What Is Jesus Christ's Message To Us In Luke 18:18-30?

Often, when sharing with others, in person or in writing, we often are asked questions and do not really know the motive behind those questions. Is this person a believer and truly seeking to better understand God's Word? Or, is this person a non-believer and only trying to lure us into a "Gotcha!" situation?

Regardless, the best way to respond is with the best Biblical answer we have, in Christian love, and with the intent of pointing this person toward Jesus Christ -- or helping a fellow believer become closer to Jesus Christ. I pray that I was effective in doing this in my response to my Times Daily Religion Forum Friend, Blue.

If you find this useful, please feel free to share it with your Friends, Relatives, Associates, and Neighbors -- all your FRANs. Let's keep sharing the Word of God in love, keep sharing the Gospel of Jesus Christ -- until He returns.

God bless, have a wonderful, blessed day,

Bill Gray

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Hi to all my Forum Friends,

In the discussion begun by Blue titled "So Much Controversy, I Am Right, Your Wrong, Your Right, I Am Wrong" -- Blue and I have sort of a running dialogue. In an earlier post, Blue wrote, "Guess we won't know until we are gone, for me I believe in CHRIST, what have I got to lose, I will take my chances on HIM."

And, I replied, "Hi Blue, From your statement, it sounds more like you have bought a lottery ticket. Question: Do you have a saving, personal relationship with Jesus Christ?

To this, you respond, "Bill, you know I don't play the lottery and the casinos don't pay 98% more like 5% on them machines."

Blue, I am not sure I really understand your response. We both know that I was not talking about literally playing the Lottery -- but, that you seem to be approaching Jesus Christ and salvation as though you are just placing a "win, place, or show" race track bet on Him -- just in case. That is not the meaning of Ephesians 2:8-9, which tells us, "By grace you are saved through faith" -- faith in Jesus Christ -- not, "Let's place a bet and see what happens."

Next, you say, "Then again one who stands on a ball field does not make them a ball player, no more than one who attends a church makes them a Christian."

So true. One is not saved by attending church; nor is one saved because of the church he attends. We are saved ONLY by having a personal, saving relationship with Jesus Christ. And, that is why I asked you, "Do you have a saving, personal relationship with Jesus Christ?"

Then, you tell me, "I have read the Bible through and through from the beginning to the end seven times, read the Koran once, have not tried reading the Zoroastrian Bible yet."

Reading the Bible through a thousand times will not make a person a Christian believer; it will just give him strained eyes. And, yes, you may have read the Qur'an and other holy books from various world religions; but, that is not the point.

It all goes back to the question I asked you in my earlier post, "Do you have Him in your heart, spiritually -- not in your head, intellectually?"

The scholars who make up the Jesus Seminar intellectually know the Bible; most of them are professors, Bible scholars, and theologians. However, from the "fruit" or, more appropriately, "lack of fruit," we can see in their work -- personally, I would not want to be any of them when it is time to stand before Jesus Christ in judgment.

These so called scholars have publicly denied about 95% of what the Bible, the Written Word of God, tells us that Jesus said and did during His earthly ministry. Yes, these guys have intellectual knowledge of Biblical writings -- but, they have no spiritual knowledge of Jesus Christ.

Blue, do not be like those intellectual know-nothings. It is better to read and spiritually know God's Word once -- than to read it a thousand times and only know it only intellectually. That is why I asked you, "Do you have Him in your heart, spiritually -- not in your head, intellectually?"

Finally, you suggest, "Bill, go read St. Luke Chapter 18 verses 22-30."

The passage you are suggesting in Luke 18:22-30 is the story of the Rich Young Ruler:

Luke 18:18-21, Now a certain ruler asked Him, saying, "Good Teacher, what shall I do to inherit eternal life?" So Jesus said to him, "Why do you call Me good? No one is good but One, that is, God. You know the commandments: 'Do not commit adultery,' 'Do not murder,' 'Do not steal,' 'Do not bear false witness,' 'Honor your father and your mother.'!" And he said, "All these things I have kept from my youth."

Luke 18:22-25, So when Jesus heard these things, He said to him, "You still lack one thing. Sell all that you have and distribute to the poor, and you will have treasure in heaven; and come, follow Me." But when he heard this, he became very sorrowful, for he was very rich. And when Jesus saw that he became very sorrowful, He said, "How hard it is for those who have riches to enter the kingdom of God! For it is easier for a camel to go through the eye of a needle than for a rich man to enter the kingdom of God."

