THIS GOD IS OUR SALVATION
Mark 10: 26, 27
Sermon by:
Rev. M. Vlietstra
PUBLISHED BY THE
PUBLICATIONS COMMITTEE
OF THE
FREE REFORMED CHURCHES OF NORTH AMERICA.
(August 1994)
LITURGY:
Votum
Psalter 76: 1, 4
Law of God
Psalter 290: 3, 7
Scripture Reading: Mark 10: 17 – 31
Text: Mark 10: 26, 27
Congregational Prayer
Offerings
Psalter 400: 1, 3, 5, 7
Sermon
Psalter 145: 5, 6
Thanksgiving Prayer
Psalter 420: 5
Doxology: Psalter 308: 1
Congregation,
Is it an easy or difficult thing to be saved? Or is it impossible? Does a sinner have a good chance to be saved, or is that chance but very poor?
Perhaps we don’t have to take this matter so seriously. Didn’t the Lord Jesus come to seek and to save that which is lost? Isn’t there the kind invitation: ”Come unto me all ye that are heavy laden, and I shall give you rest?” What about those other words from His own mouth: “Whosoever cometh to me I shall in no wise cast out?” That doesn’t sound grave and disheartening does it?
Yes, but ….. Isn’t there also that other serious word of the Lord Jesus: “because strait is the gate and narrow is the way, which leadeth unto life, and few there be that find it?”
Didn’t the apostle also write: “And if the righteous scarcely be saved, where shall the ungodly and the sinner appear?” Isn’t it also true that many are called and few are chosen?
Congregation, our text speaks very emphatically about being saved. And Jesus says:
- that it is impossible with men,
- that it is possible with God.
The disciples had just overheard the conversation that the Lord Jesus had with the rich young ruler. This wealthy young man had come to Jesus. Full of respect, he had fallen on his knees asking: “Good Master what shall I do that I may inherit eternal life?”
Jesus discerned his motives immediately because we read: “and Jesus beholding him.” When Jesus beholds someone, He looks right through him. Jesus concludes that the young man means well, but that he takes matters too lightly. This becomes apparent when the young ruler foolishly declares that he had observed all of God’s commandments from his youth. Yet he clearly lacked inner peace. He had done his best, he had kept the law, but yet there was this void, this empty spot in his heart.
That’s why he asks: “Master what shall I do that I may inherit eternal life? I did keep God’s commandments, but what else should I do? If Jesus thinks it is necessary to do more I will be willing to comply”. No, he is not afraid of some hardships. “Good Master, say on!”
But Jesus noticed that the young man thought too simply about this matter. That’s why He asked: “Why callest thou me good?” Jesus meant to say: You think too lightly about “good.” You call Me good, while I am only an ordinary man in your eyes. But really there is only One Who is good and that is God!
And then Jesus comes with His demand: “sell all you have and give the proceeds to the poor, then pick up the cross and follow Me.”
It is as if Jesus wants to say to him: “My young friend, you desire to obtain eternal life. That is a praiseworthy desire. But how is it now really with that desire? Do you want eternal life above or besides all your earthly possessions? Do you want something higher than all your earthly goods or something on top of it?
Are you perhaps afraid of death as a fun spoiler and do you therefore ask Me what you still must do to be able to have heaven on earth? And then afterward to take the earth with its money and pleasures to heaven?
This young man was undoubtedly serious when he came with this question to Jesus. The Lord noticed that. We read: Jesus beholding him loved him.
The answer is still: “One thing thou lackest, go thy way, sell what thou hast and give to the poor, and thou shalt have treasure in heaven: and come, take up the cross and follow Me.” That is the way for you to inherit eternal life. To attain the imperishable treasure your heart will have to withdraw from perishable goods.
But then we read: “and he was sad at that saying and went away grieved: for he had great possessions.” He went away grieved! We read nowhere that he returned.
The disciples were eye and ear witnesses to all this. Apparently it bewildered them. Did Jesus have to treat this pleasant, serious young man like this? Wasn’t that much too severe? Does a person really have to give up everything to become a partaker of eternal life? The Lord Jesus looked about Him and turned Himself to His disciples with the words: “How hardly shall they that have riches enter into the kingdom of God.”
And when He noticed that His disciples were astonished at this. He found occasion to repeat and expand on His words. He addressed His disciples in an intimate and cordial manner. “Children, how hard it is for them that trust in riches to enter into 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 into the kingdom of God.”
