Jesus, the Young Rich Man, and how we may obtain Eternal life.

Some people imagine that the rich man in this parable is indicative of rich people in general, and draw from this parable that riches makes one more sinful and evil than non-rich people and/or that their riches make it near impossible for them to get into Heaven. Is this true?

Let's write the passage for all to see.

Matt 19:16-22
And behold, one came to Him and said, "Teacher, what good thing shall I do that I may obtain eternal life?"

And He said to him, "Why are you asking Me about what is good? There is only One who is good; but if you wish to enter into life, keep the commandments."

He said to Him, "Which ones?"

And Jesus said, "You shall not commit murder; You shall not commit adultery; You shall not steal; You shall not bear false witness; Honor your father and mother; and You shall love your neighbor as yourself."

The young man said to Him, "All these things I have kept; what am I still lacking?"

Jesus said to him, "If you wish to be complete, go and sell your possessions and give to the poor, and you shall have treasure in heaven; and come, follow Me."

But when the young man heard this statement, he went away grieved; for he was one who owned much property." NAS

In the category of living a life of decency and goodness, This rich man of Matthew 19 is in the top one percentile of all people who ever been born on earth. His riches afford him great opportunity to break the commandments that he did not break. For example, rich people usually have more leisure time and young promiscous girls make themselves available to the rich. Even more telling about this man's character is that he chooses to come to the light (Jesus). As it is written:

John 3:19-21
"This is the judgment, that the Light has come into the world, and men loved the darkness rather than the Light, for their deeds were evil. For everyone who does evil hates the Light, and does not come to the Light for fear that his deeds will be exposed. But he who practices the truth comes to the Light, so that his deeds may be manifested as having been wrought in God." NASU

But he did not keep ALL the commandmenths. Jesus drew out of him that he loved his material possessions more than God, a form of idolatry. No wonder is it that when Jesus told him he could have eternal life by keeping the commandments, the rich man responded by asking "which ones?". The rich man knew he was lacking something and was hoping Jesus would give him a way out by giving him another 'good thing' to do justify his failure to keep the whole Mosaic Law. This Jesus could not do, for the only way to eternal life under the Mosaic Law is to keep the entire Mosaic Law, every jot and title of it. A contract is a contract.

Matt 19:23-24
"And Jesus said to His disciples, "Truly I say to you, it is hard for a rich man to enter the kingdom of heaven. And again I say to you, 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."" NAS

When the Disciples heard this, they became worried about their own salvation as they focused on Jesus words on how this very exceptional decent rich man not entering the Kingdom of God and have the good eternal life he sought. I deduce this from the fact that they did not respond, 'well that's really bad news for rich people, good thing we are not rich, isn't it.', rather, they responded:

Matt 19:25
"when the disciples heard this, they were very astonished and said, "Then who can be saved?"" NAS

Seeing that this highly esteemed rich man can not be saved by the works of the Mosaic Laws, the apostles now worried how much less worthy are they of being saved. Jesus then assures them that they and this rich man can be saved and have eternal life:

Matt 19:26
Jesus said to them, "With men this is impossible, but with God all things are possible." NAS

Jesus answered regarding the rich man's question that the rich man will never do enough good things to enter the kingdom of God and inherit eternal life. He hints at the fact that there is another way to enter God's Kingdom and obtain eternal life. It will turn out to be the only REAL way to be saved. But the apostle's do not know about that yet and are still worried about their future. Peter's speaks for their mutual worries on this issue of salvation:

Matt 19:27-30
"Then Peter answered and said to Him, "Behold, we have left everything and followed You; what then will there be for us?"

And Jesus said to them, "Truly I say to you, that you who have followed Me, in the regeneration when the Son of Man will sit on His glorious throne, you also shall sit upon twelve thrones, judging the twelve tribes of Israel. "And everyone who has left houses or brothers or sisters or father or mother or children or farms for My name's sake, shall receive many times as much, and shall inherit eternal life. NAS

Jesus brought the good news on how we may have eternal life, good life with joy and peace, life abundantly:

John 3:14-18
"As Moses lifted up the serpent in the wilderness, even so must the Son of Man be lifted up; so that whoever believes will in Him have eternal life. For God so loved the world, that He gave His only begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him shall not perish, but have eternal life. For God did not send the Son into the world to judge the world, but that the world might be saved through Him. He who believes in Him is not judged; he who does not believe has been judged already, because he has not believed in the name of the only begotten Son of God."