Luke 18:26-27, And those who heard it said, "Who then can be saved?" But He said, "The things which are impossible with men are possible with God."

Luke 18:28-30, Then Peter said, "See, we have left all and followed You." So He said to them, "Assuredly, I say to you, there is no one who has left house or parents or brothers or wife or children, for the sake of the kingdom of God, who shall not receive many times more in this present time, and in the age to come eternal life."

Blue, I am not quite sure I understand what you are asking in your reference to this passage in Luke 18; but, I will make the assumption that you are implying that just because I write about Biblical issues and beliefs on the Religion Forum -- this does not make me a Christian believer or a Christ Follower. That is very true. I could write volumes about Biblical issues and beliefs -- and still not be a Christian believer.

But, praise God, that is not true. I am a Christ Follower, I am a Christian believer -- because, by the grace of God, through faith in Jesus Christ (Ephesians 2:8) -- I have believed and received (John 1:12) His "free gift" (Ephesians 2:8) of eternal life. And, I have His personal promise on this in John 6:47, "He who believes HAS eternal life" (also in John 3:16, 36, and John 5:24).

But, Blue, we do have proof of your premise in the Jesus Seminar and in stacks of scholarly books written by Bible professors, scholars, and theologians who only know Jesus Christ intellectually.

And, these writings can be harmful to new believers and to those just beginning to seek God. When I was a new believer, I read a book written by a Bible professor from the University of San Diego. Basically, his writings worked to tear down faith in much of the Old Testament writings. He wrote in his book why he believed Moses did not write the first five books of the Bible; he wrote why he believed that the book of Isaiah was written by multiple writers instead of by the single writer.

And, on and on, he systematically ripped apart the Word of God -- and, because he was a "Bible scholar" -- at that stage of my early Christian infancy -- I almost believed what he had written. At that stage of my Christian life -- that could have led me down an entirely different path; not to condemnation; but, to having no "peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ" (Romans 5:1).

This is why I caution Friends -- when you buy and read a Christian book, even a Bible, make sure you know who wrote it, how and why it was written, and to the best of your knowledge, where those writers stand on conservative Christian theology. Let me give you a good example. About fifteen years ago, Dory and I had an older friend we were trying to get to come to church with us. Mary kept dragging her feet; so, I decided to buy her a good study Bible as a gift.

I went to a reliable Christian book store and began to browse the study Bibles. I found one which really looked good. But, then, I looked at the list of contributing writers who had written the study notes. It read like a Who's Who of the "Name It And Claim It" Prosperity Theology preaching crowd. Needless to say, I put that Bible away and found a more appropriate study Bible with a list of contributing study note writers whom I knew to be dependable and who, to the best of my knowledge, believe and teach a solid Christian theology.

But, Blue, to get back to the Scripture passage you recommend, Luke 18:22-30 (better yet, Luke 18:18:30). In this passage Jesus is approached by a rich young ruler (meaning that, in their culture, he was well versed in Old Testament Scripture) who asked what he had to do to gain salvation.

Jesus first referred him to the last six of the Ten Commandments, our relationship with others -- and the ruler declared that he had done this since childhood. Doubtful, since no one can truly live the Ten Commandment without failing -- but, that is not the point Jesus was leading toward.

Next, in Luke 18:22-25, Jesus leads the young ruler to the first four of the Ten Commandments, our relationship with God. Here Jesus tells him to sell and give away all his riches -- and become a Christ Follower. The young ruler could not do this -- for his worldly wealth was his god; just as many of our atheist and secular Friends makes science their god.

And, finally, when asked how a person could do this, Jesus tells them that, "With God all things are possible" (verse 27).

Basically, Jesus is not telling anyone that he must leave his family, leave his job, give away all of his material things to be a Christian believer. What He truly is telling us is that we must place Him first in our lives. What does this mean? Well, how many times have you wanted to watch the Super Bowl or another popular event -- but, it was on during your church worship service? Did you go to church?

How often have folks taken a better paying job, even though it meant having to work on Sundays -- just to gain more material things? It is one thing if your normal job requires you to work on Sunday and there is no way to reschedule. However, to voluntarily take a job that called for Sunday work -- just to make more money -- is not putting Jesus Christ first.

