If we look closely at the words of scripture, it is more proof that the rich young ruler was an elect and later became a believer in Christ, though scripture is silent, yet it is presumption either way to declare him saved or lost. However more hints of scripture would lend itself to him being an elect and being led to faith by His Gracious Saviour. Its no doubt that Jesus Loved him, that in itself is a major clue, since Jesus is God, and God chastens all whom He Loves, so does Christ Rev 3:18-19
18I counsel thee to buy of me gold tried in the fire, that thou mayest be rich; and white raiment, that thou mayest be clothed, and that the shame of thy nakedness do not appear; and anoint thine eyes with eyesalve, that thou mayest see.
19As many as I love, I rebuke and chasten: be zealous therefore, and repent.
Notice whose speaking here, its Jesus, the one who Loved the rich young ruler. Now the God Man says He Chastens as many as He Loves ! He Loved the young rich ruler Mk 10:21-22
21Then Jesus beholding him loved him, and said unto him, One thing thou lackest: go thy way, sell whatsoever thou hast, and give to the poor, and thou shalt have treasure in heaven: and come, take up the cross, and follow me.
22And he was sad at that saying, and went away grieved: for he had great possessions.
Notice that what the Saviour said to him made him grieve, other scriptures say made him very sorrowful, in other words, it was deeply felt !
Now as stated, those who Jesus loves He Chastens and since Jesus is God, of which Jesus alluded to with the rich young ruler when He asked him this Matt 19:17
17And he said unto him, Why callest thou me good? there is none good but one, that is, God: but if thou wilt enter into life, keep the commandments.
Since Jesus is God, Heb 12 says this about everyone God Loveth Heb 12:5-8
5And ye have forgotten the exhortation which speaketh unto you as unto children, My son, despise not thou the chastening of the Lord, nor faint when thou art rebuked of him:
6For whom the Lord loveth he chasteneth, and scourgeth every son whom he receiveth.
7If ye endure chastening, God dealeth with you as with sons; for what son is he whom the father chasteneth not?
8But if ye be without chastisement, whereof all are partakers, then are ye bastards, and not sons.
11Now no chastening for the present seemeth to be joyous, but grievous: nevertheless afterward it yieldeth the peaceable fruit of righteousness unto them which are exercised thereby.
Now, notice, God's Chastening makes them He Loves feel grevious !
Why is that important to know ? Because what the Lord told the rich young ruler , Who Jesus Loved, it was very grevious to him. Notice the scripture said , it was grevious to him Mk 10:22
22And he was sad at that saying, and went away grieved: for he had great possessions.
Lk said this Lk 18:23
23And when he heard this, he was very sorrowful: for he was very rich.
Notice, God inspired him to write VERY SORROWFUL ! Now this word sorrowful is the greek word perilypos and means:
very sad, exceedingly sorrowful
2) overcome with sorrow so much as to cause one's death
Now this word is made from the root word lypē which means:
sorrow, pain, grief, annoyance, affliction
a) of persons mourning
And this is the same word used in Heb 12:11
11Now no chastening for the present seemeth to be joyous, but grievous: nevertheless afterward it yieldeth the peaceable fruit of righteousness unto them which are exercised thereby.
You see that ? Jesus caused him grief, Jesus words to him were a chastening affliction to him, because Jesus Loved him scripture said, and whom the Lord Loveth, He chasenteth, which is a evidence of Sonship.
I believe that what we have with that story of the rich young rulers encounter with Jesus, was the beginning of His Saviour's goodness to him , leading him to repentance..
I already know many will disagree, but nevertheless, there is scriptural support for this conclusion.
Jesus who is God Loved Him, pointed out his fault, caused him grief as a evidence of His Chastening Love !, nevertheless it yieldeth the peaceable fruit of righteousness unto them that are exercised thereby !
