church and a fresh welcome to anyone who's visiting this morning. It's a joy to have you with us uh joining us for the worship of our triune God. One announcement this morning that is that Deborah Wilbrink is pregnant. Uh so we can rejoice in another uh gift given to one uh among our congregation here and uh we can rejoice along with the Wilbrink family. Well, let's begin our worship, please, by turning in our Bibles to Psalm 32. Psalm 32 will be our call to worship this morning. Psalm 32, the word of the living and true God. A psalm of David, a contemplation. Blessed is he whose transgression is forgiven, whose sin is covered. Blessed is the man to whom the Lord does not impute iniquity, and in whose spirit there is no deceit. When I kept silent, my bones grew old through my groaning all the day long. For day and night, your hand was heavy upon me. My vitality was turned into the drought of summer. Sah, I acknowledged my sin to you, and my iniquity I have not hidden. I said I will confess my transgressions to the Lord and you forgave the iniquity of my sin. Say for this cause everyone who is godly shall pray to you in a time when you may be found. Surely in a flood of great waters they shall not come near him. You are my hiding place. You shall preserve me from trouble. You shall surround me with songs of deliverance. Say I will instruct you and teach you in the way you should go. I will guide you with my eye. Do not be like the horse or like the mule, which have no understanding, which must be harnessed with bit and bridal, else they will not come near you. Many sorrows shall be to the wicked. But he who trusts in the Lord, mercy shall surround him. Be glad in the Lord and rejoice, you righteous, and shout for joy all you upright in heart. Amen. Well, let's stand and sing. Our first hymn is going to be in the larger trinity himnil. We'll stand and sing 81. That's hymn 81. Let's stand and sing together. [Music] better mortal [Music] is for still our [Music] ancient to us and power and our rule. on earth [Music] his [Music] own [Music] right the man of Don't [Music] [Applause] you Jesus all his [Music] name and he must win the battle and goodness. This world should [Music] We will not [Music] for us the prince of darkness. We treble for him. His praise [Music] we [Music] forward to them. The gifts are the girls [Music] and this mortal [Music] life to the highest hill. is forever. [Music] Please be seated. We'll now have a time of prayer. Uh during that, among other things, we can pray for Mr. Proctor. Um not too long ago, he had a a bump on the head. He's in the hospital um this morning. He is home now, but he is uh not doing well. uh vomiting and and other uh things uh no doubt that come with a with a heavy uh knock to the head. So we can be in prayer for uh Mr. Proctor again among many other things. Let's go to our great God in prayer. Heavenly Father, we rejoice in this new day. We rejoice in you, our God. We thank you that you have brought us from out of our various places to gather together in this place. In the name of our savior, the Lord Jesus Christ. We do thank you for the God that you are, for the God that you have made known to us uh through your holy scriptures. We rejoice in you and we pray that you would cause your saints gathered here this morning to rightly hallow your name. We do pray that we would give you all honor and praise. We do pray that this would be the case as well around the world. That in your true churches, your saints would gather together and they would raise earnest hearts and genuine tongues to sing the praises of their great triune God. We do pray that you would give your saints around the world that uh presence of mind and that strength of heart to rightly and joyfully give you praise this day. We do pray God that you would cause us now to rejoice in the Savior, to rejoice in our Savior and redeeming King, the Lord Jesus Christ. We pray that he would be exalted upon the praises of his people gathered here. We thank you for his gospel. We know that we are not saved by our own works, by our own deeds. We're not saved by uh the righteousness of the uh of our conduct by uh our obedience to the law, but rather we're saved solely and alone by virtue of the perfect work of our Lord Jesus Christ. For we know that all have sinned and have fallen short of the glory of God. But there is one who is the redeeming king, one who obeyed your law perfectly in thestead of all those who believe. one who died upon Calvar's tree bearing your wrath against the sins of your uh against the sins that your people had committed. That one who upon Calvar's tree perfectly secure the salvation of a multitude uh that no man can number all those who believe in your precious name. And we do pray that we would rejoice in this Christ and in this gospel. It did not stop, of course, with the cross, but on the third day, he rose again in power and in great victory, and he ascended to your right hand, where he now ever lives to make intercession for his people and to rule and to reign over the enemies of the church. We do pray that you would cause us to rejoice in such a Christ and in such a savior. We pray that you would forgive us, aresh by virtue of the shed blood of our savior, the Lord Jesus Christ. We know as your saints we have that remaining corruption where we must daily put sin to death and live unto righteousness. And we do pray God that you would help us in this lower world to do so. That by your grace and for your glory you would cause us with renewed hearts to daily put sin to death. That we might grow in the grace and in the knowledge of Jesus Christ our precious savior. We do pray Lord God for those in our midst who need prayer for physical things. We think of our brother uh Mr. Proctor. We pray that you would strengthen him. Lord God, do be with our dear brother John. Help him to be healed. Help him to be strengthened in body. We do pray that uh you would just uh bring to him physical healing. That you would bring him comfort that you would take away discomforts brought about by this knock on the head and all of those things associated with the disease that he deals with on an ongoing basis. We pray that you would just strengthen our brethren, that you would give him uh much uh strength and grace today as he's away from us, unable to join us. We pray nevertheless in the midst of his affliction, you would lift him up in the inner man and cause him to rejoice in Jesus Christ our Lord. We do pray that you would continue to be with many other others who struggle physically. We uh think of the Quosskis. We think of uh the Van Shakes. Uh Lord, we think also of Sue Proctor. Uh we think of Shirley. We think of Maryland, Lord God. Uh we do pray that you would just strengthen these, that you would cause them to know no daily gains in strength. We thank you that our brother Don Newfeld can be with us this morning. We pray that you would continue to be with him as well, uh taking away pains, removing discomforts, and uh helping him in the midst of his affliction to rejoice in our God and in our Christ. And we do pray, Lord God, that you would be with uh with Deborah. We thank you for this news of a another baby on the way. We do pray that you would strengthen baby in the womb. We thank you for these precious gifts that you give uh to your people. And we do pray that you would watch over young one, that you would watch over the mother. And we do pray that you would strengthen uh both of these. And we pray in due time that uh this uh baby would be brought forth uh with strength and with health. And Lord, even further along the lines that at a young age that they would know our savior and rejoice in our God. We pray that you would come with gospel and grace uh to this young one in due time. And not only this one, but many of the young ones in our midst, Lord God, that you would come uh upon the wings of amazing grace uh by your word and for your glory's sake, that you would make dead sinners alive in Christ Jesus our Lord. We do pray this uh today, Lord, for many who are gathered together this morning. We thank you that you have brought uh many within these doors this morning. Any outside of Christ, Lord God, any unbelieving in our midst. We pray that you would come with victorious grace, conquer their hearts, make them to know our Christ, to know our God, and to leave these doors singing, "Hallelujah! What a savior." We would ask, Lord God, that you would be with those uh of the persecuted church. We know that there are many around the world that are