Services | Who Can Be Saved

Bulletin

Hymn # 50 “Blessed Be the Name”

SCRIPTURE READING – Psalms 103:1 - 5
Giving of Selves and Our Offerings
OFFERTORY PRAYER
OFFERTORY MUSIC – Pru Hungate

Praise and Worship
“Echo Holy”
“Behold the Lamb”
“Great I Am”

Proclamation of the Word
Message by Pastor Joe
“Who Can Be Saved?”

“Way Maker”

Sermon Notes
Mark 10:17 A Rich man asks Jesus how to inherit eternal life
Mark 10:18 Jesus asks, “Why call Me good?”
Mark 10:19 Jesus speaks of the Commandments
Mark 10:20 The man says he has kept them from his youth
Mark 10:21 & 22 Jesus loving him states what the man lacks, he loves his wealth more than eternity
Mark 10:23 - 25 Says that it is hard for the wealthy to enter the kingdom of God
Mark 10:26 The Disciples then ask who can be saved?
Mark 10:27 With man it is impossible, but not for God
Mark 10:28 Peter asks what about us
Mark 10:29 – 31 Jesus says you will be rewarded more than you gave up
Romans 10:8 –13 Believing and confessing
Ephesians 2:8 –10 Saved by grace through faith

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Scritpures

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Transcript of Service

Some questions are more important than others. A wealthy young man asked Jesus, probably one of the most important questions. What do I do to inherit eternal life? After a conversation, he walks away sad. His disciples, Jesus and disciples, are confused, but Jesus answers that question for us without any doubt. I encourage you to say Jesus answers. We're continuing on in our life and Ministry of the Lord Jesus Christ, and we're taking a look in the gospel of Mark. And so if you have your Bibles and you should turn to the Gospel Mark chapter 10 and we're going to start with verse 17. And as we took a look at the the context is Jesus is on his way to. Jerusalem for Passover and for what we call now. Passion week. And so it says as he was setting out on a journey, a man ran up to him. And now before him and asked him. Good teacher. What shall I do to inherit eternal life? Now, this is probably one of the most important questions anyone can ask. Because this is not all there is now the world will want to tell you that you should grab all the gusto you can, because this is all that there is. But the real gusto is in eternal life, and having that. And so he asked this question what do I do to inherit and so notice certain things. There's there's kind of a. A double is. What do I do but then inherit, which means there's nothing you can do to inherit. It's about those who have it who give to you. So he asked the question, but he comes to the right person to ask that question.

And so I think he thinks that he's being. Respectful by calling Jesus the good teacher and again in our world today, a lot of people will say that Jesus was a good teacher. But Jesus's response is going to be someone says, and Jesus said to him, why do you call me good? No one is good except God alone. So in in essence, Jesus is saying are you calling me good because you want to quote UN quote? Get on my good side or do you are you acknowledging that I'm God? But he. Passes on that to answer the young man's questions. And so he says this, you know, the commandments. Do not commit adultery, do not murder, do not commit adultery, do not steal. Do not bear false witness. Do not defraud. Honor your father and mother. And so Jesus basically. Close to him. The 10 Commandments he goes, you know the scriptures, you know the commandments. And so he's saying. That's the start. And he's being the young man said to him. Teacher, I have kept all of these things from my youth up. Now, I believe he believes that he's sincere in that and he probably did from the external point. But when you look at Jesus's teaching when he says if you call somebody a fool, you've committed murder. If you're lost in somebody's in your heart for someone you've committed adultery, Jesus has made those commandments really restrictive. But this young man, I think honestly says I have done what the commandments that I have tried to live a moral, religious life. But notice something. Even though he acknowledges. That he has lived up to the commandments. He understands there's something missing. Because if he were satisfied with having kept the commandments, then he would have not asked the question because he was said I've commit. I've I have obeyed the commandments.

