Who Then Can Be Saved?
Our Bible passage, introduction to Sunday 20th March’s service and hymns are below.
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Our verses are:
Mar 10:17 And when he was gone forth into the way, there came one running, and kneeled to him, and asked him, Good Master, what shall I do that I may inherit eternal life?
Mar 10:18 And Jesus said unto him, Why callest thou me good? there is none good but one, that is, God.
Mar 10:19 Thou knowest the commandments, Do not commit adultery, Do not kill, Do not steal, Do not bear false witness, Defraud not, Honour thy father and mother.
Mar 10:20 And he answered and said unto him, Master, all these have I observed from my youth.
Mar 10:21 Then 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.
Mar 10:22 And he was sad at that saying, and went away grieved: for he had great possessions.
Mar 10:23 And Jesus looked round about, and saith unto his disciples, How hardly shall they that have riches enter into the kingdom of God!
Mar 10:24 And the disciples were astonished at his words. But Jesus answereth again, and saith unto them, Children, how hard is it for them that trust in riches to enter into the kingdom of God!
Mar 10:25 It is easier for a camel to go through the eye of a needle, than for a rich man to enter into the kingdom of God.
Mar 10:26 And they were astonished out of measure, saying among themselves, Who then can be saved?
Mar 10:27 And Jesus looking upon them saith, With men it is impossible, but not with God: for with God all things are possible.
Mar 10:28 Then Peter began to say unto him, Lo, we have left all, and have followed thee.
Mar 10:29 And Jesus answered and said, Verily I say unto you, There is no man that hath left house, or brethren, or sisters, or father, or mother, or wife, or children, or lands, for my sake, and the gospel's,
Mar 10:30 But he shall receive an hundredfold now in this time, houses, and brethren, and sisters, and mothers, and children, and lands, with persecutions; and in the world to come eternal life.
Mar 10:31 But many that are first shall be last; and the last first.
Who then Can Be Saved?
We have here an account of the Rich Young Ruler coming to Jesus. He came not as a little child might come, and as the Lord requires, but with all the pride and presumption of a natural, self-righteous man. His meeting with the Lord is recounted by Matthew, Mark and Luke. In addition to a very interesting dialogue between the Lord and the young man, the conversation proves a great puzzle for the Lord’s disciples regarding the nature of salvation. It becomes another lesson in their understanding of the gospel of free and sovereign grace.
Running to Jesus
This nameless young man ran to the Lord eagerly. Evidently, he had heard about Jesus and did not want to miss the opportunity of speaking to Him. In every way this man appears to be sincere and thoughtful. He was polite and respectful and brought a question that spoke of more serious considerations than the usual chicanery of the Pharisees.
An important question!
When the young man met Jesus, the Saviour was on the road to Jerusalem. The nature of his approach and the urgency of his question suggests he had come prepared for his brief encounter with the Lord. He asked, “Good Master, what shall I do that I may inherit eternal life?” This question reveals a lot about the young man’s belief and assumptions. He believed there was an afterlife, but like many he was thoroughly entangled in works-righteousness and, as becomes clear, self-righteousness.
Something still missing
Yet it is also clear he had a sense of emptiness and dissatisfaction. In the opinion of others he was a man of great privilege; in his own opinion, a man of great achievement, but the very fact this question is asked of the Lord Jesus Christ betrays self-doubt. He hoped but did not know if all was well with his soul. This is the classic dilemma of the legalist. They are never sure if they have done enough.
We deal with God on His terms
The response of the Lord to this young man is very illuminating. First, the Lord challenged the young man’s assumptions. Certainly, the Lord Jesus Christ is good, but did the young man appreciate why? Knowing the proper deity of Jesus Christ leads to a true understanding of His work and accomplishments. If a man or a woman is to be saved they will first discern the saving work of the Godman. They come to Him for salvation, not validation. This was the Saviour’s first lesson.
Under the Law
Next, the Lord turned the youth back to the Law. Like many others the rich young ruler mistakenly imagined personal obedience and ‘doing one’s duty’ recommends a sinner to God. He had taken his duties seriously but he did not understand them spiritually. The Lord would have him know that the Law, being designed and appointed to accuse and condemn, can never bring life. It is not a ladder to life for a sinner but a measure of how far short we are from the perfect holiness of God.
All the book of the Law
Furthermore, failure in one part of the Law is failure in all. It took the Lord merely to open up one small detail of the true spiritual meaning of the Law to expose the vanity of this young man’s character. As reality dawned and the penny dropped, the self-confidence of the youth crumbled and sorrow filled its place. What the young man feared was true, all his obedience was not enough to inherit eternal life. He had done all he could and it was not nearly enough.
What is impossible with man …
Later as the disciples reflected upon the incident their old prejudices returned. Why did not the Lord embrace this man? He was exactly the kind of person needed for their movement! He was young, rich, talented, conscientious and eager to identify with Christ’s kingdom; he possessed qualities that indicated God’s blessing. Was not he a most eligible candidate? If such a one cannot enter the kingdom of God, who can? Who then can be saved?
… is possible with God
Gently and patiently the Lord again turned the minds of His disciples to free grace. “With men it is impossible” he said, “but not with God: for with God all things are possible.” This young man had so very much, but he did not have faith and without faith it is impossible to please God.
The end of the story?
Perhaps someday the Lord did give him the faith he needed and by it peace about eternal life, we are not told. If so, it would not come by ‘what good thing must I do’ but by grace. Grace and eternal life is the free, sovereign gift of God alone. Men look to duties performed to make them first in line for heaven. It is a popular and persuasive idea to the natural man. But God delights to save sinners, and the chiefest amongst them, at that.
Our hymns are below.
Hymn 1
Gadsby selection 385
“God be merciful to me a sinner.” Luke 18. 13
S. Medley L.M.
1
Hear, gracious God, a sinner’s cry,
For I have nowhere else to fly;
My hope, my only hope’s in thee;
O God, be merciful to me!
2
[To thee I come, a sinner poor,
And wait for mercy at thy door;
Indeed, I’ve nowhere else to flee;
O God, be merciful to me!]
3
[To thee I come, a sinner weak,
And scarce know how to pray or speak;
From fear and weakness set me free;
O God, be merciful to me!]
4
[To thee I come, a sinner vile;
Upon me, Lord, vouchsafe to smile;
Mercy, through blood, I make my plea;
O God, be merciful to me!]
5
[To thee I come, a sinner great,
And well thou knowest all my state;
Yet full forgiveness is with thee;
O God, be merciful to me!]
6
To thee I come, a sinner lost,
Nor have I aught wherein to trust;
But where thou art, Lord, I would be;
O God, be merciful to me!
7
To glory bring me, Lord, at last,
And there, when all my fears are past,
With all thy saints I’ll then agree,
God has been merciful to me!
Hymn 2
Gadsby selection 1063
“But ye, brethren, are not in darkness.” 1 Thess. 5. 4
T. Kelly 8.7.7.
1
Nothing know we of the season
When the world shall pass away;
But we know, the saints have reason
To expect a glorious day;
When the Saviour will return,
And his people cease to mourn.
2
O what sacred joys await them!
They shall see the Saviour then;
Those who now oppose and hate them,
Never can oppose again.
Brethren, let us think of this:
All is ours if we are his.
3
Waiting for our Lord’s returning,
Be it ours his word to keep;
May our lamps be always burning,
May we watch while others sleep.
We’re no longer of the night;
We are children of the light.
4
Being of the favoured number,
Whom the Saviour calls his own,
’Tis not meet that we should slumber;
Nothing should be left undone.
This should be his people’s aim,
Still to glorify his name.