None Is Good Except One: God

In Luke 18:18-19, "And a certain ruler asked him, saying, Good Master, what shall I do to inherit eternal life? And Jesus said unto him, Why callest thou me good? None is good, save one, that is, God."

Many simply think that Jesus is saying that he is not good, only God is good. In fact, many new-age teachers would probably use this scripture to try and fuel their anti-Christ doctrines, teaching that Jesus said he is no good, and that he is not God. In ignorance, people fail to remember Jesus’ other words: "I and my Father [GOD] are one." - John 10:30. "I am Alpha and Omega, the beginning and the ending, saith the Lord, which is, and which was, and which is to come, the Almighty." - Revelation 1:8. "These things saith the Amen, the faithful and true witness, the beginning of the creation of God" - Revelation 3:14. "And God said unto Moses, I AM THAT I AM: and he said, Thus shalt thou say unto the children of Israel, I AM hath sent me unto you." - Exodus 3:14. "Jesus said unto them, Verily, verily, I say unto you, Before Abraham was, I AM." - John 8:58.

 Jesus was actually testing this man by saying "Why callest thou me good? None is good, save one, that is, God." You see, Jesus is God. He is the Son of God, yet He is one with God. "For there are three that bear record in heaven, the Father, the Word, and the Holy Ghost: and these three are one." - 1 John 5:7. When this man called Jesus "Good Master", what Jesus responded, was kinda like saying "you are calling me good, but no one is good except God. Do you realize that I am God? Is this why you are calling me good?" Jesus wanted this man to think about what he was saying. It’s quite brilliant and complex!

Luke 18:20-22, Jesus goes on to say: "Thou knowest the commandments, Do not commit adultery, Do not kill, Do not steal, do not bear false witness, Honor thy father and thy mother. And he said, All these have I kept from my youth up. Now when Jesus heard these things, he said unto him, Yet lackest thou one thing: sell all that thou hast, and distribute unto the poor, and thou shalt have treasure in heaven: and come, follow me."

The man wants to know how to inherit eternal life. Jesus says to follow the commandments. The man replies that he has always followed them. Then, Jesus reveals to the man that he is missing the most important step in receiving the kingdom of Heaven: having a relationship with Jesus Christ! Jesus says to the man that he "lackest thou one thing", then "come, follow me". Even if someone follows the 10 commandments, and laws of God, without having Jesus Christ as their personal Lord and savior, they will not enter into the Kingdom of Heaven. The word of God is clear, unless the sinless, perfect, holy Son of God pays for your sins on the cross, then you will eventually pay for them yourself, with eventual death and condemnation to hell. Sin will not go unpunished. "For all have sinned, and come short of the glory of God;" (Romans 3:23). And according to God's law: "For the wages of sin is death..." (Romans 6:23). Thank God for Salvation!