The Rich are NOT going to Heaven
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The Rich are NOT going to Heaven
There is a great fraud going on in the majority of Christian faiths today as they distort the message of Jesus. It is happening in all denominations; Catholics, Baptists, nondenominational evangelical churches to name just a few.
It is the myth that in the final hour God will turn his back on all Jesus had to say about money, wealth and greed.
In fact many churches preach that God wants all to be rich in material things. These lies have been used to recruit and retain church members from the time of Christ.
So what are the facts? What did Jesus say about this topic and what must the rich man do to gain eternal life?
Mark 10:17 – 31
17”As He was setting out on a journey, a man ran up to Him and knelt before Him, and asked Him, "Good Teacher, what shall I do to inherit eternal life?"
18 And Jesus said to him, "Why do you call Me good? No one is good except God alone.
19"You know the commandments, DO NOT MURDER, DO NOT COMMIT ADULTERY, DO NOT STEAL, DO NOT BEAR FALSE WITNESS, Do not defraud, HONOR YOUR FATHER AND MOTHER.'"
20 And he said to Him, "Teacher, I have kept all these things from my youth up."
21 Looking at him, Jesus felt a love for him and said to him, "One thing you lack: go and sell all you possess and give to the poor, and you will have treasure in heaven; and come, follow Me."
22 But at these words he was saddened, and he went away grieving, for he was one who owned much property.
23 And Jesus, looking around, said to His disciples, “How hard it will be for those who are wealthy to enter the kingdom of God!"
24 The disciples were amazed at His words. But Jesus answered again and said to them, "Children, how hard it is to enter the kingdom of God!
25"It is easier for a camel to go through the eye of a needle than for a rich man to enter the kingdom of God."
26 They were even more astonished and said to Him, "Then who can be saved?"
27 Looking at them, Jesus said, "With people it is impossible, but not with God; for all things are possible with God."
28Peter began to say to Him, "Behold, we have left everything and followed You."
29Jesus said, "Truly I say to you, there is no one who has left house or brothers or sisters or mother or father or children or farms, for My sake and for the gospel's sake,
30but that he will receive a hundred times as much now in the present age, houses and brothers and sisters and mothers and children and farms, along with persecutions; and in the age to come, eternal life.
31"But many who are first will be last, and the last, first."
Let’s be clear on what Jesus just said. He didn’t say God will make exceptions, he said what we all know that anything is possible with God, but the fact remains he demands the rich give up their wealth. He does promise wealth in Heaven for those who are faithful to his teachings.
How do we know Jesus is against wealth? Because Jesus continues to tells us so.
Matthew 19:20-30
20“The young man said to Him, "All these things I have kept; what am I still lacking?"
21 Jesus said to him, "If you wish to be complete, go and sell your possessions and give to the poor, and you will have (B)treasure in heaven; and come, follow Me."
22 But when the young man heard this statement, he went away grieving; for he was one who owned much property.
23 And Jesus said to His disciples, "Truly I say to you, it is hard for a rich man to enter the kingdom of heaven…….
Luke 12:15
MONEY & GREED
15”Then He said to them, Beware, and be on your guard against every form of greed; for not even when one has an abundance does his life consist of his possessions."
Greed is defined as having or wanting more than you need or deserve. By this definition those who are rich are greedy. Jesus is against people being rich because they can’t follow the Second Commandment or the Golden Rule. These things are mutually exclusive.
Luke 18:22
22”Now when Jesus heard these things, he said unto him, Yet lackest thou one thing: sell all that thou hast, and distribute unto the poor, and thou shalt have treasure in heaven: and come, follow me.”
Again he demands the rich man give up his wealth and in fact give to the poor.
Luke 12:33
33" Sell your possessions and give to charity; make yourselves money belts which do not wear out, an unfailing treasure in heaven, where no thief comes near nor moth destroys.”
Luke 16:15
15”And He said to them, "You are those who justify yourselves in the sight of men, but God knows your hearts; for that which is highly esteemed among men (money and possessions) is detestable in the sight of God.”
Luke 16:13
MONEY & GOD
13" No servant can serve two masters; for either he will hate the one and love the other, or else he will be devoted to one and despise the other You cannot serve God and wealth."
34"For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also.”
This story is repeated in Matthew.
Matthew 6:24
24" No one can serve two masters; for either he will hate the one and love the other, or he will be devoted to one and despise the other You cannot serve God and wealth.”
How much clearer does Jesus have to make this before we all accept what he is saying? You can’t serve money and God. That is what Jesus says repeatedly and He demands the rich give their wealth to the poor.
In Revelations Jesus is angry and his words have become harsh.
Revelation 3:15-19
15”I know your works, that you are neither cold nor hot. I could wish you were cold or hot.
16 So then, because you are lukewarm, and neither cold nor hot, I will vomit you out of My mouth.
17 Because you say, ‘I am rich, have become wealthy, and have need of nothing’—and do not know that you are wretched, miserable, poor, blind, and naked—
18 I counsel you to buy from Me gold refined in the fire, that you may be rich; and white garments, that you may be clothed, that the shame of your nakedness may not be revealed; and anoint your eyes with eye salve, that you may see.
NOTE: The belief in Gold refined in the ring of fire = the fight to overcome greed. White garments are the dress of the poor. Anoint your eyes that you may see the truth of. “Sell whatever thou hast and give it to the poor…”
19 As many as I love, I rebuke and chasten. Therefore be zealous and repent.”
20 Behold, I stand at the door and knock. If anyone hears My voice and opens the door, I will come in to him and dine with him, and he with Me.
