The Way to Eternal Life

Welcome in. The common word that was given to me was a desire to continue in this relationship and to build upon it. We told different stories of our journey through this life, and it's your story, and it's my story. We're joined by the Holy Spirit, so it was a wonderful thing. So that could be something that you pray about, that God continued to bring us opportunities to come together and share in this journey and support one another in that way. So it was a wonderful, wonderful experience. I do have one announcement. We will be having a teen hospitality in the morning at 9 a.m. So teen hospitality at 9 a.m. in the morning, port side room, I believe, is what it is. So a message to all of you teens. I invite you to open your Bibles and turn with me to Luke, Chapter 10. Luke, Chapter 10. What shall I do to inherit eternal life? That was the question. That was the very question that was asked to Jesus Christ Himself. And I don't know about you. Is there any better question? If you had one question to ask Jesus at His first coming, could there be any greater question than that? Because that certainly is the question on the minds of you and I today as we are given this picture of eternity here at the great feast of Tabernacles. What shall I do to inherit eternal life? What do you think Jesus' answer was? Let's find out. Luke, Chapter 10. Let's begin reading in verses 25 through 37. Luke 10, verses 25 through 37. And behold, a certain lawyer stood up and tested him, that's Jesus, saying, Teacher, what shall I do to inherit eternal life? And he, Jesus, said to him, What is written in the law? What is your reading of it?

So he answered and said, You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart, with all your soul, with all your strength, and all your mind, and your neighbor as yourself. And he said to him, You have answered rightly. Do this and you will live. But he, wanting to justify himself, said to Jesus, And who is my neighbor?

And Jesus answered and said, A certain man went down from Jerusalem to Jericho, and fell among the thieves, who stripped him of his clothing, wounded him, and departed, leaving him half dead. Now by chance a certain priest came down that road, and when he saw him, he passed down the other side.

Likewise a Levite, when he arrived at the place, came and looked, and passed by the other side. But a certain Samaritan, as he journeyed, came to where he was, and when he saw him, he had compassion. And he went to him and bandaged his wounds, pouring on oil and wine, and set him on his own animal, brought him to an inn, and took care of him.

On the next day, when he departed, he took out two denarii, gave them to the innkeeper, and said to him, Take care of them, and whatever more you spend, when I come again, I will repay you. So which of these three do you think was neighbor to him who fell among the thieves?

And he, the lawyer, said, He who showed mercy on him. And Jesus said to him, Go and do likewise. Now, what a question and what an answer.

And this answer here should mean everything to us today, because we as a people have gathered today, here in this room and all around the world. And at the very core of our gathering lies this hope of eternal life. And to that very hope, this is the question that was asked here in verse 25.

The lawyer asked, What shall I do to inherit eternal life? Now, we could ask, Why is this even a question? Why would anyone ask a question such as this about a life beyond this one? Well, we know that's clearly expressed the reason in Ecclesiastes 3. And we won't take the time to turn there, but Ecclesiastes 3 says, It is there in which we read in which God has set eternity in the hearts of men and women. He has set eternity in our hearts. So, meaning, we are aware of an eternal dimension that is beyond this temporary one. That's why there's such interest in eternity. Mankind figures that if there is eternal life available after this one, then surely we must do something to receive it. But so many are just not sure what that is. And if we, as we come together and as we think about these things, as we think about the coming new heaven and new earth, and we think these things through, where is our confidence, where does it come from that we will be there to usher in these things? Well, our confidence comes from knowing what is the way to eternal life. And in knowing that then, I can make sure that my life is working towards that end.

And here at the beginning, it's very important to realize that with regards to this question and with regards to this answer, Jesus Christ speaks very plainly and very sharply as to what is the way. So, let us do this answer that we will commit ourselves this morning. So, Luke chapter 10. When we begin to come to this chapter, we come to what is one of the most well-known parables we could say in all of the Bible, namely the parable of the Good Samaritan. And in being one of the well-known, it certainly has been subjected to just a number of commentaries, a number of interpretations throughout history. And I bet that if I would ask each of us to write down on a piece of paper what is the message, what is the message of the Good Samaritan, no doubt many of us would bear testimony to those many expositions that have been made, many commentators. Generally, most might surmise it this way.

