You are not saved by going to church. You become a Christian by repentance and believing in Jesus Christ alone for salvation. You are saved only by faith in Christ and what he did for you on that cross. After you are saved, you will be a new creature with new desires. A believer in Christ should desire to attend a biblical church and have regular fellowship with other believers. It is essential in your walk of faith and will help you as God makes you into the image of Christ. On Sunday mornings you can either make a bad habit of being lazy and doing things that have nothing to do with God. Or you can make a good habit of waking up and participating in a godly church in your area. Christians don’t obey Scripture or go to church because we think it saves us. We do it because we desire Christ and are so thankful for what he did for us. You can never have enough of hearing the Gospel of Jesus Christ. Do not neglect meeting together. Make regular church attendance your priority. You know what God wants you to do so do it. You will have more zeal for Christ and you will not be disappointed. Don’t go to church for the wrong reasons, but for the right ones.

1. Jesus Christ died for the church Ephesians 5:25 Husbands, love your wives, just as Christ loved the church and gave himself up for her.

2. We must be imitators of Christ and his apostles Luke 4:16 He went to Nazareth, where he had been brought up, and on the Sabbath day he went into the synagogue, as was his custom. He stood up to read, Mark 1:21 Jesus and his companions went to the town of Capernaum. When the Sabbath day came, he went into the synagogue and began to teach. Luke 6:6 And it came to pass also on another sabbath, that he entered into the synagogue and taught: and there was a man whose right hand was withered. Acts 11:26 and when he found him, he brought him to Antioch. So for a whole year Barnabas and Saul met with the church and taught great numbers of people. The disciples were called Christians first at Antioch. 1 Corinthians 11:1 Be ye followers of me , even as I also am of Christ.

3. You learn and better understand Scripture. It increases your growth in your walk of faith. Colossians 3:16 Let the word of Christ dwell in you richly, teaching and admonishing one another in all wisdom , singing psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, with thankfulness in your hearts to God. 2 Timothy 2:15 Do your best to present yourself to God as one approved, a worker who does not need to be ashamed and who correctly handles the word of truth. Proverbs 1:5 Let the wise hear and increase in learning , and the one who understands obtain guidance. 2 Timothy 3:16 All Scripture is God-breathed and is useful for teaching, rebuking, correcting and training in righteousness,

4. There is more guidance Proverbs 11:14 Where there is no guidance, a people falls, but in an abundance of counselors there is safety. Proverbs 24:6 for by wise guidance you can wage your war, and in abundance of counselors there is victory.

5. To have fellowship with your Lord and Savior Jesus Christ 1 John 1:3 We proclaim to you what we have seen and heard, so that you also may have fellowship with us. And our fellowship is with the Father and with his Son, Jesus Christ. Matthew 18:20 For where two or three gather in my name, there am I with them.” Matthew 28:20 and teaching them to obey everything I have commanded you. And surely I am with you always, to the very end of the age.”

6. It is important to have fellowship with other believers. Share, encourage, teach, love, help, etc. Hebrews 10:24-25 And let us consider how we may spur one another on toward love and good deeds, not giving up meeting together, as some are in the habit of doing, but encouraging one another –and all the more as you see the Day approaching. Galatians 6:2 Bear ye one another’s burdens, and so fulfil the law of Christ. Acts 2:42-47 They devoted themselves to the apostles’ teaching and to fellowship, to the breaking of bread and to prayer. Everyone was filled with awe at the many wonders and signs performed by the apostles. All the believers were together and had everything in common. They sold property and possessions to give to anyone who had need. Every day they continued to meet together in the temple courts. They broke bread in their homes and ate together with glad and sincere hearts, praising God and enjoying the favor of all the people. And the Lord added to their number daily those who were being saved.

7. To worship God John 4:23-24 But the hour is coming, and is now here, when the true worshipers will worship the Father in spirit and truth, for the Father is seeking such people to worship him. God is spirit, and those who worship him must worship in spirit and truth.” Psalms 150:6 Let everything that has breath praise the LORD ! Praise the LORD!

