Who Can Be Saved?

26 Those who heard it said, “Then who can be saved?” 27 But he said, “What is impossible with man is possible with God.” – Luke 18:26-27 (ESV)

Those who heard Jesus speaking responded to His statement that it would be easier for a camel to fit through the eye of a needle than for a rich man to enter the kingdom of heaven.

Contemplating these words, they ask: “Then who can be saved?” Consider this for a moment. 

The words of Jesus were inspired by a visit from a rich ruler who asked what he could do to inherit eternal life. This man testified that he had observed the commandments of God from his youth. From the question he asked, we get the understanding that he was a religious man who believed in eternal life. He even came to Jesus wanting to hear from Him and learn from His wisdom. This ruler had many admirable qualities. The people present knew this. They also saw him walk away and Jesus declare that it was very difficult for a man such as this to enter the kingdom of heaven. This is what caused confusion and stirred up the question: “If a man such as this can’t enter the kingdom of heaven, then who can?” The conversation caused those present to wonder if salvation was possible for anyone.

Observe Jesus’ response to the question: “Then who can be saved?” Jesus tells His listeners that what is impossible with man, is possible with God.

Note first that Jesus tells His listeners that salvation is impossible with man. That is to say, it would be easier for a camel to go through the eye of a needle than for anyone to be saved by their own efforts. In other words, it is a physical, and spiritual impossibility. There is nothing you can do to save yourself. 

While salvation is impossible through human effort, it is not impossible for God. In fact, He is the only one who can save. You can talk all you want to your loved ones and tell them about Jesus, but nothing you say will change their heart. Our words don’t have that kind of power. You can live a godly life before your neighbours but their lives will not be changed by how you live. The only one who can change a heart is God. Only He can open blind eyes. Only He can give life to a dead heart. Only He can make a sinner a child of God. He may use our words and lives to speak to sinners but the reality is that the power to change a life is not my words or actions but the Spirit of God alone. What is impossible for us, is fully possible with God. He moves and gives life. He opens eyes and ears that have long been closed. He alone is Saviour and there is none other.