persecuted for the cause of Christ and the cause of truth. We do pray that you would come with comfort and courage and strength uh to all of these saints. That you would give them uh strength in the midst of affliction and anger and hatred. We do pray that you would lift them up and you would cause them to look with strength and of faith to the risen king to our Lord Jesus Christ to the lamb of God who takes away the sins of the world that they might in our Christ find uh all strength and all courage for this daily battle against wickedness. And we do pray that you would deal with those who persecute your people. We do know, Lord God, that you are great in grace and and abundant in mercy. And we do pray that you would bring many who are currently opposed to the church, to uh our God and to his Christ. That you would bring many to saving faith in the Lord Jesus Christ. That you would conquer their hearts. That you would remove their hearts of stone and madness and replace them with hearts of flesh. that beat for the Savior, that they might be found among those whom they formerly persecuted. And we do know, Lord God, that there are those who will remain obstinate, those who will remain in opposition to your people and to your truth. We pray that such as who persecute your people would be taken out of the way, that you would bring temporal judgment and condemnation upon them. We pray, Lord God, that you would even cause them to stumble like drunken men and cause them to wither away like the snail that they may no longer bring violence against the people of Christ. We do pray for those who rule over us in this lower world, the the governments of the nations. We pray that you would cause them to rule in righteousness, in equity, and fear of the Lord. And we pray that you would remove those from power who would seek to continue to propagate uh madness, abominations, and wickedness in the land. We do pray that you would raise up those to rule over us who would kiss the son lest he be angry and they perish in the way when his wrath is kindled but a little. We would ask now Lord that you would be with us in worship. We would pray that you'd be with the preacher as he comes up here in a number of minutes. Be with Pastor Butler giving him strength giving him aid in the pulpit. We do know that your true ministers of the gospel rest not upon their own strength and wisdom, but upon the strength and the wisdom that a triune God affords his true ministers. And we do pray this this morning that Pastor Butler would grip the wood of this pulpit and open up his Bible, speaking the things of truth, rejoicing along with us in our God, and making known the scriptures to those in need. We do pray for those gathered in the pews this morning that you would strengthen your saints. We come here, Lord, and we uh seek to be fed by our God and by the word. And we pray that you would do so by your spirit, strengthening your saints, feeding us by your truth, and helping us to go out into this upcoming week to live in a manner worthy of the gospel of grace. And we do pray for those again who entered in these two doors outside of Christ that you would come with amazing grace and cause them by that grace to know our Christ and to rejoice in our God. And we pray in the name of our savior, the lord Jesus Christ. Amen. Well, let's stand and sing. Our next hymn is going to be 592. If you'll all stand with me and sing that uh hymn [Music] [Music] 592 shall My [Music] song is my heart sing for joy and [Music] singing my prophet full of By way I receive all the king of [Music] heaven. My heart sing for sing. [Music] He is the son of righteousness with his wings for joy and us for shall be he died for me for me. He shed his blood and as a [Music] wonderous himself to [Music] God for joy and sing for Christ is my [Music] shall my all my comfort and my love my life below and he shall be my joy and [Music] love is My heart [Music] singed. You can turn in your Bibles to First John 2. 1 John chapter 2. For those who don't know, every Lord's Day morning, we read consecutively through the New Testament in the evening through the Old. And so in our reading in the New Testament, we're now at 1 John chapter 2. Once again, the word of the living and true God. We'll read verse 1 to verse 17. My little children, these things I write to you so that you may not sin. And if anyone sins, we have an advocate with the Father, Jesus Christ the righteous. And he himself is the propitiation for our sins, and not for ours only, but also for the whole world. Now by this we know that we know him, if we keep his commandments. He who says, "I know him," and does not keep his commandments, is a liar, and the truth is not in him. But whoever keeps his word, truly the love of God is perfected in him. By this we know that we are in him. He who says he abides in him ought himself also to walk just as he walked. Brethren, I write no new commandment to you, but an old commandment which you have had from the beginning. The old commandment is the word which you heard from the beginning. Again, a new commandment I write to you, which thing is true in him and in you, because the darkness is passing away, and the true light is already shining. He who says he is in the light and hates his brother is in darkness until now. He who loves his brother abides in the light, and there his brother abides uh excuse me, he who loves his brother abides in the light, and there is no cause for stumbling in him. But he who hates his brother is in darkness and walks in darkness and does not know where he is going because the darkness has blinded his eyes. I write to you, little children, because your sins are forgiven you for his name's sake. I write to you fathers because you have known him who is from the beginning. I write to you young men because you have overcome the wicked one. I write to you little children because you have known the father. I have written to you fathers because you have known him who is from the beginning. I have written to you young men because you are strong and the word of God abides in you and you have overcome the wicked one. Do not love the world or the things in the world. If anyone loves the world, the love of the father is not in him. For all that is in the world, the lust of the flesh, the lust of the eyes, and the pride of life is not of the father, but of the but is of the world, and the world is passing away and the lust of it. But he who does the will of God abides forever. Amen. Well, one of the things that John writes, in fact, the purpose, if you will, of the writing of his letter is found in 1 John 5:13. These things I have written to you who believe in the name of the Son of God, that you may know that you have eternal life, and that you may continue to believe in the name of the Son of God. Those who profess faith in the Lord Jesus Christ are to issue forth in in conduct and in character that befits a profession of faith in that Christ. Before John gets to some of that though, notice what he writes in John uh 1 John 2 uh and verse 1 and two. My little children, these things I write to you so that you may not sin. And if anyone sins, we have an advocate with the father, Jesus Christ the righteous, and he himself is the propitiation for our sins and not for ours only, but also for the whole world. You see, is isn't it of the highest confidence uh to come to God and to know that we don't come to God and bring our own righteousness. We don't come to God and bring our own works because if we did those things would be dashed to pieces and we would be cast into the lake of fire reserved for the devil and his angels. But rather we have one who goes before God for us. An advocate uh an advocate John writes with the father Jesus Christ the righteous. As the song we just said indicates we have the right man on our side Jesus Christ the Lord. He goes before the father. Arise my soul, arise. Shake off thy guilty fears. The bleeding sacrifice in my behalf appears. What a glorious thing that sinners though we are, we have one who goes before us, who bore our sins in his own body on the tree, that we having died to sin, might live for righteousness. And that's some of the stuff that John then gets into. How do we know that we have the love of God? How do we know that we abide in the father? Well, we know first off verse three, by this we know that we know him if we keep his commandments. We should all know that we're not saved by doing his commandments. But having been saved, we do his commandments. Those who are Christians