Now, there's this really nice guy and these not-so-nice guys. Be a nice guy. Don't be those guys. And that's the message of the Good Samaritan. And that is the answer to what you must do to inherit eternal life.

In a sense, that is true. Jesus made that point. But was that the essence of the answer?

Was that truly what Jesus Christ was teaching through this parable to that question? Well, you may have detected. I'm going to suggest to you, no.

I'm going to suggest to you that that wasn't the core essence of the answer. And so, if it is not that, then what is it? What was at the core of Jesus answering with this story?

To get to the core of this answer, it's imperative that we don't remove the parable from the context.

We don't take this story from the framework in which it arose. That's why we begin reading about the Good Samaritan in the verses leading up to the actual parable. Because first and foremost, it's so important to establish something here.

It's so important to establish an understanding about the man who has posed this question to Jesus.

Jesus has met up here with someone who is an expert. He is an expert at the law.

And an expert at the law, not in civil terms, but rather religious terms.

This man was no doubt an expert at the Torah, the first five books of the Bible. An expert in the law. Very knowledgeable about all manner of religious matters and issues.

And so, on the basis of that, we're told in verse 25, he stood up and stood up to test Jesus, it says.

So, Luke is pointing out that this man is not so much interested in seeking information.

No, not at all. Let me tell you, this man knows. Oh, he knows all matters of all that, in regards to this question that he's asking. And he's simply seeking an opportunity to test Jesus, to challenge Him.

And we know the Pharisees loved to do this. All throughout the Gospel, we have them coming up and trying over and over again to trap Jesus. What arrogance it is in this man. Even so, being an expert in the law, that he would dare come to the teacher of the law.

And try to test Jesus on his own words, if you will. Incredible arrogance to try to put Him under the microscope here. And we know that there is always an invitation to come and examine Jesus Christ, examine Him. But it's an invitation to that of a humble heart who's truly seeking, like we are today.

It's not an invitation to an arrogant heart, which we see here. So we're learning a little bit about this lawyer here. And so he tries in verse 26 to trap Him. But Jesus is skillful here. Look at this. Look at this in verse 26. Verse 26, Jesus skillfully turns the tables. Jesus said to him, What is written in the law? What is your reading of it? So in response to his question, that's how Jesus responds. An incredible approach in response to this eternal life question here. So he asks the lawyer right back. And he says, Well, what is written in the law?

Tell me what your reading of it is. He replies, You tell me. Now, picture yourself here at this moment. And picture this man who is attempting to challenge Jesus in this way. It would have been common for this lawyer to have upon him what is called teflin, or phylacteries, is what they call it. These were a small set of leather boxes. And upon them were in there were scrolls of parchment, inscribed verses in it from the Torah, typically worn by the Jews. And they'd wear them during the morning prayers, typically. There is an arm teflin worn on the upper arm here. There's even a forehead teflin. Maybe you've seen that. A small black box worn on their head. So in picturing this man, there would have been a strong chance that he not only claimed to know the law thoroughly and extensively, but that he would also have perhaps worn the law extensively as well.

He could have had sections of Deuteronomy written all over him as he was asking Jesus this question. And so Jesus says, well, huh, you tell me. What does it say there? What does this law say with regards to the answer? And that's an important response by Jesus, because what that is telling the lawyer is that what Jesus is about to put forth, it's nothing new. It's nothing new. The answer is nothing new. And in actuality, your answer lies in the law. Lies in the law. So many thought that Jesus came and he brought a whole new message. Not at all. He says, that's not the case. He says, okay, let's talk about the law. Let's see what it says as to what you shall do to inherit eternal life. So the man responds and notice what he does. He quotes here from Deuteronomy 6 and Leviticus 19. The answer to how you inherit eternal life and what you must do? Verse 27, the lawyer says, verse 27, Love the Lord your God with all your heart and all your soul and all your strength and all your might, and love your neighbor as yourself. Jesus answers him in verse 28, correct. And he said to him, Jesus said, you have answered rightly. Do this and you will live. So Jesus says, right. Well, why don't you go ahead and do that? Go ahead and do that. You will live there. That's what the law says. Go forth, young man. Now, at this moment, we can imagine that this lawyer might have begun to think about eternal life matters in the law in a way in which he never has thought about before.