John 6:37-40
"All that the Father gives Me will come to Me, and the one who comes to Me I will certainly not cast out. For I have come down from heaven, not to do My own will, but the will of Him who sent Me.

"This is the will of Him who sent Me, that of all that He has given Me I lose nothing, but raise it up on the last day. For this is the will of My Father, that everyone who beholds the Son and believes in Him will have eternal life, and I Myself will raise him up on the last day."

Matt 11:26-30
"Yes, Father, for this way was well-pleasing in Your sight. All things have been handed over to Me by My Father; and no one knows the Son except the Father; nor does anyone know the Father except the Son, and anyone to whom the Son wills to reveal Him.

"Come to Me, all who are weary and heavy-laden, and I will give you rest. Take My yoke upon you and learn from Me, for I am gentle and humble in heart, and YOU WILL FIND REST FOR YOUR SOULS. For My yoke is easy and My burden is light."

ArtB

There is only one way to know the Son and believe that He is the Son of God and have eternal life; The Father must give me to the Son. John 6:35-38 And Jesus said unto them, I am the bread of life: he that cometh to me shall never hunger; and he that believeth on me shall never thirst. But I said unto you, That ye also have seen me, and believe not. All that the Father giveth me shall come to me; and him that cometh to me I will in no wise cast out. For I came down from heaven, not to do mine own will, but the will of him that sent me.

Then; 1 John 5:10-13 He that believeth on the Son of God hath the witness in himself: he that believeth not God hath made Him a liar; because he believeth not the record that God gave of His Son. And this is the record, that God hath given to us eternal life, and this life is in His Son. He that hath the Son hath life; and he that hath not the Son of God hath not life. These things have I written unto you that believe on the name of the Son of God; that ye may know that ye have eternal life, and that ye may believe on the name of the Son of God.

Then there is only one way to know the Father: That is those that the Son has willed it so.

The Father tried for over 4000 years to get man to believe that He is God, and "Ye would not". So the Plan before the foundation of the world, Eph 1: 4, now by the Cross comes into effect. The Father must birth His own nature, Jesus Christ in the believer, that we might through Him believe. 1 Peter 1: 23. The Living Word, (LOGOS) now birthed in the believer, Jesus Christ Him the Incorruptable Seed as like Mary by the Holy Spirit the Seed of the Father in the Believer.

In Christ: Phillip

I find it interesting that the Lord Jesus did not say to that man: " Believe on me." He said that to the publicans, adulterers, and the outcast who when were told to follow Him did not have a second thought because they had no hinderances in their heart. But to this man who needed to surrender his idol ( his money) where his real trust lies. Our Lord demanded that he must give that away first.

And yes, He did say : It is impossible for a rich man to enter the kingdom." Now, let's see. What does impossible mean??? I guess it just means " NOT POSSIBLE".

In fact, the chances of a rich man to have eternal life is as slim as a camel making it through the eye of a needle. In fact, He said that it is easier for a camel to go through the eye of a needle than a rich man to enter eternal life.

Boy, that is microscopically small.

Matthew 19:23-30 Then said Jesus unto his disciples, Verily I say unto you, That a rich man shall hardly enter into the kingdom of heaven. And again I say unto you, It is easier for a camel to go through the eye of a needle, than for a rich man to enter into the kingdom of God. When his disciples heard it, they were exceedingly amazed, saying, Who then can be saved? ((((((((((But Jesus beheld them, and said unto them, With men this is impossible; but with God all things are possible.)))))))))) Then answered Peter and said unto him, Behold, we have forsaken all, and followed thee; what shall we have therefore? And Jesus said unto them, Verily I say unto you, That ye which have followed me, in the regeneration when the Son of man shall sit in the throne of his glory, ye also shall sit upon twelve thrones, judging the twelve tribes of Israel. And every one that hath forsaken houses, or brethren, or sisters, or father, or mother, or wife, or children, or lands, for my name's sake, shall receive an hundredfold, and shall inherit everlasting life. But many that are first shall be last; and the last shall be first.

