Have You Sold All?

The outcome of the failure to rightly divide the Bible manifests itself in many ways. One common attribute of those who ignore God’s plan for Bible study is to pick and choose which verses to teach and which verses to ignore. A better way to state this is to pick which verses to believe and which verses to spiritualize or explain away. Being Pauline in doctrine allows you to believe every verse as it is written. In Matthew 19, Mark 10 and Luke 18 we have the three accounts of the rich young ruler asking Jesus specifically what he must do to inherit eternal life. Jesus gives the correct response for the dispensation he is in which is clearly written for us in Deuteronomy 6:25  And it shall be our righteousness, if we observe to do all these commandments before the LORD our God, as he hath commanded us. Jesus tells this man to “keep the commandments” just as Moses would have. This man responds how he has kept the commandments from his youth up. Jesus clearly responds that the man lacks one thing and tells him to “sell that thou hast and give to the poor”. In a day and age when people are so eager to ask “what would Jesus do” no one actually does, because Jesus expected his followers to sell their earthly possessions. I understand you may have heard this requirement explained away or might have been told that Jesus really did not mean what he said but the fact remains that this was required by Jesus. This requirement is mentioned in Luke chapter 12 in a different context and most clearly in Acts chapters 2-5. Acts 2:42-45 And they continued stedfastly in the apostles' doctrine and fellowship, and in breaking of bread, and in prayers. And fear came upon every soul: and many wonders and signs were done by the apostles. And all that believed were together, and had all things common; And sold their possessions and goods, and parted them to all men, as every man had need. It is obvious Peter and the little flock of Israel believed this requirement and had followed through. And I probably don’t need to remind you of how things turned out for Ananias and Sapphira when they lied to the Holy Ghost regarding this requirement. So I ask you again, have you sold all your possessions and given all your things away to the poor? Another very good question is why was this required? Why did Jesus seem to say in several areas it was bad to be rich and good to be poor?
Why would it be so hard for a rich man to enter the kingdom? The answer is clear and easily understood by the literal approach to the Bible. Homes and riches would be worthless during the tribulation that was soon to come. For those that had endured to the end of the tribulation in Christ’s earthly kingdom Christ had already said “all these things shall be added unto you”. There would be no need for houses or riches in the earthly kingdom. Unfortunately the vast majority of Christianity today has spiritualized much of what Jesus clearly said about the promised and prophesied earthly kingdom. The result is these verses become unclear and confusing at best. Spiritualizing the things Christ said forces you to pick and choose the things to take literally and the things you give a “spiritual” meaning. Right division of the Bible makes all these things become clear and understandable. You might ask why you have never heard this before? Because Pauline mid-Acts right division is not taught at Seminary. You will only learn to be a Bible believer from a Bible believer.

  
 
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