Man's Call To Salvation

Through his statement, Jesus offers valuable guidance on how we can have full participation in the Christian life. Jesus tells the young man that he should love his neighbor as he loves himself. Thus, Jesus identifies love for all people as an important aspect of Christian living.

Jesus also invites the young man to experience voluntary, material poverty by selling all his property. This is not an invitation to reject material goods but an encouragement to think of material things as having very little importance when seen in the light of eternal light of eternal life.

Jesus concludes by urging the young man to follow him, that is, to join him in offering worship to the Father, in carrying on his mission, and in receiving a share of God's life.

All Christians are asked to imitate Jesus so that they can achieve total union with God.