At this moment, he must have known, he must have known that he hadn't loved God with all his heart, mind, and soul and that he hadn't loved his neighbor as himself. And if these are the two great commandments that are the key to eternal life, then he knew for sure that he wasn't on course to receive that gift. How do we know that? Those thoughts must have been running around in his mind because look at what Luke points out next here. It's so telling. Verse 29 here, Luke records, but he, the lawyer, verse 29, wanting to justify himself, said to Jesus, and who is my neighbor? Did you see it? Wanting to justify himself. Wait, wait, wait, okay. I'm not going to stop there, Jesus. Wait a second. The conversation is not over. Well, tell me then, who is my neighbor? And so it's almost as if that question is with that the lawyer is looking to silence his conscience, justify himself, hide his guilt, perhaps. And this question, who is my neighbor? That's a significant one. Actually, a very significant one here because the Jews at the time had already defined neighbor. The Jewish mind would say, You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart, mind and soul and strength. Love your neighbor as yourself. Neighbor translated other fellow Israelite. Neighbor would be translated in their minds as other fellow Israelites only. And the Pharisees, many of them even narrowed it down even more. They would have taught, you only have to love those who are like you, those who are in your religious circle, if you will.

So by thinking of neighbor in those narrow terms, well, then it made it a little bit more possible to fulfill the law, therefore make eternal life a little bit closer to them. They would have perished the thought of extending love beyond their own, especially to those Gentiles. So, who was my neighbor? was the man on the side of the road, part of the group, or the circle, of the priest? No. Was the man on the side of the road part of the circle, or part of the group, of the Levite?

No. Was the man on the side of the road part of the circle, part of the group, or part of the group, or even the Samaritan? No. So, who is my neighbor? The man on the side of the road represents every man, every woman, who comes within your path. And so, no man has the authorization or the permission to narrow neighbor to his own desired interpretation.

That's important to keep in mind as we go along here. So, this is the subject matter. These are the questions we're dealing with, all pointing to the overarching question, what shall I do to inherit eternal life? And so Jesus says, let me tell you a story. And we begin here in verse 30. Now, within this story, let me remind you, is the answer as to what you must do to inherit eternal life. Very important. So, verse 30, let's begin with the story. Verse 30, a certain man went down from Jerusalem to Jericho. Let's stop there for a moment.

The distance from Jerusalem to Jericho is about 17 miles. And it was a very desolate strip of land at that time. So, if you were a robber, looking to make a living as a robber, this would be the place you would go. It was the perfect place, ideal spot for robbers to gather. It wasn't a good stretch at all, not a safe stretch. So, the man fell in the hands of the robbers. The second part of verse 30, certain men came who stripped him of his clothing, wounded him, and departed, leaving him half dead.

Verse 31, Now by chance a certain priest came down that road, and when he saw him, he passed by on the other side. So, there you have the beginning of the story. This is a man who was half dead. You see him, and you see the absolute callousness of the priest, don't you? When there's something to be done, and you avoid doing it, well, by default, that's an act of cruelty here. But in his defense, let's defend the priest for a moment.

What if he was scared? What if he was scared? Might be a pretty big risk. What if he goes over there, and the man's not half dead? He was just pretending. And his cohorts are hiding behind the bushes, and they jump out and beat the priest up and take everything he had. Might have been a risk. Okay. Even so, can we say there was any excuse for the cruelty of the priest? Half dead man, he did nothing for him. So the first came, saw the man pass by the other side. Now, a Levite comes. Verse 32, likewise a Levite.

When he arrived at the place, came and looked, and passed by the other side, that says. So the Levite walks over, looks upon this man, and passes by the other side. So we can even say that the Levite maybe is even worse than the priest in his actions. He actually comes over, looks upon him, decides to move on. Now, it's clear from verse 30 that these individuals are coming from Jerusalem and heading to Jericho. And some of the commentators make much of that fact.

