Why would a man call another man good? This was the question Jesus asked the rich young ruler. The Lord must have known that this man thought he could be good enough to inherit eternal life. He is like so many I hear today when giving reasons why this person or that person is saved. Their main reasoning is that they are a good person at heart. If salvation was an issue between man and man, that reasoning might have some validity. But it is not. Salvation, or eternal life, is an issue between God and man. This is why Christ responded, "There is none good but one, that is, God." It was at this point that Jesus began to reveal to the young man by pointing out one thing he lacked. It only takes one point to be guilty of the whole law and thus be judged a sinner. When we stand before God, man will not be able to find any goodness to hold on to. For even our righteousnesses are as filthy rags in the sight of God. It is for this reason we need a Savior who has fulfilled the whole Law and redeemed us from the curse of the Law. To be saved is to be saved from the curse of the Law, and to have the Lord become our righteousness and our goodness.

-Pastor Owen