Since there doesn't seem to be anything anyone can do to earn salvation, how then can anyone be saved?

Although at first this comment might appear to be quite disconcerting, there is actually nothing we ourselves can do to be saved or to even contribute in any way to our salvation! However, the good news of the Gospel is that God has Himself done what we could not do, namely, not only to provide the only means of salvation, but also to in fact save those whom He sovereignly designs to save. He accomplishes this great work of salvation solely by his sovereign grace, solely through the gracious gift of saving faith in the name of His Son, Jesus Christ.

Historical Context (Luke 18:24-27)

The dialogue that Jesus is having here with the rich young ruler is set in the context of his denunciation of the false pride and self righteousness of the Pharisees. Just as is true today, so too, in Jesus' day, there were many who believed that they could earn or purchase their own salvation, either through riches or through their own good works. Indeed, this is what the rich young ruler believed as we learn from his personal testimony ("All these things I have kept from my youth" Luke 18:21). Jesus goes on to try to enable him to uncover the sin (love of money which is idolatry) that was lurking in his own heart and which he was unable to detect.

Study Questions (Luke 18:24-27)

1. Why do you suppose that it is difficult for those who are rich in the things of this world to understand their need for God?

2. Are riches themselves sinful?

3. What other human or personal resources might deceive a person into believing that they have no need of God?

4. Why do you suppose that Jesus is bringing up the fact that with God 'all things are possible'?

5. What does this say about the character of God?

Cross References (Luke 18:24-27)

Commentary (Luke 18:24-27)

Jesus knew that the obedience of the rich young ruler was largely external and was not a matter of the heart. Therefore, He challenged him to sell all that he had and give it to the poor, knowing that his reluctance to do so would uncover the sin and idolatory of riches that remained in his heart. Because we are all sinners and all commit sins of attitudes as well as of actions, Jesus makes it abundantly clear that it is only by the sovereign and saving power of God that anyone can possibly be saved.

Historical Context (Romans 6:23-23)

In this portion of the book of Romans, the Apostle Paul, continues to set forth the impossibility of salvation by works of the law due to the fact that all men are sinners. Here he reiterates the Gospel truth that salvation is wholly a gift of God. Later on in the book of Romans (beginning in chapter 12) Paul goes on to lay out the personal and practical implications for daily living for one so saved.

Study Questions (Romans 6:23-23)

1. What do you suppose is meant by the term wages?

2. According to this text, what are the wages of sin?

3. Do you suppose that this refers to physical or spiritual death, or both?

4. What do you understand by the term 'gift'?

5. According to this text, what is the 'gift of God'?

6. Do you believe that you are in possesion of this 'gift'?

7. What leads you to believe so?

Cross References (Romans 6:23-23)

Commentary (Romans 6:23-23)

Properly understood, "wages" is what a person would rightly deserve. For example, a fair day's pay for an honest day's work. What a person rightly deserves due to our sinfulness is both physical and spirtual death. Indeed, this was the meaning of God's declaration to Adam in the Garden of Eden (Gen 2:17) "But of the tree of the knowledge of good and evil, thou shalt not eat of it: for in the day that thou eatest thereof thou shalt surely die." God's antidote to this physical and spiritual death is eternal life, that is, life that will never end, a life that is possible only through faith in the name of Christ Jesus our Lord.

Historical Context (Ephesians 2:8-9)

Throughout his letter to the Ephesians, the Apostle Paul repeatedly sets forth the sovereignty of God in our salvation, and the unmerited favor which we have received due to the Person and Work of our Lord Jesus Christ. This was especially important for the Ephesians to understand due to the fact that the city of Ephesus contained one of the seven wonders of the ancient world, the Greek temple to the goddess Dianna. Their idolatry and continuing desire to appease her through offerings and good works made it difficult for them to comprehend the idea of salvation by grace.

Study Questions (Ephesians 2:8-9)

1. What do you understand by the term 'grace'?

2. What do you understand by the term 'faith'?

3. Are grace and faith something which a person can manufacture from within themselves?

4. What does this text teach concerning the possibility of being saved by our works?

Cross References (Ephesians 2:8-9)

Commentary (Ephesians 2:8-9)

Essentially, grace could well be defined as "unmerrited favor", that is, grace is something which is totally unearned and completely undeserved. Faith is the means by which we appropriate the riches of God's grace and have them applied to us or credited to our account. Please note that this text teaches us that even our faith is a gracious gift of God! Therefore, there is absolutely no room for any boasting, or the possibility that our works can contribute anything to our own salvation. This is not to say, however, that we ought not to engage in good works. Our good works are a means by which we show our gratitude towards God for such a great and gracious salvation.