When the disciples heard those words and let them sink in, they became even more astonished. They were bewildered, and baffled.
Do they themselves feel unstable perhaps? Maybe they realized in some measure the earthly expectations they had of the Person and work of Jesus?
In their great bewilderment they said to each other: “Who can then be saved?
They said it to each other. Now that everything falls away, it seems like they wanted to hold on to each other. But no, they couldn’t help each other. Jesus Himself would help them presently.
Congregation, do we understand something of that astonishment that the disciples experienced. That astonishment wrings the question from their heart: Who can then be saved?
There are people for whom salvation seems to be nearly an automatic matter. Isn’t God love? The Lord Jesus suffered for our sin and paid our debt, And you have to believe that, of course!
They are people who can always believe and are always on the mountain top, who can always be happy and can always sing: “It is well with my soul!” You don’t detect any struggle of faith in them, nothing of a hoping against hope. But there is a singing about deliverance while the bands of death never caused any trouble or discomfort.
A singing about forgiveness while guilt never oppressed and sin was never mourned for. Oh, no! For such people a sinner is not scarcely saved and the gate is for them not very strait or the way narrow.
Many will now say: “But we don’t think that way, we are orthodox people.” But, I ask, is it not like this with many in practice? It all goes so easy and smoothly. The penitential psalms find no echo in their heart because their heart was never astonished and, like here with the disciples, astonished out of measure.
No, no, I don’t mean to make a certain system of being saved. God goes His own way with each of His children. But I mean to say that being saved becomes an ever greater miracle for all God’s children.
Somebody who has living faith has a heartfelt experience of the three things necessary to be known to enjoy this comfort and live and die happily. If being saved is not a miracle and does not become a greater miracle, then he is not saved.
“Who can then be saved?” the disciples ask each other in astonishment.
Congregation, so much is already gained when that question becomes a pressing issue for us, so that we really can’t go on anymore till this question is answered in a real and experimental way. For you realize that this is something quite different than just talking about this question, be it ever so seriously, without being affected with it in the heart. How many are there who live quietly with this unresolved question: “Who can then be saved?”
It is different when the Holy Spirit puts this question in our heart and brings home to us the truth of God’s Word. When He comes to us with God’s laws and His divine demands, then we become deeply guilty and realize that we have sinned greatly against all of God’s commandments and kept none of them, that we are unable to do any good and are inclined to all evil.
Christ says: “Whosoever heareth these sayings of mine and doeth them he is building on the rock.” But can I keep Jesus’ words? My strength is not sufficient. When I would
do good evil is present with me. Even worse! For the good that I would I do not: but the evil that I would not that I do. Who can then be saved?
The Lord Jesus says: “Seek ye first the Kingdom of God and His righteousness.” But I am troubled about so many things: Concerns about my health, worries in the family, difficulties with my children, disappointments at work. All these things dominate my life. Who can then be saved?
I have to believe! Without faith it is impossible to please God. Faith is a certain knowledge and an assured confidence. A certain knowledge, but I have so many unanswered questions! An assured confidence, but would God know about my sad situation? Who can then be saved?
Only converted people will be saved at last. Conversion means a total renewing of my heart. Man has to be born again. He must be radically changed by God Himself. And that must show in his forsaking the world, crucifying the old nature and living in a new and godly life. Who can then be saved?
Yes, this is also the question of the disciples. They are astonished out of measure when they hear the word of the Lord Jesus that it is easier for a camel to go through the eye of a needle , then for a rich man to enter into the kingdom of God. Who can then be saved?
The Lord Jesus hears it when the disciples ask each other this question. And what is His reaction? Will Jesus say: “Well, well, you must not take it that seriously! I didn’t mean it to be that severe! It isn’t that bad!” Oh how beneficial that the Lord does not say that. If He would have said that He would have been like a doctor at a deathbed assuring the patient that soon he will be able to go back to work again.
Jesus does not say: “It isn’t that bad!” He does not even say: “It is difficult.” Jesus makes it even worse! He says: “It is impossible!”
Impossible with men. Impossible according to human calculations, but still possible with God, and then only possible with God.
2. To be saved! And Jesus looking upon them says, “with men it is impossible, but not with God: for with God all things are possible.” Rembrandt, a great Dutch painter, used to work with contrasting colours. Against the darkest shadows he placed the brightest light. We actually find this also in Scripture. God highly exalted. Man humbled in the dust.