Because if they were heading to the temple, it would have been wrong for these individuals, they say, the priest and the Levite, to contaminate themselves by helping this man on the account of their temple activities. A defilement issue. So let's consider this defilement issue with regards to their inactivity. Priests and Levites were of high status in the community of God's people.

High status based upon they did participate in these temple events and activities. And in a way, their lives were legitimized by this activity. By the clothes they wore, the activities they were involved in, they had a lifestyle in which God's people would look up to them.

They were well regarded and held high in steam in that way. Consequently, such individuals were accustomed to be assessed by the people on the basis of their position. It was an inherited position. And many would have not necessarily been assessed by their character or how they lived their lives. They were good at performing duties and tasks, checking off their obligations, likening the law to that of a to-do list. And that to-do list didn't take into account the caring for an individual, a poor sap, who's half dead on the side of the road.

That's another important thing to keep in mind as we are unraveling this story. It's an important aspect with regards to the answer we're seeking today. Let's continue. In hearing this story, the Lord must have thought, well, okay.

All right, Jesus, I know where this is going. First, you have a priest. Now you have a Levite. I know where this is going. You're going to have now a layman, maybe a Christian layman. It's going to be an anti-priest, anti-Levite story showing that the religious professionals were not doing their job, and the average man on the street comes, and I know where this is going, Jesus. He would have probably never anticipated the rest of the story here when Jesus says, but a Samaritan.

A Samaritan, as he was traveling, in contrast to the two, was moved with compassion and helped the man. We see that in verse 33. But a Samaritan, a certain Samaritan, as he journeyed, verse 33, came where he was, and when he saw him, he had compassion. So the priest had no compassion, the Levite had no compassion, but here's a Samaritan. Now, Samaritan, that was like a bad word to the Pharisee. A Samaritan. And he describes what he did. Let's read verse 34 and 35 again. This is what the Samaritan did. He went to him, bandaged his wounds, poured oil and wine on him, set him on his own animal, brought him into the inn, and took care of him.

Verse 35, on the next day, when he departed, he took out two denarii, gave them to the innkeeper, and said to him, take care of him. And whatever more you spend, when I come again, I will repay you. Incredible. He puts them on his donkey, brings them to the inn, stayed with him, probably stayed with him up all night, holding his hand, wiping the blood off of him, caring for him.

Takes out two coins. There, some compute that two coins is being equivalent to almost two months. In the inn. True compassion. And what sets him apart? What sets him apart is not the fact that he's not part of the religious establishment. What sets him apart is not the fact that he's a layman or even a Samaritan. What sets him apart is his compassion. His compassion. Compassion to the neighbor who has come within his path. So, we see the Samaritan participating in the wonderful compassion of God. And Jesus now drives home the lesson to the lawyer here.

Verse 36. Verse 36. So, which of these three do you think was neighbor to him who fell among the thieves? And the lawyer, the expert of the law, now says what he had to say. Verse 37. He who showed mercy on him. It's interesting, he doesn't say the Samaritan. He couldn't get those words out, probably. He who showed mercy upon him. He was the one who was the neighbor. And it is at this moment, at this very moment, that the lawyer must have been brought fully to an acknowledgment. And the acknowledgment is this. If the action of the Samaritan is, in fact, what it means to love God with all your heart, mind, soul, and strength, and love your neighbor as yourself, if the Samaritan's actions are, in fact, the true expression of the law, then ironically, the lawyer, the expert of the law, would have to acknowledge that he hadn't kept the law.

The lawyer would have to say, if the Samaritan's actions is what loving God and loving your neighbor as yourself means, if that's the true expression of the law, then I haven't kept it. And therefore, I know I'm not on the path to receiving the gift of eternal life. He would have to come to that acknowledgment because he most certainly wasn't expressing the law in this way. Oh, he was keeping the law. He was keeping the law. But was he truly living it? Was it a way of life for him? The lawyer had been keeping the law.

