Who Then Can Be Saved?
Eric Durso
The Gospel of Mark • Sermon • Submitted
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Yes ago I remember sharing the gospel with a thoughtful teenage agnostic some years ago. I was a youth pastor, and I had started a Christian club on a local high school campus, and every Tuesday I would show up, bring pizza, and share the gospel. And there was one student, I can’t remember his name, who always came, always ate the pizza, and always listened, and never, so far as I know, came to embrace the gospel.
One of the last conversations I had with him was after the club was over and I was walking with him to his next class, trying to implore him to respond to Christ. One of the things he said struck me: “You know, one of the problems with Christianity is that Christians always die penniless.”
One of the reasons he did not want to embrace Jesus as his Lord and Savior was that he might end up poor. His desire for money, for wealth and the comfort it brings, controlled him. This is a much more common reality: men and women who are controlled by their love of wealth. Their desire for wealth is what dictates where they live. Their desire for wealth is what dictates their career. Their desire for wealth is what dictates how they spend. Their desire for wealth is what dictates how they give. Their desire for wealth is what shapes their lifestyle. Self-denying, self-sacrificial obedience to Jesus doesn’t determine their lifestyle, their career, their spending, their giving: a pursuit of wealth does.
Last week we were introduced to a man who did the same thing. Take a look back at our text.
Now, immediately following this tragic conversation, as the man’s silhouette disappears as he walks away, Jesus now takes this opportunity to teach his disciples. Let’s read the text and in it, we’ll see three major lessons Jesus teaches his disciples. Mark 10:23-31.
Verse 23: “And Jesus looked around and said to his disciples, ‘How difficult it will be for those who have wealth to enter the kingdom of God.’ As the rich young ruler walks away, it’s almost as if there was a long, brooding silence, when finally Jesus speaks up. He’s reflecting on how difficult it was for this man to stop trusting his wealth and start trusting him.
The statement Jesus makes is this: that those who have wealth will find it difficult to enter God’s kingdom. Why is that?
When you have a lot of wealth, it’s hard to look away from it. Wealth is often used as a numbing agent to counter the weight of guilt. Wealth can be used to construct a sort of “heaven on earth,” where we cease to long for heaven, because life seems so good already.
Comfortable people living comfortable lives can easily distract themselves from the conviction of sin, the impending reality of death. They don't have a sense of longing for heaven because life’s pretty good as it is. Now, I mentioned last week, if you have a smartphone you are wealthier than any generation to have ever lived before you. Add the house you live in and the fact that you drive motorized vehicles. We are a wealthy nation. And it is tempting for us to live our lives dependent upon our wealth. But Jesus wants us to be dependent on him.
Verse 24: “The disciples were amazed at his words.” In other words, it’s likely they still believed that wealth was an indication of God’s approval. Of all people who should enter the kingdom of God, this rich young ruler should. He’s obedient to the law and he’s wealthy. Certainly God is smiling upon him. But Jesus’ point is that it’s harder for him - and that shocked the disciples.
But look at where Jesus goes next: he takes it further: “But Jesus said to them, ‘Children, how difficult it is to enter the kingdom of God!” No longer is he talking about the wealthy. He refers to his disciples as children, and he tells them of the difficulty of entering the kingdom of God.
Verse 25: “It is easier for a camel to go through the eye of a needle than for a rich person to enter the kingdom of God.” Now there have been some funky ways this has been interpreted. Some have said, “The Eye of a Needle” was the name of a tiny gate in Jerusalem, and if a traveler didn’t get inside the main gates by sundown, they would have to pass through the tiny crevice - the eye of the needle. But in order to pass through, the camel would have to take off all the baggage, the saddle, and squeeze.
And so some preachers have seen this as the key to understanding and explaining this text. It’s really hard for a camel to go through the Eye of the Needle Gate. But it’s doable. You just have to get rid of your baggage.
