Good Master, what must I do to inherit eternal life?

[Ernest T. Bass]

One day a young ruler came to Jesus and fell on his knees before him. He said, "Good Master, what must I do to inherit eternal life?"

Jesus told him 'if thou wilt enter into life, keep the commandments' and started quoting the 10 commandments; "Do not murder, do not commit adultery, do not steal, do not give false testimony, honor your father and mother."

The young man said he had kept them from the time he was a boy. He had lived a good life. But the Bible says that Jesus looked into the man's heart and saw something that was keeping him from becoming a follower.

Jesus told him that he still lacked one thing, he must sell the things he owned and give the money to the poor. Then he would have treasure in heaven, and he could follow Jesus. The young man's face fell and he went away sad because he had great riches that he would not part with.

So what does this mean to us today, what must we do to inherit eternal life?

The young ruler lived under the OT law which had different requirements than the NT law of Christ we live under today. To inherit eternal life under Christ's NT one must believe (John 8:24) repent (Luke 13:3) confess (Matthew 10:32-33) and be baptized (Mark 16:16).

Even though the OT and NT have differences, the one common denominator between both laws in being saved is obedience to the will of God.

Mark 10:17-21
"Good Master, what shall I do that I may inherit eternal life?"

Jesus did not tell him to do nothing but told him to obey God:
"Thou knowest the commandments, Do not commit adultery, Do not kill, Do not steal, Do not bear false witness, Defraud not, Honour thy father and mother "

Likewise men today must obey God in believing, repenting of sins, confession and submitting to baptism.

Matthew 7:21 "Not every one that saith unto me, Lord, Lord, shall enter into the kingdom of heaven; but he that doeth the will of my Father which is in heaven."

Those that doeth the will of God are ones that will enter the kingdom of heaven.

 

[Prycejosh1987]

So what does this mean to us today, what must we do to inherit eternal life?

Jesus was basically saying, follow the old testament law and follow his law and believe in Jesus. To follow Jesus is to proclaim him as the messiah as all the followers believed this when they followed Jesus. The only way a person should be followed is to believe in that teacher as a man of God and in Jesus case as the chosen one. All the Jews who knew the law knew about a messiah.