That's honorable, but he wasn't expressing it. He wasn't expressing all that the law demands. You see, because make no doubt the very foundation of this law that we keep. Its foundation is based upon this kind of love. And so, this way of life that we're living, it has to be something more than some intellectual expression. It has to be. At this point, the lawyer would have to come to this understanding about himself, make this acknowledgment, this isn't me. I'm not keeping the law in this way. It's a way of life. I'm not expressing it in this way.

And now that I see all that the law demands, I don't even know if I have it in me. Not sure if I have this in me. To express love in this way. To express the law in this way. And that actually would have been a wonderful thing for the lawyer to acknowledge. Because that's the exact place that Jesus Christ wanted to take him.

Exact place. And I wonder if this is the place where Jesus Christ wants to take us today. The lawyer would have to say, I'm good at keeping the law. I'm good at checking off the requirements that I wear. But I'm not sure if I have it in me to express this that you're speaking of. Jesus, if this is what you've described as the true expression of the law, that's what it looks like, then I haven't kept it. Me, the expert of the law, I haven't kept it. I would have to acknowledge that.

And if that's the way to eternal life, I'm not on it. And at first, those thoughts might seem like a position of weakness. But not at all. This is where the lawyer needed to go. So that he could take that acknowledgement and he could do something about it. He could correct his course, correct his understanding, his limited understanding of all that the law demands.

The question to Jesus, what shall I do to inherit eternal life? And Jesus reveals a depth of which that the lawyer could have never imagined. Because the law not only shows us a way to life, the law also shows us a way of life. The law not only shows us the way to life, the law shows us a way of life.

Are you living it? Jesus stepped upon this earth in a new commandment he would give to magnify the way we live. We sing that. If the law is merely a to-do list of do's and don'ts, if it's merely a list for you, you're not understanding the fullness of all that it demands. Incredible, isn't it? The depth to which is being revealed here in this story. What shall I do to inherit eternal life? The lawyer could have never imagined such an answer. Let's think about this answer here from Jesus.

First and foremost, we understand that we must keep the law. Jesus in no way is doing away with it and in no way is diminishing it in any way.

In actual fact, Jesus is making it fuller, revealing to the expert of the law that keeping the law must have a fuller meaning and understanding.

The lawyer showed up with all this arrogance. Man was he arrogant. All this arrogance and pride in his outward keeping of the law and his observances. The reason Jesus told this story to him was to cut him in the heart, cut him with humility, bring the expert of the law to say he hasn't truly kept it. Until a man or a woman acknowledges all that keeping the law truly is, they will never inherit eternal life. This is the answer. What shall I do?

Jesus is revealing that the road to eternal life includes obedience to the law in every way.

But the law observance cannot be just something up here.

No, rather, it must be expressed, penetrate our hearts, become a way of life. The law shows us what God looks like, who he truly is, and he is love.

And our observance of it should show the world that very thing.

Why do you think Jesus told the young rich man who asked this very same question about eternal life? Why do you think he told him to sell all he had? Let's turn to the incredible parallel. Matthew 19, if you will. Matthew 19.

The parallels between these two stories are incredible.

Same question. Matthew 19. Let's read verses 16 through 22.

Matthew 19, verses 16 through 22. Here, Jesus is now going to be approached to counsel a young rich ruler who asked the same eternal life question. And Jesus answers to him, sell everything. Amazing. Look at this.

Matthew 19, verses 16 through 22.

Now, behold, one came and said to him, Jesus, Good teacher, what good thing shall I do that I may have eternal life? There's the question. And he said to him, Why do you call me good? There is no good but one. And that is God. But if you want to enter into life, keep the commandments. Yes. Yes. The commandments are required. Verse 18. He said to him, Which ones?