are those who love Christ and who do the works of Christ. We are to be such who keep his commandments. Again, not in order that we might be saved or we never would be, but having been saved, we do those things that are holy in his sight. And another thing that he brings up, the second thing, and there are generally three in this book, the third one we'll get to next time, but the second thing that he says is bring is brought to us in verse 9. He who says he is in the light and hates his brother is in darkness until now. He who loves his brother abides in the light and there is no cause for stumbling in him. It's a simple thing, isn't it? Or shouldn't it be that a Christian is to love his fellow Christian? And yet so often we can be marked by a lack of longsuffering, a lack of patience, this presence uh whereby we're easily riled to to anger and to to hatred and to resentment. Let never that well up within your hearts because a Christian is one who loves his brother, who is patient, who is long-suffering, who is kind, who is gentle, who is all of those things that God uh that God demands uh his children to be marked by. As we work through this epistle, again, it is brought forth to us this most central point of John. These things I have written to you who believe in the name of the son of God that you may know that you have eternal life and that you may continue to believe in the name of the son of God. So many things rail against us the world the devil and even our own hearts. Let us be mindful of this truth that we are in Christ Jesus the Lord that we have an advocate with the father Jesus Christ the righteous and let us know that we have all things in him. Let us pray. Heavenly Father, we thank you for your word. We thank you for your truth. We rejoice in what we're able to read concerning our savior, concerning salvation and eternal life by him. We do pray that you would help us in light of that to heed apostolic command that we might in this lower world love and keep your commandments and that we might love our fellow brothers and sisters in Christ. We pray that you would give us daily supplies of your grace for this. And might we ever more each and every day grow in the grace and in the knowledge of Jesus Christ our Lord. And it's in his name that we pray. Amen. Well, our final hymn then before the preaching, if you'll stand again with me, is 6:31. Let's stand and sing 631. [Music] to light and [Music] work with the grace. [Music] Little of us [Music] They sound [Music] wondering all we say to the earth and ally. Sing we [Music] voice will be ours. [Music] We [Music] [Music] answer children heart. [Music] Please turn with me in your Bibles to Matthew chapter 19. Matthew chapter 19. I'll read beginning in verse 16 to the end of the chapter. And our focus this morning will be verses 23-30. The foundation of the background is 16 to22. Christ's interaction with the rich young ruler. After he finishes his discussion with that young ruler who goes away sorrowful, he then turns his attention to the apostles to the 12 themselves to give them a specific application concerning the difficulty of entering into uh the kingdom of heaven as a rich man. So picking up in verse 16 at chapter 19. Now behold, one came and said to him, "Good teacher, what good thing shall I do that I may have eternal life?" 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." 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. Honor your father and your mother, and you shall love your neighbor as yourself." The young man said to him, "All these things I have kept from my youth. What do I still lack?" 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." When the young man heard that saying, he went away sorrowful, for he had great possessions. Then Jesus said to his disciples, "Assuredly I say to you that 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." When his disciples heard it, they were greatly astonished, saying, "Who then can be saved?" But Jesus looked at them and said to them, "With men this is impossible, but with God all things are possible." Then Peter answered and said to him, "See, we have left all and followed you. Therefore, what shall we have?" So Jesus said to them, "Assuredly I say to you that in the regeneration when the Son of Man sits on the throne of his glory, you who have followed me will also sit on 12 thrones judging the 12 tribes of Israel. And everyone who has left houses or brothers or sisters or father or mother or wife or children or lands for my name's sake shall receive a hundfold and inherit eternal life. But many who are first will be last and the last first. Amen. Well, let us pray. Our blessed God and our holy father, we pray now for the ministry of your spirit. We confess our sin and our transgression. We know it has cast a darkening influence over our minds and hearts. So we plead the merit and the mercy and the blood of the Lord Jesus Christ. Wash us and purify us and fit us to receive with thanksgiving your holy word. We pray that the spirit would guide and lead and instruct that these things would be put into practice. They would be made effectual unto us by the power of the Holy Spirit. And for any and all who have come here this morning that are outside of Christ, we pray that today would be the day of salvation. Their challenge may not be riches, but certainly all sin casts us into a place of bondage. We pray that the spirit of the living God would break those shackles and would bring life eternal to sinners. Cause them to see the glory and the majesty and the excellency of the Lord Jesus Christ. Cause them to see that he saves to the uttermost all who draw near to God God through him. And we pray these things through Christ Jesus our Lord. Amen. Well, as we come to a conclusion in this particular chapter, we'll remember that in chapter 19, Christ is dealing with very practical realities, very practical issues. Bruner says that having treated marriage and the related subjects of divorce, single life, and children, the gospel turns next to money, the other great domestic consideration. And that is precisely what we find in the account of the rich young ruler. And now in our Lord's application to the disciples, money, possessions, wealth, riches, this interaction, the rich young ruler serves as the foundation for this instruction given to the disciples. And I want to look at three things this morning in verses 23 to 30. In the first place, we'll notice the commentary concerning riches. Secondly, the question concerning salvation. And then thirdly, the instruction concerning rewards. So if we were to consider this in a broad sketch, it is Christ's teaching on riches and on rewards in the kingdom of heaven. But note in the first place the commentary concerning riches in verses 23 and 24. Then Jesus said to his disciples, assuredly he underscores this with an amen. Uh truly this is one of the indicators that we need to take heed to what Christ says. Obviously we take heed to everything that he says but he underscores certain statements or certain assertions or declarations with that amen. It's sort of an announcement. It's sort of a way to highlight or draw attention to what it is he has to say. He says, "Assuredly I say to you that it is hard for a rich man to enter the kingdom of heaven." Now the disciples have heard his interaction with the rich young ruler. They have seen that young man go away sorrowful because he had many possessions. We need to understand that this is not a new teaching in Matthew's gospel. When Jesus says, "I say to you that it is hard for a rich man to enter the kingdom of heaven," he is simply reiterating what he's already taught in the sermon on the mount. Matthew 6:24, "Man cannot serve God and mammon. You will either love the one and hate the other. You'll love the other and you'll hate the one. You cannot have a divided loyalty when it comes to the God of heaven and earth. You cannot be part here and part there. Matthew 6:24 indicates that very clearly. And then again in Matthew 13:22 in the kingdom parables, Jesus says that there are those who the cares of this world or the riches of this world choke out the seed that is received by the hearer of the holy word. And notice specifically the content. The Lord Christ highlights and indicates this reality that it is hard for a rich man to enter the kingdom of heaven. Ma uh Mark's gospel adds this statement. Those who trust in riches in 1 Timothy 6 in verse 17 when Paul tells Timothy how to counsel rich men, he tells them not to trust in uncertain