An Impossible Salvation

As I read the headlines I’m often struck by how rapidly the world seems to change. Perhaps this is a side effect of growing older, but I think it has more to do with the level of interconnectedness that technology allows. We have access to more information at a faster pace than ever before in human history. This, in turn, has facilitated rapid moral and social changes in our society. New terms and arguments seem to spring up, tarnish and become antiquated at a pace which even those driving the change find difficult to keep in up with.

There are always new challenges to the claims of Scripture and new arguments being made. As Christians, we must think through these carefully, examining them through the lens of God’s Word, in order to formulate our answers from a clear Biblical perspective.

Yet it is that very thing—trying to access the changing society around us from a biblical world view—that brings me calm and a sense of stability. It is when I take time to examine these changes through the lens of Scripture that I become conscious of how little has actually changed. Although the terms and arguments seem perpetually new, the underlying problem remains the same—sin. Humanity is fallen and in active rebellion against the God who made them. In that condition they will never be satisfied for they were made to find purpose and satisfaction in having fellowship with him.

Underneath all the trappings of the current cultural moment people have the same needs, and fundamentally they are seeking answers to the same questions. No matter how hard some may try to cover it up, there is a fundamental recognition that something is broken. “I am not as I should be.” “Where can I find meaning and happiness?” “Is this all there is?” “How do I find purpose?” “What, if anything, can offer hope beyond this broken existence?”

I want to look this morning at one of my favorite texts from the gospels which, I think, is a good example of the unchanging need of humanity and the only answer which can truly satisfy.

Read the text: Matt 19:16–26

A Loaded Question

The man who approaches Jesus with this question is often referred to as the Rich Young Ruler. He is given this title because, while scripture does not record his name, he is described here in verse 22 as being rich, and young. The parallel passage in Luke 18 states that he was a ruler. Even this term is a bit ambiguous. It could mean that he was a civil ruler, or simply a religious lay leader. Regardless, this young man has a pressing question —the ultimate question—for Jesus. “Teacher, what good deed must I do to have eternal life?”

Unlike many others in the preceding chapters of Matthew’s gospel, this young man is not seeking to trap Jesus. I believe he is asking this question with a sincere desire to know Jesus’ answer.

Pay careful attention to the wording of his question or you’ll misunderstand the whole exchange. He is not asking, like the Philippian jailer,“What must I do to be saved?” Instead he wants to know, “What good deed (or what work) must I do to have eternal life?”

This man was no doubt looked up to in his community. Being very wealthy at a young age, he appeared successful. He seemed to be spiritually on track. Jews of that time (like some professing Christians today) saw the wealthy as having better spiritual standing. After all, God must be blessing them right?

Yet this man seeks out Jesus with his question. He might have everyone around him fooled, but deep down he knows something is missing. Yes he is a Jew, and yes he is successful, but he does not have assurance. He knows his own heart. There is doubt about the state of his soul.

Perhaps he thinks that there is some great act that he can perform, some form of penance which will assure his place in eternity. And so the question, “What good deed must I do?” Notice also the assumption in that question. It assumes that there is something he can do that is good enough to satisfy the standard of God’s righteousness. As Jesus’ response will show, he has a skewed view of his own goodness and ability.

Three of the gospels record this encounter (Matthew, Mark and Luke) and in each one this account is immediately proceeded by Jesus blessing the little children.

You know the story. People are bringing their children to Jesus so that he might lay his hands on them and pray for them. The disciples rebuke the people, but Jesus insists that the children be allowed to come. Then he makes a profound statement—“to such belongs the kingdom of heaven.”

Unlike the Pharisees and religious leaders who were trying to impress others with who they were and what they had done, the children where being brought to Jesus simply because of who he was.

This theme is also repeated earlier in chapter 18:1–6 where Jesus says, “Truly, I say to you, unless you turn and become like children, you will never enter the kingdom of heaven.”

The problem with the young man’s questions is that he is coming exactly opposite of the way in which Jesus said you must. Jesus said to enter the kingdom you must come humbly like a little child. Instead, he wants to do something; to work his way into God’s good graces. He is looking take salvation into his own hands.

Jesus’ Response

Characteristically, Jesus reply is not at all what the man expected, but it gets right to the heart of the issue.

Setting the Standard (What is Good?)

First Jesus addresses his concept of goodness saying, “Why do you ask me about what is good? There is only one who is good.” This man is hoping to do something good in order to gain eternal life. Jesus challenges his assumption that he is capable of performing any good deed that is worthy of access into God’s kingdom. When we compare ourselves to others we sometimes look ok, but when we compare ourselves to God’s perfect standard we fall far short.

