Is Salvation Impossible?

Introduction

A miser who had been pinching and scraping his whole life to add to his stash of money finally found he was dying. His first thought was the money he’d been accumulating and he called his wife to his bedside. “Will you promise me one thing?” “Promise what?” “Promise me that when I’m dead you’ll put my money in my casket so I can take it all with me.” After his death, the wife kept her promise. She took the money, deposited it in the bank, and wrote a check which she put in his casket. Not everyone who loves money goes to that extent – some love to use it and many more dream about having it. But everyone who pursues money will get as much benefit from it after death as the man in this story. In Mark 10:23-27 Jesus tells us that it is impossible for money to save us. In fact, He tells us that it is impossible for any of us to be saved – on our own. Study the passage to learn why it is impossible for us to save ourselves and how God accomplishes the impossible.

Observation

Pray

Ask the Lord to open your mind and heart to what He shows you in His Word today so that you can worship and obey Him in a new way.

Read Focus Verses

Read Mark 10:23-27 and look at what Jesus says about entering the kingdom of God.

Keyword - Enter

Perhaps you noticed that the word enter appears three times in these verses. Marking it will help it stand out as a key to understanding the point of the passage.

Enter

Mark the word enter each time it appears in Mark 10:23-27.

Enter What?

What is it that Jesus talks about a person entering or not entering?

Keyword - Jesus

We keep seeing that Jesus is the main Character all through the Gospel of Mark. By marking His Name, we can visually see Him as the central theme.

Jesus

Mark the Name Jesus and the references to Him in these verses.

Context

To best understand what Jesus is saying in today's passage, it will be helpful to know what has just happened. Read Mark 10:17-22 for context.

In Your Words

In your own words, what just happened? (You can learn more about that passage and what it means for your life in the study plan called, "Covetousness - What Is It?")

After He Left

The passage you're studying today picks up as the rich young ruler leaves after his conversation with Jesus. What is Jesus' next action according to the beginning of verse 23?

A Statement

What does Jesus say to His disciples in verse 23?

Response

How did the disciples respond to that statement by Jesus?

Tenderness

What does Jesus call the disciples in verse 24?

Clarification

What does Jesus say in verse 24 to clarify what He said in verse 23?

Illustration

What illustration does Jesus give in verse 25 to help the disciples and us understand how hard it really is?

Even More

How did the disciples respond to Jesus' clarification of His statement?

They Said…

What did the disciples say in their astonishment?

Looking at Them

What does verse 27 say about Jesus' interaction with the disciples? (Notice that it is the same as in verse 23.)

Impossible?

What does Jesus say in verse 27 about whether or not it is possible for a person to enter the kingdom of God?

God

What does Jesus say about God in verse 27?

Interpretation

Is It Impossible?

This video recaps the previous passage that leads up to today's passage and shows the connection and contrast between the two - one thing remains impossible even to the man with the most money.

Why Not?

Psalm 49:6-9 explains why money can't give a person eternal life.

Too Valuable

Why can wealth and riches not redeem a person from death or buy eternal life?

Beyond the Grave

1 Timothy 6:7 gives another reason money can't help you in eternity.

Can't Take It

Why can't your money and riches help you in eternity?

Different Categories

Matthew 6:19-21 shows that eternal treasures and earthly treasures are in different categories.

No Trade-Ins

Will having lots of earthly wealth get you heavenly treasures that last forever?

Blinded

In Revelation 3:17 we see that earthly treasures can blind you to your spiritual situation.

Wealthy?

Just because you have lots of earthly blessings does that mean you are doing well spiritually?

Opposite

In fact, in Matthew 6:24 Jesus teaches about serving God and money.

One or the Other

Can you pursue both God and money? Why?

Root

There's a pretty severe warning in 1 Timothy 6:10. [Note: in context, the Bible doesn't say Christians can't have money - we're looking at its ability or inability to save you.]

Loving Money

What is the root of evil?

Eternity

So, can money change your eternal destiny, buy you more time to live, or give you eternal life?

Surprised

Should we be surprised like the disciples were that Jesus says that those who trust in riches will hardly enter the kingdom of God? Why? (Use the verses you just looked at to answer.)

Who?

The disciples asked who could be saved if those who trust in riches won't be. Isaiah 59:2 helps explain Jesus' answer.

Separated

What separates people from God?

Universal Problem

Romans 3:23 tells us the extent of this problem.

All

How many people are separated from God by sin?

Wages

God is clear about what sin earns. He says it many times in Scripture - Romans 6:23 is one of the best known.

Eternal Death

What does sin earn?

Not of Works

Some people think, "I'll just have to do a lot of good things to make up for all my sin." Ephesians 2:8-9 tells whether or not that will work.

Good Works

Can good works save a person?

Grace through Faith

If good works can't save a person, what does?

Our Best

Isaiah 64:6 explains why works can't save us when it tells us what a non-Christian's best works are like.

Our Righteousness

What are an unbeliever's best works like?

Pharisees

If that isn't enough to convince us, in Matthew 5:20 Jesus gives us a startling comparison. A little background helps with this one - the Pharisees were so strict at keeping God's law outwardly they considered themselves perfect.

Comply

If from this moment forward you never broke even one of God's rules could that save you?

So…

So, can being a good person and doing good things save you?

Impossible

Why does Jesus say it is impossible for people to save themselves? (Use the verses you've studied to answer.)

Nothing too Hard

Jeremiah 32:17 sounds very similar to Jesus' statement about what is possible for God.

About God

What does Jeremiah 32:17 say about God?

Nothing

Notice what the angel said to Mary when He was telling her that she would conceive Jesus as a virgin in Luke 1:37.

About God

What does Luke 1:37 say about God?

Taking Our Sin

You saw earlier that sin separates people from God. Notice what God did about that in 2 Corinthians 5:21.

Died in Our Place

You also saw that sin earns death. See what God did about that in Romans 5:6-8.

For Us

What did Jesus do about our sin that was separating us from God?

Jesus' Words

Earlier in the Gospel of Mark Jesus tells us how to receive this gift and enter the kingdom of God in Mark 1:15.

Repent and Believe

What are the two parts of receiving God's gift of salvation, forgiveness, and eternal life?

Why?

John 3:16 tells us why God did this.

Love

Why does God want to give you eternal life?

Who?

The disciples asked who could be saved. Romans 10:13 answers that question.

Anyone who Asks

Who can be saved?

Possible with God

In your own words, how did God make it possible for sinful people - whether or not they have money and riches - to be reconciled to Him and have eternal life?

Once More

Read Mark 10:23-27 once more in light of what you've seen in the rest of the Bible.

Impossible

What do these verses teach us about whether or not we can save ourselves?

Possible

What do these verses teach us about whether or not God can save us?

About God

What did you see about God today?

Application

Trusting Money

Have you been trusting in and seeking after money? How does seeing how temporal it is change your perspective about its value? What specific things in your life need to change so that you can serve God instead of money since you can't serve both?

God's Gift

Have you stopped trying to earn salvation your own way and accepted God's gift of forgiveness and eternal life by faith? If not, won't you do it today?

What About Others?

Do you know people who are trying to get to heaven their own way? Will you commit to pray for at least one of them specifically and look for opportunities to share the gospel of salvation through Jesus Christ with them?

Wrapup

Closing

We hope this study plan has helped you understand why it is impossible to save yourself and how it is possible for God to save you.

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