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MARK 10:23-27

"WHO CAN BE SAVED?"

Intro: Rich young ruler has just departed. He lacked one thing, a true
       center for his  life.

I. HOW HARD IT IS FOR THOSE WHO TRUST IN RICHES TO ENTER THE KINGDOM OF
   GOD.
        A. You don't have to be rich to trust in riches.
        1. Many people put their trust in money.
                        a. Ironic that engraved upon our money the
                           phrase, "In God  we trust."
                        b. Probably more people who use it trust in money
                           more than  God.
        B. Time of economic depression can reveal a lot of truth.
        1. Someone said, "It's easy to trust in God when you have a good
           job and money in the bank."
        2. We can see just how much we do trust God.
        C. "Easier for camel to go through the eye of a needle."
        1. Some say that He was referring to a small sub gate.
                a. Unload camel, push and pull.
        2. Man has always liked to think that with some heroic action or
           arduous work.
                        a. The rich young ruler had just asked, "What good
                           thing shall I do?"
                        b. Jesus in essence told him it is not so much in
                           what you do, but in who you trust.
        3. Context reveals that Jesus was referring to something
           impossible.
                        a. If it was a sub-gate, it was too small to
                           possibly get a camel through it.
                        b. "With man it is impossible."

II. "WHO THEN CAN BE SAVED?"
        A. Here was a young man that seemingly had everything going for
           him.
                1. When Jesus flashed the law before him, he confessed his
                        observance from youth.
                        a. No rash boast.
                        b. Jesus looked at him and loved him.
                2. If keeping the law could save, then he would have been
                   saved.

Who? B. No one who is trusting in his own good works.
                1. 1 care not how good a person you are; moral, honest,
                   loving.
                2. Are you perfect?
                3. Then you are asking a perfect God to accept
                   imperfection.
                        a. If He accepts any imperfection, then He must
                           accept all imperfection.

Who? C. No one who is trusting in riches.
                1. You can't buy your way into heaven.
                2. Even had he sold all and given to the poor, that would
                   not have done it until he came, took up his cross and
                   followed Jesus.

Who? D. "With man it is impossible."
                1. If your hope for salvation is resting in anything you
                   have done, you are on the wrong track.
                2. It is impossible for man to be saved apart from God's
                   work.

III. "WITH GOD, ALL THINGS ARE POSSIBLE."
        A. Our only hope is to trust in God.
                1. He is the God of the impossible.
                        a. Some of you have been looking over your
                           situation this week and you have concluded it's
                           impossible.
                                1. That I can ever be well again.
                                2. That I can pay my debts.
                                3. That I can live a life in victory.
                        b. These conclusions have been made because you
                           have been looking at yourself, your resources,
                           your record. Trusting in yourself.
                2. Trust in God, with God "All things."