Beginning with this point is necessary for understanding what follows. Failure to recognize this distinction undermines the gospel.

Applying the Law (Keep the Commandments)

Jesus then applies God’s law—the standard of perfect righteousness—adding, “If you would enter life, keep the commandments. In saying this he is not indicating that this man has any hope of being justified by keeping the law. Rather, Jesus is using the law for its intended purpose. The law of God serves as a mirror. It exposes our sin. If we look honestly at God’s perfect standard of righteousness, it shows us just how far short we fall.

When Jesus confronts him with the standard of the law, he knows that he falls short. Seeking to find some wiggle room he asks, “Which ones?”

In reply Jesus lists a number of the Ten Commandments related to loving one’s neighbor. He then added the second of the great commandments which summarizes these—“You shall love your neighbor as yourself”. Why does Jesus focus on these particular commands? It is because our relation to our neighbor flows out of our relationship with God. If the former is in right standing the latter will be as well. Also, seeing that this young man is trying to justify himself, Jesus focuses on outward visible obedience which is harder to fake.

The Gospel Remedy (If you would be perfect)

He replies, “All these I have kept.” His response shows that he is missing (or refusing to see) the point. Had he really kept all these perfectly, never failing even once? I don’t think so, but even assuming that he had it is still no help to him for there were other commands which he had broken.

“For whoever keeps the whole law but fails in one point has become guilty of all of it.” (James 2:10)

This young man seems to recognizes this for he immediately asks “What do I still lack?”

Jesus said to him, “If you would be perfect, go, sell what you possess and give to the poor, and you will have treasure in heaven; and come, follow me.” (Matthew 19:21)

Jesus words in verse 21 do not mean that salvation by works is possible, nor is he saying that the man has done good so-far and only needs to add one more “work” to be perfect (complete). Rather Jesus words are designed to undercut his self-reliance by exposing his sinfulness. His strategy is to turn this man away from trusting in an external conformity to the law, and cause him to examine his heart. Who or what really reigns supreme in his life?

Jesus’ remedy has three parts

1. sell what you have—This is not a universal command for everyone to sell their possessions. Rather, it is a call to this one man to turn from his sin—from the thing that he loved more than obedience to God.
2. give to the poor—love your neighbor as yourself—something that can only be done truly from the heart with the help of the Holy Spirit.
3. follow me—This is a call to submit to God completely—to love God with his whole heart, mind and strength.

Jesus offers him the gospel remedy these words. It is a call to repent—to acknowledge and turn from his sin—and to follow after Christ, trusting in him to have eternal life.

Jesus’ words exposed the reality of what was in his heart. This man’s riches had a hold on him. He was unwilling to part with them, or to submit control of his life wholly to God. He who came seeking went away sorrowful—holding on to his sin.

What a sad end to this encounter. This young man came so close. He met the only source of salvation face to face, and yet he would not let go of his sin. He would not stop trusting in his own ability.

An “Impossible” Salvation

I can imagine that this exchange would have had an impact on the disciples who overheard. Many of them had left everything behind to follow Jesus. They understood, in some sense, that Christ was worth more than any of those things. Now to hear this exchange, and to see this young man turn away sad, must have been puzzling to them. Why couldn’t he see?

Jesus uses this encounter as a teaching opportunity.

The Problem of Riches

Wealth is usually coupled with an attitude of self-sufficiency. “I don’t need to trust in God to provide my daily needs, they are already met.” In general, the attitudes of the “rich” are the opposite of those of the “child” which Jesus commended. They are typically self-sufficient, trusting in their wealth. These are seen as laudable traits by the world, but they are a stumbling block to entering the kingdom of God.

To illustrate the immensity of this problem, Jesus uses the hyperbolic imagery of a camel and a needle. Despite what you might have been told, or what might have made for a good sermon illustration, this is no veiled cultural or archeological reference. 

It is an absurd picture, and that is exactly Jesus’ point. He uses a camel—probably the largest animal that most of them had ever seen—and the eye of a needle—the smallest opening they had experience with in day to day life. He is using this crazy visual image to illustrate the difficulty of those who have great trust in their own wealth ever turning to trust in God.

We tend to try and soften this by narrowing it down so that it always refers to someone more affluent than us. But the truth is that we are especially susceptible to this, as we have greater possessions and wealth that most of the population of the world. By contrast to the majority of the world’s population, if you have disposable income, can save money, and can live comfortably below your means without forfeiting essentials, you are wealthy. We must not entertain a sense of self-sufficiency, thinking that we aren’t that bad, for in doing so we will be just like that young man.