1 Corinthians 10:31 So, whether you eat or drink, or whatever you do, do all to the glory of God. Romans 12:1-2 Therefore, I urge you, brothers and sisters, in view of God’s mercy, to offer your bodies as a living sacrifice, holy and pleasing to God—this is your true and proper worship. Do not conform to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind. Then you will be able to test and approve what God’s will is—his good, pleasing and perfect will.

8. Christians make up the body of Christ. We belong to each other and we are to use what God has equipped us with for good.

Romans 12:4-5 For just as each of us has one body with many members, and these members do not all have the same function, so in Christ we, though many, form one body, and each member belongs to all the others. Romans 12:6-8 We have different gifts, according to the grace given to each of us. If your gift is prophesying, then prophesy in accordance with your faith; if it is serving, then serve; if it is teaching, then teach; if it is to encourage, then give encouragement; if it is giving, then give generously; if it is to lead, do it diligently; if it is to show mercy, do it cheerfully.

Ephesians 4:11-12 So Christ himself gave the apostles, the prophets, the evangelists, the pastors and teachers, to equip his people for works of service, so that the body of Christ may be built up until we all reach unity in the faith and in the knowledge of the Son of God and become mature, attaining to the whole measure of the fullness of Christ. 1 Corinthians 12:26-27 If one part suffers, every part suffers with it; if one part is honored, every part rejoices with it . Now you are the body of Christ, and each one of you is a part of it.

9. To be a good example 1 Timothy 4:12 Don’t let anyone look down on you because you are young, but set an example for the believers in speech, in conduct, in love, in faith and in purity. Ephesians 5:1-2 Follow God’s example, therefore, as dearly loved children and walk in the way of love, just as Christ loved us and gave himself up for us as a fragrant offering and sacrifice to God.

10. It is important for spiritual growth and spiritual strength Colossians 1:9-10 And so, from the day we heard, we have not ceased to pray for you, asking that you may be filled with the knowledge of his will in all spiritual wisdom and understanding, so as to walk in a manner worthy of the Lord, fully pleasing to him, bearing fruit in every good work and increasing in the knowledge of God.

1 Peter 2:2-5 Like newborn babies, crave pure spiritual milk, so that by it you may grow up in your salvation, now that you have tasted that the Lord is good. As you come to him, the living Stone —rejected by humans but chosen by God and precious to him you also, like living stones, are being built into a spiritual house to be a holy priesthood, offering spiritual sacrifices acceptable to God through Jesus Christ.

Ephesians 6:10-18 Finally, be strong in the Lord and in his mighty power. Put on the full armor of God, so that you can take your stand against the devil’s schemes. For our struggle is not against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the powers of this dark world and against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly realms. Therefore put on the full armor of God, so that when the day of evil comes, you may be able to stand your ground, and after you have done everything, to stand. Stand firm then, with the belt of truth buckled around your waist, with the breastplate of righteousness in place, and with your feet fitted with the readiness that comes from the gospel of peace. In addition to all this, take up the shield of faith, with which you can extinguish all the flaming arrows of the evil one. Take the helmet of salvation and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God. And pray in the Spirit on all occasions with all kinds of prayers and requests. With this in mind, be alert and always keep on praying for all the Lord’s people

11. To put God first. Instead of doing other things on Sunday go to church

Matthew 6:33 But seek first his kingdom and his righteousness , and all these things will be given to you as well.

12. It is never good to isolate yourself from other believers. In your time of need how can someone help you? In someone else’s time of need how can you help them? Your spiritual growth will be hindered.

Proverbs 18:1 Whoever isolates himself seeks his own desire; he breaks out against all sound judgment. Going to church regularly is doing God’s will. As a reminder just because there are many people in a building doesn’t mean that is a church. Don’t go to a worldly church, but actually get up, stop making stupid excuses, and find a biblical place of worship today!! (Ephesians 5:17 Therefore do not be foolish, but understand what the will of the Lord is.)