Jesus knew the rich ruler could not follow Him unless the Father gave him to His Son, then Jesus would receive him and not loose him, but the rich young ruler would sit with Jesus on the throne of majesty and rule with Him and judge even the twelve tribes of Israel if the Father sent him to Jesus and had prepared his heart to receive the birthing and blessing of eternal life, he did not, what is the conclusion? The Father did not.

In Christ: Phillip

"Jesus knew the rich ruler could not follow Him unless the Father gave him to His Son"

#Bro. Phillip, are you saying that the rich young ruler could not follow Jesus because the Father did not will so? If so, that definitely contradicts what Jesus says to him.
#Jesus told the rich young ruler to give up his money (the love of it) and follow Him. But as it is so clearly mentioned in the Scriptures- the young man was sad at Jesus' saying as he did not want to give up his money/possessions.

#I think "Rich" means to be in a situation where you do not feel the need of anything- especially God. I think it means that you are self-sufficient and self-dependant.
What do you say of Philemon, Zacchaeus (Luke19:2- "...and he was rich"), Abraham etc... who were rich?
I think the Bible gives instructions to the rich on how to use their riches(1Timothy 6:17-"Charge them that are rich in this world,...") and doesn't condemn them outright. Those who trust in riches will not enter into the Kingdom of God, as said by Jesus (Mark 10:24).

Any thoughts?

Willing to be corrected...

It is so that no man would seek Gods Face, no not one.

It is that the rich young ruler could not seek God, even though he ask what must I do. If man could of his own will believe God then the rich young ruler had no excuse. Even though he ask what must I do, he was not willing to do it. If God had drawn this man to Jesus, not by his will but by the will of God, he could do what Jesus told him to do.

This is the age old quest of man to make himself capable of choosing God on his own merit. Not Gods predestination or election.

I can only believe what it took to bring me to Jesus, kicking and screaming all the way, unable to choose what I should to give myself salvation because I believed, I did not. I had a knowledge of God from the earliest of my recollection, which began about 2 or 3 years of age. God worked on me until He drew me to everlasting life in His Son and I believed. I know I could not have done it of myself, for my heart wanted to but could not. Slowly but surely I believed and began the long road I am still on. At first I tried to keep the law and wanted every one else to keep it or they came under my utmost contempt for their sin. All that did was run every one away, including my own family. Next I left it all up to God and even my own sin was up to Him. It has taken almost 40 years to get to my understanding by His Holy Spirit Teacher, of who I am and what I am to God, my responsibility by His working in me mightily that I might accomplish what God intended me for before I was ever born, that is to be a born again son of God by His Incorruptable Seed in me, that is Jesus Christ who is now my only life. "Christ in you the Hope of Glory"

I have no new revelation on election but as for me;

"Who can doubt that what God does He always meant to do? When, therefore, He converts and saves a soul, it is clear that He always intended to do it. He has no new plan. It is not an after-thought. It is not the work of chance. If I can find out any thing that God has done, I have the most certain conviction that he always meant to do it--and this is all that is intended by the doctrine of election or predestination. What God does, He always meant to do. What He permits, He always meant to permit. I may add further, that if it is right to do it, it was right to intend to do it. If there is no injustice or partiality in the act itself, there is no injustice or partiality in the intention to perform it. If it is right to save a soul, it was always right to intend to save it. If it is right to condemn a sinner to woe, it was right to intend to do it. Let us, then, look at the thing itself; and if that is not wrong, we should not blame the purpose to do it, however long it has been cherished." This statement by Albert Barns confirms what I have been through and believe is truth when it comes to myself and this rich young ruler, it must be of God or we all would walk away wishing we could have the true desire of our heart, which we don't understand, that is to love God with a love that is real, which must come from Him to begin with, "Christ in me the Hope of Glory".

