Entrance into the Kingdom by Robert Govett and published by Classics.
The propositions intended to be proved in the present pages are two; that eternal life is God’s unconditional gift to believers and that believers’ participation in the kingdom of Christ is conditional on their conduct, as good or evil. To the Jew under the law it was proposed of God to win eternal life by his own obedience to the divine commands. This is proved by the following passages:
1. “And behold one came and said unto him, Good Master, what good thing shall I do, that I may have eternal life? And he said unto him, why callest thou me good ? There is none good but one, that is God ; but if thou wishest to enter into life, keep the commandments. He saith unto him. Which? Jesus said, Thou shalt do no murder, thou shalt not commit adultery, thou shalt not steal, thou shalt not bear false witness, honour thy father and thy mother : and, thou shalt love thy neighbour as thyself :” Matthew 19: 16 – 22
2. “And behold a certain lawyer stood up, and tempted him, saying. Master, what shall I do to inherit eternal life ? He said unto him. What is written in the law? how readest thou? And he answering said. Thou shalt love the Lord thy God with all thy heart, and with all thy soul, and with all thy strength, and with all thy mind ; and thy neighbour as thyself. And he said unto him. Thou hast answered right; this do and thou shall live.”
Luke 10: 25 – 28
These righteous conditions have never been fulfilled by any son of man, save Jesus. The new ground therefore taken by the Gospel, is, that eternal life is granted at once to the Christian by faith in the work of Messiah, as the ensuing declarations written in the book prove.
