“HOW CAN ANYONE BE SAVED?”
LUKE 18:18-30

I. Introduction
“For what does it profit a man to gain the whole world, and forfeit his soul? For what shall a man give in exchange for his soul?” Jesus asks those questions in Mark 8:36-37. We know the answer to the first question – “It profits him nothing!” And we also know the answer to the second question – “He has nothing that can purchase his soul.”

The word “world” in v. 36 does not mean planet earth. It’s translated from the Greek, “kŏs-mŏs,” meaning the entire creation. The point is this: No man owns the whole creation, but even if a man could hold title to the universe and everything it, and even if he was willing to trade it for the salvation of his soul, it wouldn’t be enough. He would still be hopelessly and irretrievably lost. That is where we begin this morning.

There’s an old Fanny Crosby hymn called, “Give Me Jesus.” Listen to the words of the first and fourth verses:
“Take the world, but give me Jesus; All its joys are but a name,
But His love abides forever, Thro’ eternal years the same.
Take the world, but give me Jesus; In His cross my trust shall be,
Till, with clearer, brighter vision, Face to face my Lord I see.”

How easy it is for us to agree with those sentiments and say, “Take the world, but give me Jesus.” But how hard it is for us to make them a part of our daily lives and tear ourselves away from the temporal joys of the world in which we currently live. This is the battle that you and I fight every day. Separating ourselves from the world and its systems is probably the greatest ongoing challenge we face in this life. But we are commanded to do so.
*1 John 2:15-17
15 Do not love the world, nor the things in the world. If anyone loves the world, the love of the Father is not in him.
16 For all that is in the world, the lust of the flesh and the lust of the eyes and the boastful pride of life, is not from the Father, but is from the world.
17 And the world is passing away, and also its lusts; but the one who does the will of God abides forever.

In these three verses the word “world” (kŏsmŏs; the creation and everything in it) is used six times. It is man’s love for the creation that keeps him from love for the Creator. This is the idolatry that God both condemns and forbids in the first two commandments.
Exodus 20:2a-5a
2a “I am the LORD your God…
3 “You shall have no other gods before Me.
4 “You shall not make for yourself an idol, or any likeness of what is in heaven above or on the earth beneath or in the water under the earth.
5a “You shall not worship them or serve them; for I, the LORD your God, am a jealous God…”

Why are those the first two commandments? Could it be because God knows those are our two biggest problems – making other gods, and then worshipping them? Could it be because God knows that the nature of man, in its fallen and depraved condition, wants to worship anyone or anything other than the God who made him? Could it be because God knows that men and women will try to justify themselves based on their own good works and their own religious activities? I think it is!

When fallen man looks at those around him, he tends to see two classes of people. He sees those whom he believes are not as good as he is, and those whom he believes are better than he is. In his fallen state he just naturally assumes that he is better than most, but may be willing to admit there could be some who are better. In other words, he sees “good” people and “bad” people. Good people go to heaven. Bad people do not. Doesn’t that pretty much define the thinking of most people today?

So if we were to go along with such thinking, then we would want to preach to the so-called bad people. They’re the ones who need to hear the gospel! But if you believe in God, if you’re moral and upright, if you’re respected in your community, if you’re a regular church-goer, if you’re faithful to your spouse and family, if you obey the laws of the land, and give to charity to help the poor, then by all human standards, you’re going to think you’re a pretty good person. And you’re going to think that “getting saved” is for someone else.

In this morning’s text in Luke’s gospel we will meet such a man. In the world’s eyes, and in his own, “he’s got it all.” But Jesus will tell him there is still, “one thing” he lacks. But if such a good person cannot be saved, who can be?
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II. Review
This rich young ruler, whom we’re about to meet, has met all the human standards for salva-tion and entry into God’s kingdom. But man’s standards are not God’s. God’s standards are not relative holiness and human goodness, but absolute holiness and divine perfection. Any-one who would enter into His kingdom must meet those standards. Those are the character-istics of God, and beginning with the parable of the Pharisee and the tax-gatherer, Jesus has been making it clear that they must be ours as well.
1 Peter 1:16
16 because it is written, “You shall be holy, for I am holy.”