Therefore I have eternal life, and he's going. There's something missing. And that's the problem with today. A lot of people who say, well, I live a good life. And there therefore God will be impressed that I've done more good things than bad things, and therefore God will grant me into heaven. This young man who. Obeyed the commandments, not just what he thought was right, but what God thought was right still understood. There was something missing. And that's the problem. When we deceive ourselves, we think that we've done plenty good enough. And as the scripture says. We have all have fallen short of the glory of God. So this young man understands that there is something missing and he's come to ask the right person for that. What do I do to inherit eternal life? What is it that I get? How do I do that? And looking at him, Jesus felt love for him. So I want you to notice something. What Jesus is going to say to him next isn't because he wants to rebuke him, not because he wants to drive him away. This Jesus loves this young man. Because he knows he's trying to follow. The path of God. So he loves him. So what he's going to say is going to be for his benefit. So that he might truly inherit. Eternal life. And again, God gives these commands and these guide wheels and these other aspects. What he does not because he hates us, but because he loves us. So end of this love, he says to him. And he said to him one thing you lack. Which tells you that Jesus knows our hearts and our intentions. He knows that the young man intended and did perform well. But he does lack something, and the young man has acknowledged he's lacking something. And so Jesus is going to be the great physician and diagnosed the problem. One thing you. You lack go and sell all your possessions and give it to the poor. And you'll have treasures in heaven and come follow me. Jesus says. Your love of money.

Because you're young and you're wealthy, that has been your life, and that is your security. And that is what you know. And that is what you're holding on to. You get rid of that, put your heavens instead of leaving them here, you put move them on to heaven. As I say, over and over and over, you will never see a U-Haul truck on the. Back of the Hearst. Because you can't take it with you. But you can send it on ahead. So that's exactly what Jesus is doing. He's saying I want you to take your wealth and send it on ahead. And after you've done that, follow me, which again notice something almost every time somebody has come to Jesus for something. They want a healing or they want something they want to follow Jesus and Jesus, no. Go home. Go tell them there or don't say anything. But don't. He never let them. This young man, he says, sell everything and follow me. You see, he sees something in this young man that if he does what Jesus says and has, no, this not lack. That he'll be a valuable disciple. But at these words, he was saddened. And he went away, grieving for his one who owned much property. There have been times that I've wondered. Privately and out loud. Would it violate some great heavenly command that I wasn't, quote UN quote, rich? Well, there's two things about that. Apparently God has given me enough. To continue to trust him. And maybe if he gave me more, I wouldn't trust him. I would trust the riches. But the other thing I want to say is those of us who think that we're not rich. We are. By the by the standards of the world. Even the people who have the least in our country are far more rich than most of the people in the in the world, especially in the Third world. And we'll complain ohh, we're not rich. A lot of you did, and not all of you, because some of you. Walked them. Many of you drove a car here. And you lived far enough away that if you didn't have your car, you had to leave Friday to get here today. I can get in my vehicle after service and one hour I can be 65 miles away. In Jesus's time, it would have probably taken at least 3 1/2 days at a good March to go that. So even if you just have a vehicle, you have greater mobility than most people do. We think and so therefore when we think, Oh well, I'm not rich. By the world centers where and we're so much so that oftentimes we do tend to want to depend on our property. Than on our savior. And Jesus looking around. So. The guy saddened and he leaves because. You're not going to do what Jesus said that he lacked. For eternal life.

And again, I want you to see the young man didn't say. Well, that's stupid. I'm not. He understood. That his present day security was more important than his eternal life. He made a really bad decision. So Jesus, looking around said to his disciples. How hard it will be for those who are wealthy to enter the Kingdom of God. So again, I want you to understand we think we're poor. We ain't. So how much will it be difficult for us to enter the Kingdom of God? So he's not just talking to this young man. He's talking to most of America. How hard will it be for those who are wealthy now? The disciples who grew up in a Jewish? Background and and the theology that they have, even though. Job had been around for a long time and if you just read job you would kind of figure this out. But their idea was if you were wealthy, God blessed you, you were. You were favored by God because you were well. Really. And so they're going well. Wait a minute. If you're favored by God, then you should automatically be in those counting the number who are going to heaven in the Kingdom of God, because God has favored you.