21 To him who overcomes I will grant to sit with Me on My throne, as I also overcame and sat down with My Father on His throne.
22 “He who has an ear, let him hear what the Spirit says to the churches.”
The rich and those who protect them with low taxes and government entitlements are in danger of Hell Fire and Damnation. They are sinning against everything Jesus stands for and died for on the cross.
So how much can we have? Paul tells us in Timothy.
Timothy 6:8-10 (money)
8“And having food and raiment (clothes) let us be therewith content.
9 But they that will be rich fall into temptation and a snare, and into many foolish and hurtful lusts, which drown men in destruction and perdition.
10 For the love of money is the root of all evil: which while some coveted after, they have erred from the faith, and pierced themselves through with many sorrows.”
The rich will not go to heaven.
Luke 6:20, 24 & 38
RICH WILL NOT GO TO HEAVEN
20”And turning His gaze toward His disciples, He (JESUS) began to say,
"Blessed are you who are poor, for yours is the kingdom of God.
24 "But woe to you who are rich, for you are receiving your comfort in full.”
Those of you who think the rich will go to heaven please read the above carefully. It is clear when he says the rich are receiving their comfort in full now here on earth. The poor will know the kingdom of God.
The rich will not go to Heaven – Jesus says so many times, but most of us are not listening.
CommentsLoading...
First I didn’t say God hates the rich. I said they are not going to heaven based on the words of Jesus.
There is a reason we are called Christians – it is because we profess to believe in Jesus Christ. I believe in the supremacy of Jesus over all others. The Bible is full of stories that don’t comply with what Jesus teaches and with what Jesus “commands”. All are free to read the Bible anyway they like. For many it is just a big story book. I chose the words of Jesus Christ over all voices that contradict His teachings.
Nothing you said addressed the words of Jesus Christ.
Matthew 6:24
24" No one can serve two masters; for either he will hate the one and love the other, or he will be devoted to one and despise the other You cannot serve God and wealth.”
You say that isn’t true. You must know more the Jesus. Certainly that is the feeling of many and they simply ignore what Jesus says when they don’t like it.
Timothy 6:8-10 (money)
8“And having food and raiment (clothes) let us be therewith content.
9 But they that will be rich fall into temptation and a snare, and into many foolish and hurtful lusts, which drown men in destruction and perdition.
10 For the love of money is the root of all evil: which while some coveted after, they have erred from the faith, and pierced themselves through with many sorrows.”
You say this isn’t so. The rich don’t really love money and the luxury they live in, and they can serve two masters. You again must know more than Jesus. Many say he same thing. That’s okay. Everyone has the right to their own opinion.
Luke 6:20, 24 & 38
RICH WILL NOT GO TO HEAVEN
20”And turning His gaze toward His disciples, He (JESUS) began to say,
"Blessed are you who are poor, for yours is the kingdom of God.
24 "But woe to you who are rich, for you are receiving your comfort in full.”
The message above is clear the poor inherit the kingdom of God and the rich are receiving their reward on earth – they will not go to the kingdom of God.
Again you say this isn’t so because you choose stories that oppose the words of Jesus Christ. So be it. I chose Jesus over the stories that oppose his message.
By the way there are far too many words from the mouth of the Son of God supporting my position to put in a blog.
The New Testament of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ is full of them. My advice to “Christians” is stay out of the Old Testament – it is full of stories that don’t comply with what Jesus says.
Thanks for the comment. I certainly respect your right to disagree.
To say that all rich people are not going to heaven is ridiculous. Jesus was clearly teaching about those who regard their riches as a means to salvation. Or those who are only living for earthly pleasures and who are not thinking about God or eternity. Many rich people give vast amounts of wealth to help people IN THE NAME OF JESUS. You'll never hear about them in the press. And you'll never know them personally because you wouldn't tolerate their presence in your life because of the very rigid religious boxes that you like to put people in - even when you've never done what Jesus would do, which is to evaluate each person individually.
You can't put rightwingers in one big box. You can't put the rich in one big box. People are all different. And each are individuals.
You are not THE JC Revelator. You are simply revealing what's in your own heart and mind. If you want to reveal Jesus, just copy Bible verses in your hubs. If you want to reveal yourself, keep writing your own material. But when you try to marry them together, especially with your inflammatory titles, it just doesn't work.
You're from the 'cram it down their throat' group of communicators. Put a little sweetness in there. More people will listen that way.
I'm sure you're a nice person, but you're hubs routinely make me crazy.
Stan,
First, I am sorry I make you crazy. But don’t worry about it. We each have a right to speak our minds and that is what I do. I do put the words of JC in each article I write and if fact about half of the article I posted is what JC says.
Luke 6:20, 24
20”And turning His gaze toward His disciples, He began to say, "Blessed are you who are poor, for yours is the kingdom of God.
24"But woe to you who are rich, for you are receiving your comfort in full.”
The rich are “Receiving their comfort (some Bibles say REWARD) in FULL”. I read that to mean No heaven for these people.
There are other JC statements in the article that tend to support my conclusion. But in the final analysis – JC will decide. I fully support your right to disagree.