Matthew 5:48
48 “Therefore you are to be perfect, as your Heavenly Father is perfect.”
Holy and perfect! If we’re ever to see the kingdom of God we must be like Him. In Luke 18 Jesus has been telling us how to be like Him. We are to be humble before God. We are not to be like the Pharisee in Luke 18:11-12 who felt it necessary to remind God what a great man he was. On the contrary, we are to be like the tax-gatherer in Luke 18:13 who cried out to God for mercy. In addition to that we’re to be like little children such as those in Luke 18:15-17 who haven’t yet learned cynicism and hypocrisy, but are without guile, and filled with trust and childlike faith.

These two – humility and childlike faith – are marks of a true Christian. Today, in Jesus’ encounter with the rich young ruler, we’ll see the third mark – a willingness to lay aside this world and its riches. But it isn’t just about a willingness to lay aside the things of this world; it’s also about understanding that nothing we possess and nothing we can buy is sufficient to save our souls.
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III. Text
The first thing you notice about this text is that Jesus has not taken a course in modern evan-gelistic techniques. The fish is on the hook, but Jesus just shakes him right off.
*Luke 18:18-30 (Please stand with me in honor of reading God’s Word.)
18 And a certain ruler questioned (Jesus), saying, “Good Teacher, what shall I do to inherit eternal life?”
19 And Jesus said to him, “Why do you call Me good? No one is good except God alone.
20 “You know the commandments, ‘Do not commit adultery, do not murder, do not steal, do not bear false witness, honor your father and mother.’”
21 And (the ruler) said, “All these things I have kept from my youth,”
22 And when Jesus heard this, He said to him, “One thing you still lack; sell all that you possess, and distribute it to the poor, and you shall have treasure in heaven; and come, follow Me.”
23 But when he had heard these things, he became very sad; for he was extremely rich.
24 And Jesus looked at him and said, “How hard it is for those who are wealthy to enter the kingdom of God!
25 “For it is easier for a camel to go through the eye of a needle, than (it is) for a rich man to enter the kingdom of God.”
26 And they who heard it said, “Then who can be saved?”
27 But He said, “The things impossible with men are possible with God.”
28 And Peter said, “Behold, we have left our own homes, and followed You.”
29 And (Jesus) said to them, “Truly I say to you, there is no one who has left house or wife or brothers or parents or children, for the sake of the kingdom of God,
30 who shall not receive many times as much at this time and in the age to come, eternal life.”

Imagine someone asking you how to get saved! It seems that Jesus has just the kind of opportunity here that we often pray for. This young man is just the kind of person who looks like he’s ready to accept Jesus, to make a decision for Christ, as modern evangelism so often calls it. So why didn’t Jesus say, “Believe in Me and you will be saved”?

At first glance it appears that Jesus missed a golden opportunity. But, of course, that did not happen. Actually, there is something of vital importance for all of us to learn from this inci-dent. The young man in question is “good.” He believes in God and tries to live an upright and responsible life. Could anyone be harder to lead to salvation than someone who knows that he or she is a good person?

The so-called bad people among us know that they’re sinners. While many of them may deny it, you can be sure, that in their heart of hearts, they know it. Their consciences may be seared by years of blatant sin, but they know what they are. Romans 1:20 says, “…they are without excuse.”

But the problem with so many good people is that they believe “their own press clippings.” That is to say, since they know they look good to other people, they also think they look good to God. Thus they are far harder to lead to saving faith. This is because when you tell them they need to believe in Jesus, they often say, “I already do…and I’m a good person.”
*Luke 18:18
18 And a certain ruler questioned (Jesus), saying, “Good Teacher, what shall I do to inherit eternal life?”

That’s a pretty important question, isn’t it? One thing that quickly becomes obvious when you read the gospels is that Jesus, when He is asked a question, often seems to answer a dif-ferent one. It can be somewhat frustrating until you realize that He is not responding to the questioner’s words, He is responding to the questioner’s heart.

What is the real issue here? Jesus sees into the young man’s soul and He addresses the problem that resides there. This young man’s question seems to be genuine and sincere, but it isn’t. Jesus knows that it comes from a darkened heart and a lost soul.

