Originally posted: 04/18/2019
“Then who can be saved?” 26 And looking at them Jesus said to them, “With people this is impossible, but with God all things are possible,” (19:25-26).
The gospels are filled with stories of people coming to Jesus. Today we read of the Pharisees coming to test Jesus; the children coming to be touched and blessed by Jesus; and the rich young man coming to Jesus with a desire to obtain eternal life.
And someone came to Him and said, “Teacher, what good thing shall I do that I may obtain eternal life?” (19:16).
Jesus tells the young man to keep the Commandments, to which the young man replies, “Which ones?” It is interesting to note that Jesus skips right over the first four commandments, which specifically address how man must relate to God (Exodus 20:3-8):
“You shall have no other gods before Me.”
“You shall not make for yourself an idol…”
“You shall not take the name of the Lord your God in vain.”
“Remember the sabbath day, to keep it holy.”
Instead, in verses 18-19, Jesus refers to the commandments dealing with interactions between man and man: And Jesus said, “You shall not commit murder; You shall not commit adultery; You shall not steal; You shall not bear false witness; 19 Honor your father and mother; and You shall love your neighbor as yourself.”
Astonishingly, this man replies, “All these things I have kept…;” but still he goes on to ask, “what am I still lacking?” One can’t help but wonder, in his confident assertion that he had kept “all these things,” why did he still sense that he was lacking? If external adherence to the Law was not enough, what was this poor, rich man to do?
Knowing the heart of this young man, Jesus addressed the true heart of the matter.
Jesus said to him, “If you wish to be complete, go and sell your possessions and give to the poor, and you will have treasure in heaven; and come, follow Me.” But when the young man heard this statement, he went away grieving; for he was one who owned much property, (19:21-22).
The rich young man found this commandment too hard; so in his unwillingness to let go of his wealth, he refused to accept the invitation to come and follow Jesus.
And Jesus said to His disciples, “Truly I say to you, it is hard for a rich man to enter the kingdom of heaven. 24 Again I say to you, 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,” (19:23-24).
Was Jesus saying rich people can’t be saved? Of course not; but He was saying that anytime we trust the wealth of self we are faced with a tremendous hurdle. As a matter of fact, an impossible hurdle. And like the disciples, we too may be left asking, “Then who can be saved?”
And here, in truth, is the answer: in and of ourselves, it is not possible; for it is truly His Impossible Salvation.
And looking at them Jesus said to them, “With people this is impossible, but with God all things are possible,” (19:26).
Consider His Impossible Salvation
- Salvation is Impossible… with people
- as it is written, “There is none righteous, not even one;
11 There is none who understands,
There is none who seeks for God;
12 All have turned aside, together they have become useless;
There is none who does good,
There is not even one.”
13 “Their throat is an open grave,
With their tongues they keep deceiving,”
“The poison of asps is under their lips”;
14 “Whose mouth is full of cursing and bitterness”;
15 “Their feet are swift to shed blood,
16 Destruction and misery are in their paths,
17 And the path of peace they have not known.”
18 “There is no fear of God before their eyes,” (Romans 3:10-18).
- as it is written, “There is none righteous, not even one;
- Salvation is God’s Gift
- For by grace you have been saved through faith; and that not of yourselves, it is the gift of God; 9 not as a result of works, so that no one may boast, (Ephesians 2:8-9).
- With God All Things Are Possible
- But God demonstrates His own love toward us, in that while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us. 9 Much more then, having now been justified by His blood, we shall be saved from the wrath of God through Him. 10 For if while we were enemies we were reconciled to God through the death of His Son, much more, having been reconciled, we shall be saved by His life, (Romans 5:8-10).
How do we respond to His Impossible Salvation?
May we never tire of considering His Impossible Salvation. Every day should cause us to marvel as we contemplate His Impossible Salvation: reconciled to Holy God through the death of His Son and given life by His Resurrected Life; such an indescribable gift that not one of us deserves and certainly could never earn.
- Do we believe what His Word pronounces of His Impossible Salvation due to the condition of every human born?
- as it is written, “There is none righteous, not even one…” (Romans 3:10).
- Have we placed our faith in what only He can do; the provision and gift of His Impossible Salvation?
- For by grace you have been saved through faith; and that not of yourselves, it is the gift of God; 9 not as a result of works, so that no one may boast (Ephesians 2:8-9).
If we have accepted the gift of His Impossible Salvation, we can never boast or make the claim that “All these things I have kept….” As we rest in His work, not our own, and let go of the wealth of self to humbly admit our lack, we can confidently rely on His Impossible Salvation.
What then shall we say to these things? If God is for us, who is against us? 32 He who did not spare His own Son, but delivered Him over for us all, how will He not also with Him freely give us all things? (Romans 8:31-32).
Oh, that we would live each day in unshakeable confidence in the inseparable love of God, proven in His Impossible Salvation.
For I am convinced that neither death, nor life, nor angels, nor principalities, nor things present, nor things to come, nor powers, 39 nor height, nor depth, nor any other created thing, will be able to separate us from the love of God, which is in Christ Jesus our Lord, (Romans 8:38-39).