Being Good Isn't Good Enough
January 24, 2021 Morning Service
Immanuel Baptist Church, Wagoner, OK
Rick Boyne
Message Point: We cannot rely on our good deeds to make us right with God.
Focus Passage: Mark 10:17-22
Supplemental Passage: For by grace you have been saved through faith; and that not of yourselves, it is the gift of God; not as a result of works, so that no one may boast. (Ephesians 2:8-9 NASB)
Introduction: Watchman Nee relates a story from one of his experiences as a Christian leader in China. A group of young Christian brothers were gathered together to take a swim in one of the many creeks that run throughout the countryside there. Since most were not good swimmers they were careful to remain close to the banks so as not to get in water over their head.
One of the brothers got out a little too far and begin to struggle in the deep water. Realizing his predicament he began to cry out to his neighbors, who by now were out of the water and drying off. "Help! Save me!" he yelled, all the while thrashing his arms and legs in a futile attempt to keep his head above water.
Brother Nee knew that only one man was experienced enough at swimming to provide some assistance, and he turned to him for help. But strangely enough, the would-be rescuer calmly watched the man's plight but made no move to save him. "Why don't you do something?" they all screamed in unison. But the man just stood there apparently unconcerned.
After a few moments the drowning man could stay afloat no more. His arms and legs grew tired and limp and he began to sink underwater. Now the slow-moving lifeguard dove into the creek, and with a few quick strokes reached the victim and pulled him to safety.
Once all was well, Brother Nee was beside himself. "How could you stand by and watch your brother drown, ignoring his cries for help and prolonging his suffering?"
But the man calmly explained. "If I were to jump in immediately and try to save a drowning man, he would clutch me in panic and pull me under with him. In order to be saved, he must come to the end of himself, and cease struggling, cease trying to save himself. Only then can he be helped."
The spiritual lesson here is hard to miss. Nee concluded, and we also conclude, that just as a drowning man cannot be saved until he stops struggling, so must all who would be saved by Christ. When we come to the end of ourselves, then God is able to rescue us. [https://www.sermoncentral.com/sermon-illustrations/83580/self-sufficient-by-davon-huss]
I. The Question
a. The man came to Jesus wanting to be justified
i. He was wealthy
ii. He was good in his own mind
iii. He may have thought he had the whole package
b. He came in both humility and flattery
i. in humility, he knelt before Jesus
ii. with flattery, he called Jesus Good
c. He wanted to know what he could DO to get to Heaven
i. That question keeps getting asked, even though Jesus has answered it.
II. The Conversation
a. He asked a simple question, but Jesus used his very question to get to an answer
b. Jesus told him that he already knew what Scripture said and numbered off a few
c. The man replied that he already did all that
d. Vs 21 – Jesus looked at him. Or did He really look INSIDE him?
e. Jesus said that there was one thing he was lacking then; to sell all his stuff and give it all away and to follow Him
i. Jesus saw that he loved his wealth including his possessions. He proved to love them more than he loved God or even desired eternal life.
ii. Jesus called him out on his self-righteous idolatry
III. The Reaction
a. Upon Jesus’ answer, the man reacted as though Jesus had hit him with His fist
b. He was taken aback, shocked at His answer
c. When he realized exactly what Jesus was saying, he actually left in grief
i. The man’s face clouded over. This was the last thing he expected to hear, and he walked off with a heavy heart. He was holding on tight to a lot of things, and not about to let go. (Vs 22, The Message)
Application/Invitation: The question that the young man asked, “What must I do” is a question that is asked over and over and over. The world tells us many things to “do,” such as, be good, go to church, be baptized, give money away, do more good than you do bad, etc. But Jesus confronts this head on by talking about being good. Doing good isn’t good enough to get you to Heaven. So, is the answer to sell all your possessions, give the money to the poor and follow Him? For you, it may not be your possessions. It IS, however, what you consider to be more important than God or whatever you are unwilling to give up, or in different terms, idolize or even worship. We are called to unconditional total surrender. Not surrender what we feel like giving up or only give up when it’s convenient. The Bible says, “For by grace you have been saved through faith; and that not of yourselves, it is the gift of God; not as a result of works, so that no one may boast.” (Ephesians 2:8-9 NASB) Jesus says “ Jesus told him, “I am the way, the truth, and the life. No one can come to the Father except through me.” (John 14:6 NLT) The Bible says “that if you confess with your mouth Jesus as Lord, and believe in your heart that God raised Him from the dead, you will be saved; for with the heart a person believes, resulting in righteousness, and with the mouth he confesses, resulting in salvation.” (Romans 10:9-10 NASB)
