What is needed for Salvation?

In Mark 10:17-22 we have the story of a man who came to Jesus seeking eternal life.  Jesus’ response teaches some very important things about salvation.   “And when he was gone forth into the way, there came one running, and kneeled to him, and asked him, Good Master, what shall I do that I may inherit eternal life?

And Jesus said unto him, Why callest thou me good? there is none good but one, that is, God.  Thou knowest the commandments, Do not commit adultery, Do not kill, Do not steal, Do not bear false witness, Defraud not, Honour thy father and mother.

And he answered and said unto him, Master, all these have I observed from my youth.

Then Jesus beholding him loved him, and said unto him, One thing thou lackest: go thy way, sell whatsoever thou hast, and give to the poor, and thou shalt have treasure in heaven: and come, take up the cross, and follow me.  And he was sad at that saying, and went away grieved: for he had great possessions.”

The man came clearly seeking salvation.   Jesus immediately made the point that if he was to be saved, the man needed to acknowledge that Jesus is God.  In John 14: 9, Jseus said,”…he that hath seen me hath seen the Father…”  John 3:16 states, “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.” 

The second thing Jesus made a point of is that Holiness is essential.  Hebrews 12:14 advises, “Follow peace with all men, and holiness, without which no man shall see the Lord.”  Unfortunately, the man made the mistake many others make, as Paul describes in Romans 10:2-4.  “For I bear them record that they have a zeal of God, but not according to knowledge.  For they being ignorant of God's righteousness, and going about to establish their own righteousness, have not submitted themselves unto the righteousness of God.  For Christ is the end of the law for righteousness to every one that believeth.”   The man was counting on his own goodness, rather than on God’s forgiveness and justification.  After all, he had kept all those things his entire life. 

He didn’t understand that his works could not save him.  Ephesians 2: 9 tells us salvation is “Not of works, lest any man should boast.”   Galatians 2:16 is equally clear.  “Knowing that a man is not justified by the works of the law, but by the faith of Jesus Christ, even we have believed in Jesus Christ, that we might be justified by the faith of Christ, and not by the works of the law: for by the works of the law shall no flesh be justified.” 

Jesus recognized that while the man wanted salvation, he wanted it on his terms, as a result of his efforts.  Jesus told him that he still couldn’t be saved until he put Christ ahead of everything else.  As long as he was clinging yo his personal belongings, he would never be saved.  The man was unwilling to put God ahead of his possessions and plans, so he walked away unsaved.  In Mark 10:23-25, Jesus explained that our focus on things of the world makes salvation nearly impossible.  “And Jesus looked round about, and saith unto his disciples, How hardly shall they that have riches enter into the kingdom of God!  And the disciples were astonished at his words. But Jesus answereth again, and saith unto them, Children, how hard is it 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.”

In Luke 14:26-27, Jesus saic essentially the same thing to his disciples.   “If any man come to me, and hate not his father, and mother, and wife, and children, and brethren, and sisters, yea, and his own life also, he cannot be my disciple.  And whosoever doth not bear his cross, and come after me, cannot be my disciple.”  Just as a marriage demands a commitment to one’s mate to the exclusion of other things, being saved demands a commitment to Christ. 

Just as some people today have a hard time understanding how one can commit to a lifelong marriage to one mate, the disciples had a hard time understanding how one could commit to the Lord and turn their back on the things the world offers.  Jesus explained that human efforts could never accomplish this, in Mark 10:26-27.  “And they were astonished out of measure, saying among themselves, Who then can be saved?  And Jesus looking upon them saith, With men it is impossible, but not with God: for with God all things are possible.” 

No amount of psychology or self-motivation or self-sacrifice will ever enable us to completely give up the things of the world.  John 6:44 tells us, “No man can come to me, except the Father which hath sent me draw him: and I will raise him up at the last day.”  As Ephesians 2:8 said, even the faith to believe is from God. “For by grace are ye saved through faith; and that not of yourselves: it is the gift of God.”   Only God the Holy Spirit can produce such a commitment in a person.