Thanks for reading and for your comment – have a great day
Interesting misunderstanding! If greed is bad, then jealousy is the same, sin. The authors is lacking knowledge of Scripture. Sorry about that. The Apostle Paul said: 1Tim 6:10 For the love of money is the root of all evil. He did not say having money… The rich man – ruler was also misunderstood by the author. There is interesting light on the matter written in Mark 10: Lord said that it is impossible to enter to kingdom of heaven to rich but it is possible to God. There is another interesting point. Peter said we left all and what we should expect? Lord said: Mar 10:29 And Jesus answered and said, Verily I say unto you, There is no man that hath left house, or brethren, or sisters, or father, or mother, or wife, or children, or lands, for my sake, and the gospel's,
Mar 10:30 But he shall receive an hundredfold now in this time, houses, and brethren, and sisters and mothers, and children, and lands, with persecutions; and in the world to come eternal life.
Lord Jesus is teaching priority and not condemning rich. He loved that rich man.
Sir, for five Billion dollars we may assist to saved five Billion people.
VU,
You like many have falsely claim the rich do not “LOVE” money when that is why they stay rich. Their wealth condemns them because they are NOT following the 2nd commandment and Golden Rule.
How can they be when they are rich and have more than they need and refuse to help their neighbor who is starving? They do NOT love their neighbor as they love themselves, as JC demands.
25,000 of God’s human beings starve each day so Bill Gates and the rich can keep their money for themselves. That is not what JC demands.
Thanks for reading and for your comments…
There are poor people who also love money (and lust after it as do many rich people) but there are rich that have not loved money or that have repented of such love. Jesus was financed by rich women and Zacheaus, despite his wealth, found his way into the kingdom of God. What changed for Zacheaus was his disposition to Christ and that changed his disposition to his money. The issue isn't wealth but how one uses it. If being rich means you love money, then woe to "poor, for yours is the kingdom of God" (Luke 6:20) and by having the kingdom you have become rich and condemned and also woe to the "the hungry" because God will fill you "with good things" and then you will be "sent away empty" for you have become rich (Luke 1:53). I cite God's Word (even Jesus' own words) here obviously twisted to point out that there can be those who are rich and who do not love money. Neither Jesus nor God is saying that His gifts are bad; the problem is the heart, not that one has been blessed with God's gifts, otherwise heaven would become condemnation. Thus, it is possible to rich and not love money, unless we twist Jesus words to make blessings into curses.
J,
You must look at the entire message – love your neighbor as you love yourself, do unto others, etc mean NO man can be rich while his neighbor is starving. JC tells the RICH to sell everything and give it to the poor.
It is impossible to be rich and not love money, if they didn’t love it they would do as JC commands. I have known many rich people and they all love money.
Thanks for your view…
The idea that God hates the rich is heretical. It verges on an old form of Manicheism - the idea that matter (in this case, money) is somehow evil and sinful.
You will never find any page in the Bible, any encyclical, any papal or Church document, where being rich is condemned as sinful, in and of itself.
The papal document, RERUM NOVARUM, states that it is the UNCHANGABLE RIGHT of every free person to possess private property; to work hard; to use their initiative and creativity; AND TO ACCUMULATE WEALTH. The pope points out that if people are not allowed to accumulate wealth, and benefit from their hard work, then people have no motivation to work at all.
EW,
Luke 16:13
MONEY & GOD
13" No servant can serve two masters; for either he will hate the one and love the other, or else he will be devoted to one and despise the other You cannot serve God and wealth."
34"For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also.”
Luke 12:33
33" Sell your possessions and give to charity; make yourselves money belts which do not wear out, an unfailing treasure in heaven, where no thief comes near nor moth destroys.”
Luke 16:15
15”And He said to them, "You are those who justify yourselves in the sight of men, but God knows your hearts; for that which is highly esteemed among men (money and possessions) is detestable in the sight of God.”
Luke 6:20, 24 & 38
RICH WILL NOT GO TO HEAVEN
20”And turning His gaze toward His disciples, He (JESUS) began to say,
"Blessed are you who are poor, for yours is the kingdom of God.
24 "But woe to you who are rich, for you are receiving your comfort in full.”
What is it you don’t understand about “RECEIVING YOUR REWARD IN FULL.” The above states clearly the RICH will NOT go to Heaven. This statement comes directly after he says the poor are going to heaven.
The rich are NOT obeying the Second Commandment and the Golden Rule.
I am not taking about someone with a few hundred thousand but the RICH who are millionaires and billionaires.
Tell me where JC says the rich are supposed to stay rich and ignore the poor. JC is clear no matter what your church says. Most churches preach the same fraud to their followers.
How can a man worth $50 million in personal net worth love his neighbor and let him go hungry, homeless and without medical care? Is that obeying the Second Commandment?
You and your church say YES!
God help you and your church. Thanks for your commnets...
Pardon me for intruding. Read the whole paragraph of all those select verses that you chose and see if there is a different meaning. Aslo go to Bible Gateway and see other versions such as Young's Literal Translations and compare those with the supposedly newer ones that are supposed to be the truth.
LG,
Are you serious? You think the multi-millionaire sitting in his mansion and ignoring the poor down the street are obeying the instructions of JC. Wow! No wonder so called Christians voted against giving the 19 million poor America children healthcare. No wonder we don’t have universal healthcare but we do have tax cuts for Bill Gates and his rich buddies.
Matthew 25:44-46
44"Then they themselves also will answer, 'Lord, when did we see You hungry, or thirsty, or a stranger, or naked, or sick, or in prison, and did not take care of You?'
45"Then He will answer them, 'Truly I say to you, to the extent that you did not do it to one of the least of these, you did not do it to Me.'
46"These will go away into eternal punishment (NOT HEAVEN), but the righteous into eternal life."
Do you need help translating the above? Why does JC tell the rich to sell everything and give it to the poor? Please quote me the verse where JC says the rich should say rich and not help the poor. The above says it is a REQUIREMENT.
