The Question

What must I do to receive eternal life?” (Luke 10:25) That’s what the man asked Jesus.

What he really wants to know is: What are the instructions? What do I have to do? What do I have to put in to get the outcome I want? It’s a vending machine mindset – put in the money, push the buttons, get the candy bar.

I don’t know this man, but I imagine he was a bare-minimum, letter-of-the-law kind of guy. Like the Pharisees who made a big show of their offerings, or of their prayers, or who used tithing as their excuse not to support their aging parents. We can rely too heavily on our own right living, only to find that it fails us – it can’t protect us from the trials of life and it isn’t enough to cover our debts when we come before a holy God.

Jesus essentially responds to the man’s question: “You know the Law. What do you think it says?” The man answers from the textbook, “Love the Lord your God with all your heart, all your soul, all your strength, and all your mind. And love your neighbor as yourself.” Jesus says, “Gold star! Do it and you’re in.”

Then we see the man’s heart clearly – the Bible says “the man wanted to justify his actions” (Luke 10:29).

But that’s not how it works. The Bible clearly says “salvation is not a reward for the good things we have done” (Ephesians 2:9). To justify is to declare right, to line up, to show something is satisfactory. We are only justified by grace through faith. It’s a gift that comes through the conduit of belief.  It’s the only way. Keeping the rules was never going to be enough.

I want you to know God; that’s more important than burnt offerings.  Hosea 6:6

The man in front of Jesus probably looked pretty good on the outside or he wouldn’t have invited public scrutiny. He was pretty confident he’d followed all the rules.  He’d given all the correct offerings.  He just wanted confirmation that his right living was good enough for God.

If you think you have what it takes, you don’t need a Savior.  And if you don’t need a Savior, you have no use for Jesus. 

The heart that knows it’s empty-handed recognizes its deep offense against God and the weight of His impending judgment, and cries out: How can I be saved? How can someone like me – someone who has done the things I’ve done, who is of no account, who isn’t flashy or educated or wealthy – how can someone like me have any hope? How can I be rescued?

We need a Savior.  With a Savior comes forgiveness and freedom. Freedom from our old sins. Freedom from our old habits and empty way of life. Freedom from trying to follow the rules, do enough good, or be good enough. If we know we need a Savior, it means we recognize we can’t do it on our own. The key to our salvation is to believe that Jesus is the Son of God, and that He will save us from what really robs us of life – not death, but sin.

Then God our Savior showed us his kindness and love. He saved us, not because of the good things we did, but because of his mercy. He washed away our sins and gave us a new life through the Holy Spirit. He generously poured out the Spirit upon us because of what Jesus Christ our Savior did. He declared us not guilty because of his great kindness. And now we know that we will inherit eternal life.  Titus 3:4-7

There is hope. Not because of any good we have done. Not because the bad we’ve done isn’t too bad. There is hope because of God’s mercy and kindness. There is hope because there is a Savior.