WHO THEN CAN BE SAVED?

WHO THEN CAN BE SAVED?

Wednesday, May 15, 2019

Jesus explained “… a rich man shall hardly enter into the kingdom of heaven. And again I say unto you, It is easier for a camel to go through the eye of a needle, than for a rich man to enter into the kingdom of God. When his disciples heard it, they were exceedingly amazed, saying, Who then can be saved? But Jesus beheld them, and said unto them, With men this is impossible; but with God all things are possible. …” Matthew chapter 19

  One might ask, as the disciples did on one occasion, “Who then can be saved?”when confronted with the fact that God’s judgment is to the standard of His perfection. (Rom.3:23) Jesus responding to their shock with the truth of God’s grace. Did they readily understand and accept? No. That developed later.

  I suspect that the most quoted words of Jesus is John 3:16, “For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life.” Quoted, but understood and accepted? By comparatively few, yes. By the multitudes, no. At the core of it is the reality that only Jesus, God Incarnate (Jn.1:1), does redeem those who trust Him. For those who don’t trust Him as the only Redeemer, they remain condemned to everlasting suffering separated from God. (Jn.3:18-19)

  For although God has made provision for all people to be saved through Jesus, redemption has been and always will be a personal individual choice. Jesus’ salvation only being effectual for those trusting Him as Savior. He alone can save, and nothing else or additional will gain His deliverance. Not family or national birth, good works, compassionate care, community or church involvement, a denomination, religion, rituals, sacraments, baptism , canonized saints . . .  salvation present and eternal is only by trusting Jesus!(Eph. 2:8-10)

  Who then can be saved?

EBB4