All I know is He drew me to His Son, Praise God.

John 6:43-48 Jesus therefore answered and said unto them, Murmur not among yourselves. No man can come to me, except the Father which hath sent me ((((draw)))) him: and I will raise him up at the last day. It is written in the prophets, And they shall be all taught of God. Every man therefore that hath heard, and hath learned of the Father, cometh unto me. Not that any man hath seen the Father, save he which is of God, he hath seen the Father. Verily, verily, I say unto you, He that believeth on me hath everlasting life. I am that bread of life.

Strong's Greek Dictionary
1670. helkuo
Search for G1670 in KJVSL
elkuw helkuo hel-koo'-o
or helko hel'-ko; probably akin to 138; to drag (literally or figuratively):--draw. Compare 1667.

Still being dragged unto Jesus, praise God I have all eternity to learn who My Father is and who His Son is, now my only Life, by the Holy Spirit who is in me forever.

In Christ: Phillip

I see you got your Thomas Jefferson's Bible.
You are no less an idol worshipper than that man that was bound by his money.

I have a few questions to ask that may clarify what Jesus ministry was when he was 12 yers of age until His death on the Cross.

Did Jesus (or His disciples) ever publicly preach the New Covenant during His earthly life?

Did Jesus ever seek the gentiles to preach the gospel to them?

What was Jesus stated evaluation of gentiles during His ministry on Earth?

What did Jesus mean (?) when he stated

Mt 5:17-19
7 "Do not think that I came to abolish the Law or the Prophets; I did not come to abolish but to fulfill. For truly I say to you, until heaven and earth pass away, not the smallest letter or stroke shall pass from the Law until all is accomplished. Whoever then annuls one of the least of these commandments, and teaches others to do the same, shall be called least in the kingdom of heaven; but whoever keeps and teaches them, he shall be called great in the kingdom of heaven." NASU

Is your salvation dependant on keeping these commandments That God (YHWH) gave through Moses?

Does the New Covenant come with any Commandments?

Have fun :)

What is a Thomas Jefferson Bible?

Did Jesus (or His disciples) ever publicly preach the New Covenant during His earthly life? No

Did Jesus ever seek the gentiles to preach the gospel to them? No

What was Jesus stated evaluation of gentiles during His ministry on Earth? Dogs

Is your salvation dependant on keeping these commandments That God (YHWH) gave through Moses? No

Does the New Covenant come with any Commandments?
"A new commandment I give you" Joh 13:34 A new commandment I give unto you, That ye love one another; as I have loved you, that ye also love one another.
1Jo 2:8 Again, a new commandment I write unto you, which thing is true in him and in you: because the darkness is past, and the true light now shineth.
2Jo 1:5 And now I beseech thee, lady, not as though I wrote a new commandment unto thee, but that which we had from the beginning, that we love one another.

How do we love? Like Him, through His life of faith in me; Galatians 2:20 I am crucified with Christ: nevertheless I live; yet not I, but Christ liveth in me: and the life which I now live in the flesh I live by the faith of the Son of God, who loved me, and gave himself for me.

I have a question for You; Do you believe that the Spirit of Christ lives in you and He is now your life?

In Christ: Phillip

Unto Babes, you say"

"In fact, the chances of a rich man to have eternal life is as slim as a camel making it through the eye of a needle. In fact, He said that it is easier for a camel to go through the eye of a needle than a rich man to enter eternal life. Boy, that is microscopically small."

You could easily omit the word "rich" from this sentence, and arrive at some truth.

David

Why would I want to omit anything Jesus said?

Wouldn't that be making my own Bible?

Wouldn't that be idoletry?

Wouldn't that be another Gospel?

Wouldn't that be playing God?

No, Davidc, I wouldn't do that.

The Bible said man can have eternal life through faith in the Lord Jesus. Faith is surrender to His Lordship.
Faith is not afraid to give anything in order to have Jesus.

You may omit what you like, but let me warn you, you will end up with another Christ. There is only one Christ who can save. He is Christ of the Bible.