And Jesus says no, guys, it's different. It's really, really, really hard for those who are wealthy to enter the in and then they could follow them, says. Then the disciples were amazed at his words, but Jesus answered and said to them, so he's going to continue on with his thought. He's going to make it even more abundantly clear. And he's going to say this. Children. How hard is it is? To enter the Kingdom of God. 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. Now, if you read some commentaries, they want to. Make this a little easier. And they want to say, well, there was this gate, this little. Whole. Arch, Arch and Jerusalem. And if a camel got down on its knees and it's hard for a camel to get down in the knees, it can kind of walk through and and and blow through and get through the. So it's really hard. There's nowhere anywhere is ever found. In Jerusalem, called the eye of the needle. What Jesus is saying is you take a needle and it has a little hole where you stick a string through so you can mend something. He goes. It's easier to take a camel and put it through that little tiny hole than it is for a rich man to get into heaven. He's not saying it's really hard. He's saying it's impossible. And they were even more astonished. I mean, let's face it. Right. There is no physical way that can ever happen unless you've seen the movie. Honey, I shrunk the kids and then other than that, it ain't happening. So that they're astonished.

And they said to him, then who can be saved? So their answer is going to basically be. The one. Because if the people we think are who are blessed by God can't get into heaven, that it's impossible for them, then then nobody can get saved as far as they're concerned. And they're right. But Jesus continues to teach. And looking at them, Jesus said with people it is impossible. He's in mining. Yeah, it is impossible to take a camel and put it through an eye of a needle. For people, it is impossible. But not with God. All things. Are possible. With God. God can take a camel and put it through an eye of a needle, and God can take a Sinner. And save him. And God can take a person who thinks he's righteous and even save him. Because all things are possible with God. I want you to understand that. The young man thought. And understood. If I keep the commandments. I'm not quite satisfied with what can I do. And he doesn't do it. And Jesus says you're right. It can't be done. On your own efforts. People cannot save themselves. But God can. What Grace is all about. So Peter B and Peter began to say to him, behold, we have left everything and followed you. He's going OK. The other guy he was supposed to sell all this stuff and follow you. Now, Peter didn't sell everything. His wife was at home and after Jesus. Crucifixion and even resurrection. He went back fishing. He went back. To his old business.

But he did follow Jesus, so they've left everything to follow him. So in essence, they go well. What about us, which is always interesting. Every time we see Jesus talking about things like what's going to happen to him, then they'll follow. Well, what about us? Jesus talks that wealthy people can't go to heaven. Then Peter goes well, what about us? And Jesus said, truly, I say to you, there is no one who has left house or brothers or sisters.
Or.
Brother or father? Or children or farms for my sake. And for the gospel sake. Since all those people who have left. Profitable things, whether it be. Property or relationships. Who was ever left for the sake of Jesus or the gospel? But that he will receive 100 times as much now. In the present age. Houses and brothers and sisters and mothers and children and farms, along with persecutions and in the age to come. Eternal life. Jesus says. If you give up. Your. Genetic brothers and sisters or parents. You're going to get other. Brothers and sisters and parents. Under the blood. And this church is an example of that. We're family. We care about what happens to each other. We pray for each other. We, while we may not call each other brother and sister, we are family. We are more connected by the blood of Christ than we are by our DNA. And so it is true that whether you give up a parent or. Brothers or sisters or whoever, God replaces those with the family of God. And then not only that. So God only blesses you now with a substitute family. It also gives you eternal life.

That poor, wealthy young man. Could have had. Riches in heaven. And blessings now. But instead he made the wrong choice. And with sad. And then Jesus follows up and says, but many who are first will be last. And the last first he's going. Yeah, this wealthy young man. Since of one life lottery, he's wealthy, everybody around him thinks he's a wonderful guy because God has blessed him and God has blessed him because he wouldn't be wealthy without the blessings of God. So he's first now. But he won't make it into the Kingdom of heaven. The last person into the heaven. In the Kingdom of God. It's still far better off.
Yes.
Did Satan's favorite disciple? Ever first now will be last. And Jesus is going to continue. Teaching this. And his disciples will continue not getting it. And stay tuned next week for for that. But to continue on with this whole idea of salvation. Turn in your Bibles to Romans chapter 10 verses 8 through 13 and it talks about how to be saved. And it says this, but what does it say when the description says the word is near you in your mouth and in your heart? Basically, many of the people who have been following the scriptures understand the scriptures, but we don't understand the scriptures because we think we know the scriptures rather than reading them from themselves.

