Close, but Not Quite

One of the teachers of the law came and heard them debating. Noticing that Jesus had given them a good answer, he asked him, "Of all the commandments, which is the most important?"
"The most important one," answered Jesus, "is this: Hear, O Israel, the Lord our God, the Lord is one. Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind and with all your strength. The second is this: Love your neighbour as yourself. There is no commandment greater than these."
"Well said, teacher," the man replied. "You are right in saying that God is one and there is no other but Him. To love Him with all your heart, with all your understanding and with all your strength, and to love your neighbour as yourself is more important than all burnt offerings and sacrifices."
When Jesus saw that he had answered wisely, he said to him, "You are not far from the kingdom of God." And from then on no one dared ask any more questions. ~ Mark 12:28-34

The teacher of the law, having come to probe Jesus' theology, is probed himself. He commends Jesus' insight into true devotion, and thinks the matter is settled with his endorsement. Jesus steps over the endorsement with authority and commends the teacher's belief that the love of God and neighbour are the substance of God's heart more than burnt offerings.
We are satisfied with the teacher's position, too, and are glad that, at least for once, a legal expert got it right. But Jesus stops short of declaring him right with God. He's got the right idea, but he isn't there yet. To be "not far from the kingdom of God" is still outside of it. Something more is needed.
This should alarm us. Don't we know many who profess love of God and neighbour and consider it salvation? Don't many of us describe that as the essence of our faith as well? Why isn't this enough for Jesus? What's the problem?
We need to learn two lessons from the teacher of the law. 1) Knowing doctrine is not the the same as knowing God. Plenty of people know the right words and agree with the right things. That's not enough. We cannot enter the kingdom of heaven unless we're born of God's Spirit. We cannot get there without knowing Him. 2) Knowing God is not possible without knowing Him through Jesus. The exact representation of God on earth, the body in whom God met a sinful race, cannot be bypassed without rejecting the One who sent Him. Though many try to identify other ways, it just isn't possible.

Jesus' semi compliment to the teacher is a slap in the face of our culture. Modern religionists have so watered down God that He is alleged to be known on their own terms. Jesus would tell all who believe in a generic god and do good works in His name: "You aren't far from the kingdom. But you are not yet there."

"Christ came to save all through His own person." ~ Irenaeus

(and if you don't know anything about Irenaeus you can check him out here: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Irenaeus)