#I think "Rich" means to be in a situation where you do not feel the need of anything- especially God. I think it means that you are self-sufficient and self-dependant. What do you say of Philemon, Zacchaeus (Luke19:2- "...and he was rich"), Abraham etc... who were rich? I think the Bible gives instructions to the rich on how to use their riches(1Timothy 6:17-"Charge them that are rich in this world,...") and doesn't condemn them outright. Those who trust in riches will not enter into the Kingdom of God, as said by Jesus (Mark 10:24).

Some good points A-Run. However in this case, I think Jesus WAS ACTUALLY telling him to give away ALL of his possessions.

However, I am agreeing with you in that what if "rich" is not just rich in having a lot of money. But a person, that is "rich" with this worlds goods, no matter how many "possessions." they have. It's idol worship that is the root problem, not the abundance of goods. Jesus is looking for people with an abundance of faith here on earth. Will He find it?? Is our mindset to be rich with the things of this world like the Laodiceans (Rev 3:17), or to be RICH IN FAITH?!?! Or will we be like Lot's wife who turned and looked back at this world because in her heart she was really in love with the world and its goods.

I apologise, Unto Babes, and wish I had not posted my remarks. It was just me trying to be clever, and failed.

Love in our Lord Jesus Christ

David

Davidc, I am nobody. God is everything. His word is forever established in heaven. He honors His word above His name. May we tremble at His Wotd.

God bless.

Do a study on Marks life.I believe he was the rich young ruler.In his book he says Jesus loved him a detail he would know.Some other books in the bible speak of his mothers wealth.There are other details about his life point to this.The early church believed it was Mark also.

'Christ in You', You get a 100% with the answers you provided. It took me a long time to become aware of this truth, and this ignorance of mine caused me a lot of misery in my life.

In the Sermon on the Mount, Jesus was clarifying the extent of the Mosaic Laws to His fellow Jews. 'If you lust on a married woman in your heart, you have already commited adultery. If you hate your fellow Jew, you are already guilty of murder'. Why? Because its' these seed in your heart that leads to adultery and murder, etc..

Jesus never preached the New Covenant prior to His Crucifixion on the cross. Jesus was a Rabbi, and it was His duty to keep the entire Mosaic Law, and preach to all Isreal to also keep the entire Mosaic law.

Preaching the New Covenant would be a direct violation of the Mosaic Covenant, and this would have made Jesus a sinner, and would have disqualified Him from being the unblemished Lamd of God who takes our sins away through His blood shed on the cross.

Jesus did keep the entire Mosaic Law from birth until His death upon the cross.

In His own words, Jesus said:

"Think not that I am come to destroy the law, or the prophets: I am not come to destroy, but to fulfil.

For verily I say unto you, Till heaven and earth pass, one jot or one tittle shall in no wise pass from the law, till all be fulfilled." Mt 5:17-18 KJV

Jesus kept the entire Mosaic Law throughout His life, then something interesting occurred. Instead of receiving all the blessings that one receives for keeping the entire Mosaic Law (A very long, healthy and prosperous life, etc,). Instead, Jesus took upon Himself the curses for not keeping the Mosaic Covenant, a short and painful life, and a cursed death upon a tree, wherein in He bore the stripes, and the suffering that we deserved for our sins.

Then it happened. Jesus, having kept the Mosaic Covenant throughout His life, and upon His death, The Heavy strong Curtain in the Temple was torn in two. That Curtain separated man from God. Only the High Priest was allowed to enter the Holy of Holies to bring sacrifced blood of an unblemished Lamb as atonement for sins of God's people.

And a marvelous event occurred, God annihilated the Mosaic Covenant, because it was useless and worthless in that it could not save anyone. And this paved the way for the Salvation through a New Covenant between God and man.

Zec 11:7-14

7 So I pastured the flock doomed to slaughter, hence the afflicted of the flock. And I took for myself two staffs: the one I called Favor and the other I called Union; so I pastured the flock. Then I annihilated the three shepherds in one month, for my soul was impatient with them, and their soul also was weary of me.

Then I said, "I will not pasture you. What is to die, let it die, and what is to be annihilated, let it be annihilated; and let those who are left eat one another's flesh."