When a friend asks you to go to the beach on Sundays, or go to the Nascar races on Sunday, or to go fishing on Sunday -- where do YOU go on Sunday? This is the teaching that Jesus Christ was giving to the young ruler and to us; not that we have to leave our wife, children, family -- and run away to preach the Gospel.

Wherever we are, whatever we are doing, whoever we are with -- we can always put Jesus Christ first in our lives. And, if we do, we have His promise of greater rewards and eternal life "in the age to come" (Luke 18:30).

Blue, I pray that I have answered your question. If not, let's continue our dialogue.

God bless, have a wonderful, blessed day,

Bill

No Mosque Near Ground Zero!

It has been sixteen years since my mother went home to be with the Lord; yet, her memory is still very fresh and very precious to me. It has been nine years since the Massacre at the World Trade Center; yet, the memory of lost loved ones and of lost fellow Americans is still very fresh and very precious to the families and friends of all those lost on September 11, 2001 -- and to all Americans. These memories not only should be honored, they MUST be honored -- if America is to remain the beacon of hope for the poor and persecuted of the world.

The article below is not written from a Christian's point of view; for Charles Krauthammer of the Washington Post is not a Christian believer. It is written from the point of view of a sensitive, sincere, conservative American who tells us to honor our dead and to not allow their memory to be desecrated.

Read this article, form you own opinion, and then be sure to let your elected leaders, and Mayor Bloomberg, know how you feel.

The White House: http://www.whitehouse.gov/contact

Find your Senators: http://www.senate.gov/general/contact_information/senators_cfm.cfm

Find your Congressman: http://www.house.gov/house/MemberWWW_by_State.shtml

Mayor Bloomberg: http://www.nyc.gov/html/mail/html/mayor.html

Please share this with ALL your Friends, Relatives, Associates, and Neighbors -- all your FRANs. Just as we honor and protect the memory of Gettysburg, Pearl Harbor, Auschwitz, etc. -- let us continue to honor and protect the memory of those lost on September 11, 2001.

No Mosque Near Ground Zero!

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WHY A MOSQUE DOES NOT BELONG NEAR GROUND ZERO
Charles Krauthammer, The Washington Post Writers Group
Published: August 17. 2010 4:00AM PST
http://www.bendbulletin.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20100817/NEWS0107/8170332

A place is made sacred by a widespread belief that it was visited by the miraculous or the transcendent (Lourdes, the Temple Mount), by the presence there once of great nobility and sacrifice (Gettysburg), or by the blood of martyrs and the indescribable suffering of the innocent (Auschwitz).

When we speak of ground zero as hallowed ground, what we mean is that it belongs to those who suffered and died there — and that such ownership obliges us, the living, to preserve the dignity and memory of the place, never allowing it to be forgotten, trivialized, or misappropriated.

That's why Disney's early-'90s proposal to build an American history theme park near Manassas Battlefield was defeated by a broad coalition fearing vulgarization of the Civil War. (The coalition was wiser than me. At the time I obtusely saw little harm in the venture.) It's why the commercial viewing tower built right on the border of Gettysburg was taken down by the Park Service. It's why, while no one objects to Japanese cultural centers, the idea of putting one up at Pearl Harbor would be offensive.

And why Pope John Paul II ordered Carmelite nuns to leave the convent they had established at Auschwitz. He was in no way devaluing their heartfelt mission to pray for the souls of the dead. He was teaching them a lesson in respect: This is not your place, it belongs to others. However pure your voice, better to let silence reign.

Even New York Mayor Michael Bloomberg, who denounced opponents of the proposed 15-story mosque and Islamic center near ground zero as tramplers on religious freedom, asked the mosque organizers "to show some special sensitivity to the situation."

Yet, as columnist Rich Lowry pointedly noted, the government has no business telling churches how to conduct their business, shape their message, or show "special sensitivity" to anyone about anything. Bloomberg was thereby "inadvertently" conceding the claim of those he excoriates for opposing the mosque, namely, that ground zero is indeed unlike any other place and therefore unique criteria govern what can be done there.

Bloomberg's implication is clear: If the proposed mosque were controlled by "insensitive" Islamist radicals either excusing or celebrating 9/11, he would not support its construction.

