Who Then can Be Saved? Matthew 19:25: “When His disciples heard it, they were exceedingly amazed, saying, Who then can be saved?” Parallel references: –Mark 10:23-27 –Luke 18:24-27

Observations: Jesus had been speaking to the young ruler who “went away sorrowful,” Matthew 19:22. Then he talked about the difficulty of a rich man entering the kingdom; said “it is easier for a camel to go through the eye of a needle, than for a rich man to enter the kingdom of heaven, v. 24.

Observations (con’t) Mark 10:25, Jesus asked “how hard it is for them that trust in riches to enter the kingdom.” It is one thing to have riches, and another to trust in riches. Proverbs 3:5. It is one thing to have money, and it is another to love money, I Timothy 6:10. Regarding material wealth, two classes: –Those who have it. –Those who want it

Observation (con’t) After Jesus alluded to the difficulty of a rich man entering the kingdom, the disciples “were exceedingly amazed, saying, who then can be saved,” Matthew 19:25? Jesus then said, “with men this is impossible; but with God all things are possible,” Matthew 19:26. Lesson title: “Who then can be Saved?”

“ Good People Can Be Saved! The Eunuch, a case in point, Acts 8: Regarding the Eunuch: –Had traveled to Jerusalem to worship, v. 27. –Returning home, he read his Bible, v. 28. –When Philip asked, do you understand what you are reading, he said “how can I except some man guide me,” vs –He obeyed the gospel that very day! Vs It is evident that the Eunuch was a good man; he was saved!

Very Good People can be Saved! Cornelius a case in point, Acts 10:1-2. With reference to Cornelius, we note: –He was “devout.” –He prayed to God always. –He had “a good report among all the nation of the Jews,” Acts 10:22. Yet, good as he was, he still needed to hear “words whereby” he and his house could be saved, Acts 11:14.

Bad People can be Saved! The Jews on Pentecost as a case in point, Acts 2. –It is true they were described as “devout,” v. 5. Devout from the standpoint of gathering to observe Pentecost. –However, they “by wicked hands had crucified and slain” the Son of God, v. 23! –Some 3,000 of these people were saved, Acts 2:37-38,41,47.

Very Bad People Can be Saved! The Corinthians were a case in point. I Corinthians 6:9-10: “Know ye not that the unrighteous shall not inherit the kingdom of God? Be not deceived, neither fornicators, nor idolaters, nor adulterers, nor effeminate, nor abusers of themselves with mankind, nor thieves, nor covetous, nor drunkards, nor revilers, nor extortioners shall inherit the kingdom of God. V. 11. “And such were some of you… They obeyed the gospel and were saved as a result, Acts 18:8; I Corinthians 15:1-2.

All People Can Be Saved! 2 Peter 3:9: “The Lord is not slack concerning his promise, as some men count slackness; but is longsuffering to us-ward, not willing that any should perish, but that all should come to repentance.” Hebrews 2:9: “But we see Jesus, who was made a little lower than the angels, for the suffering of death, crowned with glory and honor, that he by the grace of God should taste death for every man.” I Timothy 2:4-6 – God would have “all men to be saved, and to come unto the knowledge of the truth.”

Who Will be Saved? Matthew 16:24-26 – those who deny themselves, take up the cross and follow Jesus. Acts 10:34-35 – those who “fear God and work righteousness.” –“Fear God” – reverential awe for God, alarm at incurring His wrath, Matt. 10:28. –“Work righteousness” – obeying His commandments, Ecclesiastes 12:13-14.

Who will be Saved (Con’t) Those who obey the gospel of Jesus Christ; the gospel is “the power of God unto salvation…,” Romans 1:16. To refuse to obey the gospel is t o commit spiritual suicide! –I Peter 4: –2 Thessalonians 1:7-9.

What Must I do to be Saved? Hear the gospel of Christ, Acts 2:22; Romans 10:17. Believe the gospel, Mark 16: Repent of sins, Acts 2:37-38; Luke 13:3. Confess faith in Jesus, Matthew 10:32; Romans 10:9-12. Be Baptized “for the remission of sins,” Acts 2:38; 22:16.

Will You Be Saved? We have noted who can be saved. We have noted who will be saved. Now the question: Will you be Saved. We will be judged by Jesus, Acts 17:30-31 In the judgment each one will be placed on either the right or left side of Jesus. –To those on the right: “Come ye blessed of my Father, inherit the kingdom prepared for you from the foundation of the world,” Matthew 25:34. –To those on the left: “Depart from me, ye cursed, into everlasting fire, prepared for the devil and his angels.”

Conclusion: We have observed from the Scriptures who can be saved. We have observed from the Scriptures who will be saved. We now ask: Are you saved? If you are not saved, why delay obedience to God’s will? Tomorrow may be eternally too late!!