DanceVille:
You are not saved by going to church. You become a Christian by
repentance and believing in Jesus
Christ alone for salvation. You are
saved only by faith in Christ and
what he did for you on that cross.
After you are saved, you will be a
new creature with new desires. A
believer in Christ should desire to
attend a biblical church and have
regular fellowship with other
believers. It is essential in your
walk of faith and will help you as
God makes you into the image of
Christ. On Sunday mornings you
can either make a bad habit of
being lazy and doing things that
have nothing to do with God. Or
you can make a good habit of
waking up and participating in a
godly church in your area.
Christians don’t obey Scripture or
go to church because we think it
saves us. We do it because we
desire Christ and are so thankful
for what he did for us. You can
never have enough of hearing the
Gospel of Jesus Christ. Do not
neglect meeting together. Make
regular church attendance your
priority. You know what God wants
you to do so do it. You will have
more zeal for Christ and you will
not be disappointed. Don’t go to
church for the wrong reasons, but
for the right ones.


1. Jesus Christ died for the church
Ephesians 5:25 Husbands, love
your wives, just as Christ loved the
church and gave himself up for her.


2. We must be imitators of Christ
and his apostles
Luke 4:16 He went to Nazareth,
where he had been brought up, and
on the Sabbath day he went into
the synagogue, as was his custom.
He stood up to read,
Mark 1:21 Jesus and his
companions went to the town of
Capernaum. When the Sabbath day
came, he went into the synagogue
and began to teach.
Luke 6:6 And it came to pass also
on another sabbath, that he
entered into the synagogue and
taught: and there was a man
whose right hand was withered.
Acts 11:26 and when he found him,
he brought him to Antioch. So for a
whole year Barnabas and Saul met
with the church and taught great
numbers of people. The disciples
were called Christians first at
Antioch.
1 Corinthians 11:1 Be ye followers
of me , even as I also am of Christ.


3. You learn and better understand
Scripture. It increases your growth
in your walk of faith.
Colossians 3:16 Let the word of
Christ dwell in you richly, teaching
and admonishing one another in
all wisdom , singing psalms and
hymns and spiritual songs, with
thankfulness in your hearts to God.
2 Timothy 2:15 Do your best to
present yourself to God as one
approved, a worker who does not
need to be ashamed and who
correctly handles the word of truth.
Proverbs 1:5 Let the wise hear and
increase in learning , and the one
who understands obtain guidance.
2 Timothy 3:16 All Scripture is
God-breathed and is useful for
teaching, rebuking, correcting and
training in righteousness,


4. There is more guidance
Proverbs 11:14 Where there is no
guidance, a people falls, but in an
abundance of counselors there is
safety.
Proverbs 24:6 for by wise guidance
you can wage your war, and in
abundance of counselors there is
victory.


5. To have fellowship with your
Lord and Savior Jesus Christ
1 John 1:3 We proclaim to you
what we have seen and heard, so
that you also may have fellowship
with us. And our fellowship is with
the Father and with his Son, Jesus
Christ.
Matthew 18:20 For where two or
three gather in my name, there am
I with them.”
Matthew 28:20 and teaching them
to obey everything I have
commanded you. And surely I am
with you always, to the very end of
the age.”


6. It is important to have
fellowship with other believers.
Share, encourage, teach, love,
help, etc.
Hebrews 10:24-25 And let us
consider how we may spur one
another on toward love and good
deeds, not giving up meeting
together, as some are in the habit
of doing, but encouraging one
another –and all the more as you
see the Day approaching.
Galatians 6:2 Bear ye one
another’s burdens, and so fulfil the
law of Christ.
Acts 2:42-47 They devoted
themselves to the apostles’
teaching and to fellowship, to the
breaking of bread and to prayer.
Everyone was filled with awe at the
many wonders and signs
performed by the apostles. All the
believers were together and had
everything in common. They sold
property and possessions to give
to anyone who had need. Every
day they continued to meet
together in the temple courts. They
broke bread in their homes and ate
together with glad and sincere
hearts, praising God and enjoying
the favor of all the people. And the
Lord added to their number daily
those who were being saved.


