WE ARE NEVER GOOD ENOUGH TO MERIT A BLESSING

By Rev. Michael Benson Ajayi
Matt 19:20 NIV  "All these I have kept," the young man said. "What do I still lack?"
                            There are two types of Christianity, (1) the born-again Christianity where a person’s salvation is by grace through faith in Jesus Christ and (2) religious Christianity characterized by external display of man-made religious standards :religious Christianity is devoid of the substance  and the virtues of a saved life namely righteousness, peace and joy in the Holy Ghost (Rom14:17). Followers lack a sense of self worth before God and always need a human mediator to access God's provision. A typical testimony of a religious Christians always says "after i did that God did this" while grace says "I am grateful that God did this all by Himself from the beginning to the end"
        Religious Christianity deprives a person of the one-of-a-kind relationship with God and is driven by fear and guilt .No good work is sufficient to exonerate a man from his sins. Like the rich ruler in Matthew 19:12-21, they lack the confidence and assurance of salvation which is only attained by the inner witnessing of the Holy Ghost; given to those who have received the gift of righteousness by faith in the substitutionary sacrifice of Jesus Christ on the cross (Rom8:16).
           The religious Christian seeks to take credit for his or her salvation by flaunting their  inconsequential religious achievement as shown in the statement of this ruler in Matt 19:20 ‘ All these I have kept," a display of false piety shown  by his manner of approach to Jesus Christ: he addressed Jesus as “Good master” while seeking to reinforce the fact that he deserves salvation through good works. 
         Religion says Jesus is good enough to be called ‘good’ but not God. Meanwhile, a man’s salvation is only guaranteed by the acceptance of Jesus Christ as trustworthy enough to be the saviour, something only God can do. No one can save a man from God’s wrath except God himself. In Matt 19:17 Jesus was indirectly saying: “If God is the only person qualified to be called good then I am He “. Jesus is the Word of God in human flesh (1Tim3:16)just as water may exist as steam,ice however, its chemistry remains the same, likewise Jesus Christ and God the father.
      The account of Abraham’s encounter with God in Genesis 14:19 completely invalidates religion's claim to salvation by carnal works. Abram was declared 'blessed' by God before his circumcision (the symbol of righteousness with God) and since a man cannot be both blessed and a sinner at the same time, it then follows that his sins were not imputed. They were forgiven. He was saved by a saviour . He acknowledged this through his tithing to Melchizedek (Gen14:18-20, Heb7:15-17) an antitype of Jesus Christ.  Apostle Paul throws more light on this in Rom 4:4-6" When people work, their wages are not a gift, but something they have earned. But people are counted as righteous, not because of their work, but because of their faith in God who forgives sinners.  David also spoke of this when he described the happiness of those who are declared righteous without working for it:”(Psalm32:2)
         This rich young ruler wasn't looking for a Savior. He was trying to be his own saviour like most religious folks: they’ll rather choose to obey all the commandments of Moses instead having a saviour. Failing in one of the 613 laws is failing in all (James2:10). No one is saved by observing the laws (Gal2:16). 
   Righteousness is demonstrated in benevolence: Abraham demonstrated this through his tithe and religious folks are too attached to the material world that’s why Jesus told the rich young ruler to sell all he had and give to the poor in a bid to show how selfish, ungodly and unloving religious folks are.
        No man could come unto the Father, but by Jesus Christ (Jn. 14:6).” There is salvation in no one else! God has given no other name under heaven by which we must be saved." Acts 4:12 NIV.Trust Jesus for your salvation now
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