The gospel of God’s mercy in Christ can only be properly displayed against the dark background of the guilt and depravity of the lost sinner. When we listen to the complaints of the disciples and we try to find a fitting colour for their question we say: dark, black, inky black!
But if we then place Jesus’ answer beside it, we suddenly see a bright light break through. The black clouds are then torn apart and the bright sun breaks through.
We just heard the disciples confide their troubles to each other. They did not go straight to Jesus, although it is probable that they hoped that Jesus would notice their astonishment. But yet, they tell each other: “Who can then be saved?”
Jesus in His answer kindly corrects them. It is as if He says: “You had better not look for help and comfort with each other for through men it is impossible anyway.”
He then points them to the right door where they must knock: With God! Then they will not knock in vain, for with God all things are possible!
Yes, with God all things are possible. When Sarah in her unbelief laughed because in her advanced age she would still bear a son. The Lord said to Abraham: “Why did Sarah laugh? Is anything too hard for the Lord?”
When Job, sitting on the ash pile, owned his guilt before God he said: “I know that Thou canst do everything and that no thought can be withholden from Thee.”
Concerning the promised restoration of Israel after their exile we read in Zachariah 8: 6: “Thus says the Lord of Hosts; Behold I will save my people!”
“Behold I will …….. Thus speaks the Lord of hosts.” Thus speaks the almighty God.
And when He speaks it happens.
Being saved: it is impossible with men, but it is possible with God. For with God all things are possible. Thus speaks Jesus. Who is truth Him self. Let us take Jesus’ word at heart. It cuts off all expectation from our selves and from any other creature. We are totally dependent on the almighty God, but with Him nothing is impossible.
Being saved: impossible, totally impossible from our side.
Being saved: possible, possible with God, for with God all things are possible. If we understand this first truth experimentally, taught in the school of the Holy Spirit, how brilliantly will then that second truth begin to shine! With God all things are possible, all things! Anything His love desires to do His almighty power will work out.
With God all things are possible. In the original there is a little pronoun in front of the name of God. It says literally: “with the God all things are possible.” So not just with God, but with the God!
We must not seek it with a vague, self conceived concept of God, by which each can be saved in his own way. No. We must expect it from God, that is the God Who has revealed Himself in His Word. That is the God Whose essence is love and Who exactly because of that is so terribly angry with sin, that He can never leave it unpunished.
He is the God Who reveals Christ to us. Though angry with sin, He is merciful to the sinner who with confession of guilt, bows himself at His feet.
Being saved: it is possible with God, with the only, true God. On account of His holiness He could not leave sin unpunished. But in His unspeakable love He thought of a way so that sinners, who willfully fell away from Him, could be reconciled to and united to Him without abusing one of His virtues. What is impossible with men is possible with God. He didn’t just think of a way of salvation, but worked it out too.
“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.”
“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”. Who can then be saved?
Impossible from man’s side. For are not we all rich by nature? Even if we are not rich in money and goods as the rich young man was, does it not apply to us all by nature that we think we are rich and increased with goods and have need of nothing?
We do not really know that we are wretched and miserable and poor and blind and naked.
We do not know it and yet we have to know and experience it that we are so. We need the eye salve of the great Physician. We need the discovering light of the Holy Spirit Who leads us into all truth, Who makes us honest before God, Who discovers our guilt before God.
A guilt that has to be cleared, that has to be paid. We can not do without the work of the Holy Spirit Who thrusts us off our pretended hights and leads us into the valley of humiliation.
He takes our fancied wealth from us and makes us poor before God. He makes us so poor that we can only live from grace. But ……. Thanks be to God forever! That grace is available. Grace is merited by Christ. He who never knew sin nor did any sin, God has made Him sin for us that we should be the righteousness of God in Him. The wages of sin that we deserved were paid out to Him: namely death in all its magnitude and horrors.
The Father gave His Son in His eternal love. Already from eternity the Son declared Himself willing to take this work upon Himself. “Behold I come, oh God to do Thy will.”
And He did come and finished the work of reconciliation. He bore the burden of God’s wrath, the full weight of which rested on all mankind, and carried it away.
In this way He obtained mercy by God for damnable sinners by His blood of reconciliation. You see it on Golgotha. There, beside Jesus hangs that murderer. A man