Thy mercy, my God, is the theme
of my song. A rich young ruler approached
the Lord with seeming sincere desire to know what he needed
to do in order to enter into eternal life. He was not quite
prepared for the response of the Lord Jesus, since he assumed
that he had it within his power to perform some deed of obedience
which would ensure his entrance to glory. Most who look at this
passage assume that the thing which the man lacked was giving
up his riches. The young ruler's reluctance
to part with his possessions was not the thing that he lacked,
but rather it was but a glaring symptom of what his true lack
was. The one thing that he was devoid
of was a knowledge of the righteousness of Christ. The Lord confronted
him with the wickedness of his own heart, and he went away sorrowing. Perhaps he was brought to repentance
that needed not to be repented of. We have no way of knowing,
but we do know that he lacked exactly the same thing that every
son of Adam does by nature. That is a perfect righteousness
which can only be supplied by him who imputes his righteousness
to them. The rich young ruler, just like
the multitude of religious zealots today, believed that he could
somehow do something that would influence God to bless him. He
was ignorant that salvation is not by works of righteousness,
which we have done, but according to his mercy he saved us, by
the washing of regeneration and renewing of the Holy Ghost, which
he shed on us abundantly through Jesus Christ our Savior, that
being justified by his grace, we should be made heirs according
to the hope of eternal life. A man who does not stand clothed
in the imputed righteousness of Christ alone is an outcast
from heaven's glory and can in no wise enter its portal through
any other means. Isaiah plainly labeled our righteousnesses,
that is, religious service, knowledge, obedience, et cetera, as filthy
rags. There's not one thing that a
man can add to that which Christ has performed and provided for
them for whom he bled. His imputed righteousness is
the missing ingredient in the salvation of any man. Yea, in
fact, it is the only ingredient upon which those who are redeemed
by his blood find a place of acceptance in his righteous kingdom.
For he hath made him to be sin for us who knew no sin, that
we might be made the righteousness of God in him. As God is pleased
to give His people faith to believe the gospel, which He has sent
to be preached to every creature, they are made to rejoice that
He is their peace, who has broken down all barriers between them
and their Heavenly Father, and has given them a conscience void
of offense by the work of Christ their Lord. But Christ, being
coming high priest of good things to come, by a greater and more
perfect tabernacle, not made with hands, that is to say, not
of this building, neither by the blood of goats and calves,
but by his own blood, he entered in once into the holy place,
having obtained eternal redemption for us. For if the blood of bulls
and goats, and the ashes of an heifer sprinkling the unclean,
sanctify to the purifying of the flesh, how much more shall
the blood of Christ, who through the eternal Spirit offered himself
without spot to God, purge your conscience from dead works, to
serve the living God? Not all the blood of beasts on
Jewish altars slain could give the guilty conscience peace or
wash away the stain, but Christ, the heavenly Lamb, takes all
our sins away, a sacrifice of nobler name and richer blood
than they. My faith would lay her hand on
that dear head of thine, while like a penitent I stand and there
confess my sin. My soul looks back to see the
burdens thou didst bear when hanging on the accursed tree
and hopes her guilt was there. Believing we rejoice to see the
curse removed, we bless the Lamb with cheerful voice and sing
his bleeding love. Having therefore, brethren, boldness
to enter into the holiest by the blood of Jesus, by a new
and living way which he hath consecrated for us through the
veil, that is to say his flesh, and having a high priest over
the house of God, let us draw near with a true heart and full
assurance of faith, having our hearts sprinkled from an evil
conscience and our bodies washed with pure water. Let us hold
fast the profession of our faith without wavering, for he is faithful
that promised. And let us consider one another
to provoke unto love and to good works. Are you trusting in your
own righteousness, obedience, and faith? Or have you cast yourself
on the mercy of God to give you a righteousness that is without
spot or blemish? If you would like a free transcript
of this broadcast, email us at forthepoor at windstream.net.