riches. Now, riches are the particular sin that is condemned in this passage. But if you're poor here this morning, don't think you're out of the woods. We could insert any sin into this particular statement. Assuredly, I say to you, it is hard for an adulterer. It is hard for a fornicator. It is hard for a drug addict. It is hard for an alcoholic. It is hard for a covetous man. It is hard for a a petty man, a proud man, an arrogant man. In this particular context, however, Jesus is alerting his disciples to the reality that very often riches serve not to benefit one's life, but to choke them out and prevent them from entrance into the kingdom of heaven. John Calvin makes this perceptive observation. He says, "It is true indeed that riches do not in their own nature hinder us from following God. It's not as if there's a pile of money that jumps in our way so that we cannot make it into the kingdom of God. We need to understand that there are certain things in this world that are neither for us or against us. The problem is is how we use those particular things. That's what Calvin goes on to address. It is true indeed that riches do not in their own nature hinder us from following God. But in consequence of the depravity of the human mind, you see that's wherein the problem lies. We can take good things. God gave money to be utilized for his glory and for our well-being. God gave sex to be utilized for his glory and for our well-being. God gave many good gifts, but because of the depravity of our minds, we take those good gifts and we become idoltors and we put them before God and we are divided in our loyalties and instead of seeking first the kingdom of God and his righteousness, we seek out money or we seek out sex or we seek out whatever it is our particular pet sin is. He goes on to say, "But in consequence of the depravity of the human mind, it is scarcely possible for those who have a great abundance to avoid being intoxicated by them." So you see the locust of responsibility is not on the pile of loot. It's upon the heart of man and how we approach that pile. It is on us. And this is why Jesus underscores and indicates and highlights and calls attention to the reality that assuredly I say to you that it is hard for a rich man to enter the kingdom of heaven. It is a difficulty. There are trials. There are hardships. There are are hurdles to be to to to be uh uh overcome to be sure. And if you are poor this morning, praise God almighty that you don't have this problem. Now Calvin elsewhere says we need to apply this to the poor because what is it that the poor so often long for? They long for riches. They long for possessions. They long for those things that this world has to offer. Now notice Jesus illustration as he continues this commentary concerning riches. He says, "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." Isn't that a beautiful illustration? A beautiful parable. The point of the analogy, I hope, is obvious. We don't need to spend 20 minutes trying to to expound on the illustration that our blessed Lord uses. You know what a camel is. It's a big huge am. You know what the eye of a needle is, don't you? A needle is a small pin with a little tiny hole that you put thread through. Is there any possible way that a camel can shimmy through the eye of that needle? Absolutely not. So notice our Lord goes from it being hard to now it being impossible. Apart from what he goes on to say in the context, this would level every one of us and it would destroy us. The fact is what is impossible with men is indeed possible with God. It is grace that enables this to take place. Spurgeon says concerning the camel, "He could not make such a passage except by a strange miracle. Nor can a rich man enter into the kingdom of God except by a marvel of grace." So he says or he asserts or he declares that this is a difficulty for a rich man, a hard thing for the rich man to enter into the kingdom of heaven. He says, "Again, I say to you, it is easier for a big humpback camel to weasle his way through the eye of a needle than for a rich man to enter into the kingdom of heaven." Now, it's a curious thing in the interpretation of scripture. There have been attempts made to try and avert what our Lord is so clearly teaching. The Greek word for camel and the Greek word for cable look very similar. So, some have said that Jesus isn't talking about that big humpback beast getting through the eye of the needle. He's talking about a cable. Well, still a cable is a difficulty, isn't it? The other curious point of interpretation is that there was a pedestrian gate in Jerusalem and it was called the needle. Only that's not known to have existed when Jesus lived and traversed and had his way upon the earth. And the teaching was that through this gate called needle, if you took the burden off of the camel, if he was unladen, then he might be able to sort of shimmy his way through. Isn't that interesting? Jesus points us to the impossibility and we in our ex Jesus try to find wrigle wiggle room. We try to find an exception or we try to minimize the difficulty or we try and say, "Well, it doesn't mean it's quite that hard because we don't want to offend the rich. We don't want them to feel bad. We don't want them to go away sad. We don't want them to go away discouraged. We don't want them to think there's no hope for them. Hey, rich and poor and everyone in between, there's no hope for any of us apart from the saving grace of God most high." And that's what Christ is about in giving us his teaching here. He wants to pull out from under us any thought whatsoever that we're okay apart from the grace of God Almighty. Bruner makes this perceptive comment concerning this statement. He says, "Jesus does not mean to encourage the well to do with this picture. He deliberately intends to discourage them. For only the discouraged will seek the miraculous salvation Jesus momentarily offers. It's the same in the rich young ruler. Jesus brings the weight of the law to bear upon that rich young man. Why? So that that rich young man in his discouragement and in his sorrow will flee to Christ. Not go away from Christ and evidence that he doesn't have money but rather money has him. Jesus Christ is highlighting for us something that every one of us need to get down. Sin renders us in a helpless state and position. Now notice secondly the question concerning salvation on the heels of this assertion and illustration in verses 23 and 24. We read in verse 25, when his disciples heard it, they were greatly astonished. They were blown away. If I could use the 21st century terminology, they were shocked. They were amazed. They couldn't believe it. Why couldn't they believe it? What's their problem? Don't they have ears to hear and hearts to understand? Don't they realize the difficulty it is for a rich man to enter into the kingdom of heaven? Why is it that they are so shocked with this statement of our Lord Jesus Christ? Well, the Old Testament most certainly condemns a certain class of rich men. The Old Testament definitely condemns those who trust in their riches rather than in the living God. The Old Testament speaks against those who would oppress. It speaks against those who would who would who would use brethren or would use their countrymen. The Old Testament contains a number of warnings against a a wicked approach to piles of loot. The Old Testament also speaks favorably about money in Deuteronomy 28, Leviticus chapter 26, the blessings of God if the people of Israel will to uh will obey the covenant in the land. What are some of those blessings? It's prosperity. You will lend to many nations and not borrow. It is material wealth. What about David and Solomon? Were these poor men? No, they were rich men. What about the patriarchs, Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob? Were they poor men? No, they were rich men. What about all the positive injunction in the Old Testament concerning labor? Do you see a man who excels in his work, he will stand before God? Hard work is enjoined upon the people of God. All of us should be hard workers. We should show up on time. We should do what we're paid to do. We should seek to excel. Whatever our hand finds to do, we do it with our might. So you see for the disciples the blessing of God was often times seen in the reality that someone had earthly possessions. Da Carson explains it this way. He says most Jews expected the rich to enter eternal life not because their wealth could buy their way in but because their wealth testified