You sound smarter than your comments, you must be pulling my leg…
i never said that at all. Jesus was not poor at all, not one tiny bit. Perhaps you should do some investigating into that one.
I am looking at the entire message of Christ. For those who are blessed with more, more is expect. That's why James calls being rich a lower position or a more humble position. Those given wealth are expected to be good stewards of such. Those with little are expected to be good stewards as well. So the poor man who does not share his bread with another poor starving man has fallen into the same trap as the rich man for he has not loved his neighbor as himself.
So let us be fair and right then; if the rich can in no way enter heaven; neither can the poor. For the rich is condemned by his love of money and so is the poor man. The poor man can love the little he has or lust after and covet what he does not have (even hate his rich brother for his lack of love, which Jesus also condemns in Matt. 5).
And the man who gives all his money away to the poor to save his soul, doesn't really love the neighbor, but only his own soul. Giving your money away doesn't buy you heaven.
Name someone whose heart is right before God and who does not love money (besides Jesus) and I will show you someone who is self-righteous. There is no one who has not loved money (Romans 3:10-20; James 2:10).
LG,
No one knows if JC was rich or poor. It doesn't matter. He tells the rich (MANY TIMES) to sell everything and give it to the poor. That we all know for sure. Maybe you missed that in your reading. He says many times the rich will not go to heaven and we can see why - they are not following the Second commandment or the Golden Rule.
Thanks for reading and for your comments…
J,
I know many people who don’t love money. Yes in fact that is true. I also know many who do and they reflect what JC said, “LOVE of money in the root of ALL EVIL.
JC also told the rich, many times, to sell everything and give it to the poor. I know most Christians hate these demands JC makes because they like the rich man in the Bible don’t obey.
His words will set you free, but you have to care about what he said and not look for loop holes to avoid his message.
Thanks for reading and for your comments…
I absolutely love how this topic brings out the rich and the ass kissers of the rich. There is no interpretation that can change the raw and truthful words of Christ--IT IS EASIER FOR A CAMEL TO GO THROUGH THE EYE OF A NEEDLE THAN IT IS FOR A RICH MAN TO ENTER HEAVEN. It is not a doorway, it is not a small entrance. Rich people are NOT going to heaven. They go to a lake of fire and cry.
M,
Thanks for reading and for your comments...
Being Rich in the context of finances means someone else must be poor... if you don't understand that then you haven't spent more than 5 seconds thinking it through.
If we all have a billion dollars then having a billion dollars does not mean you have any wealth... do you understand? Is that really hard to understand!??
So, if you say "I want to be RICH!!!" you are not saying that you want a lot of money, you are saying that you want to have more money than others... so that they have a harder life and you can live an easy life and enjoy the best food and the best wine and the best of whatever you like.
So yeah... this Atheist thinks that the religious attitude of being rich and trying to justify that as morally valid in the eyes of their won religion is laughable. Dishonest and laughable.
A,
Thanks for reading and for your comments...
Exactly. You cant claim that you don't like money yet keep 10 million USD in the bank and say "I don't like money." If they didn't like money they wouldn't hoard so much of it.
for God so loved the world that whoever believed in him shall not perish but have everlasting life
Yea well I'm probably gonna BE poor but I used to be rich so I'm gonna go to heaven after I was already rich for a while then became poor what if someone becomes poor at the last minute..??
T,
With all due respect; if you are poor - you were never really rich. Rich means you can never be poor. Rich is Bill Gates and the other 1% - worth over $100 million.
Thanks for reading and for your comments...
Being rich or poor does not determine whether or not you go to heaven! The bible CLEARLY states in John 3:16 Whosoever believes in Christ should not perish but have everlasting life!! It says NOTHING about being rich or poor, it says who ever! That is anyone!! The bible also says that God does not want one to perish no NOT ONE!!! It does not say ANYWHERE that he wants the rich to stay out of heaven. Jesus DID NOT die on the cross for only the poor, that is COMPLETELY ABSURD!!
K,
You must have acts (DEEDS) to prove your belief. That is the proof. How you act, your deeds reflect your belief. Without acts (DEEDS) there is no proof. The rich mock God by not following the second commandment and the Golden Rule.
Yes all who believe and have the deeds to prove their belief will go to heave – not the rich; they mock God with their wealth while their neighbor starves.
The Bible said “love God with all your MIND” – get a clue. Blind faith with no deeds will not get you into heaven.
Ignoring your starving neighbor while sitting on a of mountain of gold will not get you into Heaven.
Dear JC Revelator,
I find a flaw in your statement. By you saying that the rich are not going to heaven, you have made a statement based on your judgment and hence have become judgmental in your own eyes . Matthew 7:1-3 says "Do not judge, or you too will be judged. For in the same way you judge others, you will be judged, and with the measure you use, it will be measured to you. "Why do you look at the speck of sawdust in your brother's eye and pay no attention to the plank in your own eye?" I certainly hope you place your attention in helping others and constantly detaching yourself from greed of material possession. being rich in the truest sense means having more than your basic needs, and hence Luke 6:24 applies not to the super-rich, but to us as ordinary folks though may not be labeled as rich but still have excesses in your life. Even the very fact you have internet access, you are richer than many others in the world for the lack even such basic amenities. to plainly says that the rich will not go to heaven indicates a biasness in your view, for Romans 4:3 says What does the Scripture say? "Abraham believed God, and it was credited to him as righteousness.". Abraham was a wealthy men and would probably fit into your definition of rich people. yet he is with God and it is on account of his righteousness that he enters heaven. Job was also a wealthy men, but because he never curse God although he lost his wealth when Satan tested Job and although subsequently Job may have sin, but his initial reaction when losing his wealth was seen by God and at the end God gave him double the wealth in his life. In one part of 2 Chronicles where God appear to Solomon "That night God appeared to Solomon and said to him,
"Ask for whatever you want me to give you."
