Lenten “In and Out” Series – Part 3“I Want In”

Luke 18:18–30 | March 8, 2026

This morning, we continue our Lenten sermon series titled “In and Out.” In this series, we are looking at moments in the New Testament where people were all in for Jesus—and then, for various reasons, they decided to get out and walk away from Him.

In Part 1, we looked at John the Baptist, sitting in prison and wrestling with doubt. Even this powerful prophet questioned whether Jesus was truly the One. The principle we learned was this:

“Blessed are those who still believe even when their circumstances (when all the pieces are not there) tell them not to believe.”

In Part 2, we looked at the thousands who followed Jesus after He fed them with five loaves and two fish. But when Jesus taught something difficult—“Unless you eat My flesh and drink My blood”—many of them doubted and walked away. They were all in one day and all out the next.

Maybe you’ve experienced that in your own life.

Maybe there have been moments when you were all in for Jesus, but over time, doubt crept in, and you felt yourself drifting all out.

Have you ever wrestled with questions like these?

• Is all this Jesus stuff real?

• If it is real, why do bad things happen to good people?

• Why does God answer some prayers but seem silent on others?

• If I struggle with belief, does that mean I’m beyond the love of God?

• Will God be angry with me for doubting?

• If Jesus is real, why don’t some Christians act better?

• What do I do if everyone around me is all in—but I’m all out?

  
  

If you find yourself in a season of “Doubt and Out,” you are not alone. Some of the most faithful saints in Scripture walked through that same land. Their footprints remind us that doubt does not mean the end of faith—it can often be the beginning of deeper trust. But today’s story is different.

Today, we meet someone who wants in.

The Rich Young Ruler: A Man Who Wanted Eternal Life

In Luke 18, Jesus is teaching when a man approaches Him. The Bible describes him as rich, young, and a ruler—a man of influence, wealth, and status.

He asks Jesus a powerful question:

“Good Teacher, what shall I do to inherit eternal life?” (Luke 18:18)

This man wants in. He wants eternal life.

And honestly, that desire is something God has placed inside every human heart.

Solomon wrote in Ecclesiastes 3:11:

“He has made everything beautiful in its time. Also, He has put eternity in their hearts.”

Deep inside every one of us is a longing that life would not end here. God planted that seed within us.

This man had everything the world said should satisfy him:

• Wealth

• Youth

• Authority

• A moral life

  
  

But something inside him still felt unfinished.

The Gospel of Mark tells us something fascinating. It says this man ran to Jesus, fell on his knees, and asked the question. That tells us something important.

He was desperate.

Despite his success, something in his soul knew:

“Something is missing.”

The Wrong Assumption

Notice how he asks the question:

“What must I do to inherit eternal life?”

He assumed eternal life had to be earned.

That’s how most things in life work.

We earn a paycheck. We earn a promotion.We earn respect. We earn a place on the team.

But the Gospel tells us something radically different:

Eternal life is not something you earn.It is something you receive.

It is a gift from God.

Jesus Points to the Commandments

Jesus responds by listing several commandments:

• Do not commit adultery

• Do not murder

• Do not bear false witness

• Honor your father and mother

• Love your neighbor as yourself

And the man confidently responds:

“All these I have kept from my youth.” (Luke 18:21)

In his mind, he must have been thinking:

“Wow… I might already be in.”

He had lived a moral life. He had followed the rules. He had done everything he thought God required.

But then Jesus says something that must have made his heart stop.

“You Still Lack One Thing”

Jesus looks at him with compassion and says:

“You still lack one thing.”

Only one thing.

He was so close.

So close to the Kingdom of God.

There may be people reading this right now who are just as close. You believe many things about Jesus. You respect Him. You try to live a good life.

But there may still be one thing standing between you and fully following Him.

The rich young ruler leaned in, waiting for Jesus to explain.

And then Jesus says:

“Sell all that you have and distribute to the poor, and you will have treasure in heaven; and come, follow Me.” (Luke 18:22)

The Real Issue

Jesus told him to:

• Go

• Sell

• Give

• Follow

But this was not about money.

This was about the heart.

Jesus wasn’t asking for impressive works. He was asking for an undivided heart.

One commentator said it perfectly:

“The issue wasn’t money. The issue was mastery.”

Who was truly in charge of this man’s life?

Jesus—or his wealth?

The Decision

Now the rich young ruler had a decision to make.

Sell everything. Give to the poor. Follow Jesus.

Or keep his wealth.

Luke tells us what he chose.

“He became very sorrowful, for he was very rich.”

Mark adds another detail:

“His face fell, and he went away sad.” (Mark 10:22)

He wanted in.

But he walked away (out.)

The tragedy is this: the man did not possess his wealth.

His wealth possessed him.

What Are You Holding On To?

Jesus’ challenge still confronts us today.

What is the thing in your life you refuse to surrender?

It might not be money.

It could be:

• An addiction

• Anger

• Pride

• Fear

• Control

• Your time

• Your reputation

• Your comfort

  
  

Whatever we refuse to surrender to Jesus becomes a stumbling block between Him and us.

The Camel and the Needle

Jesus then says something shocking:

“How hard it is for those who have riches to enter the kingdom of God! For it is easier for a camel to go through the eye of a needle than for a rich man to enter the kingdom of God.” (Luke 18:24–25)

The disciples were stunned and asked:

“Who then can be saved?”

Jesus answered:

“The things which are impossible with men are possible with God.” (Luke 18:27)

Salvation is not something we achieve.

It is something God accomplishes in us.

Peter Speaks Up

Peter then says:

“See, we have left all and followed You.”

Jesus reassures them:

“No one who has left house or family for the kingdom of God will fail to receive many times more in this life—and in the age to come eternal life.” (Luke 18:29–30)

Following Jesus costs something.

But it gives far more than it takes.

A Powerful Illustration

In some parts of the world, hunters catch monkeys using a simple trap.

They cut a small hole in a coconut or gourd—just large enough for the monkey to put its hand inside.

Inside the coconut is food.

The monkey reaches in and grabs the food. But when it makes a fist, its hand becomes too large to pull back out.

The monkey is trapped—not by ropes—but by what it refuses to release.

If the monkey would simply let go, it would be free.

But it refuses.

And the hunter can walk right up and capture it.

The rich young ruler was trapped the same way.

He would not let go.

What Does It Mean to Be “All In”?

Being all in with Jesus is not about:

• Being more religious

• Giving away money

• Working harder for God

• Avoiding bad behavior

• Following more rules

• Having status

• Defending the Gospel harder

  
  

Being all in means something much simpler.

It means letting go of the world and fully following Jesus.

Those who follow Christ wholeheartedly will receive far more in this life—and in the life to come—than they could ever imagine.

The question remains the same today as it did for that rich young ruler:

What are you holding on to?

And are you willing to let it go so you can truly be all in?

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DAYqAeyEreU