<P> This parable relates the term eternal life to entry into the Kingdom of God . The parable starts by a question to Jesus about "eternal life" and Jesus then refers to entry into the "Kingdom of God" in the same context . To avoid conflict with the Christian doctrine that states that salvation is "by grace through faith" (Ephesians 2: 8 - 9) dispensational theologians distinguish between the Gospel of the Kingdom, which is being taught here, and the Gospel of Grace, which is taught in dispensational churches today . </P> <P> A non-dispensationalist view of Christ's response to the man's question on inheriting eternal life is to understand that Jesus knew that there would be none who could do a good enough work to merit such a gift as eternal life (Romans 3: 12), but for the benefit of all who would eventually read this scripture he described the repentant believer's first steps of faith . While simply obeying commandments and selling your riches will certainly yield nothing by itself, the important phrase comes as the end of Jesus' recommendations: "come, follow me ." (Luke 18: 22, KJV) Thus, grace is the invitation to follow, and faith is the ingredient which compels a man to forsake all earthly cares in pursuit of the "author of eternal salvation" (Hebrews 5: 9, KJV). </P> <P> The Rich young man was the context in which Pope John Paul II brought out the Christian moral law in chapter 1 of Veritatis Splendor . </P> <P> While Jesus's instructions to the rich young ruler are often interpreted to be supererogatory for Christians, Dietrich Bonhoeffer argues that this interpretation acquiesces in what he calls "cheap grace," lowering the standard of Christian teaching: </P>

Story of the rich young ruler in the bible