Who and what is this fellow? Matthew, Mark, and Luke all tell us that he was rich (he owned much property). Matthew also tells us he was young. In first-century Israel these things may well describe an official of the local synagogue. Mark 10:17 says that he “…ran up to Jesus and knelt before Him.” So, right here at their initial meeting, it appears that the young man wants assurance of his salvation and may be willing to do anything to get it.

Calling Jesus, “Good Teacher,” is interesting. Why he uses it is open to speculation.
It may have been that he used the word “good” because of what he already knew of Jesus’ deeds. Healing the sick and lame, and raising the dead were good. In Matthew 19:16 the young man asks, “What good thing shall I do that I may obtain eternal life?”

Let me speculate a little about what this young man may be saying. “Hey, Jesus, You’re a good guy and a good teacher and you do all kinds of good stuff. So you must be going to heaven when you die. What good stuff can I do so I can be sure I’m going to heaven when I die too?” I think it is something like that which Jesus sees in this fellow’s heart. If that is essentially what Jesus sees in this young man’s heart, it may help to explain His answer.
*Luke 18:19
19 And Jesus said to him, “Why do you call Me good? No one is good except God alone.”

Before Jesus replies to the rich young ruler’s question about what good thing he must do to assure himself of eternal life, He asks a question Himself. “Why do you call me good?” has been a source of much conjecture over the centuries.

• Some believe that Jesus is subtly urging this young man to recognize His deity. In other words, since the young man thinks Jesus is good, and since only God is good, then the obvious conclusion must be that Jesus is God.

• Some believe that Jesus is directing the young man’s attention away from what he perceived to be his own goodness to the absolute goodness that resides in God alone.

There are many other interpretations as well, some plausible, some ridiculous (such as Jesus denying His own deity), but these two fit well into the overall context of the passage.
*Luke 18:20-21
20 “You know the commandments, ‘Do not commit adultery 7, do not murder 6, do not steal 8, do not bear false witness 9, honor your father and mother 5.’”
21 And (the ruler) said, “All these things I have kept from my youth,”

The reason Jesus chooses to mention these five commandments is also open to conjecture and speculation. Could these be the sins, in the order in which Jesus lists them (7-6-8-9-5), that cause this young man the most trouble, the ones he struggles with the most? That isn’t to say that he’s actually committed adultery or killed anyone. But hasn’t Jesus already taught that merely looking upon a woman with illicit sexual intent, or hating your brother will break God’s Law just as surely as if you had committed the acts themselves? He has!

In v. 21 the true condition of the young man’s heart is exposed for all to see. He thinks he has obeyed the commandments of God…and he is proud of it. But his own words, his own heart condemn him. Someone might say that Jesus has tricked him into this, but, of course, that is not the case at all. Our Lord has simply gotten the man to say what was in his heart.
Luke 6:45c (speaking of both the righteous and the unrighteous)
45c “…for his mouth speaks from that which fills his heart.”
The young man is blind to his sinful condition. He thinks he is good enough to be accepted by God, but he has approached Jesus to see if there is any good work or good deed he might yet do. He just wants to “polish the apple,” as it were. It’s as if he’s saying something like this: “I’m a really nice guy, so I know I’m going to heaven, I know I’ll be entering the king-dom of God. I just want to be sure that I really look good when I show up, and get a good deal once I’m there. So since I’ve got the God’s Law part covered, what else can I do?”

Do you see why such a person is so hard to lead to saving faith in Christ alone? While the words, “I don’t need Christ, I’ve got myself,” may not come out of their mouths, that is pre-cisely what is in their hearts. How much clearer could it be? Tragically, this young man is nowhere near salvation.
*Luke 18:22
22 And when Jesus heard this, He said to him, “One thing you still lack; sell all that you possess, and distribute it to the poor, and you shall have treasure in heaven; and come, follow Me.”

I hope you can see the Lord’s compassion for this young man in Jesus’ words. Mark 10:21 emphasizes it when it says, “And looking at him, Jesus felt a love for him…” So we may be tempted to ask, “Shouldn’t Jesus have said, ‘Trust Me’?” The fact is, that’s exactly what He is saying. Jesus is telling him (and us) that obedience to God’s Laws, trusting in good works, or placing your confidence in either your position or your possessions, are futile.

