The Law Converts the Soul

The Rich Young Ruler

Mark 10:17-22

1.       Christ pointed the young man to the law – why? 

2.       Christ asked the man why he called him good.  Why? 

3.       Christ gave him these commandments to follow.  Why? 

4.       Christ gave him no prayer to pray, no invitation to believe, or to sign a paper, or do anything.  Why? 

5.       Compare how Jesus treated this “seeker” to how Paul and Silas treated the jailer in Acts 16:25.  They are much the same, as Paul and Silas waiting on the jailer to inquire without thrusting a false gospel or a false assurance into his face before he was ready. 

In 1991, a major evangelical organization reported they witnessed 294,000 souls saved during that year, yet three years later (1994), they could only find 14,000 of them.  Why couldn’t they find the 280,000.  What happened to them? 

There are many people deceived today by the preaching of a false gospel – a gospel that does not bring conviction of sin, or salvation.  Sometimes the false gospel will give a false sense of contentment for a moment, but never everlasting salvation. 

Psalms 19:7-13 states, The law of the LORD is perfect, converting the soul: the testimony of the LORD is sure, making wise the simple. 8 The statutes of the LORD are right, rejoicing the heart: the commandment of the LORD is pure, enlightening the eyes. 9 The fear of the LORD is clean, enduring for ever: the judgments of the LORD are true and righteous altogether. 10 More to be desired are they than gold, yea, than much fine gold: sweeter also than honey and the honeycomb. 11 Moreover by them is thy servant warned: and in keeping of them there is great reward. 12 Who can understand his errors? cleanse thou me from secret faults. 13 Keep back thy servant also from presumptuous sins; let them not have dominion over me: then shall I be upright, and I shall be innocent from the great transgression. 

Romans 3:19-20 remarks, Now we know that what things soever the law saith, it saith to them who are under the law: that every mouth may be stopped, and all the world may become guilty before God. 20  Therefore by the deeds of the law there shall no flesh be justified in his sight: for by the law is the knowledge of sin.

I John 3:4 reveals what sin is by declaring, Whosoever committeth sin transgresseth also the law: for sin is the transgression of the law. 

Matthew 7:12 reveals the “golden rule” by stating, Therefore all things whatsoever ye would that men should do to you, do ye even so to them: for this is the law and the prophets. 

Many want to declare the law is outdated, and is not needed today, but according to God’s word, that isn’t so. 

Romans 7:7-12 states that the law of God reveals what sin is,  What shall we say then? Is the law sin? God forbid. Nay, I had not known sin, but by the law: for I had not known lust, except the law had said, Thou shalt not covet. 8 But sin, taking occasion by the commandment, wrought in me all manner of concupiscence. For without the law sin was dead. 9 For I was alive without the law once: but when the commandment came, sin revived, and I died. 10 And the commandment, which was ordained to life, I found to be unto death. 11 For sin, taking occasion by the commandment, deceived me, and by it slew me. 12 Wherefore the law is holy, and the commandment holy, and just, and good. 

Galatians 3:24 reveals the law is our schoolmaster to bring us to Christ – This applies whether we are saved or lost.  Wherefore the law was our schoolmaster to bring us unto Christ, that we might be justified by faith. 

In Mark 10:17-22 – Christ pointed the young man to the law that he might realize his utter lost condition and his helplessness to save himself by the deeds of the law.  That is exactly what we should do today.  Instead, the new gospel has done away with the law, therefore people aren’t being saved.  That is why 280,000 people “slip through the cracks” – cracks produced by a false gospel.