None does good, no not one. Romans 3:12, Psalm 14:3
All have sinned and fallen short of the glory of God. Romans 3:23
We are all like sheep; we’ve gone astray: everyone has turned to his own way. Isaiah 53:6
I’m reminded of the story of “The Rich Young Ruler,” recorded in Matthew 19:16-26, Mark 10:17-27 and Luke 18:18-27. (The following story integrates the three gospel accounts.)
A certain ruler came running and kneeled to Jesus and asked him,
“GOOD Master, what must I do to receive eternal life?”
Matthew words it differently, “GOOD Master, what GOOD THING must I do that I may inherit eternal life?”
“Why do you call me good? There is none good but one, that is, God,” Jesus answered.
Jesus may seem a little off-topic with this first statement. But even in this first observation, he is answering the very heart of the ruler’s question.
What can I DO to earn my entrance into heaven?
What can I DO to be good enough to enter heaven?
None of us are good. There is no GOOD THING that WE can DO that makes us worthy to enter Heaven.
There is none that does good, no not one. Romans 3:12, Psalm 14:3
The rich young ruler’s question focused on DO. It focused on ACTION.
What can I DO?
But the question also focused on “I.”
What can IIIIII do? How can IIIIII get to Heaven by my own power, my strength, my control? What can IIIIII do to earn it, deserve it?
There is no good thing that WE can DO that makes us worthy to enter Heaven.
Jesus had already answered the man’s question. He could have stopped there. But, he didn’t leave this man wondering why he focused on the title used to greet him and ignored the real question. So, Jesus got personal. He talked specifically about this young ruler’s life.
“If you would enter into eternal life, keep the commandments.
You know them. (Exodus 20)
Do not commit adultery. (7th)
Do not kill. (6th)
Do not steal. (8th)
Do not bear false witness. (9th)
Do not defraud/cheat. (Leviticus 19:13)
Honor you father and mother.” (5th)
In each record of this encounter, Jesus mentioned the commandments that concern our actions in our relationships with mankind.
The young man said to Jesus, “I have kept all these things from my youth.”
Jesus didn’t correct the young man.
These commandments that Jesus mentioned are the ones most of us focus on when we ponder whether we’re a “good” person.
These are the action commandments. Breaking these commandments means we do something that’s wrong. We treat others badly.
Is it possible to keep those commandments? Yes, it is possible.
The Bible tells of a few who were “upright in all their ways (actions).”
Does that mean they weren’t sinners? No, it doesn’t.
This story is in the Bible for a reason.
It answers this question for all of us as we consider our own sin.
On the surface, we may appear to be “good,” but don’t be fooled.
Treating others well, fairly, considerately doesn’t mean we are without sin.
The rich young ruler probably believed he was good. Had he come wanting Jesus to tell him that he was good? Or did he realize something was missing? Did he wonder why he didn’t “feel” good when he had tried to be good all his life?
This story highlights the fact that we are still sinful even bough we don’t behave badly.
Let me clarify that statement. Doing bad is only one way we sin. There is more than one way we sin. There are three ways we sin.
The young man asked Jesus, “What do I still lack?”
Jesus answered, “If you would be perfect, go and sell what you have and give to the poor, then you will have treasure in heaven. Then come, take up the cross, and follow me.
When the young man heard this, he went away sorrowful, because he had great possessions.
When Jesus saw that he was very sorrowful, he said (to his disciples, “How hard it is for those who have riches to enter into the kingdom of God!”
The disciples were astonished at his words.
Jesus clarified his statement, “How hard it is for those who TRUST IN RICHES to enter into the kingdom of God!”
Although the actions of the rich young ruler did not demonstrate a sinful nature, he had sin in his heart. He loved his possessions and trusted in his riches instead of trusting in God.
We have all sinned.
THREE WAYS WE SIN
1. SINS OF COMMISSION – Doing something that God doesn’t want us to do.
These are action sins. These are the sins that most of us think about when we try to decide if we have sinned. The presence of these sins is what we see in the lives of others when we decide they are bad people. The absence of these sins is what we consider when we decide we are a good person.
2. SINS OF OMISSION - Not doing something that God wants us to do.
These sins result from lack of action.
—To him who knows to do good and doesn’t do it, to him it is sin. James 4:17
3. SINS OF THE HEART – Doing something “in your heart” that God doesn’t want you to do… in your thoughts, your imagination, your fantasies.
- Don’t have any other gods before me. (1st commandment)
- Don’t covet what your neighbor has: his house, his wife, his servants, his animals, or anything that belongs to your neighbor. (10th commandment)
- Jesus said, “Whoever looks on a woman with lust has already committed adultery with her in his heart.” Matthew 5:28
- Whoever hates his brother is a murderer… 1 John 3:15
- The heart is deceitful above all things and desperately wicked, who can know it? Jeremiah 17:9
On another occasion:
A scribe asked Jesus, “Which is the greatest commandment?”
— Love the Lord your God with all your heart, soul, mind and strength. This is the first and greatest commandment.
—The second is like it, love your neighbor as yourself.
There is no other commandment greater than these. On these two hang all the law and the prophets. (paraphrased from Matthew 22:37-40 and Mark 12:29-31)
Here, Jesus summarized the Ten Commandments.
Relationship with God – Commandments 1-4
Relationship with mankind – Commandments 5-10
Not by considering just the actions but also the spirit of the heart.
Knowing also that the heart attitude is demonstrated in actions, and that brings us full-circle back to the sins of commission and omission.
What can you do about your sin problem?
Admit you are a sinner.
Confess with your mouth that Jesus is Lord.
Believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead.
And you will be saved. Romans 10:9
Whoever calls on the name of the Lord will be saved. Romans 10:13
