

He said I did I do that, but then the conversation deepens and it deepens because of the man Christ sort of leaves it at this and leaves it in the man is the one that takes it further. So when he says in verse 20 answered him and said teacher, all these things I have kept from my youth reluctant to deal with his sin. He asked the Lord a question, he got an answer to me doesn't read this was not there's no hostility here that the next verse will bring that out.

Otherwise, otherwise Jesus would've had a good grand omission he would've had a chance to deal with saving the Sultan, ignored doesn't ignore dealt with verse 21 says that Jesus looking at him, loved him and said to him, one thing you lack go your way. So whatever you have and give to the poor you will have treasure in heaven and come and take up the cross and follow me try to summarize this at the end of the comments how helpful to the story how meaningful to you and me that we listen to this. Jesus looking at him, loved him as profound somebody pick that up somebody watching one of the witnesses could see in the face of Christ.

This love just flowing out of him.

To this man. I'm not prepared to say Jesus loved him and then doomed them to help right after that, you know, are you almost had a kid and you got the second question wrong. This is what one commentator said and attending to doom him and I bring this up as if you have study Bibles you probably read that if you need me to correct and put them on my desk and I'll make corrections is what one commentator says he felt Jesus felt great compassion for this sincere truth seeker who was so hopelessly lost. You can only get that out of your Calvin as I get this as God does love the unsaved, yet he does he do something about them being unsaved and I'll open this up a little more.

Now you may disagree with me. It's a cabinet people wrong before and I still love you. You notice one of the perks of having a pulpit, you get to say those kind of things. More often than others in audience were anyway this one thing you lack said after the man said these things that I do now.

Matthew gives us a little bit more information. I mentioned that that that that that that helpful to the story all the witnesses of the other evangelists.

Matthew and in Luke thanks for tuning in to cross reference radio for this study in the book of Mark cross reference radio is the teaching ministry of Pastor Rick Gaston of Calvary Chapel Mechanicsville in Virginia to learn more information about this ministry.

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