Jesus said, Well, you shall not murder. You shall not commit adultery. You shall not steal. You shall not bear false witness. Honor your father and mother. And love your neighbor as yourself. Verse 20. The young man said to him, All these things I've kept from my youth, what do I still lack? Ah, verse 21. Jesus said to him, If you want to be perfect, go sell what you have, give to the poor, and you will have treasure in heaven. And come, follow me. But when the young man heard that saying, he went away sorrowful, for he had great possessions. The young man certainly approached the right man, Jesus, with the right question. And the desire is there. It's a good desire, isn't it? Certainly he wanted to know. He was a mile on this road to eternal life. And he's an honorable young man, isn't he? An honorable young man, in many ways. But Jesus is not going to lower the requirements of eternal life, because the young ruler seemed to be checking off the right boxes. He's not going to lower the standards. And if commandment keeping alone was the answer, then this young man would have left joyful. But he left sorrowful, doesn't it say? Why? Jesus, once again, sinks the dagger, touches his heart, doesn't he? You see, we cannot buy into the idea that the way to eternal life allows you to keep anything of yourself. That's the misassumption here of the young man. It doesn't allow you to keep anything. Wholesale commitment. You have to leave it all. And so, if I read this, no. And I ask myself, is there a possibility that I'm not on the road to eternal life? Is there a possibility I'm not fulfilling all that the law requires? Am I truly expressing the law with this kind of love? With this kind of expression? Is it possible I've grown complacent? And the law has just merely become this outward, intellectual observance and routine. Now, the disciples were pretty astonished here at this moment, here in Matthew 19. Look at verses 23 through 26 here. Then Jesus, verse 23, said to His disciples, "'As surely I say to you that it is hard for a rich man to enter into the kingdom of heaven.' Verse 24, "'And again I say to you, it's easier for a camel to go through the eye of a needle than for a rich man to enter the kingdom of God.' When the disciples heard this, they were greatly astonished, saying, "'Who can then be saved?' The magnitude was hitting them here. Who can be saved?' Verse 26. But Jesus looked at them and said to them, "'With men this is impossible, but with God all things are possible.'" Let's stop there. It is impossible. Haven't you thought...I know I've thought about this many times. Like, saying that probably was going through the lawyer's mind. I don't know if I have this in me. I don't know if I have this in me. I would be the one calculating. Boy, if I go over there, it's a trap. It's too risky. Can't go over there. They're going to jump out of the bushes. What if this? What if that? It's impossible. Unless... Unless the one who makes all things possible comes to live in me. And with his power, anything is possible. That's what Jesus is saying here. I know the expectation that I'm calling you to is too high for you to fulfill. That's why I come and live in you. I give you the power. God is great. God is great because He not only gives the command, but He gives the capability as well. He not only gives the admonishment, but the ability to fulfill what's necessary.

He gives us the power to accomplish all that's required, this higher standard of living.

Now, Peter, who loves to blurt out things at moments like this, he loved this part. He always did this. In verse 27, you can see Peter thinking, oh, okay, well, thank you for telling us about that one man who was not willing to give up everything. Just to remind you, Jesus, we left everything for you. Look at verse 27. Then Peter, verse 27, began to say to him, see, we have left all and followed you. Therefore, what shall we have? So he's looking for a little assurance. Jesus is kind. He's going to give him a little encouragement here. A little encouragement and then a little bit of warning. A word of encouragement and then a word of warning here. The word of encouragement comes first here in verses 28 and 29. Verse 28, so Jesus said to them, Surely I say to you that in the regeneration, when the Son of Man sits on the throne of his glory, you who have followed me will also sit on twelve thrones, judging twelve tribes of Israel. Verse 29, and everyone who has left houses or brothers or sisters or father or mother or wife or children or lands, for my name's sake, shall receive a hundredfold and inherit eternal life. So Jesus wanted to give encouragement to the disciples here. You left everything. There is an eternal life that you will inherit. But here's the thorn in the rose here. The warning. Verse 30. Verse 30, But many who are first will be last, and the last first.

The young man, the lawyer, both showed up with incredible arrogance in their mere checking off of boxes. Incredible arrogance, especially on the lawyer's part. And they would have thought they would be first. Ah. But with their discovery, they may be last.

The young man checked off the commandments one by one every day of his life. The lawyer checked off commandments one by one every day of his life. You and I, we check off the commandments one by one every day of our life. Good. That's right. It's required. But is that all?