7. To worship God
John 4:23-24 But the hour is
coming, and is now here, when the
true worshipers will worship the
Father in spirit and truth, for the
Father is seeking such people to
worship him. God is spirit, and
those who worship him must
worship in spirit and truth.”
Psalms 150:6 Let everything that
has breath praise the LORD ! Praise
the LORD!


1 Corinthians 10:31 So, whether
you eat or drink, or whatever you
do, do all to the glory of God.
Romans 12:1-2 Therefore, I urge
you, brothers and sisters, in view
of God’s mercy, to offer your
bodies as a living sacrifice, holy
and pleasing to God—this is your
true and proper worship. Do not
conform to the pattern of this
world, but be transformed by the
renewing of your mind. Then you
will be able to test and approve
what God’s will is—his good,
pleasing and perfect will.


8. Christians make up the body of
Christ. We belong to each other
and we are to use what God has
equipped us with for good.


Romans 12:4-5 For just as each of
us has one body with many
members, and these members do
not all have the same function, so
in Christ we, though many, form
one body, and each member
belongs to all the others.
Romans 12:6-8 We have different
gifts, according to the grace given
to each of us. If your gift is
prophesying, then prophesy in
accordance with your faith; if it is
serving, then serve; if it is
teaching, then teach; if it is to
encourage, then give
encouragement; if it is giving, then
give generously; if it is to lead, do
it diligently; if it is to show mercy,
do it cheerfully.


Ephesians 4:11-12 So Christ
himself gave the apostles, the
prophets, the evangelists, the
pastors and teachers, to equip his
people for works of service, so that
the body of Christ may be built
up until we all reach unity in the
faith and in the knowledge of the
Son of God and become mature,
attaining to the whole measure of
the fullness of Christ.
1 Corinthians 12:26-27 If one part
suffers, every part suffers with it; if
one part is honored, every part
rejoices with it . Now you are the
body of Christ, and each one of
you is a part of it.


9. To be a good example
1 Timothy 4:12 Don’t let anyone
look down on you because you are
young, but set an example for the
believers in speech, in conduct, in
love, in faith and in purity.
Ephesians 5:1-2 Follow God’s
example, therefore, as dearly loved
children and walk in the way of
love, just as Christ loved us and
gave himself up for us as a fragrant
offering and sacrifice to God.


10. It is important for spiritual
growth and spiritual strength
Colossians 1:9-10 And so, from
the day we heard, we have not
ceased to pray for you, asking that
you may be filled with the
knowledge of his will in all spiritual
wisdom and understanding, so as
to walk in a manner worthy of the
Lord, fully pleasing to him, bearing
fruit in every good work and
increasing in the knowledge of
God.


1 Peter 2:2-5 Like newborn babies,
crave pure spiritual milk, so that by
it you may grow up in your
salvation, now that you have
tasted that the Lord is good. As
you come to him, the living Stone
—rejected by humans but chosen
by God and precious to him you
also, like living stones, are being
built into a spiritual house to be a
holy priesthood, offering spiritual
sacrifices acceptable to God
through Jesus Christ.