to the blessing of the Lord on their lives. So, a man who had a lot, it's not as if he was going to buy his way into heaven, but a man who had a lot gave evidence or manifested that God's blessing was in fact upon him. So, you can see why they are greatly astonished. What do you mean, Jesus? You've just said that it's difficult for a rich man to enter into the kingdom of heaven. You you've you've used the illustration of a camel going through the eye of a needle to make it uh uh known that it's an impossibility apart from some enabling grace. What is that, Lord? We know that men of old were blessed and part of that blessing was seen in their earthly possessions. This then leads the disciples to ask the question as they ponder this reality. As they think through the implications, it is natural for them to say, "Well, then who can be saved?" If the men that we have seen that have material blessings are discounted or discredited or not on their way to the kingdom of heaven, look at what they say. Who then can be saved? Notice in the first place as Jesus resp before we look at Jesus' response, notice that they equate entering the kingdom of heaven, entering the kingdom of God with salvation. What's the reality? If you are not in the kingdom, if you are not born from above, if you are not a kingdom citizen, you are not saved. You are lost. You need to ponder these words as we consider them in these verses. You ought to listen to what the disciples ask here. Who then can be saved? This is the $64,000 question. That was a big sum of money when I was a kid. Now what we would have to say the $64 billion question and with inflation and poor uh poor management even that wouldn't take you to your old age. This is everything. Who then can be saved? If you're here this morning and you're not rich, that's okay. If you're here this morning and you're not poor or you're you're poor, that that's okay. You're certainly to learn the challenge and the difficulties h of having riches. But every single one here this morning that does not name the name of Christ and by that that's just you know shortorthhand theological shorthand for those who have believed the gospel. So the Bible is crystal clear on a lot of things. If you ever met those people the Bible is so confusing the Bible is so difficult. The Bible is so hard. I often think that's said by persons who want to escape the clarity of the Bible. I'm not here to tell you there aren't some things difficult in the Bible. But there are three things that are absolutely crystal clear. The first is that God is a holy God. God is a righteous God. God is a just God. God will by no means clear guilty sinners. In the second place, the Bible is very clear that all of us are sinners. All we like sheep have gone astray. Every one of us has abandoned, has rejected, has defected, has apostatized from God. So we see we have a holy God who must punish sin. And we see that every man, every woman, every boy and girl is a sinner. That's pretty bad news, isn't it? The third thing that's crystal clear in the Bible is that Jesus Christ alone is the one who can save guilty sinners. Jesus Christ alone can forgive and give a righteousness to sinners so that they can stand before that holy God. It'd be like you going somewhere tonight and you needed some certain type of clothing in order to get in there. You say, "Well, I don't have that clothing. I don't have such a coat. I don't have such a garment. All I have is this old holy sweater and I can't wear it because they'll throw me out on my ear. I need a garment. I need something to cover me. I need to be presentable to the master of the feast. Christ provides that. Christ in his life fulfills the law of God. Christ in his death as a sacrifice and a substitute on Calvar's cross. Christ in his resurrection enters into heaven the victor and the conqueror. Christ at the right hand of the father is proclaimed to all peoples everywhere. And those who by God's grace believe on him receive the forgiveness of sins and they receive the garment. They receive that righteousness. They receive by his grace that right of inheritance to the feast itself. You see this is most important. Who then can be saved? Who then can enter the kingdom of heaven? Who then can escape the horrors of hell? You see, again, that's something we don't want to hear about today. What is the converse of heaven? It is hell. What is the contrast to the glories of heaven? It is the terrors and the awfulness of hell. And if you don't enter the kingdom of heaven by grace, if you are not saved by grace, you will most certainly be cast off. You will most certainly be punished. you most certainly will be judged. Persons say, "Well, that doesn't seem fair." Tell those same persons that a man convicted on 10 counts of child molestation was freed by the court to walk the streets. They will say, "An outrage." And yet we cosmic violators of the law of God actually have the wherewithal to complain when that holy, righteous God condemns guilty sinners. You see that God who condemns guilty sinners has condemned his son at Calvary and now is the day. Now is the time of salvation. Everyone who calls upon him will have everlasting life. Everyone who calls upon the Lord Jesus shall be saved. So listen to the disciples question. Who then can be saved? Note Jesus' response. He speaks in the first place of the impossibility with men. He says with men it is impossible. This rich man can't save himself. This adulterer can't save himself. This proud, self-righteous man can't save himself. This covetous man can't save himself. If you are here this morning, listen to what I'm going to tell you. You can't save yourself. You don't try harder. You don't get better. You don't make moral reformation. You don't do enough to earn the favor of the living and true God. There is nothing you can do because you can't provide a perpetual and exact an entire and a and a personal obedience to God's holy law. And even if you could from this day out, you've got a heap of sins that that will undo you for a whole host of eternities. With men, it is impossible. Again, just listen to me now. Listen to the disciples question. Who then can be saved? Did you expect me to say just come on up here and sign a card and you'll be saved? Just bow your head and close your eyes and shoot your hand up into the air and you'll be saved. You just exercise your free will and you'll be saved. You just go get rid of all your loot and you'll be saved. You just stop looking at internet porn and you'll be saved. It's impossible with you. You can't save yourself. That's the reality. Notice how Jesus isn't one of those preachers that wants to make everybody feel good. Who then can be saved? Well, whoever wants to be. No, that's not what he says. Whoever has the money to be, that's not what he says. Whoever has the poverty, that's not what he says. Whoever has the wherewithal, that's not what he says. Who then can be saved? He says, you're right. With men, it is impossible. There's no hope. None. Impossible. You would easier see a camel shimmying through the eye of a needle than for a man to enter into heaven in his own strength. It's terrifying, isn't it? If it's not terrifying, wake up. If you're not paying attention, listen. We got maybe another 20 minutes together. You don't know what's going to happen when you head home today. Is he threatening us? No. But you don't know what's going to happen when you head home today, do you? James tells us we need to be men that understand that our lives are like a vapor. They're here for a time and then they're gone. Moses, the man of God, says, "You may live however many years, but then you will fly away." Each and every one of us are going to fly away and we'll all stand in the presence of God most high and give an account to him of deeds done in the body whether good or evil. The only hope for any guilty sinner is our Lord Jesus. So you see the disciples say who then can be saved and Jesus says with men it's impossible. I'm not gonna lie to you. I'm not gonna Joel Ostein you. I'm not gonna you know Kenneth Copelan you. I'm not going to tell you, throw in enough dough and you'll find salvation and redemption. With men, it is impossible. You might be here unsaved this morning saying, "Well, what are you guys doing here?" We have found that the latter part of the verse is indeed true. With God, all things are possible. It was sovereign grace that taught my heart to fear. It was grace that caused us to believe on the Lord Jesus Christ. It was the power of the Holy