Monday, February 8, 2016

Confusion on the young rich man (Matthew 19)

Anti-dispensationalists have a heart attack when we tell them that Peter and Paul preached two different gospels as taught in Gal. 1:11-12, 2:1-9, Rom. 16:25, etc [compare Acts 2:38, 3:19 with 13:38-39, 16:30-31]. Scripturally the Gospel of the Kingdom is very different than the Gospel of the Grace of God, saying as the Gospel of the Kingdom contains no cross of Christ (Matt. 16:21-23, Mark 9:9-10, 9:31-32, Luke 9:44-45, Luke 18:31-34, John 20:6-10). 

However, the anti-dispensationalists say, "Nope, there is no way that Christ would have two different gospels preached to Jews and Gentiles. There is only one gospel."

Yet when you ask the anti-dispensationalists why Christ told the rich man to keep the commandments and sell all that he had to have eternal life, they will say "Jesus was simply pointing out that the young ruler, who thought he had kept all the commandments since his youth, failed on commandment number one. He basically demonstrated that money was his God, a violation of the first commandment.

So by anti-dispensational interpretation, Christ DID have two different gospels preached, one for the poor people and another for the rich people. Very inconsistent.    

The truth of the matter is very plain if you read the text:

Matthew 19:
[16] And, behold, one came and said unto him, Good Master, what good thing shall I do, that I may have eternal life?
[17] And he said unto him, Why callest thou me good? there is none good but one, that is, God: but if thou wilt enter into life, keep the commandments.

[18] He saith unto him, Which? Jesus said, Thou shalt do no murder, Thou shalt not commit adultery, Thou shalt not steal, Thou shalt not bear false witness,
[19] Honour thy father and thy mother: and, Thou shalt love thy neighbour as thyself.
[20] The young man saith unto him, All these things have I kept from my youth up: what lack I yet?
[21] Jesus said unto him, If thou wilt be perfect, go and sell that thou hast, and give to the poor, and thou shalt have treasure in heaven: and come and follow me.
[22] But when the young man heard that saying, he went away sorrowful: for he had great possessions.
[23] Then said Jesus unto his disciples, Verily I say unto you, That a rich man shall hardly enter into the kingdom of heaven.
[24] And again I say unto you, It is easier for a camel to go through the eye of a needle, than for a rich man to enter into the kingdom of God.
[25] When his disciples heard it, they were exceedingly amazed, saying, Who then can be saved?
[26] But Jesus beheld them, and said unto them, With men this is impossible; but with God all things are possible.
[27] Then answered Peter and said unto him, Behold, we have forsaken all, and followed thee; what shall we have therefore?
[28] And Jesus said unto them, Verily I say unto you, That ye which have followed me, in the regeneration when the Son of man shall sit in the throne of his glory, ye also shall sit upon twelve thrones, judging the twelve tribes of Israel.
[29] And every one that hath forsaken houses, or brethren, or sisters, or father, or mother, or wife, or children, or lands, for my name's sake, shall receive an hundredfold, and shall inherit everlasting life.
[30] But many that are first shall be last; and the last shall be first
.

The disciples would "inherit everlasting life" because of the WORKS mentioned in verse 29, and it was impossible for a rich man to be saved under that Gospel of the Kingdom (vs.24). That is not Paul's gospel...

"For Christ sent me not to baptize, but to preach the gospel: not with wisdom of words, lest the cross of Christ should be made of none effect. For the preaching of the cross is to them that perish foolishness; but unto us which are saved it is the power of God."  (1 Cor. 1:17-18)

"For I determined not to know any thing among you, save Jesus Christ, and him crucified." (1 Cor. 2:2)

"Moreover, brethren, I declare unto you the gospel which I preached unto you, which also ye have received, and wherein ye stand; By which also ye are saved, if ye keep in memory what I preached unto you, unless ye have believed in vain. For I delivered unto you first of all that which I also received, how that Christ died for our sins according to the scriptures; And that he was buried, and that he rose again the third day according to the scriptures:" (1 Cor. 15:1-4)

"But God forbid that I should glory, save in the cross of our Lord Jesus Christ..." (Gal. 6:14)

--Eli Caldwell

No comments:

Post a Comment

Your questions or comments welcome.