Ephesians 6:10-18 Finally, be
strong in the Lord and in his
mighty power. Put on the full
armor of God, so that you can take
your stand against the devil’s
schemes. For our struggle is not
against flesh and blood, but
against the rulers, against the
authorities, against the powers of
this dark world and against the
spiritual forces of evil in the
heavenly realms. Therefore put on
the full armor of God, so that when
the day of evil comes, you may be
able to stand your ground, and
after you have done everything, to
stand. Stand firm then, with the
belt of truth buckled around your
waist, with the breastplate of
righteousness in place, and with
your feet fitted with the readiness
that comes from the gospel of
peace. In addition to all this, take
up the shield of faith, with which
you can extinguish all the flaming
arrows of the evil one. Take the
helmet of salvation and the sword
of the Spirit, which is the word of
God. And pray in the Spirit on all
occasions with all kinds of prayers
and requests. With this in mind, be
alert and always keep on praying
for all the Lord’s people


11. To put God first. Instead of
doing other things on Sunday go
to church


Matthew 6:33 But seek first his
kingdom and his righteousness ,
and all these things will be given
to you as well.


12. It is never good to isolate
yourself from other believers. In
your time of need how can
someone help you? In someone
else’s time of need how can you
help them? Your spiritual growth
will be hindered.


Proverbs 18:1 Whoever isolates
himself seeks his own desire; he
breaks out against all sound
judgment.
Going to church regularly is doing
God’s will. As a reminder just
because there are many people in
a building doesn’t mean that is a
church. Don’t go to a worldly
church, but actually get up, stop
making stupid excuses, and find a
biblical place of worship today!!
(Ephesians 5:17 Therefore do not
be foolish, but understand what
the will of the Lord is.)

Please how does Jesus Christ (pbuh) worship ?

aob2882:

Please how does Jesus Christ (pbuh) worship ?

The Trinity states that: (1) there is only one God by nature (2) there are three Persons (Father, Son,
Holy Spirit) who all share the divine nature (3) and that all three Persons are distinct. Jesus, the Son, in His incarnation took upon Himself a human nature and was 100% God and 100% man.

When He worshiped God was he worshipping Himself? When He was praying to God was He praying to Himself? No, in His human nature he was worshipping the Father who was God, because that is the proper duty of man.

There are things God the father know that Jesus in his Human nature do not know, for example if you notice a demon possessed man being healed, prior to his healing, he act strange, he speak with uncontrolled voice, and he say words which in his real sense would not say, but the time he get healed, when you told him what he say, he will deny saying such things and acting in such a way, why? Because his demonic nature and human nature are DISTINCT from each other ( just as God and Jesus was ).

so Jesus is a man who was possessed by God, here are proof:

Jesus claimed to have many of the
attributes that God alone possesses.
Jesus claimed to have sent the prophets:
Matthew 23:34
"Therefore, behold, I am sending you
prophets and wise men and scribes;
some of them you will kill and crucify,
and some of them you will scourge in
your synagogues, and persecute from city to city,

However, the Old Testament indicates
that God sent the prophets. Therefore,
Jesus was claiming the authority that was previously reserved only for God.

Jesus claimed that His origins are from
heaven, whereas men are from the
world:
John 3:13
"And no one has ascended into heaven,
but He who descended from heaven,
even the Son of Man.

Jesus also claimed to have existed
"before the world began":
John 17:5
"And now, Father, glorify me in your
presence with the glory I had with you
before the world began."

This statement is an obvious claim to
deity. Not only did Jesus claim to exist
before the creation of the universe, but
He claimed to share the glory of God!

Jesus also claimed that He had "all
authority... in heaven and on earth" and
that everything of God was His.

Matthew 28:18
And Jesus came up and spoke to them,
saying, "All authority has been given to
Me in heaven and on earth."

Jesus accepted the title of God. Not only did Jesus claim the attributes of God,but He even accepted the title GOD, Thomas the ever-skeptical disciple, was unconvinced that Jesus had risen from the dead and wanted to see direct proof. However, when the Lord Jesus appeared to him, his only reaction was "My Lord and my God!"

John 20:28-29
Thomas answered and said to Him, "MY LORD AND MY GOD !" Jesus said to him,
"Because you have seen Me, have you
believed? Blessed are they who did not
see, and yet believed."

