Jul 11, 2021
Lordship salvation theology views Jesus’ interview with the rich young ruler as the very best example of personal evangelism by Jesus recorded in the New Testament. Lordship salvation fails to understand the story of the rich young ruler on two levels:
(1) What is really happening in this story (the historical level)?
(2) What is the role of this story in the Gospels of Matthew, Mark and Luke which were written to Christians (the literary level)?
The story of the rich young ruler is pre-evangelism and not evangelism. (1) Historically, what is going on in this story is a case of pre-evangelism, where Jesus uses the call of discipleship to break through the rich young ruler’s façade of self-righteousness. (2) Literarily, the story of the rich young ruler is a warning to Christians to not allow our material possessions, to prevent our discipleship to Jesus Christ or to deprive us of heavenly treasure.
Other passages: John 3:1-21, John 4:1-42; John 10:10; Galatians 6:8; Romans 3:9-20; Luke 10:25-29; Galatians 3:21; John 2:19-21; John 11:11-14; Matthew 16:5-12; Luke 8:13-17; Romans 4:5-6; Romans 3:5; Matthew 18:3; 2 Corinthians 4:6.