Spirit. It was the new birth. It was God demonstrating his strong right arm in the midst of the nations. Notice what our beloved Christ says. With God or but with God all things are possible. Now this is conditioned by the content. God can't lie. God can't deny himself. In this particular instance, what he is speaking about is the salvation of a guilty soul. For those who are Christians, don't you praise God for this? With God, all things are possible. Don't you have to admit from time to time that apart from that reality, I would be hellbound. It was grace that taught my heart to fear. Wasn't me. It wasn't you. Most of us found ourselves running from God, hiding from God, seeking to pretend that there was no God. It goes on today, doesn't it? men called atheists, theoretical atheists, try to argue against the existence of God. They try to pretend like he's not there. Imagine if I held a gun to your head and you didn't want to get shot and you just pretended it wasn't there. Does it make it go away? Absolutely not. Does your pretending he's not there make him go away? Absolutely not. But with God, all things are possible. I think some backdrop is Genesis 18:14. Is anything too hard for Yahweh? Job 42:2, I know that you can do everything and that no purpose of yours can be withheld from you. Praise God for sovereign grace. The fact that there is even still a debate on the primacy of God's will in the matter of salvation shows just how hard our hearts are. We just need to bow and worship and praise that God is sovereign. We just need to say what the apostle in in Ephesians 1, blessed be the God and father of our Lord Jesus Christ who has blessed us with every spiritual blessing in the heavenly places in Christ in love. He predestined he chose us in Christ. It is sovereign grace that taught our hearts to fear. With God all things are possible. He can make the camel shimmy through the eye of the needle. For a beautiful illustration of this point, look at Luke 19 for just a moment. Luke chapter 19 verse 1. Then Jesus entered and passed through Jericho. Now behold, there was a man named Zakius who was a chief tax collector, and he was rich. He was rich. Now, just go back one chapter to chapter 18. Notice specifically verses 24-30. Our passage, our text, a parallel to what we have in Matthew chap 19. Jesus says the same thing. He says, "How hard it is," verse 24, "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." And those who heard it said, "Who then can be saved? The things which are impossible with men are possible with God." We turn over one chapter and we see Zakius, this we little man who happens to be rich, saved by grace. We see it is possible. We see that God is effectual. We see that God is powerful. Spurgeon made this blessed con uh uh comment. He said, "Yet blessed be God. We have seen rich men become poor in spirit." Isn't that beautiful? We have seen rich men become poor in spirit. We have seen camels go through this needle's eye, humps and all. We hope to see many more such miracles of almighty grace with God. All things are powerful are are are possible. God has the ability where you don't. God has the efficacy where you don't. God has the might and the strength and the ability to raise your dead heart to give the gifts of faith and repentance to give you the ability to close with his dear son to believe on the Lord Jesus Christ and to be saved. So listen to the disciples question who then can be saved and hear the Lord's answer. With God it is possible. So may I say to you this morning, believe on the Lord Jesus Christ. Quit your games. Quit playing around. Most of you at one time or another have sat under gospel preaching. Whether in this church or elsewhere, perhaps every night under the tutelage of faithful parents, you are learning what the gospel is all about. Stop playing games. Stop living as if you're 8 foot tall and bulletproof. Stop living as if everything's going to be all right. Because after all, I'm me. That's not going to make everything all right. You need Christ. You need Jesus. You need the Lord of glory. You need the blood of Christ to wash you from your sins. And you need that righteousness that he alone can provide. Believe on the gospel. Believe on the truth. Believe on Jesus. And that is how a man enters the kingdom of heaven. With God, all things are possible. Now notice the instruction concerning reward. Verses 27 to30. Note Peter's question. I think he's asking on behalf of all of them. And Peter answered and said to him, "See, we have left all and followed you. Therefore, what shall we have?" There's a bit of a comparison going here. Well, there's a bit of a comparison that Peter on behalf of the apostles most likely is making with them and the rich young ruler. See, we have left all and followed you. Therefore, what shall we have? That rich young man didn't leave all, did he? That rich young man went home sorrowful because he had many possessions. He'd rather go console himself with his loot. When push comes to s shove between money and Jesus, the rich young man took the the the money. Now, Peter is saying, look, we've left all. You know, even that is not perfectly uh in line with what Jesus said. Remember Jesus told the rich young ruler to sell all, didn't he? Didn't he? He told him to sell all, take the proceeds and give it to the poor. Now, the disciples left all, but they went back to it. Peter kept his house in Capernaum according to Matthew 8 9 or 8:14 and 15. How could Jesus heal Peter's mother-in-law in Peter's house if Peter didn't have a house? At least one of the disciples that were a fisherman kept their boat because after the resurrection, where does Jesus find the disciples? They find them. He finds them on a boat fishing. He doesn't upgrade them. He doesn't yell at them. He doesn't castigate them. Rather, he tells them where to find fish. He doesn't call them to a radical Christianity. How dare you fish and waste time. No, cast your net on the other side of the boat and you'll find lots of fish. We see that while they left wives for a time and mothers for a time, it was not permanent. In the next section, the mother of the sons of Zebedee come to Jesus and asks for position for her two beloved boys. 1 Corinthians 9:5, one of Paul's appeals is, "Do we not have a right to take a believing wife like Cphus and the other disciples, Peter?" So, he left her for a time, but he returned to his wife. The idea isn't necessarily get rid of everything. It's give your heart to God. It's seek first the kingdom of God. But I just want us to see what is driving Peter in this particular moment. Now, notice the question concerning rewards. It's hard, brethren. And I'm not picking on Peter here because I'm suggesting that if I was him, I would do the same thing. I'd probably do it more arrogantly. What does he say? See, we have left all and followed you. Therefore, what shall we have? Isn't that akin to saying, "What's in it for us?" Again, I don't want to pick on the brother. I don't want people to say, "Well, you're calling into question the holy character of Peter." No, the gospels do that uh plenty throughout. It's Peter who denies his Lord. It's Peter who does some some some crazy things along the way. But in this instance, how is it not possible to read this in that manner? What's in it for us? We've left everything. We have followed you. What do we get out of this? Spurgeon made this comment. What Peter said was true, but it was not wisely spoken. It has a selfish grasping look, and it is worded so barely that it ought not in that fashion to have come from a servant to his Lord. After all, what have any of us to lose for Jesus compared with what we gain by him? What shall we have is a question which we need not raise. For we ought rather to think of what we have already received at our Lord's hands. Himself is reward enough to the soul that hath him. Let goods and kindred go. this mortal life also the body they may kill. God's truth abide still. Peter, you're standing up for us all and saying, "What's in it for us?" Now, notice the Lord's response in verses 28 to30. In the first place, we ought to observe his kindness. If you were a master, if you were a lord, if you were the creator of worlds seen and unseen, if you were the savior of your servants, if you put the uh uh the breath in their lungs that they were breathing while they voiced the question, how would you have respond? What do you mean what do you get? You get me. Wouldn't you say that? I I would I sorry. I'm going to be honest with you. I would say, am