Sunday Sermon

"Is Salvation Possible?"
[Mark 10:17-31]
July 2, 2006 Second Reformed Church

Is salvation possible? We might think that a stupid question with the number of times we have heard from this pulpit that there is salvation in Jesus Christ Alone. But the question takes on a different nuance as we look at the man who comes to Jesus in this morning's Scripture.

Our text tells us that a man ran up to Jesus, fell on his knees, and asked Jesus what he must do to inherit eternal life. He said, "Good teacher, what must I do to inherit eternal life?" And Jesus began His answer with a rebuke, "Why do you call me 'good'? No one is good except for God." See, the man was trying to butter Jesus up by using a term that ought only be used for God; he knew that Jesus was a famous teacher and healer, and the man thought Jesus would be impressed if the man associated Jesus with God. But Jesus wasn't impressed. Jesus said, "Don't call me God, unless you believe that I am God."

Understand, in this context, the man was using the word "good" to mean "sinless; holy." And Jesus knew that the man did not believe that Jesus was sinless and holy, so Jesus reminded the man that only God is sinless and holy, and we ought not throw around descriptions that we don't believe. However, let us remember what the writer of Hebrews wrote, "For we do not have a high priest who is unable to sympathize with our weaknesses, but one who in every respect has been tempted as we are, yet without sin" (Hebrews 4:15). What is the author of Hebrews telling us? Jesus is without sin; He is holy. Therefore, Jesus is God. Jesus was not denying that He is God when the man approached Him, He just wanted the man to know that it is not appropriate for the man to call Jesus God when he did not believe it.

So the man came to Jesus. In Matthew, we are told that this man was very young (Matthew 19:20). And in Luke, we have the additional information that he was a ruler of the Jews (Luke 18:18). This was a man who has risen to power and fame early in life. He was someone who recognized that despite his worldly accomplishments, he had to be right with God to enter God's Kingdom, so he came to Jesus and asked Him what he still needed to do. And Jesus told him to keep all of the commandments. For most of us, that would be the end of the conversation -- we would be weeping and mourning, knowing that we have not kept all of the commandments. John reminds us, "If we say we have no sin, we deceive ourselves, and the truth is not in us. ... If we say we have not sinned, we make [God] a liar, and his word is not in us" (I John 1:8, 10). And Paul wrote, "None is righteous, no, not one" (Romans 3:10).

But the young ruler was feeling pretty good about himself, "Teacher" -- at least he learned that lesson -- "Teacher, all of these I have kept from my youth." He seriously believe that he had kept the Law of God perfectly. He must have been an American, "Well, I've never done this and I've never done that. I'm actually better than most people, so God will let me into His Kingdom."

Let us remember what James wrote, "For whoever keeps the whole law but fails in one point has become guilty of all of it" (James 2:10). If we have only sinned once, we are guilty of the whole Law.

So Jesus said, "There is one thing that you lack, take everything you have, sell it, and give it to the poor, and you will have wealth in heaven, and come here, and follow me." Jesus, knowing the man's heart, knowing his weaknesses, knowing his sin, said, "Alright, let's just check, beginning with the first commandment, 'I am the Lord Thy God...you shall have no other gods before me'" (Exodus 20:1a, 2).

"Well, you can prove that easily enough, if your wealth is not a god to you -- a greater god to you that the One True God -- sell all your possessions and give the money to the poor. Then come back and follow Me." "And he was appalled at his word [and] departed distraught because he had great possessions."

The man thought he had kept the whole Law, but when Jesus put the first commandment in front of him, he was found to have put other gods before God, and he had become covetous in his wealth. He was horrified at the idea that others would have his wealth and he would not.

Let's notice a few things here:

First, the man's riches did not cause him to sin. Being wealthy is not a sin. Someone who makes five thousand dollars a year can put the money above God, just as much as someone who make five million dollars a year.

Second, until we understand and believe that we are sinners, there is no salvation for us. Why would there be? If we are right with God, if we have kept God's Law perfectly, what need do we have for salvation?

Third, notice that Jesus loved the man. We're not told what happens to this man, but tradition holds that he did, eventually, repent, and sell all he had, and followed Jesus. The fact that Jesus loved this man is an indication that the tradition may be true.

And fourth, notice that Jesus said that if he gave up his possessions on earth, for Jesus, for the sake of the Gospel, he would have treasure in heaven. Paul wrote that he prayed that God would "give you a spirit of wisdom and of revelation in the knowledge of him, having the eyes of your hearts enlightened, that you may know what is the hope to which he has called you, what are the riches of his glorious inheritance in the saints" (Ephesians 1:17b-18). Those who faithfully follow Jesus shall receive riches in the Kingdom. (We'll come back to that in a minute.)

And Jesus looked around and said to the disciples, "It is difficult for the wealthy to enter the Kingdom of God. It's difficult for anyone to enter the Kingdom of God. It's difficult -- like a camel going through the eye of a needle." Solomon wrote, "Whoever trusts in his riches will fall, but the righteous will flourish like the green leaf" (Proverbs 11:28). James wrote, "Come now, you rich, weep and howl for the miseries that are coming upon you" (James 5:1). And Paul wrote, "But those who desire to be rich fall into temptation, into snare, into many senseless and harmful desires that plunge people into ruin and destruction" (I Timothy 6:9).