"I took my staff Favor and cut it in pieces, to break my covenant which I had made with all the peoples. So it was broken on that day, and thus the afflicted of the flock who were watching me realized that it was the word of the LORD. I said to them, "If it is good in your sight, give me my wages; but if not, never mind!" So they weighed out thirty shekels of silver as my wages. Then the LORD said to me, "Throw it to the potter, that magnificent price at which I was valued by them." So I took the thirty shekels of silver and threw them to the potter in the house of the LORD. Then I cut in pieces my second staff Union, to break the brotherhood between Judah and Israel.
NASU

The only Bi-lateral covenant that God made with 'the peoples' was the Mosaic Covenant.

The difference between the two Covenants is that in The Mosaic Covenant we save ourselves by keeping the Laws given through moses, all 613 of them.

In the New Covenant, there is a change of laws, and it is by these New Laws of Christ, God keeps us, a genuine gift from God to us of eternal life, the abundant good life that truly will bless us.

Postscript: God is no longer separated from us by a heavy veil, as we know, God dwells in us, The indwelling of the Holy Spirit, we are where we were before Adam and Eve sinned, in God's presence. We walk daily with God, as we say "God in me." Our confidence should be very high, and the ongoings of this world should not bring us any fear, for God is with us andfor us, Death has no power over us, for we will live, even when our bodies die.

I personally do not care if some one decides to cut my head off, the body passes away, we live eternal in Christ. I will not set my eyes on the seas of troubles of this world, for I have fellowship with God and am assured of my salvation, and my good future God has prepared for me, and for you.

Sorry for preaching to the choir here, but I am thrilled by the good news of Jesus Christ.

All praise and glory to our Father and His Son, the Holy Spirit has revealed in us.

This takes a revelation of God, by His Holy Spirit to understand the mystery which was revealed to Paul by Jesus Christ Himself, the mystery hidden from all ages, "Christ in you the Hope of Glory".

I kicked against the goad for a long time and God in His prefect knowledge took me all the way to the ground off my high horse, as I was doing the same as Paul to the church, no murder physically, but surely in the spirit of all I spoke to about keeping the Law or go to hell.

Just like Paul, God is still revealing this mystery to Christs Body the Church. I am still learning and I will be learning Christ for all eternity.

Galatians 1:10-17 For do I now persuade men, or God? or do I seek to please men? for if I yet pleased men, I should not be the servant of Christ. But I certify you, brethren, that the gospel which was preached of me is not after man. For I neither received it of man, neither was I taught it, but by the revelation of Jesus Christ. For ye have heard of my conversation in time past in the Jews' religion, how that beyond measure I persecuted the church of God, and wasted it: And profited in the Jews' religion above many my equals in mine own nation, being more exceedingly zealous of the traditions of my fathers. But when it pleased God, who separated me from my mother's womb, and called me by his grace, To reveal his Son in me, that I might preach him among the heathen; immediately I conferred not with flesh and blood: Neither went I up to Jerusalem to them which were apostles before me; but I went into Arabia, and returned again unto Damascus.

Also being crucified to self with Christ, it is no longer I who live, but Christ who lives in me, He is my only life to God.

Then Paul went to Jerusalem after 14 years and preached Christ in you the Hope of Glory;

Galatians 2:1-2 Then fourteen years after I went up again to Jerusalem with Barnabas, and took Titus with me also. And I went up by revelation, and communicated unto them that gospel which I preach among the Gentiles, but privately to them which were of reputation, lest by any means I should run, or had run, in vain.

How are we "Perfect"?

Galatians 2:16-21 Knowing that a man is not justified by the works of the law, but by the faith of Jesus Christ, even we have believed in Jesus Christ, that we might be justified by the faith of Christ, and not by the works of the law: for by the works of the law shall no flesh be justified. But if, while we seek to be justified by Christ, we ourselves also are found sinners, is therefore Christ the minister of sin? God forbid. For if I build again the things which I destroyed, I make myself a transgressor. For I through the law am dead to the law, that I might live unto God. I am crucified with Christ: nevertheless I live; yet not I, but Christ liveth in me: and the life which I now live in the flesh I live by the faith of the Son of God, who loved me, and gave himself for me. I do not frustrate the grace of God: for if righteousness come by the law, then Christ is dead in vain.

