Amen, Pastor Sean. Jesus loves us. He wants us to be happy. He wants us to be with Him in heaven. He offers us to work with Him for others on this Earth. He offers us eternal life. But, there are conditions. Unlike the false teachers who point us in the opposite directions, that salvation is by faith "alone", and do not tell us we must keep the law of God in order to enter heaven, Jesus tells us the truth.
This chapter explains what it means to be converted. There is great detail in explaining there are conditions to being justified. It is true that we are saved by grace. There is nothing we can do to gain heaven except receive this grace. Then where do the conditions enter? The conditions are that we accept the grace. And when we accept the grace the heart is cleansed from sin and selfishness. We need this grace continually. And when we have it in the heart, the life is changed. So, we can then say, unless we are changed because we accepted God's grace, the life will not be changed. We see this in the life of the rich young ruler. He would not accept the grace offered. Why not? Because he was unwilling to give up his riches.
Is giving up his riches a condition for salvation? Yes, it is. We cannot keep our selfishness and at the same time love Jesus supremely. Thus, grace is still the only way to be saved. For grace is the only power that can transform the sinner into a saint that lives for Christ. Without grace, the rich young ruler's heart would not be changed, cleansed, converted. As we read through the chapter we find this being said over and over. The sacrifice was too much for the young man. Thus, he rejected God's grace, His love. He understood that he had to choose between his riches and Jesus. How very sad he did not know that if he had a better knowledge of Jesus, if would have chosen to spend time with Him, his love for Him would have increased. But, his selfishness turned him away from Jesus. \
So it is with many today. We do not know Jesus well enough to trust Him with all we have and all we are. We must love Jesus with the whole heart, not part of it. This requires an intimate knowledge of His character. Thus, the truth comes to the front, it is by beholding Him that we are transformed into His character. It is by knowing Him that we love Him. We love Him because we have learned of His great love for us. If we do not know Him, then we shall not trust Him and love Him supremely.
Jesus told him that obedience to the commandments of God was necessary if he would obtain eternal life; and He quoted several of the commandments which show man's duty to his fellow men. The ruler's answer was positive: "All these things have I kept from my youth up: what lack I yet?"
Are there conditions for eternal life? There surely are. We must keep the commandments. Does this do away with justification by faith? Absolutely not. When we are justified by our faith in Christ we will obey the law to the degree we understand it. We are partakers of God's divine nature and escape the lust within.
Christ gave this man a test. He called upon him to choose between the heavenly treasure and worldly greatness. The heavenly treasure was assured him if he would follow Christ. But self must yield; his will must be given into Christ's control. The very holiness of God was offered to the young ruler. He had the privilege of becoming a son of God, and a coheir with Christ to the heavenly treasure. But he must take up the cross, and follow the Saviour in the path of self-denial.
Christ's words were verily to the ruler the invitation, "Choose you this day whom ye will serve." Joshua 24:15. The choice was left with him. Jesus was yearning for his conversion.
Again, we are saved by grace through faith. But, it must be understood that being saved means being transformed, converted, undergoing a radical transformation of character. We must give up self and love God supremely. This is not being taught as it must be taught. We are being led to believe Christ's character is good enough, that it stands in place of our sinful character. No, we must die to self. If self is alive, then we do not possess salvation. We must love Jesus with all we are and all we have. If we sin it is because we value something else more than Jesus. We must maintain our love for Him by maintaining our connection with Him.
Christ's dealing with the young man is presented as an object lesson. God has given us the rule of conduct which every one of His servants must follow. It is obedience to His law, not merely a legal obedience, but an obedience which enters into the life, and is exemplified in the character. God has set His own standard of character for all who would become subjects of His kingdom. Only those who will become co-workers with Christ, only those who will say, Lord, all I have and all I am is Thine, will be acknowledged as sons and daughters of God. All should consider what it means to desire heaven, and yet to turn away because of the conditions laid down. Think of what it means to say "No" to Christ. The ruler said, No, I cannot give You all. Do we say the same? The Saviour offers to share with us the work God has given us to do. He offers to use the means God has given us, to carry forward His work in the world. Only in this way can He save us.