Jesus is telling the young ruler to trust in Him and in Him alone. How can this young man do that? How can he demonstrate his faith and not just talk about it? He can sell his posses-sions, give the money away – thereby storing up real and eternal treasure in the kingdom of God – and he can follow Jesus.

This is what Jesus knows this rich young ruler needs to do. He must divest himself of every-thing in this world that he holds dear and replace it with Jesus. He needs to do this because his love for his possessions and belief in himself will ultimately destroy him. So unless he can change his mind about himself and about Christ, and unless he can turn away from himself, and turn to Christ, this young man has no hope. None!

Listen carefully, please. This changing of the mind and this turning around is the definition of repentance. And Jesus has said, “…unless you repent, you will all…perish (Luke 13:3).”

Does this apply to us? Does this mean you and I are to do it as well? Has God called you to sell everything, give all your money to charity, and go to the mission field? You do under-stand that He has called some to do that very thing, don’t you? But has He called you to do it? No? Well, if God did call you to do it, would you be willing?

Look, Christian, the Lord Jesus has called you and me to take up our cross daily and follow Him. He will lead us in different directions. He will use us for different purposes.
But we must be willing. We do not know what specifically He will require of us, and for that reason, we must be willing to trust Him above all else. That is what this rich young ruler would not do. This fine and good and upright and decent and religious man would not trust Jesus. Oh, he believed in Him, but such belief saves no one. Satan believes too. As
D. James Kennedy used to say, “Such belief merely brings one up to the level of demons.” His point was that believing in the facts of the historic Jesus, while also relying on your own merits to get you into heaven is not saving faith at all.
*Luke 18:23-25
23 But when he had heard these things, he became very sad; for he was extremely rich.
24 And Jesus looked at him and said, “How hard it is for those who are wealthy to enter the kingdom of God!
25 “For it is easier for a camel to go through the eye of a needle, than (it is) for a rich man to enter the kingdom of God.”

The rich young ruler’s love of his worldly possessions, his confidence in his own perceived goodness, and his unwillingness to part with it or turn away from any of it condemns him. In v. 23 it says, “…he became very sad.” But Matthew 19:22 says more. “But when the young man heard this statement, he went away grieved; for he was one who owned much property.” And Mark 10:22 adds, “But at these words his face fell…” Both Matthew and Mark tell us that the young man walked away from Jesus. And there’s no Scripture that even intimates that he ever came to saving faith.

What a tragedy! To come so close to heaven and yet wind up in hell is a tragedy of monu-mental proportions. And yet, it happens all around us every day. Look at vv. 24-25. Even as this young man departs, the Lord speaks about how hard it is for the wealthy to be saved.

Think about it. If you think that this world has given you everything you think you need and much of what you think you want – whether it be riches, or power, or fame – why would you turn your back on it? You wouldn’t. On the contrary, you’d cling to it at all costs, even if it meant the cost of your soul.

(“For what does it profit a man to gain the whole world, and forfeit his soul? For what shall a man give in exchange for his soul?”)

But, on the other hand, if this world offers you little, then it’s far easier to turn your back on it and cling to Jesus, isn’t it? I believe that explains why Jesus says, “How hard it is for those who are wealthy to enter the kingdom of God!” You can’t attach yourself to the kingdom of this world and the kingdom of God at the same time. It simply cannot be done.

Is Jesus saying that no rich man will ever go to heaven? No, He is not. But it is impossible for a camel to go through the eye of a needle. So Jesus’ statement really gets our attention. How can we rightly interpret it? We need to step back again and look at the context.
The entire passage has been about the inability of man to save himself or to be good enough for God to save him based on human merit. Jesus is driving home the point that it’s so hard for us all to tear ourselves away from the pleasures of this world and trust in Him. He wants the truth of man’s inability to save himself to sink deeply into our minds and hearts.