Here’s the problem with this. First of all, there’s no evidence that such a gate ever existed. We have the story appearing in the 15th century in sermons and stuff, but scholars say there’s no evidence of the gate ever having existed in Jerusalem. Secondly, and this is the more important thing: Jesus is not merely saying it’s really hard to get to heaven, like a camel squeezing through a small gate. No, he’s saying It’s impossible for us to do, just as impossible as it is for a full size camel to squeeze through the actual hole at the end of a needle.
He’s not merely saying salvation is difficult for the wealthy. He’s saying “It’s impossible for the wealthy.” That’s why in verse 27 he will be even more explicit: “With man it is impossible.”
The disciples knew what Jesus was saying: “And they were exceedingly astonished” - in verse 24 they were merely amazed. Now, they’re exceedingly astonished. They’re picking up what Jesus is laying down. They see that it is impossible to achieve salvation. So they say, “Then who can be saved?”
The First Lesson: Salvation is Impossible for Man
Yes, it’s difficult for the wealthy. But it’s difficult for everyone. And further, it’s about as difficult as it is for a large 1,000 pound beast of burden to squeeze through a speck. It is impossible.
Many problems in the church today and in our lives come from not quite understanding the depths of sin. Let’s do a brief overview of man’s sinful condition in five words: deceived, darkened, dead, unwilling, and unable.
Deceived. The Bible teaches that every person born in this world is born into the web of lies the enemy has woven. 2 Corinthians 4:4 says “the god of this world has blinded the minds of the unbelievers to keep them from seeing the light of the gospel of the glory of Christ.” The problem with deceived people is that they don’t know they’re deceived. They think they’re right.
Darkened. Because we are deceived, we are darkened in our understanding. Ephesians 4:18 says, “They are darkened in their understanding, alienated from the life of God because of the ignorance that is in them, due to their hardness of heart.” Our minds are like pitch black caverns, unable to understand God, unable to appreciate the gospel. Those with darkened minds appreciate the gospel the same way a blind man appreciates the sunset. He may hear of it, but he cannot understand it.
Dead. The Scriptures go even further, teaching that everyone is spiritually dead. That is, sin has rendered us spiritually senseless. We can’t seek God. We can’t know God. We can’t love God. The beauties of truth don’t compel us, the wonders of Christ are boring, the treasures in Scripture are bland. Why? Because we’re dead.
Unwilling. All these factors put together mean that mankind is unwilling to come to God. No one seeks for God. Humanity’s natural condition is a dead sprint away from the living God.
Unable. They cannot come to God. They cannot please God.
Do you think a mere man can overcome these things and save himself? Can a blind person will himself? Can a dead person simply choose to get out of the grave?
What Jesus is impressing upon his disciples is this: no one can, in and of themselves, enter the kingdom of heaven. You cannot purchase your place there. You cannot merit your place there. Your family does not guarantee you a spot there. Your religion will not get you there. Your discipline will not get you there. Your status will not get you there.
You can do nothing. “With man, it is impossible.” The “it” here is referring back to the disciples’ question about who can be saved. The “it” is salvation. “With man, salvation is impossible.”
You cannot be saved until you realize you can do nothing to save yourself.
And this leads us directly to the second half of Jesus' statement: “With man it” (salvation) “is impossible, but not with God. For all things are possible with God.” In other words, as the darkness falls, and hopelessness sets in, and as we contemplate the brutal reality that we can do nothing to save ourselves, Jesus shines a beam of hope into our hearts: “But all things are possible with God.” All things. Salvation is possible. Redemption is possible. Forgiveness of sins is possible. Removal of guilt is possible. Justification is possible. Change is possible. Reconciliation is possible.
The Second Lesson: God Alone Can Save
This is what is meant by “all things are possible with God.” Of course, the statement is true. All things are possible. God is an omnipotent being. Let’s stop and talk about the omnipotence of God for a second, because that’s what Jesus is pointing to: all things are possible with God.
The word “Almighty” in Scripture is only ever used to describe God. He alone is Almighty. Nothing is too hard for him. Nothing exhausts him or tires him out. There are no tasks that are more difficult and less difficult for him. All are infinitely easy, since he is almighty.