Again, we need to emphasize, being wealthy is not a sin. Money and riches are not sinful. Wealth does not make a person sin. What we are being told here is that having wealth is a big temptation, but wealth is relative: if we have nothing, and we suddenly receive five thousand dollars, we will be rich, comparatively, and we face the same dangers of sin. If we have more than we need, however much that may be, we have wealth relative to our situation, and we are more likely to fall into certain types of sin. That's why Jesus first says it is difficult for the wealthy to enter the Kingdom of God and then says it is difficult to enter the Kingdom of God.

So, the disciples, realizing their and all of humanity's plight before God, cried to each other, "Then who can be saved? Is salvation possible?" And Jesus looked at them, weighed out their ability to receive His Word, and He said, "On your own, based on your own ability, no, salvation is not possible, because none of you are able. All humans are sinners and therefore incapable of entering the Kingdom of God. But -- if God grants you salvation, if God is pleased to save you, if God chooses according to His Sovereign Good Pleasure to save You -- then, yes, salvation is possible -- in fact, it is sure." Paul wrote, "Such is the confidence we have that we have through Christ toward God. Not that we are sufficient in ourselves to claim anything as coming from us, but our sufficiency is from God" (II Corinthians 3:4-5). And, "So it depends not on human will or exertion, but on God who has mercy" (Romans 9:16). If God wants you to be saved, He will save you. If not, there is no salvation for you.

And Peter, on behalf of everyone who has done volunteer work for the church, jumped up and rebuked Jesus, "Listen! We have given up everything and followed you."

And Jesus cut him off and said, "True, and don't worry whatever, whomever, you've given up for My Sake and for the sake of the Gospel, you will receive back one hundred fold." Jesus said, "There is a reward for faithfulness and obedience in Me." "There is a reward for Christian sacrifice, both in this life and the next."

Jesus said that our works and sacrifice do not save us, be we do receive a reward for them, both in this life and in the next. As God is pleased, we are rewarded in physical and spiritual blessings on earth, in persecution and suffering on earth, and in the glory that is to come in the Kingdom.

"Wait a minute: I like the idea of physical and spiritual blessings on earth and in the glory that is to come in the Kingdom. But is Jesus saying that if we are faithful and obedient in this life, we may be rewarded with more suffering and persecution in this life?"

Brothers and sisters, the answer is "yes." Remember what Jesus said, "If anyone would come after me, let him deny himself and take up his cross and follow me. For whoever would save his life will lose it, but whoever loses his life for my sake and the gospel's will save it" (Mark 8:34b-36). As God is pleased, we will receive blessings on earth, and glory in the Kingdom, but we will also receive the fruits, the rewards, of taking up our cross -- the fruits of suffering and persecution.

"Well, how much will I have to suffer and be persecuted? Let's weight out whether this is worth it or not." We just don't know. For some, it will be very little; for some, it will be a great deal, even our very lives. Suffering and persecution are difficult, no doubt. We are not called to enjoy them. But we are called to receive them and rely on God and bring glory to God in the way that we endure them for His Sake and for the Sake of the Gospel. Remember, we are only talking about suffering and persecution for Jesus' Sake and for the sake of the Gospel, not for our sin. If we suffer for our sin, that's our problem, we deserve it. What we receive from the Hand Of God for Jesus' Sake and the Sake of the Gospel is not punishment.

George Petter explains that the Christian is rewarded in two ways in this life: First, the Christian receives a greater measure of spiritual gifts and grace needed to live this life faithfully and obediently. Second, the Christian receives the ability to find greater value and take greater comfort in whatever God gives us now, than all of the things we had before (A Commentary upon the Gospel of St. Mark, 770).

And why is that? Because we Christians have already received the greatest thing possible, the one thing that we are absolutely incapable of securing ourselves -- that we are absolutely unable to receive ourselves -- and that is salvation in Jesus Christ Alone. It is simply and only the Gift of God to whoever God is pleased to give it. If you and I are Christians this morning, God did it -- not us. We were never able.

So Jesus ends this morning's text, "And many who are first will be last and the last will be first." What is He saying? First, He's warning us not become conceited in our salvation. How easy would it be, if you or I had been one of the apostles, one who had known Jesus and been given instruction and salvation and gifts from Him to consider ourselves among the greatest of people. Jesus tells us to watch our -- to maintain our humility, focusing on the fact that salvation is in Jesus Christ Alone. Humans are born incapable of receiving salvation; it is wholly the Work of God. And second, He is telling us that we ought not despair of anyone, for God may snatch a person out of the fire in the very moment before she breathes her last breath. So, we ought to be faithful in our witness and our preaching, leaving the work of salvation to the One Who is able.

As we come to the Table this morning, let us remember that our God, Jesus, is the only One Who makes salvation possible, and He grants it to whomever He is pleased to grant it. It is not based on us at all. And let us understand that we are all sinners -- every human being -- and we must all understand that, or there can be no salvation. And let us understand, in faith and hope, as we drink the cup and eat the bread, we are pledging to Christ that we will drink the same cup He drank -- that we will bear the cross that is before us -- for His Sake, for the Sake of the Gospel, and to the Glory of God.

Let us pray:
Almighty God, Yours Alone is the Salvation. Thank You for saving us and making us Your people when we were unable. Strengthen us in our spirits, and provide for all our needs, that we may carry our cross to Your Glory. In Jesus' Name, Amen.