I think that is why He speaks in such absolute terms. No human effort, no human merit, and no human achievement can help us.
*Luke 18:26-28
26 And they who heard it said, “Then who can be saved?”
27 But He said, “The things impossible with men are possible with God.”
28 And Peter said, “Behold, we have left our own homes (Matthew 19:27 and Mark 10:28 say, “everything”), and followed You.”

If all of what has been said up until now is true, how could anyone ever be saved? Jesus’ answer, in v. 27, is one of the greatest truths you and I will ever learn. John MacArthur once preached a series of sermons on this very subject. He called it, “The Impossibility of Salva-tion.” It’s an appropriate title, isn’t it? That is the whole point. The salvation of men is impossible with men. It cannot be done. If God doesn’t save you, you will not be saved.

If you are blessed with some of the riches and joys of this world, it is only by God’s grace that you have them. If you are able to obey God and keep His laws, even in the slightest bit, it is only by God’s grace that you are able. And if you have come to saving faith, it is only by God’s grace that you have come. What is impossible with men is possible with God. What a magnificent truth! This is the great lesson of the rich young ruler. But there’s more.

Jesus’ plea to the young man back in v. 22 was, “…come, follow Me.” Now, in v. 28 Peter wonders about himself and the other disciples, and he says, “…we have left our own homes, and followed You.” They have. The disciples have already done exactly what Jesus has asked the young man to do.

Jesus’ question for us this morning is, “Have we?” His question for us today is not, “Have you left your home?” but, “Are you willing to leave your home and anything else I ask of you …if I should ask? I may not ask you today. I may not ask you at all this side of heaven. But I may. And if I do, are you willing to trust Me and follow Me, no matter what?” That is the question. (And you thought being a Christian was easy.) The reality is that only those who are willing to trust Him will ever enter the kingdom of God. You have Jesus’ word on it.
*Luke 18:29-30
29 And (Jesus) said to them, “Truly I say to you, there is no one who has left house or wife or brothers or parents or children, for the sake of the kingdom of God, (Mark 10:29 says, “…for My sake and for the gospel’s sake.”)
30 who shall not receive many times as much at this time and in the age to come, eternal life.”

The Greek in v. 30 is emphatic. When you give your life to Christ the benefits are immedi-ate. Here are just a few examples: Has your following Christ cost you the love of earthly brothers and sisters? Now you have eternal brothers and sisters. Has your following Christ cost you the love of your earthly father? Now you have an Eternal Father. Has your follow-ing Jesus alienated you from your entire household? It does happen.
Ephesians 2:19
19 So then you are no longer strangers and aliens, but you are fellow citizens with the saints, and are of God’s household.

And as good as that is, the best is yet to come. If you have placed Jesus above all else in your life then His promise is for you. Luke 18:30 is for you. Let me encourage you to take it to heart and cling to it. You will have eternal life in the age to come.
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IV. Conclusion
The last three Sundays have brought us face-to-face with Jesus as He lays out God’s holy and divine standards for anyone’s entry into the kingdom of God.

• Two weeks ago, in Luke 18:9-14, the Lord told us of the Pharisee and the tax-gatherer. We learned that the kingdom of God is not for the proud, but for the humble.
• Last week, in Luke 18:15-17, Jesus taught us that a simple childlike faith and trust in Him is one of the keys that will open the gates of heaven.
• And this morning, in Luke 18:18-30, our Lord and Savior has made it crystal clear – anyone who clings to, or pins his or her hope for eternal life on this world, has no hope. We must have faith in Him and cling to Him and Him alone.

Those are God’s divine standards. They are not about what people do. Rather, they are about what people are. But the stark reality is that men’s standards are nothing like those of God. Men base their worthiness for heaven on their religions, on their achievements, on their good works, and on their always inflated view of their own merits. Their faith isn’t in Christ. Their faith is in themselves.

But as the Prophet Isaiah wrote seven hundred years before Christ, “For all of us have become like one who is unclean, and all our righteous deeds are like a filthy garment; and all of us wither like a leaf, and our iniquities, like the wind, take us away (Isaiah 64:6).”

What can you do? How can anyone be saved? Humble yourself before God. Trust Him with a simple and childlike faith. And be willing to lay aside the things of this world. You will see the kingdom of God and you will receive eternal life.

~ Pray ~