The old man Phillip is now dead, and I live unto Christ by the Father birthing His Son in me.

Colossians 1:24-29 Who now rejoice in my sufferings for you, and fill up that which is behind of the afflictions of Christ in my flesh for his body's sake, which is the church: Whereof I am made a minister, according to the dispensation of God which is given to me for you, to fulfil the word of God; Even the mystery which hath been hid from ages and from generations, but now is made manifest to his saints: To whom God would make known what is the riches of the glory of this mystery among the Gentiles; which is Christ in you, the hope of glory: Whom we preach, warning every man, and teaching every man in all wisdom; that we may present every man perfect in Christ Jesus: Whereunto I also labour, striving according to his working, which worketh in me mightily.

Like Paul, What a revelation. It is the only perfection I can attain. Christ in you the Hope of Glory; Amen

In Christ: Phillip

Hi Philip.

Christ the seed the hope of glory that God willing will become Christ the tree of life in us.

If we do not frustrate His love for us the law of the seed will take its natural course so that His seed in us grows into a fruit producing tree in the image of tree that the seed came from

This is where knowledge of the law comes in handy because if what is being formed in us is not fulfilling the law, then what is being formed in us is not Christ but an impostor sent to make us think that Christ is being formed in us. .

After all it is the dead in Christ that will rise first........... not to be raptured away but "caught up" to heaven so that Christ the head in heaven is manifested as just as He is in heaven but through His Body on earth.

Blessing

Doug

Romans 7:23-25 But I see another law in my members, warring against the law of my mind, and bringing me into captivity to the law of sin which is in my members. O wretched man that I am! who shall deliver me from the body of this death? I thank God through Jesus Christ our Lord. So then with the mind I myself serve the law of God; but with the flesh the law of sin.

Romans 7:9-14 For I was alive without the law once: but when the commandment came, sin revived, and I died. And the commandment, which was ordained to life, I found to be unto death. For sin, taking occasion by the commandment, deceived me, and by it slew me. Wherefore the law is holy, and the commandment holy, and just, and good. Was then that which is good made death unto me? God forbid. But sin, that it might appear sin, working death in me by that which is good; that sin by the commandment might become exceeding sinful. For we know that the law is spiritual: but I am carnal, sold under sin.

So then if the Law kills and the knowledge of it makes sin exceedingly sinful, How are we delivered, being delivered and will be delivered?

2 Corinthians 1:10 Who delivered us from so great a death, and doth deliver: in whom we trust that he will yet deliver us;

There is only one answer; "Christ in you the Hope of Glory". This is not the Law, even though He is the only fulfillment of the Law, This is life by a Person who now lives in me. The Law can only give justice by the flesh keeping the whole Law, salvation of the flesh which no men can do. Even this salvation cannot save us from the curse of death. Only The Spirit of Christ birthed in us can give salvation that can bring us to the Father as sons.

Romans 8:9 But ye are not in the flesh, but in the Spirit, if so be that the Spirit of God dwell in you. Now if any man have not the Spirit of Christ, he is none of His.

Romans 7:24-25 O wretched man that I am! who shall deliver me from the body of this death? I thank God through Jesus Christ our Lord. So then with the mind I myself serve the law of God; but with the flesh the law of sin.

Only the Law of Christ, by Grace through faith has saved me.

His obedience took my death and gave me life. "I myself, (which is now Christ in me,) serve the Law of God".

Who has set us free from the bondwoman's son? Who makes us free in the free woman's Son?

2Co 5:17 Therefore if any man be in Christ, he is a new creature: old things are passed away; behold, all things are become new.

Ga 6:15 For in Christ Jesus neither circumcision availeth any thing, nor uncircumcision, but a new creature.
Law or No Law but a new race of people unto God by His Son, We are His Body The Church corporately and individually.

In Christ: Phillip