Lessons from the Rich Young Ruler

Mark 10:21, Sell…follow me. What Yeshua is telling the young man is this. Get rid of anything in your life that is hindering you from following me. Such is an idol and needs to be removed from your life. In the young man’s case, it was his riches and likely those things that consumed his time and energies to maintain his riches (e.g. caring for his business and investment interests), and which prevented him from pursuing the true spiritual riches. Idols such as riches and materialism make it difficult for a person to enter the kingdom of heaven as Yeshua goes on to say in verses 23–25.

Mark 10:26–27, Who then can be saved? This was a legitimate question of Yeshua’s disciples. But in the next verse, Yeshua seems to imply that YHVH in his sovereignty can save anyone he chooses. If YHVH chooses to save someone, does this violate man’s free will? Not at all. YHVH can pour out his Spirit on anyone he chooses, call them and draw them to himself like an irresistible magnet, so that it’s virtually impossible for the person to refuse YHVH’s love and grace. This being the case, the person still has to choose to follow YHVH, even though the Sovereign Creator makes it all but impossible for a man to resist the call.

 

6 thoughts on “Lessons from the Rich Young Ruler

  1. This is interesting. First, allow me to say that I appreciate your insight and your interpretation of scripture. I often turn to your writings for clarification on scriptures.

    With that being said, this post raises a question. YHVH has clearly stated that it is His will that none perish, but that all have eternal life. If what you are saying is true, and if it is true that it is the will of God that all be saved, then it must be true that YHVH, having the power and authority to save everyone, will undoubtedly pour out His Spirit on everyone, causing them to accept His love and grace.

    Why then does He not do that?

    • The Bible doesn’t teach universal salvation. It is the Father’s will that all be saved, and he calls many people, but it’s up to people of their own freewill to choose to follow him. Many will not. They will be destroyed into the lake of fire.

      There is NO scripture in the Bible that says all humans will be saved. If that were true, then the Bible and Yeshua lie when they talks about the wicked being destroyed in the lake of fire.

      • Yes. I agree that there is no scripture in the Bible that says all humans will be saved. The question centers around the statement that YHVH can, “pour out his Spirit on anyone he chooses, call them and draw them to himself like an irresistible magnet, so that it’s virtually impossible for the person to refuse YHVH’s love and grace.”

        If this is true, then why does He not do that? If He chooses to do this, everyone would be lost, because, as you state, no one would be able to resist his magnetic influence.

  2. Grieving the Spirit is what pours the Spirit out on the ground and wastes it. The vessels that choose destruction waste what was poured on them at the many times in their lives that God blessed them with the draught from Heaven which is life itself. Despisers of grace abound. So it is the person that does NOT despise even though they struggle that has the “correct polarity” for being drawn to the Spirit’s desire for that person’s life. That polarity is agreement with God being the Creator and having the perfect right to choose our path as we surrender our vessel to His direction.

    Blessings to all. FJ

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