The Rich Kid Ruler Who Walked Away #39 Beyond the Walls Radio

In Matthew 19 we find Jesus in a discussion with a rich young ruler who allegedly desired eternal life. Said another way, he wanted to know how to return to the life and blessing of the Garden that his great, great, great, great ... grandparents were banished from, in the Genesis story. The young man already had most everything he wanted through financial status and community influence, yet he was admittedly unsatisfied in his own heart. Jesus not only showed him how to find redemption from his own slavery to material wealth, but apparently invited him to become the 12th Apostle of the Lamb (to replace the thieving CFO on staff at that time - Judas Iscariot - who was actively embezzling funds for himself). The central theme of finances in this context are remarkable to consider. Our Redeemer's very birth in the stable was the direct result of the profound generosity of our Father in Heaven. Generosity, among other virtues, remains a chief characteristic we must all embrace in order to truly follow Christ. In this sermon, Pastor Gordon explains why Jesus' invitation for the ruler to become a disciple was preceded by an invitation for him to cease living in dysfunctional dominion (building one's own private wealth) and, instead, sell everything chaining his soul, donate it to the needs of the poor, and follow Christ into the true riches of the eternal life. In the end, a very rich man asked for eternal life, but, ironically, decided it was too expensive. There would be no redemption for anyone without the generosity of our Father God. There is no other path to Heaven but through the gift Father God gave the world in His son, Jesus Christ. There is no way to accept Jesus Christ while rejecting His body on the earth, which is His church. There is no other path to taking righteous dominion than through the grace of giving. Extra Ecclesiam Nulla Salus!