Solomon answered,
"Give me wisdom and knowledge, that I may lead this people."
God said to Solomon,
"Since this is your heart's desire and you have not asked for wealth, riches or honor, nor for the death of your enemies, and since you have not asked for a long life but for wisdom and knowledge to govern my people over whom I have made you King, therefore wisdom and knowledge will be given you. And I will also give you wealth, riches and honor, such as no King who was before you ever had and none after you will have." This part of the bible only reaffirms my belief that wealth inherently is not a sin so long as you seek God first. Some people are wealthy because of God's blessing and they did not put their mind and soul into accumulating wealth nor trust in wealth but continue to walk faithfully in the Lord. You are then in no position to say that these people cannot enter heaven. In saying all these, i also understand that there are some who are called to detach from their wealth and material possession or give away substantially their material possession and hence it is only right that these people heed their calling. Based on my understanding of the parable of the talent, i understand that some people may have wealth as they have been God's faithful steward and accumulation of wealth may be what they are good at so long as they also distribute their wealth in accordance with God's purpose and timing to those who are in need. When god says the greatest commandment is to Love him with all your mind, soul and spirit, it means showing the act of love, justice and kindness. if a man practices all these and happen to be a wealthy man, he will still go to heaven on account of these elements. in conclusion, all i have to say is that your statement cannot be blanket statement for all rich men. You may state biblical verse but Gos is the ultimate judge. You should focus on inner-purification of yourself. Anything that we cling on too tightly until we lose sight of God may cause us our salvation and wealth is just one of them. perhaps you are not wealthy but you attached yourself too deeply with your family, that is good enough for you to lose sight of God and his eternal reward. And remember the words of Jesus are also words of God the father in heaven as Jesus s the son of gos who does the will of God the father in heaven and and hence you should have a thorough understanding of this issue based on the new and old testament of the bible considering you quoted nothing from the old testament
and by the way when Jesus spoke Luke 6:24, i believe it means that those who who are wealthy and place trust n reliance in their wealth will face trouble after they die. Also in the parable of the rich young ruler"Jesus said, “You know the law, what does it say? Don’t kill, Don’t commit adultery, Don’t lie, Honor your father and mother and treat your neighbor as yourself?” “Lord, I’ve done all of this, what else is lacking?” Jesus looked upon him with COMPASSION and LOVE and gave him a two part answer: If you want to be perfect, sell your possessions and distribute the proceeds to the poor and take up your cross and follow me. Then you’ll have treasures laid up in heaven. The young man hung his head and went away with great sorrow, for he was very rich. " Jesus show his love on the rich young men n but the trouble with the rich young ruler wasn't his wealth but his deep reliance with wealth and refusal to part from it
H,
I think it goes along with a choice we all have to make. The rich man's choice was wealth over JC and heaven.
Thanks for reading and for your comments...
Hi JC,
I find it funny that you use the picture of Jesus as your profile image. And your nick is JCrevelator. I hope you are not too self righteous.
I wish to guide you with spiritual authority and tell you as a Christian brother that you are missing the whole point. You are also not rightly dividing the Word and hence are making many wrong interpretations. Your exegesis of the verses and in context of whole doctrine is not sound at all. But I appreciate your "ferventness" in trying to save the rich by telling them they won't go to heaven. That is your intention isn't it? Or do you just want to be right to exclusive?
When you read the NT, you rightly divide the Word using the Cross as the reference point. When Jesus told the rich man give all your possession to the poor, and the man couldn't. Jesus said how hard it is for the rich to enter heaven. He was bringing the first commandment love your God with all your heart to it's pristine standard. No human could. Jesus also said on another occasion, if your right eye causes you to sin (lust) pluck it out. Hand cut it off. Bringing the law to it's standard God intended, which is obedience from the heart. In all this, Jesus was saying to the people of that day that without a Savior, ALL would be doomed. That was His point. I hope when you read it again with the Cross as the reference point, you will then be able to rightly divide the Word. I also hope that people at your Church still have eyes and hands and not have taken literal everything in the bible that is meant to bring up a point (Pardon my lack of verse quotations, I am in the middle of work and type this in a hurry. Most will know where to look)
The bible says that our righteous deeds are like filthy rags (Isaiah 64:6). Why? Because the righteous deeds are done by a sinner, us. We need a Savior.
When Jesus died on the Cross, He qualified ALL who believe God the Father raised Him from the dead and confess with your mouth He is Lord, YOU WILL BE SAVED. ALL means rich, poor, sinner, tax collector, adulterer, even pharisee who repents and believe. The Greek word for repent is metanoia meaning to change one's mind.
When Jesus has qualified ALL and made it available to us all, please do not add or take away from His perfect work or disqualify others. He did afterall save you, whom I am certain have broken at least one law in act or in your heart. The bible says the law is a composite whole, someone who has broken one has broken all. James 2:10. So if the rich broke one law, they have broken all. If you broke one law (lust, jealousy, anger), you have also broken all. When you realise this, you will realise how much Jesus did for you and instead of condemning the rich, you will be loving them, trying to advise them to glory for the Kingdom of God.
