eternal life

[didymus]

I was reading the gospels and came across some passages regarding eternal life. The answers given the people were from Jesus himself. I was surprised at what I read.

Mark 10:17-21
Matthew 19:16- 21
Luke 18:18-22

in all cases a man approaches jesus and asks him how to inherit eternal life. In each case Jesus responds by telling him to follow the commandments. It isn't until Jesus is questioned further that he says the man should sell all he owns and give to the poor. to this he adds that the man will receive trasure in heaven. If Jesus had not been further questioned his reply to follow the commandments would have sufficed.

According to Jesus, in order to inherit eternal life one needs only follow the commandments. In order to enter the kingdom of God more needs to be done; sell belongings , give to the poor, follow Jesus. to me these passages distinguish between the "kingdom of god" and eternal life. I never noticed this before and I feel very excited about this find. eternal life is not granted by any doctrinal or religious beliefs it is about being a good person. The ten commandments can be followed by anybody with a good heart. There is no doctrine in them at all.

Jesus illustrates the kingdom of God as; Mark 4:30 a mustard seed, Luke 17:21 the kingdom of God is within you. John 3:3 You must be born again to see the kingdom of God.

[KnightoftheRose]

to me these passages distinguish between the "kingdom of god" and eternal life.

It seems so. Perhaps the kingdom of god can be found here, in this life, while eternal life only comes post-resurrection?

eternal life is not granted by any doctrinal or religious beliefs it is about being a good person. The ten commandments can be followed by anybody with a good heart. There is no doctrine in them at all.

Yeah, but isn't the first commandment "Thou shalt not have strange gods before me"? So, that seems to limit the scope down to those of the Abrahamic faiths...

[didymus]

Yes, it would imply that. The commandments say to have one God only.

[KnightoftheRose]

So religious beliefs do have an impact on our eternal life...it isn't solely about being a good person, although that is one facet of it...

[didymus]

If you consider one God only religious then you can say that.

[I, Brian]

If I remember right, didn't Jesus also state there were just 2 commandments?

[lunamoth]

Hmmm, I thought it was two greatest, and all the rest hung from those two.

34Hearing that Jesus had silenced the Sadducees, the Pharisees got together. 35One of them, an expert in the law, tested him with this question:
36“Teacher, which is the greatest commandment in the Law?” 37Jesus replied: “ ‘Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind.’[b] 38This is the first and greatest commandment. 39And the second is like it: ‘Love your neighbor as yourself.’[c] 40All the Law and the Prophets hang on these two commandments.”

lunamoth

[Quahom1]

Originally Posted by didymus

According to Jesus, in order to inherit eternal life one needs only follow the commandments. In order to enter the kingdom of God more needs to be done; sell belongings , give to the poor, follow Jesus. to me these passages distinguish between the "kingdom of god" and eternal life. I never noticed this before and I feel very excited about this find. eternal life is not granted by any doctrinal or religious beliefs it is about being a good person. The ten commandments can be followed by anybody with a good heart. There is no doctrine in them at all.

Jesus illustrates the kingdom of God as; Mark 4:30 a mustard seed, Luke 17:21 the kingdom of God is within you. John 3:3 You must be born again to see the kingdom of God.

Didn't Jesus also state that if you broke one commandment, you broke them all? That's a pretty tall order to try and get through one's whole life without one slip up...

v/r

Q

[didymus]

But he didn't say if you break one then you'll burn in eternal flames either.

[Bandit]

Originally Posted by KnightoftheRose

It seems so. Perhaps the kingdom of god can be found here, in this life, while eternal life only comes post-resurrection?

this is how I see that too Knight . Later it shows Jesus delivering the Kingdom to God, that would be eternal life. or post resurrection.
I think the Kingdom of heaven is now and has been since Pentecost when the holy ghost was given and the kingdom of God is being gathered over time.

the kingdom of heaven is like a man on a far journey

(a little complicated complicated but not too bad)

[didymus]

Jesus' statement was clear. Follow the commandments and you'll inherit eternal life. This should be good news to all.

[Quahom1]

Originally Posted by didymus

Jesus' statement was clear. Follow the commandments and you'll inherit eternal life. This should be good news to all.

Inherit eternal life, but not enter the Kingdom of heaven, I'm I correct in your implication?