But then, why not? By the mayor's own expansive view of religious freedom, by what right do we dictate the message of any mosque? Moreover, as a practical matter, there's no guarantee this couldn't happen in the future. Religious institutions in this country are autonomous. Who is to say the mosque won't one day hire an Anwar al-Aulaqi — spiritual mentor to the Fort Hood shooter and the Christmas Day bomber, and onetime imam at the Virginia mosque attended by two of the 9/11 terrorists?

An Aulaqi preaching in Virginia is a security problem. An Aulaqi preaching at ground zero is a sacrilege.

Location matters. Especially this location. Ground zero is the site of the greatest mass murder in American history — perpetrated by Muslims of a particular Islamist orthodoxy in whose cause they died and in whose name they killed.

Of course, that strain represents only a minority of Muslims. Islam is no more intrinsically Islamist than present-day Germany is Nazi — yet despite contemporary Germany's innocence, no German of good will would even think of proposing a German cultural center at, say, Treblinka.

Which makes you wonder about the good will behind Imam Feisal Abdul Rauf's proposal. This is a man who has called U.S. policy "an accessory to the crime" of 9/11 and, when recently asked whether Hamas is a terrorist organization, replied, "I'm not a politician. ... The issue of terrorism is a very complex question."

America is a free country where you can build whatever you want — but not anywhere. That's why we have zoning laws. No liquor store near a school, no strip malls where they offend local sensibilities, and, if your house doesn't meet community architectural codes, you cannot build at all.

These restrictions are for reasons of aesthetics. Others are for more profound reasons of common decency and respect for the sacred. No commercial tower over Gettysburg, no convent at Auschwitz — and no mosque at ground zero.

Build it anywhere but there.

The governor of New York offered to help find land to build the mosque elsewhere. A mosque really seeking to build bridges, Rauf's ostensible hope for the structure, would accept the offer.

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Think about it! Pray about it! Then, do something, contact your leaders!

God bless, have a wonderful, blessed day,

Bill Gray

What Does The Qur'an Say Regarding Infidels?

While we, as Christian believers, are called by our Lord Jesus Christ to love everyone; we must realize that not all people are called by their religions to love us. Though I would never advocate hatred against any person or any group of people; we must be aware that there are a vast number of people in the Muslim world who hate us -- as both Christians and as Americans. This is a fact which will not change until our Lord returns to bring true peace to earth.

On the Religion Forum, my liberal, atheist, secular, and vanilla-flavored non-believer Friends will always challenge me, as a Conservative Christian, on most issues. In this case, it is because I have written that Islam is truly not a "religion of peace." That is not an indictment against all of the people in the Islamic religion; nor is it an indictment against Islam. It is just a statement borne out by the actions of the Islamic nations and the words of the Qur'an.

Yet, we are called to share the Word of God with our Muslim friends -- for many of us have seen faithful witnessing bear fruit in bringing friends out of Islam and into the arms of Jesus Christ. I know that my dear Friend, Pastor Sam Lacanienta, has led several Muslims to Jesus Christ; I have missionary Friends who are working with Muslim communities and I have no doubt there will be fruit from their endeavors.

The best example, to my knowledge, of faithful witnessing bearing great fruit is Dr. Ergun Caner, President and Dean of the Liberty Baptist Theological Seminary and Graduate School, and his brother, Dr. Emir Caner, President of Truett-McConnell College, a Baptist school in Georgia. Both were Sunni Muslims who converted to Christianity as teenagers in high school. These two brothers are great examples of the result of faithful and persistent witnessing. Ergun Caner's teenage high school friend, a Baptist, is responsible for this blessing.

This article is not to knock our Muslim friends; only to respond to questions on the Religion Forum and to present facts which may be helpful to you. Please feel free to share this with your Friends, Relatives, Associates, and Neighbors -- all your FRANs. Let's keep sharing the Word of God and the Gospel of Jesus Christ with all the world -- until He returns.

God bless, have a wonderful, blessed day,

Bill Gray

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Hi to my Forum Friends,

In the discussion I began titled "Reports Say Obama Admitted He's a Muslim" -- Hay responds, "Mostly your information comes from one point of view and is only defended from the sources that give that one point of view. And in the end, what does it matter if Obama is a Muslim? Open your eyes and see that every Muslim isn't a terrorist, they are law abiding citizens just looking to practice their religion beliefs. We don't lump all Christians in with Fred Phelps or the many cults that continually pop up, do we?