So aren't you glad Jesus died to save you as well as the rich? Rejoice! For you are none better than the rich. They have their sin, you have your's but by God's grace, we are forgiven and all who believe will make it to heaven. Forever made perfect those who are being made holy. (Hebrews 10:10&14).
My advise is, please stop this kind of blogging or whatever this is while you are still learning the bible. Because after some time when the Holy Spirit reveals the truth to you through the bible, you will regret making such statements because they are not true.
Shalom, go and be in peace
to Harry.
Hi Harry,
Just a note to be sure you know why/how we are qualified to get to heaven. It is not by how obedient we are, or by the works of the law, but ONLY by the sacrifice of our Lord Jesus Christ who has freely made it available to all who believe. Just thought I made a note coz from reading what you wrote, it seems you think that you can still qualify yourself to heaven by obedience and your works. (Pardon me if you are Roman Catholic, then that would be your belief and thats another topic altogether)
The only work God now requires us for eternal life is to believe in the one He has sent (John 6:29).
The difference between good works we do now is for our treasure stored up in heaven. The good works we do now is out of gratitude for what Jesus has accomplished for us.
when you realise that and work from His strength, your ministry will be empowered, and it will bear much fruit which Glorify Him.
Why then does JC tell us to follow the commandments, if all we have to do is say I believe and then ignore the commandments? That is hypocrisy.
If you love your neighbor as you love yourself, you can’t sit on a mountain of gold while millions starve.
If you truly believe you do as JC says. He tells the rich man to sell whatever he has and give it to the poor.
You must have DEEDS, they prove your faith.
James 2:14-19
Faith and Deeds
14 ”What good is it, my brothers, if a man claims to have faith but has no deeds? Can such faith save him?
15”Suppose a brother or sister is without clothes and daily food.
16 “If one of you says to him, "Go, I wish you well; keep warm and well fed," but does nothing about his physical needs, what good is it?
17 “In the same way, faith by itself, if it is not accompanied by action, is dead
18”But someone will say, "You have faith; I have deeds."
Show me your faith without deeds, and I will show you my faith by what I do.
19 “You believe that there is one God. Good! Even the demons believe that—and shudder.”
At the judgment simply saying “I believe” will not overcome a life of sin and a life of mocking God by your actions. If so then all go to heaven and God’s commandments mean nothing.
JCR,
Thats good you are reading the bible. But you need to use the cross as the reference to rightly divide the Word/covenants. I thought I explained clearly what Jesus meant, but here it is again:
Matt 19:16-22. The wealthy ruler came to Jesus with the LAW, and he told Jesus, all these things I HAVE KEPT from the youth. The focus here is on self effort, self righteousness. Jesus/God the Father has always required one thing. Or dependence on Him. Jesus wanted to make a point that without Him as a Savior, all are doomed. So He replied if you want to be PERFECT, go sell all you have and give to the poor. Jesus brought the law back to it's pristine standard. You should go on to read the next few verses and also v26. If you missed the point and taking your doctrine from the literal, then come back here and let me know after you have sold everything and given to the poor. Don't miss the point!! Without Jesus, ALL OF US IN OUR SELF EFFORT WILL NOT MAKE IT. That was the point! Coz the rich young ruler wanted favor with his keeping the law.
As for James, when you study carefully using various study guides and of course with the Holy Spirit, you will find that James is not trying to say we are saved by works. I shall be concise with this and just be short and sweet. Faith is the works God now requires for us to be saved. John 6:29. So what James meant is we are saved by faith, but GOOD WORKS IS THE FRUIT of our believe. I agree with you that all who believe SHOULD have many evidence by good works to show their FRUIT. That is also my desire that I produce many good works to please my Abba Father, but I do it out of gratitude from the heart, not from obeying a law outwardly. But I do not do it to be saved, if you say so then you are preaching another gospel and you have fallen from Grace and your faith made void (Gal 5:4). May I say that you have this mentality (and many in the body of Christ) because we are all still stuck on the law and the world's concept of reward. That we need to do something to get something. I know you still can't believe it is all for free. Do read Romans and Galatians. Thats what Grace is, unmerited favor, getting something(salvation you did not earn. Man, I'm telling you if you grasp this, your life will light up, your ministry will bear much fruit. You will "work" our of the strength of God Himself.
But I agree with you on one thing. The body of Christ is not doing good deeds to it's full potential. Many are saved by the skin of their teeth.
Also be careful of parroting what many preachers wrongly interpret James 2:19. James said believing there is a God is not enough, true even the demons believe that and shudder. (They don't just believe, they have seen and know). What was left out that is vital for salvation? You need to see Romans 10:9 " that if you confess with your mouth the Lord Jesus and believe in your heart that God has raised Him from the dead, you will be saved." THAT'S THE KEY! Believe in your heart that God raised Him from the dead (for your sins). It is the same truth throughout the NT.
I hope you are learning. I don't know everything, but I hope I have brought you some insight. Keep up the good works, but don't "biasedly" focus on just one part of people's flaw. We ALL HAVE something we need to work on.
Sorry, last. Bible says LOVE of MONEY is root of all evil. Not love of wealth, not money itself. SO THIS APPLIES TO RICH AND POOR. You can be POOR and LOVE MONEY MORE THAN GOD MORE THAN A WEALTHY PERSON. Many poor people will also kill, steal, rob for money. Don't interpret with bias, you'll be fine.
God bless,
Shalom
Daniel
D,
This is the great myth that leads to damnation. That you don‘t have to follow the commandments, just say you are sorry when you die and you go to heaven. That you don’t have to have good deeds, go ahead and sin all you like and just say you are sorry when you die and you go to heaven.