What was Jesus' reaction to the title of
God? Did Jesus rebuke him for calling
Him "God"? No! In fact, Jesus praised
Thomas for his belief. And the belief that Thomas exhibited was that Jesus was LORD AND GOD . If Jesus were not God, accepting such a statement for truth would be a grievous sin. Either Jesus is God or He would have to be a sinner!

Extra Time

malvisguy212:
The Trinity states that: (1) there is only one God by nature (2) there are three Persons (Father, Son,
Holy Spirit) who all share the divine nature (3) and that all three Persons are distinct. Jesus, the Son, in His incarnation took upon Himself a human nature and was 100% God and 100% man.

When He worshiped God was he worshipping Himself? When He was praying to God was He praying to Himself? No, in His human nature he was worshipping the Father who was God, because that is the proper duty of man.

There are things God the father know that Jesus in his Human nature do not know, for example if you notice a demon possessed man being healed, prior to his healing, he act strange, he speak with uncontrolled voice, and he say words which in his real sense would not say, but the time he get healed, when you told him what he say, he will deny saying such things and acting in such a way, why? Because his demonic nature and human nature are DISTINCT from each other ( just as God and Jesus was ).

so Jesus is a man who was possessed by God, here are proof:

Jesus claimed to have many of the
attributes that God alone possesses.
Jesus claimed to have sent the prophets:
Matthew 23:34
"Therefore, behold, I am sending you
prophets and wise men and scribes;
some of them you will kill and crucify,
and some of them you will scourge in
your synagogues, and persecute from city to city,

However, the Old Testament indicates
that God sent the prophets. Therefore,
Jesus was claiming the authority that was previously reserved only for God.

Jesus claimed that His origins are from
heaven, whereas men are from the
world:
John 3:13
"And no one has ascended into heaven,
but He who descended from heaven,
even the Son of Man.

Jesus also claimed to have existed
"before the world began":
John 17:5
"And now, Father, glorify me in your
presence with the glory I had with you
before the world began."

This statement is an obvious claim to
deity. Not only did Jesus claim to exist
before the creation of the universe, but
He claimed to share the glory of God!

Jesus also claimed that He had "all
authority... in heaven and on earth" and
that everything of God was His.

Matthew 28:18
And Jesus came up and spoke to them,
saying, "All authority has been given to
Me in heaven and on earth."

Jesus accepted the title of God. Not only did Jesus claim the attributes of God,but He even accepted the title GOD, Thomas the ever-skeptical disciple, was unconvinced that Jesus had risen from the dead and wanted to see direct proof. However, when the Lord Jesus appeared to him, his only reaction was "My Lord and my God!"

John 20:28-29
Thomas answered and said to Him, "MY LORD AND MY GOD !" Jesus said to him,
"Because you have seen Me, have you
believed? Blessed are they who did not
see, and yet believed."

What was Jesus' reaction to the title of
God? Did Jesus rebuke him for calling
Him "God"? No! In fact, Jesus praised
Thomas for his belief. And the belief that Thomas exhibited was that Jesus was LORD AND GOD . If Jesus were not God, accepting such a statement for truth would be a grievous sin. Either Jesus is God or He would have to be a sinner!

Matthew 19:16-17
16 Now behold, one came and said to Him, “Good[a] Teacher, what good thing shall I do that I may have eternal life?”

17 So He said to him, “Why do you call Me good?[b] No one is good but One, that is, God.[c] But if you want to enter into life, keep the commandments.”

aob2882:

Matthew 19:16-17
16 Now behold, one came and said to Him, “Good[a] Teacher, what good thing shall I do that I may have eternal life?”