Who Then Can Be Saved?

Upon hearing Jesus words the disciples are astonished. There was no misunderstanding on their part about the hyperbolic imagery that Jesus was using. A camel doesn’t fit through the eye of a needle—it is impossible! And so they ask the question, “Who then can be saved?”

Notice that the disciples’ question extends beyond the rich to everyone. In their minds the rich were closer to God, for their wealth was evidence of his approval. The rich would have been thought the most likely to inherit the kingdom of God. If they can’t enter it then, who can?

And perhaps even more surprising to them, Jesus agrees—not that the rich are more Godly—but that, with man, salvation is impossible. It is a work of God alone.

The Only Answer

That is the whole point. That is what the rich young man didn’t get. He came seeking what good he could do to gain eternal life. But the truth of the matter—the cold hard reality is—there are no deeds we can do that are good enough. Sin is the dividing line. It is not a difference between the better and worse. It is the difference between the perfect and the imperfect. When you break the law you are a law-breaker, and no amount of keeping the law will un-break it. All have sinned. We all fall utterly short of God’s righteous standard. In merely human terms, salvation is impossible.

For all who rely on works of the law are under a curse; for it is written, “Cursed be everyone who does not abide by all things written in the Book of the Law, and do them.” Now it is evident that no one is justified before God by the law, for “The righteous shall live by faith.” But the law is not of faith, rather “The one who does them shall live by them.” Christ redeemed us from the curse of the law by becoming a curse for us—for it is written, “Cursed is everyone who is hanged on a tree”— so that in Christ Jesus the blessing of Abraham might come to the Gentiles, so that we might receive the promised Spirit through faith. (Galatians 3:10–14)

This is why we must come as a child, trusting not in ourselves, but in Christ. He lived a perfect life completely without sin. He bore the wrath of God and died the death the we deserved as penalty for our sins. Our only hope is in recognizing that salvation is out of our reach. Instead we come to him in faith, trusting in his death and his righteousness.

The Gospel Remedy

This is the gospel remedy. It is the answer that the rich young ruler needed to hear, and it is the answer than people still need to hear today.

1. You must recognize that, “There is only one who is good.” You may think of yourself as a pretty good person especially if you are selective in your comparison. But you’re not perfect. You and I have sinned. We have broken God’s law, and we fall short of the standard of perfect righteousness. There is a reason that Jesus started his response with this. It is essential to recognize your own sinfulness or you will never be able to come to the second part which is…

2. Stop trying to justify yourself. Once you realize how infinitely far your sins have separated you from the perfect goodness of God, you will understand the futility of trying to earn your salvation by your works. You and I are sinners—law breakers— and not amount of law keeping will ever change that. Additionally, as sinners, even our attempts at doing good are tainted. When we try to keep the commands it is often the case that our motives are selfish and our heart is not really in it. If it doesn’t come from the heart it is just outward conformity, and not true obedience.

3. There is only one means of salvation—one way to be justified before God. You must turn to Christ in faith. Believe the good news of what he has done on behalf of sinful men. Trust in him and his death and resurrection to save you and raise you to new life. The rich young man did the right thing by coming to Jesus, but he did not come in faith. Don’t be like this young man who went away sad. Do not turn from Christ and go away in sorrow—condemned—clinging to your own self-sufficiency. Turn to him in faith, don’t wait and don’t be afraid, for he has promised that he will never turn away those who come to him.

The Believer’s Assurance

For the believers here, you may say “That is a good evangelistic text, but it has little to do with me.” There you could not be more wrong. You see, as believer we still sometimes fall into the error of trying to gain God’s favor through rule keeping. We think that strict adherence to a list of dos and don’t will cause God to love us more or overlook our sins.

If that is you, then the message of the passage is the same. Stop trying to earn God’s favor, and trust in Christ. If you are a believer in Christ, God cannot love you any more. He has already set the ultimate expression of his love upon you by giving his Son for you, by placing his Spirit within you, and by doing a work of sanctification in you that will culminate in your being glorified together with him forever. There is nothing more to earn. Christ has done it all on your behalf!

Let the Holy Spirit of God change your mind this morning. Don’t obey to get from God. Obey because you have already received from him. Strive to live a life that is pleasing to him, not to gain his favor, but out of love and thankfulness for the favor he has already shown you.