This sounds as if there were some great difficulty in the way of being saved. How is this, is not salvation free? Yes. Then where is the difficulty? Man’s restoration is not merely legal, but moral, and in the latter the real hindrance will be found. Men make excuses, etc.
I. What is meant by being saved? In the narrative connected with the text, our Saviour calls it “ Entering into the kingdom of heaven.” The governing power of true religion over a man. Governed by love. To be saved is to be delivered from the kingdom of Satan, etc. It is a present change. Would you wish to be saved? Or, would you like to compromise this matter in the way of postponement? Or, would you wish to have your love of “ good society,” etc., made secondary to the love of Christ? Let these questions sink deep into your hearts. The Young Ruler.
II. The holy ghost can deal, and does deal, with this moral hindrance in the way of man’s salvation as effectually as God the Son has dealt with the legal hindrance by His work of substitution for man. There is hope for us all. To You is the word of this salvation sent. Use the appointed means, for God works by means, etc. (Hugh McNeile, D. D.)
Who can be saved?-
I. To put the question. This inquiry sometimes arises-
1. From partial views of the character of God.
2. It is often suggested by correct and scriptural views of the Divine law.
3. It arises from ignorance of the plan of human redemption.
II. To answer the inquiry.
1. Shall I first tell you who cannot? Not the ignorant, proud worldling, not the impure.
2. Who, then, can be saved? The vilest can. (Dr. T. Raffles.)
Who can be saved?-
I. That men often err as to the real difficulties of salvation, that they are prone to under-estimate its cost, effort, self-sacrifice, and demanded pains. Christ never deceived anybody as to the real cost of discipleship. Salvation under the gospel is not an easy thing.
II. The disciples were left to derive from this incident the lesson that moral uprightness was a different thing from gospel piety. The young man had kept the law. Christ will not be in the heart except He have absolute dominion there.
III. Our particular impediment to salvation. Riches. A wealthy class of men in a community is a social necessity. Greed to be avoided; compassion to be cultivated.
IV. A practical inference is that, however difficult salvation be, IT is never impossible at least, the impossibility is only relative. With man it is impossible; but with God it is possible and promised. (D. Moore, M. A.)