17 So He said to him, “Why do you call Me good?[b] No one is good but One, that is, God.[c] But if you want to enter into life, keep the commandments.”

https://www.nairaland.com/2738621/why-call-me-good-analyze

In the Gospels, a rich, young man
approached Jesus and said to him, “Good
teacher, what must I do to inherit eternal
life?” Jesus gave the infamous reply,“Why
do you call me good? No one is good
except God alone.” This story is
found in Matthew, Mark, and Luke; critics
of Jesus’ claims to deity often use it as
ammunition in their case for a non-
divine Jesus. It seems, they argue, that
Jesus is denying deity here by refusing
the title ‘GOOD’ as it is something
reserved solely for God. I contend that
even a surface-level reading of this
narrative does not even remotely
support that conclusion.
I don’t see how Jesus’ clarification of
God’s nature is equivalent to him
denying deity. This is akin to someone
coming to me and calling me, “Dr. Paul.” I
respond by saying, “Why do you call me
doctor? No man can be a doctor, only he
who holds a doctorate.”
I can either mean one of two things:
1. No one can be a doctor unless he
holds a doctorate.
2. I do not hold a doctorate.
3. Therefore, I am not a doctor.
or…
1. No one can be a doctor unless he
holds a doctorate.
2. I hold a doctorate.
3. Therefore, I am a doctor.
By asking “Why do you call me doctor?”,
am I denying my title? Of course not. I
am simply clarifying what the title
means. I am neither validating nor
rejecting the title. In any case, I don’t
have a doctorate (yet!) but the point still
stands.
You can see how such reasoning is
completely absurd, and yet this is what
we see when critics use Jesus’ words in
this passage to try to show his non deity.
Having said all of that, let’s have another
look at what Jesus said in this passage.
He only said two statements:
1. Why do you call me good?
2. No one is good except God
The only piece of information that Jesus
gave is this: No one is good but God.
There are 2 ways to understand his
statement:
1. Only God is good.
2. I am not good.
3. Therefore, I am not God.
or
1. Only God is good.
2. I am good.
3. Therefore, I am God.
In this specific instance, from these
words alone, Jesus does make known to
us which of these he meant. It is both
ignorant and presumptive of anyone to
use this passage, alone, to argue for
Jesus’ non-deity. Why should the first
reading be the desirable one over the
second reading? Jesus’ statement that
only God is good does not, itself, tell us
whether he was affirming or denying
being God.
But if we keep reading, we find that
Jesus sheds some light on what he
meant. Jesus answers the man’s original
question about obtaining eternal life
with this“You know the commandments:
‘You shall not murder, you shall not
commit adultery, you shall not steal, you
shall not give false testimony, you shall
not defraud, honor your father and
mother.'”
The man responds :”Teacher, I have kept
all of these since I was a boy.”
Then Jesus finishes with: “One thing you
lack. Go, sell everything you have then
come, follow me.”
To summarize: In response to the man’s
question, “What must I do to gain eternal
life?”, Jesus responds by telling him to
follow the commandments. But which
commandments does Jesus list?
Notice that Jesus only lists the
commandments that dealt with civil
affairs. The Ten Commandments of
Moses were divided into 2 parts: Laws on
dealing with God and Laws on dealing
with others. Respectively, these were the
moral and civil laws. Jesus names the
civil law for the young man and the
young man responds like any good Jew
would, These I have kept since I was
young.” The man was doing great on
keeping the civil law, but not so much
with the moral law. Instead of then
quoting the first four commandments to
the young man,the commandments that
dealt with man’s relationship with God,
Jesus told the young man, “Sell your
possessions and follow me.” In other
words, “Your god is your money. Get rid
of that and follow me.” Jesus is equating
obeying the moral law with following
himself. The manner in which men can
obtain eternal life is by getting rid of the
false gods in their lives and following
Jesus , replacing them with him!
This claim is monumental! And it gives us
an answer to our initial dilemma. Did
Jesus deny or affirm his deity in asking,
“Why do you call me good?” I think the
answer is clear in light of the rest of that
conversation with the young man. Jesus
equated following himself with keeping
the moral law and obeying the
commandments that governed man’s
relationship with God. Thus, in bringing
up this passage as ammunition for a
non-divine Jesus, the critic shoots
himself in the foot by bringing to the
table a text in which Jesus clearly claims
deity.