In the narrative of Luke 10:25-28 a lawyer (Literally an expert in the Law) asked our Lord this question: “…what shall I do to inherit eternal life?” (To which Christ responded), “What is written in the law?...” (To which the lawyer responded), Love God supremely, and love your neighbor as yourself. (Our Lord answered), you have answered rightly, do this and live. Was Christ teaching a double standard of salvation? NO! The answer of Christ was in accordance with the man’s question. The man asks, by what work is salvation obtained, not how salvation may be sought. If a man can fully meet the law’s requirements he can be saved by it. Its requirements raise the impossibility. Its requirement is perfection in thought, word and deed. Can you meet it? The answer to that question is certainly NO! The only sensible alternative is salvation by grace. If a man has any awareness of his utter lostness, his total inability and depravity, he will find himself at the feet of sovereign mercy crying with the poor publican in Luke 18, be merciful to me the sinner. Let’s look at the publican, the scripture says he stood afar off, and would not lift up so much as his eyes unto heaven, but smote upon his breast saying, God be merciful to me a sinner. No doubt he came into the temple trembling, with a heavy heart and down-cast, not with “What shall I do!” …but, Lord I need you to do something for me. From the beginning of his request to the end was an acknowledgement of his sin and an appeal for the mercy of God. He comes empty-handed, no fasting or paying tithes, realizing there is nothing he can do. He pleads for the greatest thing that can ever be, he pleads for his life, and he pleads for his soul. He is not playing with prayer, but pleading in earnest for eternal life, knowing it will be a mercy of God. The prayer so pleased the Lord Jesus Christ who heard it, that He tells us how it was offered, describing in detail the scene and leaving it as a witness in His Holy Word. If you read on you’ll find that this man went down to his house justified. But it was more than just the words and it must be more than mere words with one seeking. There must be a seeking for mercy from a realization of your being a lost sinner, needing mercy from a Holy God. It must come from the heart. You cannot presume upon the mercy of God and pray this prayer flippantly; but with the publican’s heart you can take his attitude and spirit to the throne of grace and be granted repentance and go home justified as well. May you seek the mercy of the Lord as the publican did.
“Nothing in my hand I bring, Simply to thy cross I cling.”
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