"And when Jesus saw that he answered wisely, he said to him, "You are not far from the kingdom of God." And after that no one dared to ask him any more questions." vs34

I want to speak tonight on being “not far” from the kingdom of God. It is a horrible thing, and many are in this situation. To be “not far” is to be lost and under condemnation, even as those not far from Noah’s ark were destroyed. To be “not far” from the City of Refuge is to be under the wrath of God.

You're trying hard, but getting nowhere. You are deceived. Whoever thinks they can keep the law and earn God’s favor - whoever thinks their acceptance is 1% dependent on their works - is utterly lost. You are religious to no avail. You do not please God.

First, we must understand the command is unkeepable [vs28-31]. Mark 12:30-31 - "And you shall love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind and with all your strength.' The second is this: 'You shall love your neighbor as yourself.' There is no other commandment greater than these."

The law requires perfection. If we stumble in one point, then we’re guilty of all [James 2:10]. If we live perfectly, and sin in one thought, then we’ll be in the same hell as the child molestor, cannibal, or false teacher. God doesn’t care how hard we try. We must love him with all our heart, and our neighbor equal to ourself. Therefore, no one can be justified by what we do. We can’t gain acceptance or earn favor. We can’t be good enough, no matter what we stop and start doing. There is no hope by the merits of the law.

The Lord Jesus told this man he was “not far,” because he sought to keep the commands for acceptance. He was sincere, but he was utterly deceived by his own supposed ability. He couldn’t see that the law requires what he can’t give.

He is not “not from” the kingdom, because as he takes the law seriously, it will press him down. God’s commands, when considered in their strenuousness, bring us to Christ. They oppress us, and strip us of all righteousness. They say, “You can’t do it. You can’t even come close. You deserve nothing.” This is the first step: realizing how holy God is, and how sinful we are, leads us to the Savior.

Secondly, the command brings us to Jesus Christ [vs32-33]. "And the scribe said to him, "You are right, Teacher. You have truly said that he is one, and there is no other besides him. And to love him with all the heart and with all the understanding and with all the strength, and to love one's neighbor as oneself, is much more than all whole burnt offerings and sacrifices."" Burnt offerings and sacrifices will never save us, but they do point to the One who finished the work. God set up the sacrificial system to foreshadow his Son. He shows him consumed as the Burnt Sacrifice. Leviticus 1:4 - "He shall lay his hand on the head of the burnt offering, and it shall be accepted for him to make atonement for him." The insides are clean, while his body is consumed. Leviticus 1:9 - ""The offerer is to wash its entrails and legs with water. Then the priest will burn all of it on the altar as a burnt offering, a food offering, a pleasing aroma to the LORD.” Christ pays the full penalty, until there’s nothing left, and his body is reduced to ashes, only to rise again the third day. He is the bloody Substitute, and the atonement made for sin. He is God exacting his penalty, so he can forgive.

Once you receive the gospel, then you see that SOMEONE PAID for your sin debt, and by faith in him, you are righteous. Romans 3:28 - "For we conclude that a person is justified by faith apart from the works of the law." He justifies us through his own blood. Romans 3:25 - "whom God put forward as a propitiation by his blood, to be received by faith. This was to show God's righteousness, because in his divine forbearance he had passed over former sins.” He is the One Man that obeyed God on behalf of many. Romans 5:19 - "For as by the one man's disobedience the many were made sinners, so by the one man's obedience the many will be made righteous."

The law has been highly honored by our Lord. Isaiah 42:21 - "The LORD was pleased, for his righteousness' sake, to magnify his law and make it glorious." God’s righteousness - the obedience of his Son, received by faith - is the obedience that we need. This is full acceptance in the sight of God, and it is permanent. The law could never do this for sinners. We are born in transgression with no way of producing a perfect work. Even after salvation, we rely on Jesus’ blood, just like at the beginning. Our good works are accepted, because they are works of faith, not merit. They are not done to satisfy God but to please him. He’s satisfied already, and resurrected Christ. Thank God, he found another way. The Law and the Prophets point us to Jesus, our way escape. If we deal seriously with Moses, then Jesus will receive us. He’ll take the transgressor, and wash his sins away. He’ll establish us accepted, so that God can help us.

Thirdly, the command makes us love with gospel obedience [vs29-31]. The command is still binding. Romans 13:8 - "Owe no one anything, except to love each other, for the one who loves another has fulfilled the law." We must love God and our neighbor, but do it as a forgiven child, with God on your side. Now, we love because we’re forgiven, rather than to improve our standing. Luke 7:47 - "Therefore I tell you, her sins, which are many, are forgiven--for she loved much. But he who is forgiven little, loves little."" Now, we do good works because we have the Spirit. Romans 8:2 - "For the law of the Spirit of life has set you free in Christ Jesus from the law of sin and death." There is no condemnation. God works in us with power.

Gospel obedience is mandatory. God has not slacked his law. Love is now produced by the gospel, so that God can be glorified. Faith has real fruit: it believes the truth, and loves God; it loves the saints and sinners, and reaches out the gospel to all. Now, we know the power of God working thankfulness in us, which causes us to lay our life down. 2 Corinthians 5:14-15 - "For the love of Christ controls us, because we have concluded this: that one has died for all, therefore all have died; and he died for all, that those who live might no longer live for themselves but for him who for their sake died and was raised."

This is the gospel way of salvation. Work mongers look at the commands, and say, “I’ll keep it.” Gospel people say, “Where is Jesus? I will obey by the help of God’s Spirit, because I’m forgiven. I’ll do your will, Oh Lord, because it is right.”