You can sit here and say 'my religion is right, you have to be mine' all you want, but in the end, you have no more say about what is correct than anyone else. Just because you grew up a Christian, or were exposed to Christianity (more) than any other religion doesn't mean it is the 'end all, be all' of religions"

Hay, first, I did not grow up a Christian. I wish I had; but, unfortunately, I did not become a Christian believer until I was fifty.

Regarding Islam being a "religion of peace" -- you need to study it a wee bit more. No "religion of peace" will tell its followers to convert all the infidels (by the way, that is you and me) or destroy them.

Then, my Friend, Logical, asks me, "Have you actually read any of the Qur'an?"

Logical, while I do not make a practice of studying the Qur'an, I do have a copy sent to me by CAIR. In recognizing false religions or teachings, I prefer to use the FBI standard on how they recognize false currency. How are they taught to recognize false currency? By studying real currency until they know it like the back of their own hand; then, a false currency will stand out like a sore thumb.

The same with faith; study the Written Word of God, the Bible, until you know it like the back of your hand -- and, then, false religions and teachings will stand out like a sore thumb.

But, back to the Qur'an. In my Qur'an, Surah 9:5, I read, "And so, when the sacred months are over, slay those who ascribe divinity to aught beside God (Allah for them) wherever you may come upon them, and take them captive, and besiege them, and lie in wait for them at every conceivable place. Yet if they repent, and take to prayer (Islamic prayer), and render the purifying dues, let them go their way: for, behold, God (Allah) is much-forgiving, a dispenser of grace." Parenthetical emphasis is mine.

As you can see, when the Qur'an was translated to be distributed by the CAIR, they were careful to use the name God, and not Allah. However, in the online version below, you will see that it is still Allah and not God. And, contrary to liberal, secular, and atheist teachings, Allah and God are definitely not the same.

The verse below is from the web site: Interpretation of the Meanings of The Noble Quran, Published by Dar-us-Salam Publications http://www.dar-us-salam.com/TheNobleQuran/index.html

Surah 9:5, "Then when the Sacred Months (the Ist, 7th, 11th, and 12th months of the Islamic calendar) have passed, then kill the Mushrikan (see V.2:105) wherever you find them, and capture them and besiege them, and prepare for them each and every ambush. But if they repent and perform As-Salat (Iqamat-as-Salat), and give Zakat, then leave their way free. Verily, Allah is Oft-Forgiving, Most Merciful."

In my copy of the Qur'an, there are footnotes which tell us, "There shall be no coercion in matters of faith" and "war is permissible only in self defense." If you believe that, I have a bridge in Brooklyn I will sell you very cheap.

Consider the history of Mohammed and his ravaging of trade caravans to fund his army -- consider the history of Islam's spread -- consider 9-11 -- consider the pubic beheading of the American journalist and many other kidnapped captives -- ask anyone who has heard the rantings of many Islamic holy men on television -- ask anyone who has heard Iran's president and many Arab leaders call for the annihilation of Israel and the Great Satan, America. Then, tell me that Islam is a "religion of peace."

Should we, as Christian believers, turn away from our Islamic friends? No. We should pray for them; we should, when possible, share the true Word of God with them. But, we must never be deceived into believing that the vast Islamic community, in America, in Britain, in Europe, across the Middle East -- wants to be friends with America or with Americans.

As I said, in those communities, even if it is not spoken publicly -- America is still the "Great Satan" -- the friend of Muslim's long hated enemy, Israel. If it were only a small minority of Muslims who feel this way; why do those who do not -- stay silent in support of the Militant Islamic Terrorists?

No, my Friend, this is the relationship between the descendants of Ishmael and the descendants of Isaac which will not be resolved in peace -- until our Lord Jesus Christ returns and establishes His Millennial Kingdom on earth. Then, for the first time since Ishmael and Isaac -- there will be peace upon the earth, ruled by the hand of Jesus Christ from the throne of David in Jerusalem, the holy city of God.

Until then, we share the Word of God with our Islamic friends, and all our friends -- but, we do not destroy our weapons of war, our means of self defense against terrorism and those who view us as the Great Satan to be destroyed, until Jesus Christ returns to give us true peace.

God bless, have a wonderful, blessed day,

Bill