I not enough? I mean, do this with my wife. I do this with my kids. I emotionally manipulated. Aren't I enough? What was the matter with you? I'm great. I'm los. If anybody could have rightly done such a thing, it would be Jesus. Don't ask the question. I am your reward. I am your gift. I am your all in all. I am the the chief among 10,000. I am the altogether lovely. I am that gorgeous one. What do you mean asking me what else do you get? But Jesus answers. Jesus answers him 28-30. And the answer comes in two parts specifically. First for the 12 and then for everyone. The 12 according to verse 28 are going to have a place in the regeneration. And the 12 are going to sit on 12 thrones and they are going to judge the 12 tribes of Israel. Everyone else is is is uh uh uh highlighted in verse 29. All believers, whoever they are, everyone that has has left everything and has followed Jesus Christ, they will be recompensed greatly. But with reference to this promise to the 12, notice that Jesus speaks of his position of authority. This has Daniel 7 in its background. Verse 28. Assuredly I say to you that in the regeneration when the Son of Man sits on the throne of his glory, you who have followed me will also sit on 12 thrones judging the 12 tribes of Israel. Now there is a sense according to the scripture where all saints reign with Christ. But there is also a sense according to the scripture where specifically the 12 reign with Christ. We ask the question, what is the regeneration? Titus 3:5 uses it in the way that we oftentimes use it use it. Regeneration is when God by his grace affectionately calls us unto us unto himself. He makes us alive. He enables us to believe the gospel. The word literally means a new generation or a new genesis. In this instance, it probably highlights the future state. But as we know in biblical esquetology with reference to the future state inaugurated by Jesus in his death and resurrection, there is an already aspect to it. It's not yet fully been consummated. There's still a lot of good things in our future, but the new age has broken into this age by virtue of what Christ has done. That is most likely what Jesus indicates in the regeneration. The twel apostles by virtue of their preaching and their teaching will render judgment upon ethnic Israel, old covenant Israel that will radically transform and alter God's covenantal dealings. The old covenant people of God are going to be judged in AD.70 and the church of Jesus Christ will indeed advance, expand and grow and the gates of hell itself shall never prevail against it. The apostles would take a key role in this. The apostles as it were would be sitting on thrones rendering such a judgment through their proclamation through their wonderworking on behalf of the savior. John Gil describes it in this manner doctrinally and practically by charging them ethnic Israel with the sin of crucifying Christ, condemning them for their unbelief and rejection of him, denouncing the wrath of God and the heaviest judgments that should fall upon them as a nation for their sin and by turning from them to the Gentiles. So the 12 would have that unique role in redemptive history. Verse 28 applies very specifically to them. Now notice in verse 29, everybody's included. There's recompense for the people of God. Peter says, "What's in this for us?" And what does Jesus say? Everything. You see his grace and his kindness. There's no harsh taskmaster. He's not beating us over the head. He says there's everything to be had in being a kingdom citizen. You'll receive a hundfold. Look at what he says in the passage in verse 29. And everyone who has left houses or brothers or sisters or father or mother or wife or children or lands for my name's sake shall receive a hundfold and inherit eternal life. It's not an abundance. It's not blessed. Peter says, "What's in it for us?" And Jesus says, "Everything." Carson makes the observation, "The promise is not literal." For one cannot have a hundred mothers. God is no man's debtor. If one of Jesus' disciples has for Jesus' sake left say a father, he will find within the messianic community a hundred who will be a father to him in addition to eternal life. Has that been your experience? Now, Matthew seems to put these blessings in the age to come. Mark and Luke tell us that these blessings are for us. Now, the way I've hopefully explained this new genesis or this regeneration being the future, but having broken into the present, I think it's not incorrect to take Matthew in the same way that these blessings are for us now. For those of us who by the grace of God are converted to Christ and it costs us our earthly families, what happens when we come to the people of God in the church of Christ? We have two mothers in Israel. We have fathers in Israel. We have brothers in Israel. We have sisters in Israel. We have sons and daughters in Israel. We receive a hundfold what we have supposedly given up. The Lord God in his mercy and in his grace supplies back to us hundfold. And it's not only that. It's not only the recompense of an earthly of an earthly relationship. It's not only the blessing of having mothers and fathers and wives and husbands. It's not only that. What does he underscore? And eternal life. That's your portion, Peter. That's what you get out of this, Peter. That's what's in this for you, Peter. You ever feel like Peter in your Christian life? Have you ever thought to the Lord? Because you won't say it, Lord, what's in this for me? I've been faithful. I've persevered. I haven't sinned. the sins that other men have sinned. I haven't done the things that other women have done. I have worked. I have labored. I've been obscure. And yet, God, what's in this for me? Eternal life. That's what's in it for you. Heaven, world without end, blessedness, joy, the presence of God and the Lamb, the beauty of the place, the glory of Christ. The last line of 599, the bride eyes not her garment, but her dear bridegroom's face. I will not gaze at glory, but on my king of grace, not at the crown he gifteth, but on his pierced hand. The lamb is all the glory of Emmanuel's land. You want to know what's in it for you, believer? heaven, blessing, joy, unspeakable and full of glory. Jesus ends on an encouraging but on a solemn note at verse 30. It's encouraging because it's going to tell the disciples something that they had already fumbled upon. Who then can be saved? Notice what Christ says. Many who are first will be last and the last first. Peter, it may have appeared that that rich young ruler had the had in fact the blessing of God. He may be first in this life, but he will be last with reference to the kingdom. There's an encouragement there, isn't there? Things are not always what they appear to be. said this before. Sometimes young men or men or women, they see some woman or man out there and they say, "Boy, I'm really attracted to that person. I'd really like to be with that person." You don't know that that person has somebody that wishes they would leave because they're just obnoxious. It always looks like what it isn't, doesn't it? Everything always looks splendid, doesn't it? The rich man looks like he's heaven bound. You know that old children's Sunday school uh song, you think he's just singing it as he walks down the street. This train is bound for glory. Choo choo. I mean, this is what we think of these rich men. The many who are first will be last. It's the last that will be first. It's the dregs. It's the downcast. It's the sinner. It's the man who cannot pull himself up. It is the one for whom it truly is impossible that with God all things are possible. I say it's an encouragement, but it's also a warning because at the end of the parable in chapter 20 verse 16, Jesus repeats the same statement. And what's the teaching of the parable? The teaching of the parable is simply this that Jesus the master calls some to serve. He promises them a daenarius. Later on in the day, he hires some other people. And when it comes time to pay, the first guys say, "Wait a minute. We should get more. We started in the beginning. These guys started later. And the master says, "Isn't it right for me to do with my own what I want? Perhaps it will well up in Peter and the disciples if they don't squash this mercenary spirit to get upset that they don't get more accolades when they enter into heaven." Wait a minute. We started with you first. So verse 30, I take to function as both an encouragement to the disciples, but as well a bit of an exhortation to watch their own