Living in Liberty

A Ministry of Bryce Lowance

Elder Bryce Lowrance

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Luke 10:25-28 How To Inherit Eternal Life

28 November 2016

“And, behold, a certain lawyer stood up, and tempted him, saying, Master, what shall I do to inherit eternal life? He said unto him, What is written in the law? how readest thou? And he answering said, Thou shalt love the Lord thy God with all thy heart, and with all thy soul, and with all thy strength, and with all thy mind; and thy neighbour as thyself. And he said unto him, Thou hast answered right: this do, and thou shalt live.” (Luke 10:25-28)

The most popular lesson taught in the account of the Good Samaritan is how we should be loving everyone equally. While this is an excellent lesson in discipleship, I believe this conversation is included by Luke for a different reason. Before this lesson to the lawyer, there has been an ongoing tension between the disciples of who would be greatest in the kingdom when Jesus is gone. There is an unhealthy, and pointless, struggle of self justification.

The Pharisees commonly taught that “everyone that justifies himself below (on earth), he justifies himself above (in heaven).” This lawyer comes to Jesus on this premise of appearing to be righteous before men. He therefore asks Jesus what must HE do in order to inherit eternal life.

Rather than directly answering this man’s question, Jesus uses the same technique the Pharisees use. He responds to the lawyer’s question with a question of His own. By doing this, He logically leads the man to convict himself rather than finding the grounds for self-justification he desires.

When asked what the law says, the lawyer shows a clear understanding of what the law SAYS. Jesus agrees and simply says, “Go ahead, do that. All you have to do is live a perfect life, and you’re in!”

This exposes the man’s helplessness and ours.

Paul teaches us this same doctrinal point:

“Therefore by the deeds of the law there shall no flesh be justified in his sight: for by the law is the knowledge of sin.” (Romans 3:20)

Paul will go on to teach the same principle that Luke is showing in his gospel. All attempts to self justify or to save oneself by will or work are futile.

Jesus had set His face toward Jerusalem a few chapters before in Luke. Jesus dying on the cross is the only hope that men have for salvation. We are justified freely by His blood having His righteousness imputed to us.

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Tags: devotional, discipleship, luke

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Brentwood Hills Primitive Baptist Church is a community of believers working together to transform our lives to the image of Jesus Christ. We believe it is our duty and privilege to live the gospel of the doctrines of grace in such a way as to edify the families within our church and other children of God in our community. Through regular worship based on strong Biblical principles, fellowship, admonishment, and outreach, we glory in the grace of the sovereign God working in our lives thereby showing the Spirit of God in the world.

Brentwood Hills was organized in 1906 in Fort Worth, Texas as Laodicea Primitive Baptist Church. You can find much of the history of the church, as well as other churches here: Primitive Baptist History Database

We identify ourselves as an old-line Primitive Baptist church. If you read our Articles of Faith, you’ll see that we hold to such doctrines as the inspiration and inerrancy of the Bible. We recognize the King James Version (KJV) as the only English translation worthy of being called the Bible. We believe in salvation solely by the grace of a sovereign God. We believe that Jesus Christ, the only begotten Son of God, came to the earth to do the will of His Father, which was to deliver from the sentence of death all those the Father gave Him before the world began. We believe that Jesus fully satisfied the Father by atoning for all the sins of all His people. In time, we believe the Holy Spirit comes to each person that belongs to Jesus and regenerates them. Then (and only then) can anyone have faith, which is a fruit of the Spirit, by which you are able to believe the glorious gospel of Jesus Christ. Whether or not you ever hear the gospel, or believe it if you did hear it, or obey it if you did believe it, rest assured that Jesus will remain forever faithful to you because, if He died for you, He will never deny that you belong to Him.

We believe that everyone for whom Christ died will without fail be raised again from the dead to a glorified life. Even if we are alive when He returns to raise the dead, we shall be changed to a glorified life. All the Redeemed will meet the Lord in the air. Then He will take us to Heaven and there we shall forever be with the Lord. The wicked will be raised at the same time as the righteous, but the wicked shall go away into everlasting punishment along with Satan and his angels. Until that glorious day when Christ returns to raise the dead, He has provided a place for His people to find rest for their souls. This place is the Church. Jesus Christ set-up His church on this earth before His death on the Cross. The church is there for those of His people who have come to believe that God saved them by His Son, Jesus Christ. To believe that Christ “paid it all” gives believers the strongest motivation to serve Him. Once enlightened to this glorious truth, then the child of God should feel an obligation to become and remain an active member of the His church. To serve the Lord in His church makes for one of the great blessings to experience this side of Heaven. It fulfills you to serve in His church and it gives your life purpose and meaning.