Well if one has accepted Christ yet breaks one of the ten commandments, shall still not only have eternal life, but be granted access into the Kingdom of Heaven, even if it is only just inside the gates:

"Think not that I am come to destroy the law, or the prophets: I am not come to destroy, but to fulfil. For verily I say unto you, Till heaven and earth pass, one jot or one tittle shall in no wise pass from the law, till all be fulfilled. Whosoever therefore shall break one of these least commandments, and shall teach men so, he shall be called the least in the kingdom of heaven: but whosoever shall do and teach them, the same shall be called great in the kingdom of heaven" (Matthew 5:17-19).

If we strive to obey these laws so that we may feel righteous and better than others, we have already broken them. If we strive to keep these commandments in an outward manner, while neglecting the inner principles of them, we are worse than a lawbreaker–we are a hypocrite.

And according to Luke 18:10-14:
10 Two men went up into the temple to pray; the one a Pharisee, and the other a publican.
11 The Pharisee stood and prayed thus with himself, God, I thank thee, that I am not as other men are, extortioners, unjust, adulterers, or even as this publican.
12 I fast twice in the week, I give tithes of all that I possess.
13 And the publican, standing afar off, would not lift up so much as his eyes unto heaven, but smote upon his breast, saying, God be merciful to me a sinner.
14 I tell you, this man went down to his house justified rather than the other: for every one that exalteth himself shall be abased; and he that humbleth himself shall be exalted.

Keeping the ten commandments is not enough unless they are kept both externally and internally. And we can't keep them internally unless we have a Love for God first and foremost. Then the two mutally strengthen us into mature and loving people of God. Find first God and you find love. Keep His commandments and you learn how to Love. The first four commandments deal with our relationship with God, while the remaining six deal with our relationship with eachother.

The lawyers and Pharisees knew the word and thought they had eternal life through it, but they were deceived. The word of God was not in their hearts. Jesus also pointed out that it was impossible for them to believe in Him, as long as they were seeking honor from each other, rather than God.

"And the Father himself, which hath sent me, hath borne witness of me. Ye have neither heard his voice at any time, nor seen his shape. And ye have not his word abiding in you: for whom he hath sent, him ye believe not. Search the scriptures; for in them ye think ye have eternal life: and they are they which testify of me. And ye will not come to me, that ye might have life. I receive not honour from men. But I know you, that ye have not the love of God in you. I am come in my Father's name, and ye receive me not: if another shall come in his own name, him ye will receive. How can ye believe, which receive honour one of another, and seek not the honour that cometh from God only?" (John 5:37-44).

The very best and pious of the people of Israel were famous for keeping the ten commandments, and it got them condemnation, yet the poorest sinner asking for forgiveness from God for his sins (failing to keep these same commandments) found favor in eyes of God.

I ah, notice you staying away from John, James, and others when making your argument. I like to look at the whole picture, not just a slice here or there.

v/r

Q

[Basstian]

Originally Posted by Brian

If I remember right, didn't Jesus also state there were just 2 commandments?

LOL everybody says that as if to limit the number of commandments. Jesus Quoted scripture the same way I quoted your post.
Had He chose one commandment over another He would went against the Law its self.
He was already being tested by the scribes to see if they could trick Him into saying something that would go against God He didnt.
The scripture is found.
Deut 6:5 And thou shalt love the LORD thy God with all thine heart, and with all thy soul, and with all thy might.
AND
Le 19:18 Thou shalt not avenge, nor bear any grudge against the children of thy people, but thou shalt love thy neighbour as thyself: I am the LORD.

Not new Laws not just two Laws but scripture to support ALL the Law. How could they argue about that. He aced their test and proved He could not be tricked into going against the will of His Father

[didymus]

Yes Q, I am implying that there was a clear differnce between eternal life and the kingdom of God. One had nothing to do with the other. The kingdom of God was heaven on earth, a true dying to the self born again experience. This I believe is at the heart of what Jesus preached.

[lunamoth]

Originally Posted by didymus

Yes Q, I am implying that there was a clear differnce between eternal life and the kingdom of God. One had nothing to do with the other. The kingdom of God was heaven on earth, a true dying to the self born again experience. This I believe is at the heart of what Jesus preached.

I'm not sure about the first part, but I would agree with the last two sentences.

lunamoth