Why did JC die on the cross? To give us a chance at salvation – not guarantee we all go to heaven. The path is narrow and few find it, many a called and few are chosen. If you love me follow my commandments. All these mean nothing to the hypocrites who preach instant salvation and last minute conversion to reach heaven.
JC says avoid all forms of greed and greed is having more than one needs. The rich by definition are greedy. They violate the instructions of JC, yet most Christians simply don’t care. What a shame. Many starve so a few can be rich.
You have eyes and refuse to see and ears and refuse to hear.
Thanks for reading and you comments, they are not the truth according to JC…
JCR,
Are you a Roman Catholic? If you are then there is a whole different topic altogether. They believe in saved by works (mostly), Protestants believe saved by faith through grace only and only.
I highly recommend you read the new testament cover to cover starting from Acts. Many Christians think the New Covenant began at the Gospels, but the Gospels was were the Old Cov was transitioning to the New Cov. Here are the verses for saved by faith through grace alone:
1)For it is by grace you have been SAVED, through faith—and this is not from yourselves, it is the gift of God.9. NOT BY WORKS, SO THAT NO ONE CAN BOAST. Eph 2:8-9
2)For we maintain that a person is justified by faith apart from observing the law. Romans 3:28
3) What then shall we say? That the Gentiles, who did not pursue righteousness, have obtained it, a righteousness that is by faith; 31 but the people of Israel, who pursued the law as the way of righteousness, have not attained their goal. Romans 9:30-31
4)Clearly no one is justified before God by the law, because “the righteous will live by faith.” Gal 3:11
5)Christ is the culmination of the law so that there may be righteousness for everyone who believes. Romans 10:4
6)This righteousness is given through faith in[a] Jesus Christ to all who believe. There is no difference between Jew and Gentile,Romans 3:22
What is the purpose of the law?
1)Therefore no one will be declared righteous in God’s sight by observing the law; rather, through the law we become conscious of our sin.Romans 3:20
Why do you keep talking about the law? (The commandments. These are not the same commandments Jesus told us the sum of the law and the prophets in Matt 22:37-40. Only 2 commandments remain)
1) The sting of death is sin, and the power of sin is the law. 1 Cor 15:56
2)But their minds were made dull, for to this day the same veil remains when the old covenant is read. It has not been removed, because only in Christ is it taken away. 1 Cor 3:14
and lastly for you if you still keep thinking it is by your own efforts/works you are saved.
3) All who rely on observing the law are under a curse, for it is written: “Cursed is everyone who does not continue to do everything written in the Book of the Law.” Gal 3:10.
know why? God has already given us His opinion of all our righteous deeds:
All of us have become like one who is unclean,
and all our RIGHTEOUS ACTS ARE LIKE FILTHY RAGS;
we all shrivel up like a leaf,
and like the wind our sins sweep us away.
Isaiah 64:6
I'm not sure if you are actually reading what I am writing coz I feel like nothing is going in your understanding. But please read the bible and study it carefully (if you don't study, at least read it NT in whole cover to cover in an easy to understand translation like TNIV) before you start preaching, you are preaching another gospel and you don't even realise it. YOU HAVE MISSED THE WHOLE POINT OF WHY YOU ARE SAVED. I hope you are still delivered from Gal 3:10, the very curse Jesus died on a tree to save us from. Gal 3:13.
You are also not understanding what I said when I said our good works IS THE FRUIT of our salvation but not the REASON WHY WE ARE SAVED.
I guess this will be my parting comment as I have given you every evidence. If you think it is still by your good works you are saved, good luck, you are still dead in your sins. If you are a Catholic, please do read up on other protestant sites about saved by grace through faith. A good website is http://gracethrufaith.com/ It answers many theological questions. Also has a lot of interesting updates on end time prophecy which we are seeing it unveil before our eyes.
Shalom
Daniel
Also I did not say that we can sin all we like. I am saying we are saved apart from our works.
True saved by grace produces good works from the heart, not the outward behaviour showcase the pharisees did. They are the only ones whom Jesus called a brood of vipers. He never called the tax collectors, adulterers ,etc that. They are the ones that need saving.
You got it all wrong. Your heart wants to obey God but power to obey does not come by physically/mentally making your body obey, you will fail. (See strength of sin is the law above).
You want to stop sinning see verse:
For sin shall no longer be your master, because you are not under the law, but under grace. Romans 6:14.
FYI Law and works go hand in hand. When the bible says under law, it means by your works.
Many have commented in long paragraphs on the issues of faith and deeds.
To all those who claim that faith alone is all you need to enter heaven I ask, why are there commands from JC?
If you don't have to follow the commands and can simply do as you wish, and then claim you have faith, everyone goes to heaven to stand with the angels.
If deeds don’t count then there is no judgment, because there is nothing to judge. Everyone will claim faith and ask forgiveness.
No rich man can claim he loves his neighbor as he loves himself, second command, if he has billions while his neighbor starves. Is this concept so hard to accept?
Only greed and selfishness blocks your view of the truth.
As for the rich JC said, sell everything you have and give it to the poor. No man can say JC didn’t command this.
Without deeds there is no heaven. Deeds and deeds alone prove your faith.
Bunch of idiots fighting over what a man said two thousand years ago IF he ever said all those things verbatim.
Ask any christians and you can tell they enjoy being dirt poor because their saviour said 'no one can serve both god and money'. They think owning your own business is all about greed and money.