hearts. Perhaps this is Jesus' response to Peter's very question. Perhaps this is what Jesus is trying to indicate to them with reference to this next parable. Verse 30 of chapter 19 and verse 16 of chapter 20 sort of bookend this particular parable. Be careful disciples. Be careful 12. Be careful, you believers in Jesus Christ. Do not think that it's ever the case that God somehow owes you more. How can he possibly give you more in the first place? He's given you life and salvation in and through the Lord Jesus Christ. We have no business or place or right to say, "But that's not fair. Do you want fair? You'll be in hell forever and ever." I mean, isn't that the case in the next parable? That's precisely what happened. Wait a minute. We started early. You should pay us more. I agreed to pay you a daenarius. What am I defaulting on? Isn't it right for me to do with mine? What is my own? Are we going to grumble when we see that last sinner converted to Christ and he goes to heaven? Wait a minute. That's not fair. He didn't have to fight sin. He didn't have to struggle against sin. He didn't have to do all the things. No, brethren. Hopefully, we're not that petty, but I know that we are. So, this is in here for us. We need to take heed. So, that's our exposition. A couple of thoughts and then we close. In the first place, the dangers involved for the rich man. I certainly applied this to other sins as I think is warranted by the rest of the Bible, but certainly we ought to appreciate Jesus warning here concerning riches. Now, in a sense, this is relative. I mean, you might be sitting here this morning not the richest man or woman on the face of the earth, but if you took a plane to Sudan, you would probably find yourself as one of the richest men on the face of the earth. We all stand in need to be checked by this particular passage. Royal says, "Riches which all desire to obtain, riches for which men labor and toil and become gray before their time, riches are a most perilous possession. They often inflict great injury on the soul. They lead men into many temptations. They engross men's thoughts and affections. They bind heavy burdens on the heart and make the way to heaven even more difficult than it naturally is. That's perceptive. And you see, the answer isn't I'm just going to get rid of everything. Poor men go to hell, too. Poverty isn't going to help you to heaven necessarily. Poverty doesn't facilitate heaven. It's just watch your heart. Guard your heart. There are several dangers involved with riches. In the first place, the tender a tendency to forget God. You say, "Oh, I would never forget God." Well, Solomon or this rather the writer in Proverbs 30 says, "Give me neither poverty nor riches." This was his prayer or petition to God. This is a good prayer or petition to God. Give me neither poverty nor riches. What happens if I'm poor? I'm going to go out and steal and dishonor God. Don't you love the reality of the Bible? He just tells it like it is. If I'm poor, I'm going to go steal a chicken and I'm going to dishonor God. But if I'm rich, if I have uh prosperity, then I will forget God. There's a tendency there. The second place, the pride that highlights one's own accomplishments rather than God's gracious provision. If God graciously provides for you, don't pat yourself on the back at how great of a businessman you are and how savvy you are and secretly wish that one day you'll be on the cover of Forbes magazine. God blessed you. Do not think for a moment that you're all that. In the third place, the selfishness that often times or sometimes can manifest itself in a lack of care and concern for others. Do you know what Paul says to people with money? Give it up. We'll see that in just a moment. Fourth, the neglect of the kingdom's priority as was highlighted by Jesus in Matthew 6:33. Seek first the kingdom of God and his righteousness. If money is keeping you from doing that, if anything is keeping you from doing that, get rid of it. That is the priority for the believer. In the second place, the antidote for the rich man. What's the answer? Believe on the Lord Jesus Christ. We covered this previously. I will say it again. And it's not just for the rich man. It's for the poor man. It's for the middle class. It's for everybody here. Believe on the Lord Jesus Christ and you shall be saved. Secondly, I think it's helpful to recognize what's at stake in being so involved with your money. How does Paul describe covetousness in Colossians 3:5? He calls it idolatry. You probably don't think like that that you got a pile of loot in your back pocket or you look on your internet to, you know, survey your accounts. Most of us do this fearfully. But there are some that probably do it with great joy and mesmerization. It's an idol. Covetous which is idolatry. See, I'm with Owen. We need to load our conscience with the guilt of sin. We need to see how bad sin really is. We need to understand that a love for money is a worship of a false god. Thirdly, the rich need to refuse to trust in uncertain riches. You can turn to 1 Timothy 6. 1 Timothy chapter 6. Paul says to Timothy, "Here's what you need to instruct the rich men. Command those who are rich in this present age not to be hotty nor to trust in uncertain riches, but in the living God, who gives us richly all things to enjoy." Fourthly, the rich man is to practice benevolence towards others. Notice in verse 18, "Let them do good, that they be rich in good works, ready to give, willing to share, storing up for themselves a good foundation for the time to come, that they may lay hold on eternal life." And finally, the antidote for the rich man is to have the proper kingdom priority. Seek first the kingdom of God. You ever noticed in your life that Matthew 6:33 just about answers everything? I'm anxious and worried. Seek first the kingdom of God. I'm rich and I love it. Seek first the kingdom of God. I'm poor and I don't love it. Seek first the kingdom of God. Isn't Matthew 6:33 one of those wonderful passages that if you haven't already memorized, you really should keep it in your wallet. Better keep it in your heart. And in the third place, we need to see the gracious recompense awaiting the believer. Riyle says, "We may rest assured that no man shall ever be a real loser by following Christ." No man shall ever be a real loser by following Christ. Ch. Spurgeon said, "Oh, that we may never hesitate to be glad loers for Jesus. They who lose all for Christ will find all in Christ and receive all with Christ. It's always intrigued me. I don't know if always is accurate. I'm not infallible, but oftentimes it has intrigued me when I've heard persons testimony about what they've given up to come to Jesus. That's a faulty understanding of things. I gave up a lucrative business. I gave up this. I g You got Jesus. Let's not talk about what we gave up. Let's talk about what Jesus has provided. Recompense, blessing, inheritance, eternal life. We will never be the losers for following our Lord Jesus. Cast it out of your head that you serve Christ for no good end. You serve Christ for Christ. You serve Christ for eternal life. You serve Christ for abundance and blessing and joy. We need to see him the way the bride saw the bridegroom in the Song of Solomon. He is altogether lovely. He is chief among 10,000. When we understand what we have in Jesus, we won't be fawning over what we socalled gave up. And I'll end where I began and where I hopefully went in the middle. If you're an unbeliever here this morning, there is power in God most high to save your guilty soul. There is power in the Lord of glory. There is excellence and there is majesty. And all those who are in their sins currently need to look unto the Lord Jesus Christ. Believe on him and you will be saved. Well, let us pray. Our father, we thank you for the word of God and we thank you for the clear teaching of our Lord Jesus Christ. We ask now that you would go with us. We pray that you would effectually apply these things to our hearts that you would cause believers to pursue those things which are pleasing in your sight and cause unbelievers to come to the Lord Jesus to believe on him who died and who rose again so that sinners might have everlasting life. We ask that you would go with us now. Help us not to forget the the lessons of the Bible. Help us to put these things into practice in our own hearts and lives. And we pray through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen. We'll close with a brief time of meditation and then be dismissed.