And throughout redemptive history he has demonstrated his omnipotence. In creation, in the flood, in the Exodus, in the conquest - throughout the Scriptures it is clear that God is not subject to anything. He is not stopped or thwarted or hindered. He does not struggle with other gods, trying to overcome them. He is God in the heavens, he does whatever he pleases.
And then Jesus comes in the New Testament, demonstrating the same infinite power of God. He heals the sick, he casts out demons, he commands the weather, he raises the dead. But the most dramatic display of power, and what seals his omnipotence, is that Jesus was raised from the dead. Nothing, not even death itself, can stop God’s omnipotent power.
And all of church history, from the resurrection onward, is God demonstrating his omnipotent power in the salvation of dead sinners.
God alone can overcome the shackles of sin.
We were deceived: God sends us his truth to set us free from deception.
We were darkened: God sends the Holy Spirit to illuminate our minds and enable us to grasp the glories of the gospel.
We were dead: God unites us with Christ and brings us to spiritual life.
We were unwilling: God gives us a new heart that loves him and longs to obey him.
We were unable: The Holy Spirit empowers us for obedience.
God saves. It is possible with God, not with man. All of salvation is of God. None of it is of man. In fact, a quick glance at all the elements of salvation reveal it’s all of God. Watch this.
Where does salvation begin? In eternity past. Ephesians 1:5 In love 5 he predestined us for adoption to himself as sons through Jesus Christ, according to the purpose of his will.”
Well, how did we come to Jesus, wasn’t that our choice? Well, before we could ever choose him, he chose us. Ephesians 1:4 “even as he chose us in him before the foundation of the world, that we should be holy and blameless before him.
But faith is my doing, isn’t it? Ephesians 2:8-9 makes it clear that faith itself is a gift from God. Philippians 1:29 makes it clear that it has been granted to believers - that is, gifted to them - that they should believe. John 6:63 “It is the Spirit who gives life, the flesh is no help at all.” And then verse 65: “No one can come to me unless it is granted to him by my father.”
Man contributes nothing to salvation except the sins that make it necessary. Salvation is not a result of man’s works, man’s religion, man’s efforts, man’s sincerity. It is not a result of anything man does. He saves us. We do not save ourselves.
I think there are some here who are not yet saved whom God intends to save. You may not even believe in God now. You may not be too sure of the gospel now. You may think God would never want to save you. You may think your sins are too gross and your life too far gone to experience salvation.
But it may dawn on you that there is a God, that he is good, and that though your sins have offended him, he loves you, and that his love for you is immense and unstoppable, and that he wants you for his own, and that he came in the person of Jesus Christ to die for your sins, making full payment, and that he offers you the free gift of his own righteousness.
And your eyes will be opened and you will see that cross and you will say, “Ah, I was hell bound but he died for me! I was lost but he came for me! And I was guilty and he suffered for my guilt!” And you will think of his resurrection and you will think, “He’s alive, and he alone has power over death, and he is my hope, and he is my righteousness, and I know that I am saved!” And you will marvel that God saved you, and you will take no credit for yourself.
Now let’s take a look back at the text. Verse 28 “Peter began to say to him, “See, we have left everything and followed you.”
Now it’s a little hard to see what’s going on here. Why does Peter say this? The last place we have Peter’s recorded words was back during the Transfiguration when he put his foot in his mouth. Now after hearing watching this rich man walk away, of the impossibility of salvation, and of the power of God alone to save, he says, “See, we’ve left everything and followed you.”
Is he thinking that he will be saved because he’s left everything? Is he comparing himself to the rich young ruler who wouldn’t leave everything? It’s not clear. And Jesus doesn’t rebuke him.
Lesson 3: Forsaking all for Christ is worth it.
Verse 29: Jesus said, “Truly, I say to you, there is no one who has left house or brothers or sisters or mother or father or children or lands, for my sake and for the gospel, 30 who will not receive a hundredfold now in this time, houses and brothers and sisters and mothers and children and lands, with persecutions, and in the age to come eternal life.”