So it says it's near to you. It's in your mouth and it's in your heart that is the Word of Faith that we are preaching. That if you confess with your mouth Jesus as Lord. And believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead. You will be saved. So the answer, the question then who can be saved? It is the person who confesses with his mouth that Jesus is Lord and believes in his heart that God raised him from the dead. Those people can be saved. Because with people it is impossible, but with God, all things are possible and Falcons on to say. For with the heart a person believes, resulting in righteousness. This. So you've made the step from being, if you will, a Sinner to being righteous because of faith. Without faith, it is impossible to believe to please God. And with the mouth he confesses, resulting in salvation. So it is a twofold. You can't confess unless you believe, and if you believe and don't confess. It's both. It's not an either or. It's a both and. You must believe in your heart. That God raised him from the dead and confessed that Jesus is Lord. My boss. What he tells me to do, I do. So when he told the young man, sell your stuff and follow me. The young man didn't treat Jesus as Lord. He didn't do what he says and so many times we want to take all the benefit. Of following God, but none of the obligation to do what he says. For the scripture says, whoever believes in him will not be disappointed. I've known no true believer. There have been those who who got happy and anesthetic because they they had some. Emotional high. That then went away. But those who, after years and years of following Jesus through heartache and pain and blessing and joy. Are never disappointed. For there is no distinction between Jew and Greek for the same Lord is Lord of all abounding and riches at all. For those who call on him. For whoever will. Call on the name of the Lord. Will be saved. Doesn't matter. Your genetics doesn't matter your ethnic background. It doesn't matter what you've done. It doesn't matter who you are. We. Roman. Are then. Whoever you are, and whatever your condition of sin was, God will save you. You may think it's impossible. Well, you don't understand, Pastor. What I've done. You don't understand what we've all done. Almost all of us. Hide what?

Our sins in our lives, because we're ashamed of it. But the great thing is God even takes away our shame. But the only people you hear that seem not to be seen are those who have this quote UN quote. Great. Testimony. And we'll tell you about all their ex stuff that they did. Well, I did this and I did that and I, you know, I abused drugs and and they they testify as if they miss all those things that they used to do. I don't know that most of us just say. I'm a sender saved by grace. Is we don't want to recount where we were. We want to talk about where we are. And to follow this up in fusions, chapter 2, verses 8 through 10, it says this 4 by grace you have been saved through faith. Who is it that can be saved and those who have been given grace, unmerited favor? No one who has ever received grace is entitled to it. You've been saved by grace. How do I know that God has given me grace? Because he's given me faith. I've been saved. By grace have been saved. The mechanism is through faith and that not of ourselves. It is a gift of God. Again, it is impossible for us to enter the Kingdom of God. It is impossible for us to do it. God has done it. God has paid the price that we might be able to enter the Kingdom. It is a gift of God. We can't offer anything for it. He gives it to us. Not as a result of works, so that no one may boast. We work. Not to get saved. Because we can't pay the cost. It is a gift. Because it is impossible for us to ever acquire such righteousness. But we are his workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works. So we do good works not to get saved. We do good works to show that we are saved. That we do what God has called us to do, to love one another. To pray without ceasing to rejoice, always to do all of these things that we may do it. As.

Workmanship that no one made us for. We are his workmanship, grant for good, which which God prepared beforehand, so that we would walk in them. God wants us to do good works. But he doesn't want us to confuse doing good works with salvation. It is impossible, Miss man. But all things are possible with God. He's the one who is the waymaker. He is the one. Who gets the camel through the eye of the needle? He's the one. Who calls people like me and says. I love you. I'm calling you. I'm giving you Grace. Not because you deserve it. As a matter of fact, it's kind of to show everybody else. Who I'm willing to pick. So that I'm willing to pick any and everyone.
And so I am so grateful. And and and I don't understand why people want to fight to say yeah, but it's something I do. I surrender. There ain't nothing I can do. Because I understand what Jesus says. With me it is impossible. But with him. Literally the sky is the limit.

And all God's people said.


Jesus, eternal life, wealthy young man, commandments, salvation, Kingdom of God, disciples, faith, grace, good works