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Complete Sermon Notes

10 COMMANDMENTS 1 AND 2

Jesus Counsels the Rich Young Ruler

19:16 Now behold, one came and said to Him, “Good Teacher, what good thing shall I do that I may have eternal life?” 17 So He said to him, “Why do you call Me good? No one is good but One, that is, God. But if you want to enter into life, keep the commandments.”

Keep – “to retain possession of; to store in a regular place”.

Keeping the Commandments does not save you, but it does reveal if you’re truly saved – “Whoever says “I know him” but does not keep his commandments is a liar, and the truth is not in him” (1 John 2:4).

The first 2 points in the 95 Thesis 1] When our Lord and Master Jesus Christ said, “Repent” (Mt 4:17), He willed the entire life of believers to be one of repentance. 2] This word cannot be understood as referring to the sacrament of penance, that is, confession and satisfaction, as administered by the clergy.

18 He said to Him, “Which ones?” Jesus said, “‘You shall not murder,’ ‘You shall not commit adultery,’ ‘You shall not steal,’ ‘You shall not bear false witness,’ 19 ‘Honor your father and your mother,’ and, ‘You shall love your neighbor as yourself.’ ”20 The young man said to Him, “All these things I have kept from my youth. What do I still lack?” 21 Jesus said to him, “If you want to be perfect, go, sell what you have and give to the poor, and you will have treasure in heaven; and come, follow Me.” 22 But when the young man heard that saying, he went away sorrowful, for he had great possessions.

He said to Him, “Which ones?” What do I have to DO?

Why didn’t He mention the first 4? “Perhaps Christ confines his list to the second table in order to make the man feel his imperfection in these ordinary matters, or to bring out his self-righteous spirit…(cf. 1 John 4:20)…without love of our neighbor there cannot be true love of God.” The Pulpit Commentary

Perfect – complete
What we’re not willing to give up reveals a great deal
Following Him has a cost – Cathy Truett, Coach, Football Player

The Ten Commandments 1 & 2 – Ex. 20 And God spoke all these words: 2 “I am the Lord your God, who brought you out of Egypt, out of the land of slavery. 3 “You shall have no other gods before me. 4 “You shall not make for yourself an image in the form of anything in heaven above or on the earth beneath or in the waters below. 5 You shall not bow down to them or worship them; for I, the Lord your God, am a jealous God, punishing the children for the sin of the parents to the third and fourth generation of those who hate me, 6 but showing love to a thousand generations of those who love me and keep my commandments.

When an entity, person, or object is worshiped instead of God—our passion for “something” outweighs our passion for Him; it draws us away.

Worship is not just singing; it’s positioning the heart.

Most don’t have idols on the shelf because they are parked in the garage. We don’t pay homage to a statue in the living room because we are memorized by a 44” box affectionately known as “the entertainment center.” We don’t sacrifice things on the altar, but we do sacrifice our time (and time with of our children) on the altar of misguided priorities – IDOLATRY.

Work. Entertainment. Status/Recognition. Relationships. Addiction – etc. are all forms of idolatry –

Scriptural Support: 1 John 5:21 Little children, keep yourselves from idols. Colossians 3:5 Put to death therefore what is earthly in you: sexual immorality, impurity, passion, evil desire, and covetousness, which is idolatry. Isaiah 44:9-20 All who fashion idols are nothing, and the things they delight in do not profit. Their witnesses neither see nor know, that they may be put to shame. Who fashions a god or casts an idol that is profitable for nothing? Behold, all his companions shall be put to shame, and the craftsmen are only human… ESV

What are we passionate about? What are we addicted to? How do we spend our down time? Where is God on the priority list – the idol demands worship and will fight for it.

We save money to purchase the idol. We work to maintain the idol. We become angry when we can’t keep the idol. And we die following the idol.

A Poem on Addiction or Idolatry

“I destroy homes, tear families apart, take your children, and that’s just the start. I’m more costly than diamonds, more costly than gold, the sorrow I bring is a sight to behold…Just try me once and I might let you go, but try me twice, and I’ll own your soul.

When I possess you, you’ll steal and you’ll lie. You do what you have to just to get high…You’ll forget your morals and how you were raised, I’ll be your conscience, I’ll teach you my ways.

I take kids from parents, and parents from kids, I turn people from God, and separate from friends. I’ll take everything from you, your looks and your pride, I’ll be with you always, right by your side…I’ll take and take, till you have nothing more to give. When I’m finished with you you’ll be lucky to live.”

________

“If you try me be warned this is no game. If given the chance, I’ll drive you insane. I’ll ravish your body; I’ll control your mind. I’ll own you completely; your soul will be mine.

The nightmares I’ll give you while lying in bed, the voices you’ll hear from inside your head, the sweats, the shakes, the visions you’ll see; I want you to know, these are all gifts from me.

But then it’s too late, and you’ll know in your heart, that you are mine, and we shall not part. You’ll regret that you tried me, they always do, but you came to me, not I to you.

You knew this would happen. Many times you were told, but you challenged my power, and chose to be bold. You could have said no, and just walked away, If you could live that day over now what would you say?

I’ll be your master; you will be my slave, I’ll even go with you, when you go to your grave. Now that you have met me, what will you do? Will you try me or not? It’s all up to you. I can bring you more misery than words can tell. Come take my hand, let me lead you to hell.”

CLOSING QUESTIONS: “What good thing shall I do that I may have eternal life?” . . . What do I still lack?”

Romans 3:23, “For all have sinned, and come short of the glory of God.” Romans 3:10 adds, “There is none righteous, no, not one; there is none who understands; there is none who seeks after God.”

Romans 6:23 says, “For the wages of sin is death…” BUT be encouraged! Romans 6:23 doesn’t end there. It adds, “…but the gift of God is eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord.”

Romans 10:9, “If you confess with your mouth Jesus as Lord, and believe in your heart that God raised Him from the dead, you will be saved.”
Though the road ahead may be uncertain at times, the solid ground beneath will never shift. It’s all about Who you know.