Jesus starts by saying “Truly, I say to you,” which is a way of saying, “Hey, Listen up, this is really important for you to know.” And then he describes someone who leaves everything familiar: their property - house and land - and their family - brothers, sisters, mother or father or children. But the most important thing is why he leaves everything. Look at the words: “For my sake and for the gospel.”
Jesus is envisioning a person who is not looking for significance in their property. A person who’s not trying to find security in his wealth. A person who’s not trying to build an identity around his family relationships. But rather, a person who entrusts everything to Jesus Christ, and aligns everything about his life for his gospel.
A hundredfold blessings in this life. Jesus says when you renounce all and follow Jesus, you inherit a hundredfold in this time. That is, right now. What does he mean? He doesn't mean you should expect a hundred houses, and a sudden explosion of children in your family. He means this: the moment you entrust your life to Christ you are added to a new family.
It goes back to what Jesus said in Mark 3 when people were saying, “Your mother and brothers are looking to see you” and he replied, “Who are my mother and my brothers! For whoever does the will of God, he is my brother and sister and mother.”
What Jesus is saying here is that as soon as you trust him and follow him, so find yourself surrounded by a new spiritual family. Your family grows by a hundredfold. New spiritual fathers and mothers, new spiritual brothers and sisters, new spiritual children. But not only the family, he almost mentions houses and lands.
He’s alluding to the reality that in Christian communities, they are not so greedy and possessive about their wealth that they horde it. They understand their houses and lands and accounts are all gifts from God, and where there’s true need among the church family they meet it. “You need a house? Sleep in mine tonight.” Two years ago when Ashley got in a car accident we had a family offer to give us their car, and then shortly afterward, we had several thousand dollars give to us to go to repairs.
And I think God allowed my sickness last week so I’d have another good illustration of this principle. We had several meals dropped off, several texts from friends praying for us. I was reminded that I am well provided for!
Acts 4 describes the early church selling their possessions and demonstrating radical generosity to ensure that everyone in the congregation was taken care of. Verse 34: “There was not a needy person among them.” Jesus makes a promise to make up for every sacrifice.
Persecutions. Jesus made it clear to those who followed him that there would be people who hated them simply because they were committed to him. That was true then, and it’s true now. Jesus will see to it that we are cared for, but he does not promise that there will be no opposition. There will be.
Eternal life. Eternal life. To have Christ is to have eternal life. This is what the rich young ruler wanted, but would not receive because he would not renounce all over hopes to put his faith in Christ.
I am always moved by what David Livingstone, great pioneer missionary to Africa in the 1800s, said to students who were in awe of this life sacrificing the comforts of home to spend amongst the least reached peoples. “It is emphatically no sacrifice. Say rather it is a privilege. Anxiety, sickness, suffering, or danger, now and then, with a forgoing of the common conveniences and charities of this life, may make us pause, and cause the spirit to waver, and the soul to sink; but let this only be for a moment. All these are nothing compared to the glory which shall be revealed in and for us. I never made a sacrifice.”
If we have these promises from Jesus, why would we hold on to wealth and convenience? If every sacrifice is paid back and made up for, why are we so stingy? If when we die we will rise to glory, why are we so afraid to die?
Make no mistake, all our “sacrificing” in this life is no sacrifice at all, it is an investment into the next life. This is why we have no problem asking you to go all in with the mission God has given us here at Grace Rancho and in the world. Because it is ultimately the path to our highest joy and our greatest reward.
Verse 31: “But many who are first will be last, and the last first.” In this life, many who are first place, like the rich young ruler, with wealth, power, possessions, and status, will be last when the kingdom comes. But those who forsake all, giving their lives to serve Christ, they will be fools in this life, but in the kingdom they will be crowned with honor for their service to the king.
How are you using your wealth?
How does God want you to use your wealth?
My friend whom I mentioned at the beginning of the story may have been right: that Christians don’t always end up rich, and sometimes they even wind up penniless. What he did not realize is that they are rich, rich beyond his wildest dreams - in the life to come.