Sarah Nyhan

I was reading in Luke 18. First there is the story of the Pharisee and the publican. The Pharisee trusted in himself and what he had done. The publican did not; he pleaded for God’s mercy and was saved.

Then we have the story of the little children running to Jesus. Little children are receivers. They are not “good”. They have very little to offer. Jesus says to be like little children in order to enter heaven.

Then there is the story of a ruler who asked Jesus what he had to do in order to get to heaven. Jesus told him that only God is good and then reminded him of the law. The man said he kept the commandments. He was trying to justify himself.

So Jesus tells the ruler to sell everything he has, give to the poor, and follow Jesus in order to get treasure in heaven. Is Jesus’ point that the way to get into heaven is to give away all your money?

Or is His point rather to show the ruler his heart? Because the ruler thinks he is good and Jesus shows him where he isn’t good? That he’d rather have earthly pleasure than Jesus?

We can’t extrapolate that we need to give up all our money in order to get into heaven. We are not able to get into heaven at all by anything that we do or don’t do.

The next story is about a blind beggar. Who, like the children, is seen as having nothing to offer.

He doesn’t ask Jesus to heal him based on what he has done or not done. He, like the publican, begs for mercy. Jesus heals him and tells him his faith has saved him. His faith in what? His faith in his faith? His faith in his works? Or his faith in Jesus and that Jesus could save him?

I am not justified by anything I do or don’t do. I will only ever be justified by Jesus’ righteousness. Which I cannot earn. Which I can reap the benefits of by simply believing that He has given it to me.

So when Jesus is telling people how to get to heaven, is it not so much a formula as if he expects them to be able to do it, but rather so that they will come to the end of themselves and realize they are woefully inadequate, lost, and hopeless without His righteousness and mercy? So that they will then cry out for mercy and receive salvation not by any work but rather because Jesus offers it for free?

The laws drive us to The Cross or condemn us if we choose to justify ourselves. We reject Jesus when we try to justify ourselves by anything other than believing that He gives us the free gift of His righteousness.

Salvation is by grace alone versus any work of our doing. Salvation is not earned by giving away our money, keeping any law, loving enough, etc.

Romans 4: “Now to him who works, the wages are not counted as grace but as debt.”