So all christians ensure they don't work hard and do their best to stay poor. Christians love to choose & pick what to believe from the bible. Working hard and saving money for your children is a no no.
Yes, ensuring that your children & their children remains dirt poor is the best way to appreciate what JC had done for you.
After all god gave the world his only begotten son so that those who believes in him will not have to work hard and shall dream of an afterlife filled with candy and chocolate.
R,
Nowhere does JC say man shouldn't work or build a business. He says man should care about his neighbors. He says we should all love our neighbors, as we love our selves and do unto others, as we would have them do unto us. These are not mutually exclusive.
We should all work and try to accomplish great things in our work life. But no man should sit on a mountain of gold, while his neighbor staves. That case against that kind of greed is both Christian and moral.
Thanks for reading and for your comments…
Thanks for telling the truth. I totally agree with you. Let them know that we shall enter Heaven only through CHRIST AND HIM ALONE. Not the prophets,neither Moses, Joshua,Abraham and the rest. This is the era of the NEW TESTAMENT
Christ is indeed clear and forceful about the rich not entering the kingdom of God. The question we should all be asking is "am I rich? By worldly standards, most Americans could be in serious trouble.
s,
Thanks for reading and your comments. Yes if you say you are a Christian, you should listen to whatr Jesus says. For only JC has the truth.
T,
You could indeed be correct, except JC says having enough food, shelter and clothing is okay. Most Americans are living month to month and are not getting rich. It is true all Americans are rich by third world standards.
Thanks for reading and for your comments...
Harry,
You said wealth is not inherently bad if you put Jesus first. Jesus can only be first in anyone's life if they love Him. Jesus said we cannot love Him and hate out brother. And He says if we have the world's goods and see our brother in need and do not help, how can the love of God dwell in us?" Correct, His love cannot dwell in us if we hoard excesses while someone lacks necessities like food and clothing. He who does not work, does not eat. But there are many who work yet do not have basic needs met. Not so much in this country as in some other countries. In Psalms David said to the Lord "Give me neither poverty nor riches, feed me with the food that is my portion". Why would the rich deserve a bigger portion than the poor? Of course they don't.
Don't kid yourselves. If I had to bet my life that God agrees with the author's overall point, I would feel quite comfortable doing it. God has provided enough food to feed the planet and certainly enough resources to provide health care for all. No man should be rich while people are starving or unable to afford health care, especially considering that God has provided enough for everyone. But it's not only the rich who are sinners; no middle class person should buy a $500k house while that money could be used to save hundreds of starving CHILDREN. Nobody should buy a Lexus while that money could be used to save the life of a hard-working wife and mother who has a CURABLE disease. If YOU had to bet YOUR life on it, would you bet that I am wrong about the things I just said, according to God???? Don't kid yourselves.
To -- person named "a follower of Christ"
What makes you so sore You are interpreting the Bible correctly? Have you not read the Bible verses where God talks about the poor and social justice -- more than 200 verses in the Bible? Have you read the story about the rich man and Lazarus. You are probably hoarding some money so you want to justify your actions and put down someone who is speaking correctly. What makes you think that because you are living in a wealthy country that you deserve more than the beggar in India. There are many beggars who do all they can to keep working to supply their means but cannot supply enough. America has only 5% of the world's population but consumes 25% of it's resources. Are you telling me that you are more important in God's eyes than the beggar who is not lazy. (of course lazy people deserve to not have anything but I am speaking only about those who are not lazy). Please ask the Good Lord for wisdom. What part of "whoa to you who are rich now" do you not understand?
Oh my. The spirit of Laodecia is out in full force. It seems that a majority of posters took offense to this biblical article. Its sad, truly sad.
Thanks to all who took the time to write.
JC's instructions to the rich are clear - SELL WHATEVER THOU HASTE ANG GIVE IT TO THE POOR. He also said, those who have become rich have committed an error – love of money is the root of all evil - love your neighbor, as you love yourself - to love is to care for.
Why would JC say these things if he didn't mean them?
He also says we will be judged by how we treat the "least among us" and as we treat the least among us, so we treat him. The rich sit on a mountain of gold while their neighbors starve. 25,000 of God's children starve to death each day in a world of obscene wealth.
Man can always find excuses to ignore God and still claim him as their savior.
I think no man knows the heart of another. If you become wealthy and use your wealth to help others that is giving. Besides even JC said the kingdom is within . Its not in the clouds or up or down. If you don't confess only Jesus as your god hell awaits you for eternity. tsk tsk What kind of divine entity force people to burn in hell for eternity? That is so savage so not the god I could ever bow down to. What a tyrant. But I give god more credit because we are god and never have been separated. God is also the devil as people have a bad side and good side. These stories were written 60 to hundred years after christ died and in 2000 some years you know things were changed to fit man's small mind of what god really is. Savage brutal words, threats and accusations how dare people pretend they are so saved. Sick
Sanctus Vesania 2 years ago
If the rich are not going to gain eternal life, then why are some of God's chosen people rich themselves? Abraham, Job, King Solomon (just to name a few) were very wealthy. God allowed Satan to test Job, and even though Job lost EVERYTHING, by the end of the story, God GAVE back to Job TEN times more than he had.
So to declare that God hates the wealthy and the rich, while the Bible declares that God gives wealth isn't right.
The Godhead do not hate the wealthy or the rich. What they hate is when money becomes an object of worship.
And, in case you may bring this up, no I am not rich in material goods. I point this out so you won't say, "Well, you are only against what I say, because you're rich."