A Threefold Failure

A THREEFOLD FAILURE

Mark 10:17-27

The rich young ruler; a man with NO PEACE in his heart.

A man who had failed to win favor with God

His Religion had failed to give him peace with God

His Riches had failed to give him peace in his heart

His Righteousness had failed to give him peace of mind

This young man came face to face with Jesus:

1. The Savior

2. The Prince of peace

3. The creator of all things

Yet he went away confused, wondering and sorrowful.

He knew he would one day face God’s wrath.

I. THE FAILURE OF SELF-RIGHTEOUSNESS (19-20)

A. He knew the commandments

B. He was a “ruler” of the synagogue (Luke 18:18)

C. He probably thinking “I’m a good guy”

D. He was measuring himself by the other people

E. Notice Jesus drawing him out in (v.18)

1. Did he believe Jesus was God?

2. Jesus actually confirms His deity

3. “there is none good but one, that is, God .

II. THE FAILURE OF SELF-SATISFACTION (20)

A. His partial obedience didn’t satisfy himself

1. He knew he “lacked” something.

2. He didn’t have peace with God

3. He failed to realize, we don’t set the standard.

4. He failed to see, Jesus is the standard.

B. His partial obedience didn’t satisfy God

1. Jesus tried to help him see he couldn’t satisfy God

2. Jesus tried to help him see his sin (v.21)

3. Jesus tried to point him to faith (v.21)

C. His earthly satisfaction didn’t bring Heavenly peace

D. We might satisfy ourselves and still fail God

III. THE FAILURE OF SELF-EFFORT (22)

A. (Isa. 64:6) all our righteousnesses are as filthy rags

B. (Rom. 3:12) there is none that doeth good, no, not one.

C. In all his efforts to keep the Law, he failed to realize the Law was never intended to keep him.

1. (Rom. 3:19) Now we know that what things soever the law saith, it saith to them who are under the law: that every mouth may be stopped, and all the world may become guilty before God.

2. (Rom. 3:20) Therefore by the deeds of the law there shall no flesh be justified in his sight: for by the law is the knowledge of sin.

D. Notice how he came to Jesus Vs. how he left:

1. He came with his pride; he left prideful

2. He came with his efforts; he left wondering

3. He came with his questions; he left lost

Conclusion:

There was once a little boy who excitedly told his mom that he had just measured himself and he was six feet tall.

Mom was a little skeptical, so she asked him to measure himself again while she watched.

She discovered the problem when the boy took out not a 12-inch, but a 6-inch ruler.

He had calculated well: he was six-ruler-heights tall – he just had the wrong ruler, the wrong standard

Are you a pretty good person ?

How do you measure up compared to Jesus ?

How would you feel to realize you’ve been using the wrong standard ?

( John 14:6) Jesus saith unto him, I am the way, the truth, and the life: no man cometh unto the Father, but by me.