Luke 18:18-19

Here, in a very interesting way, Jesus is making clear – God the Father, God the Son, and God the Holy Spirit alone are good, benevolent, profitable, useful, advantageous and upright. The word “good” is translated from the Greek word “Agathos” which signifies inherent goodness and describes something as virtuous (Hebrew-Greek Key Word Study Bible New Testament Lexical Aids). Jesus wants to make sure this rich young ruler understand that in calling Him “good” he is equating Him with God Himself and rightly so.

Our protagonist comes to Jesus with the question we should all be concerned to enquire about namely, “What must I do to inherit eternal life?” He is under the assumption that he could do something in his own power to achieve eternal bliss. Much like many of our modern day thought processes, this young ruler wanted to work his way into heaven. He could not be further from the truth. Jesus tells yet another ruler of that day, Nicodemus, in John:

3 In reply Jesus declared, "I tell you the truth, no one can see the kingdom of God unless he is born again.” 4 "How can a man be born when he is old?" Nicodemus asked. "Surely he cannot enter a second time into his mother's womb to be born!" 5 Jesus answered, "I tell you the truth, no one can enter the kingdom of God unless he is born of water and the Spirit. 6 Flesh gives birth to flesh, but the Spirit gives birth to spirit. 7 You should not be surprised at my saying, 'You must be born again.' John 3:3-7 (NIV)

Of these verses the Bible Knowledge Commentary states:

“John the Baptist had stirred the nation by his ministry and stress on repentance (Matt. 3:1-6). “Water” would remind Nicodemus of the Baptist’s emphasis. So Jesus was saying that Nicodemus, in order to enter the kingdom, needed to turn to Him (repent) in order to be regenerated by the Holy Spirit. There are two distinct realms: one is of fallen man (the flesh) and the other is of God (the Spirit). A fallen person cannot regenerate himself; he needs a divine operation. Only God’s Holy Spirit can regenerate a human spirit. People should not stumble at or reject the importance of Jesus’ words. They must be born from above. The necessity is absolute and is universally binding.”

We cannot save ourselves in our fallen sinful state. Paul tells us in Galatians:

10 All who rely on observing the law are under a curse, for it is written: "Cursed is everyone who does not continue to do everything written in the Book of the Law." 11 Clearly no one is justified before God by the law, because, "The righteous will live by faith." Gal 3:10-11 (NIV)

Adding to this in Ephesians:

8 For it is by grace you have been saved, through faith--and this not from yourselves, it is the gift of God-- 9 not by works, so that no one can boast. 10 For we are God's workmanship, created in Christ Jesus to do good works, which God prepared in advance for us to do. Eph 2:8-10 (NIV)

Salvation does not therefore have its source in man but in God’s grace – His unmerited favor. All of our human efforts are as filthy rags. Jesus tells us that apart from Him we can do nothing. That only through Him is the Way, the Truth, and the Life. He is our access to God the Father. It is in our building upon the foundation of Jesus Christ through the power of the precious Holy Spirit that we are able to participate in the divine nature looking forward with anticipation to our glorified bodies and to our rich welcome into the Kingdom of God when Jesus returns. Peter echoes this:

3 His divine power has given us everything we need for life and godliness through our knowledge of him who called us by his own glory and goodness. 4 Through these he has given us his very great and precious promises, so that through them you may participate in the divine nature and escape the corruption in the world caused by evil desires. 5 For this very reason, make every effort to add to your faith goodness; and to goodness, knowledge; 6 and to knowledge, self-control; and to self-control, perseverance; and to perseverance, godliness; 7 and to godliness, brotherly kindness; and to brotherly kindness, love. 8 For if you possess these qualities in increasing measure, they will keep you from being ineffective and unproductive in your knowledge of our Lord Jesus Christ. 9 But if anyone does not have them, he is nearsighted and blind, and has forgotten that he has been cleansed from his past sins. 10 Therefore, my brothers, be all the more eager to make your calling and election sure. For if you do these things, you will never fall, 11 and you will receive a rich welcome into the eternal kingdom of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. 2 Peter 1:3-11 (NIV)