“And a ruler asked him, ‘Good Teacher, what must I do to inherit eternal life?’ And Jesus said to him … ‘Come, follow me’”. (Luke 18:18-22)
In Luke 18, we read how a ruler comes to Jesus and asks him what he must do to inherit eternal life. Initially, Jesus answers him according to the accepted social norms, namely by listing some of the ten commandments. The man answers that he has kept these from his youth. But Jesus points out that his full devotion to God is hindered by his money. This man is not ready to give up his wealth to follow Jesus.
Following God’s commandments is good. But our attempts to obey them perfectly will not be enough to inherit eternal life. Jesus offers a different solution: you need to believe in Him and become a follower of Him. He has come to perfectly keep and fulfill all the law — in your place. As Romans 3:21-22 explains: “But now the righteousness of God has been manifested apart from the law, although the Law and the Prophets bear witness to it — the righteousness of God through faith in Jesus Christ for all who believe.”
You should not try to earn God’s favor by obeying his commandments. Instead, you can be “justified by his grace as a gift, through the redemption that is in Christ Jesus”.
Do you believe in Jesus Christ?