According to Jesus what must you do to have eternal life?

Question

Wrong. What you are about to type I'm sure is wrong. The correct answer is:

To sell all of the things that you have and give the money to the poor..

"And, behold, one came and said unto him, Good master, what good thing shall I do, that I may have eternal life? . . . Jesus said unto him, If thou wilt be perfect, go and sell that thou hast, and give to the poor; and thou shalt have treasure in heaven: and come and follow me." (Matthew 19:16-21. See also Luke 12:33)

Answer 1

I know you've heard this before, but once again you take a verse out of context.

Father K. addressed this issue earlier today.

Answer 2

He was talking to one person because that person asked him.

But if that's the only way YOU can get there, then I guess you had better do it!

My Bible says:
John 3
5 Jesus answered, Verily ( AMEN), verily( AMEN), I say unto thee, Except a man be born of water and of the Spirit, he cannot enter into the kingdom of God.
And it is written:
Habakkuk 2
4 Behold, his soul which is lifted up is not upright in him: but the just shall live by his faith.

Answer 3

That is not what Jesus said would give one everlasting life.

there is one kind of knowledge that does promise everlasting life. Conversely, if you did live forever, you could take in useful knowledge forever. Jesus said in prayer to God: “This means everlasting life, their taking in knowledge of you, the only true God, and of the one whom you sent forth, Jesus Christ.” (John 17:3)

So, what did Jesus say we need to do to live forever? First, we must take in knowledge of our heavenly Father, Jehovah, and also of his Son, who gave his life for us. This means that we need to study the Bible.

But how will learning about Jehovah help us to live forever? Well, just as we need food every day, we need to learn about Jehovah every day. The Bible says: ‘Man must live, not on bread alone, but on all the words that come from Jehovah’s mouth.’ Matthew 4:4.

We also need to take in knowledge of Jesus Christ because God sent his Son to take away our sin. The Bible says: “There is no salvation in anyone else.” And the Bible also says: “He that exercises faith in the Son has everlasting life.” (Acts 4:12; John 3:36) Now, what does it mean to ‘exercise faith’ in Jesus? It means that we really believe in Jesus and know that we cannot live forever without him.

Bible tells us: “The world is passing away.” But then the Bible explains how we can live forever in God’s new world. It says: “He that does the will of God remains forever.” (1 John 2:17) So how can we live forever in God’s new world? Yes, by taking in knowledge of Jehovah and his dear Son, Jesus. But we also have to do, or practice, what we learn.

Answer 4

This is what he said to a wealthy young man who wanted to be his follower. Many wealthy people claim to put their faith in Jesus, but (in reality) build up this wealth and start to lean on it for their security/salvation. They RARELY give credit to their creator and (in many cases) become self-righteous and narcissistic once they have accumulated wealth beyond belief (i.e., Bill Gates).

That's why Jesus said that it would be easier for a camel to get through a needle's eye than for a rich man to get into the kingdom of God.

Mark 8:34 says you must disown yourself in order to follow him.

Answer 5

Heather, you have taken this verse out of context. The Biblical teaching is; to repent from your sins and trust in Christ alone for your salvation, to have eternal life.

Answer 6

You are taking only portions of that text and trying to make it fit your question. To be saved and have eternal life you have to believe on the Lord and ask Him to forgive your sins then live for Him. You don't have to sell all of your things God wants you to propser. We aren't to be boastful or gloat in what we have but we are to use what we have for God's glory.

Answer 7

Jesus gave us 27 ways of getting to heaven. Any one of them will do it. You chose one of the tough ways.

Answer 8

Simple question. To have eternal life, there's only one thing you need to do, independent of any religion/belief system.



Don't die.

Answer 9

Oi, that's just one passage though!

I mean, I don't know- shouldn't the judgement be based on the whole Bible and not one little segment?

Answer 10

He also said:

Mat 7:21 Not every one that saith unto me, Lord, Lord, shall enter into the kingdom of heaven; but he that doeth the will of my Father which is in heaven.
Mat 7:22 Many will say to me in that day, Lord, Lord, have we not prophesied in thy name? and in thy name have cast out devils? and in thy name done many wonderful works?
Mat 7:23 And then will I profess unto them, I never knew you: depart from me, ye that work iniquity.

I notice you left this out:

Mat 19:17 And he said unto him, Why callest thou me good? there is none good but one, that is, God: but if thou wilt enter into life, keep the commandments.

What about this?

Mat 5:20 For I say unto you, That except your righteousness shall exceed the righteousness of the scribes and Pharisees, ye shall in no case enter into the kingdom of heaven.

Or this?

Mat 18:3 And said, Verily I say unto you, Except ye be converted, and become as little children, ye shall not enter into the kingdom of heaven.

Or this?

Mar 10:15 Verily I say unto you, Whosoever shall not receive the kingdom of God as a little child, he shall not enter therein.

Or this?

Joh 3:5 Jesus answered, Verily, verily, I say unto thee, Except a man be born of water and of the Spirit, he cannot enter into the kingdom of God.

Or, maybe what about this?

Mat 10:32 Whosoever therefore shall confess me before men, him will I confess also before my Father which is in heaven.
Mat 10:33 But whosoever shall deny me before men, him will I also deny before my Father which is in heaven.
Mat 10:34 Think not that I am come to send peace on earth: I came not to send peace, but a sword.
Mat 10:35 For I am come to set a man at variance against his father, and the daughter against her mother, and the daughter in law against her mother in law.
Mat 10:36 And a man's foes shall be they of his own household.

Mar 16:16 He that believeth and is baptized shall be saved; but he that believeth not shall be damned.

Mat 15:7 Ye hypocrites, well did Esaias prophesy of you, saying,
Mat 15:8 This people draweth nigh unto me with their mouth, and honoureth me with their lips; but their heart is far from me.
Mat 15:9 But in vain they do worship me, teaching for doctrines the commandments of men.

One verse does not a doctrine make, as all of these words spoken by Christ, are equally true. (There are many many more.) "Giving all that you have to the poor", is a work which perfects your faith. The work by itself is meaningless and will not save you. Faith by itself is worthless, as it goes against the words of Christ, which said "Be perfect like your Father in heaven is perfect".

Christ's Apostle James clearly explained these things to you and I, and he learned them from Christ himself.

Jas 2:14 What doth it profit, my brethren, though a man say he hath faith, and have not works? can faith save him?
Jas 2:15 If a brother or sister be naked, and destitute of daily food,
Jas 2:16 And one of you say unto them, Depart in peace, be ye warmed and filled; notwithstanding ye give them not those things which are needful to the body; what doth it profit?
Jas 2:17 Even so faith, if it hath not works, is dead, being alone.
Jas 2:18 Yea, a man may say, Thou hast faith, and I have works: shew me thy faith without thy works, and I will shew thee my faith by my works.
Jas 2:19 Thou believest that there is one God; thou doest well: the devils also believe, and tremble.
Jas 2:20 But wilt thou know, O vain man, that faith without works is dead?
Jas 2:21 Was not Abraham our father justified by works, when he had offered Isaac his son upon the altar?
Jas 2:22 Seest thou how faith wrought with his works, and by works was faith made perfect?
Jas 2:23 And the scripture was fulfilled which saith, Abraham believed God, and it was imputed unto him for righteousness: and he was called the Friend of God.
Jas 2:24 Ye see then how that by works a man is justified, and not by faith only.
Jas 2:25 Likewise also was not Rahab the harlot justified by works, when she had received the messengers, and had sent them out another way?
Jas 2:26 For as the body without the spirit is dead, so faith without works is dead also.

Paul