Impossible Salvation Becomes a Life Full of Graciousness.

Class Outline:

Wednesday August 13, 2025

 

Main idea: God’s gift of impossible salvation releases us from earth’s riches and gives us heaven’s possessions. 

 

Intro:

 

Eternal life is life as a subject to the eternal, perfectly good and righteous kingdom. 

 

The rich young ruler wants to enter that kingdom on his own terms. Think about that.

 

Text: 

MAT 19:23-26

And Jesus said to His disciples, "Truly I say to you, it is hard for a rich man to enter the kingdom of heaven.  24 "Again I say to you, 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."  25 When the disciples heard this, they were very astonished and said, "Then who can be saved?" 26 And looking at them Jesus said to them, "With people this is impossible, but with God all things are possible." 

 

The lesson of Luk 12 -

 

Riches are in heaven and from heaven, so do not fear earth’s possessions, but give graciously and immediately and you will be rewarded. 

 

LUK 12:1-3 beware of hypocrisy; saying one thing and doing another. Judgment and reward. 

LUK 12:13-15 life is not possessions (parable of rich man. He could have given but instead sat on a hill of money - are we waiting for the perfect time to be gracious?). 

 

LUK 12:22-32 do not fear, the Father has gladly chosen to give you the kingdom click (PSA 49:16-17). 

 

LUK 12:33 as a result - give to the poor. 

 

Perhaps I should wait? LUK 12:35-40. Be ready and alert. 

 

Reward. LUK 12:41-48. Degrees of judgment / reward (next section in Matthew - not how much but a willingness to follow which is faith). 

 

People are going to try and stop you because you do not fit the mold - trial. LUK 12:49-53.

 

“It is easier for a camel to go through the eye of a needle” - impossible

 

It is hard for a rich man (self-sufficient) is it impossible for anyone. 

 

Regeneration is outside our competence. (PSA 143:2; 14:3)

 

LUK 13:1-5 Now on the same occasion there were some present who reported to Him about the Galileans whose blood Pilate had mixed with their sacrifices [Pilate was a harsh ruler willing to use lethal force without trial]. 2 And Jesus said to them, "Do you suppose that these Galileans were greater sinners than all other Galileans because they suffered this fate?  3 "I tell you, no, but unless you repent, you will all likewise perish.  4 "Or do you suppose that those eighteen on whom the tower in Siloam fell and killed them were worse culprits than all the men who live in Jerusalem?  5 "I tell you, no, but unless you repent, you will all likewise perish." 

 

We see in this passage the continuing human thought that God deals with man on bargain type basis. 

 

With God all things are possible: not a new or novel concept. 

 

Salvation is a miracle in every instance. The person must repent: change his mind and believe in Christ as Savior.

 

Faith is coming to the end of our tether. When you’re out of rope you have to change strategy, i.e. direction. 

 

What is the connection between impossibility of salvation and gracious giving? 

 

Why is the grace miracle of salvation equated with divine love of others: giving, works, sacrifice, ministry, love, relationships, forgiveness …? 

 

Consider this question: What is the value of earthly possessions, human abilities, human successes, none of which could save you? 

 

Psa 112

 

The impossibility of us saving ourselves (with anything) was met with the impossible love of God who gave His Son for us (PSA 49:6). 

 

PSA 73:25 … context - PSA 73:3

 

God never denounces wealth alone, but the love of it. Wealth in the hands of one who loves God, He loves for that one is a cheerful, gracious giver. 

 

God entered every believer into His Son and into His kingdom. 

 

Love of God and our neighbor became the air we breathe. 

 

Possessions became things in heaven. 

 

Still, our hearts have to be trained in this reality, and Jesus’ teachings in the Synoptic Gospels, which were the first teachings given to the church.

 

The point of Christ’s teachings is to make salvation immediately a reality in living experience. 

 

The way of His subjects in Mat 14-20 is love. 

 

Serve them (Mat 14-15); Jew and Gentile. 

 

Sacrifice (Mat 16); the Lord declared His suffering, death, and resurrection. 

 

Faith and sacrifice for outsiders (Mat 17); coin in the fish, pay taxes. 

 

Humility, love and mercy for straying sheep, forgiveness (Mat 18). 

 

One-flesh marriage, acceptance of unique personalities, children, money (Mat 19) = what overall theme do you see? (divine love in relationships)

 

Mat 20? 

 

The most excellent way is love (1CO 12:31). 

 

What we can know very early, and continue to mature in, is love. Faith, hope, and love. 

 

“One reason the teaching of Jesus is avoided in some even conservative and biblical churches is the subliminal knowledge that Jesus combats seeking money and power. This avoidance is camouflaged by the assertion that Jesus’ teaching prior to Pentecost inculcates salvation by works and that it is only the person of Jesus in the Gospel of John and the grace of Christ in the Epistles of Paul that should be taught to Christians. Another form of evasion is the assertion that Jesus’ pre-Pentecost teachings address disciples who are living beneath the level of the book of Acts, and that ever since the disciples in Acts received the filling of the Holy Spirit they were not as weak, as threatened, or as in need of Jesus’ moral teachings as the Synoptic Gospels teach. Disciples can now live lives of constant victory and power (often a charismatic position). There are many ways to avoid Jesus; the most dangerous are those that cover this avoidance with theological explanations - grace, the Holy Spirit, and other even biblical truths. The only route to the church’s being truly and not just nominally Christ-centered is the expository teaching of the NT Gospels.” [Bruner, Matthew a Commentary, vol. 2, 326-327] 

 

Application

 

Hoarding possessions, fearing for them, the tight way of life that tethers itself to the earth, is completely inconsistent with the way of salvation. 

 

Having His life by grace means poverty. 

 

Poverty is a mindset that is exceedingly gracious. 

 

Overcome your fears and give.