The young man, I think about this young man, from his youth. Honorable young man. Kept the commandments. So what would be the need for him to sell all he had?

Why would Jesus Christ look at this young man, this honorable young man, and tell him it's not enough?

If you want to be perfect, sell all you have. Why would he say that?

So that maybe, truly for the first time, this young man would actually see all that's required to inherit eternal life. To see what fulfilling the law actually requires. Get rid of it all. Let's get rid of all that stuff. And let's see what we're left with. Let's see if your law observance has actually done something to you. Let's get rid of it all, and let's see if that law observance has actually affected you. So get rid of it. Get rid of it all. It's not enough. I can't say to myself that I participate regularly in religious services, events, activities. You can see by the clothes I wear on Sabbath, I am of a higher status. I have places to go, people to see, and whatever the problem is with that poor sap in the dirt, I've got other things to do. You see, I might be good at checking off the commandments, and at the end of the day, I can symbolically take them off my arm, and symbolically take them off my head, put them on the nightstand, and think I'm on the road to eternal life. But I'm not. Law observance is a crucial part. It's a required part. It absolutely is. But it's so much more. Paul writes to Timothy, and he refers to some who are always learning, but never able to come to the knowledge of the truth. I just think that is so profound to me. He says to young Timothy, there will be those who are always learning and never able to come to the truth.

What do you think that means? Could Paul be saying that it's possible to have some kind of intellectual knowledge of things, but that knowledge hasn't transformed your heart? Do we all come to the knowledge of this truth? Jesus speaks plainly and sharply, and he says the journey to eternal life involves everything. Heart, mind, soul, and strength. Everything. These individuals who were religious had much to say about God, but there was a gap in their creed and conduct. There was a gap in their profession of faith and how it functioned. The significant identifying feature of God's people is not only in that we keep the law, but it is also in that we embody it. So that they may deny a lot about what we say about obedience to the law. They may be able to deny a lot of that, but they won't be able to deny the beauty that the law has produced in us. They won't be able to deny that. They'll see it. What our observance has produced. Key element. Key element in what we're doing here on earth. In witnessing. Good teacher, what shall I do to inherit eternal life? Here it is. Jesus says, as you walk in obedience, I need you to be looking and seeking out. As you walk in obedience, I need you to take a risk. I need you to walk over. As you walk in obedience, I need you to bend over and gently pick up. Brush the hair out of the eyes. Give a loving embrace. As you walk in obedience, I need you to ensure that there's a comfortable, safe place. As you walk in obedience, I need you to stay up all night, comforting them. Take a cool rag and wiping their tear-stained cheeks. As you walk in obedience, even though you may depart, I need you to come back. Follow up. Make sure they're okay. Even if they deny much of what we have to say about obedience through the law, they will not be able to deny the beauty of what it's produced in us. So let's make a recommitment today. A recommitment. Let's show them who God is. Not only in our law observance, but in who we are and how we move through this world. Well, it's only fitting that we turn back to Luke 10 in conclusion as we look to conclude here. Luke 10 will conclude with this wonderful story, this loving teaching from our Savior Jesus Christ. Luke 10 will conclude with verses 36 and 37. You know, in many ways, the story of the young ruler and the parable of the Good Samaritan, it should shake us, absolutely shake us, and shake our understanding of what we shall do to inherit eternal life. But just know, as we're learning to do this, you have the power within you to accomplish what's required. You have it in you, and you can call upon it. Have you prayed? Have you prayed recently that God would put someone who needed to know God within your path, and then prayed for the ability, give you the ability to show them who God is? Have you prayed that God would bring within your sight someone who needs his expression of love, that you could participate in giving them? If you desire it, it will happen. You'll see it just open up all the opportunities for you to show them what the road to eternal life looks like. May we all come to this knowledge of this truth and magnify our lives today. Luke 10, verses 36 and 37, and with this we'll conclude. So which of these three do you think was neighbor to him who fell among the thieves? And he said, He who showed mercy on him. Then Jesus said to him, Go and do likewise.