The Impossibility of Human Salvation

Matthew 19:23-26 – “Then said Jesus unto his disciples, Verily I say unto you, That a rich man shall hardly enter into the kingdom of heaven. 24 And again I say unto you, 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. 25 When his disciples heard it, they were exceedingly amazed, saying, Who then can be saved? 26 But Jesus beheld them, and said unto them, With men this is impossible; but with God all things are possible.”

I am not speaking about the impossibility of salvation; I am speaking about the impossibility of human salvation. That is – no human can save themselves. No human can do anything that will enable them to receive the grace of God that they might be saved.

Jesus had just finished speaking to the rich young ruler, who went sorrowfully away. Here is a man who is a good man according to the world’s standards. He had kept the law, and was seeking eternal life. But: the man was not willing to give up what he had to trust Jesus for that thing he did not have. Jesus then stated that the rich shall hardly enter into the kingdom God, stating it was easier for a camel to go through the eye of a needle than for a rich man to enter into the kingdom of heaven. The disciples were amazed at this saying, and inquired as to who could be saved. Jesus then stated, “…With men this is impossible; but with God all things are possible.”

I think we can truthfully say the rich young ruler was a seeker. He wanted to be saved, but went away from Christ unsaved because he wanted to come to Christ on his terms, and not on the terms of the eternal God.

The question I must ask is: Why is it impossible for a human to save themselves, or to do anything that will enable them to receive the grace of God?

1. Men are totally depraved; that is, men are completely, and wholly sinners. Notice the following scriptures:

a. Romans 3:10-18 declare, “As it is written, There is none righteous, no, not one: 11 There is none that understandeth, there is none that seeketh after God. 12 They are all gone out of the way, they are together become unprofitable; there is none that doeth good, no, not one. 13 Their throat is an open sepulchre; with their tongues they have used deceit; the poison of asps is under their lips: 14 Whose mouth is full of cursing and bitterness: 15 Their feet are swift to shed blood: 16 Destruction and misery are in their ways: 17 And the way of peace have they not known: 18 There is no fear of God before their eyes.”

b. Ephesians 2:1-3 state, “And you hath he quickened, who were dead in trespasses and sins: 2 Wherein in time past ye walked according to the course of this world, according to the prince of the power of the air, the spirit that now worketh in the children of disobedience: 3 Among whom also we all had our conversation in times past in the lusts of our flesh, fulfilling the desires of the flesh and of the mind; and were by nature the children of wrath, even as others.”

c. Psalms 14:1-3 state, “The fool hath said in his heart, There is no God. They are corrupt, they have done abominable works, there is none that doeth good. 2 The LORD looked down from heaven upon the children of men, to see if there were any that did understand, and seek God. 3 They are all gone aside, they are all together become filthy: there is none that doeth good, no, not one.”

d. Jonah 2:9 records what Jonah declared while he was in the whale’s belly, “But I will sacrifice unto thee with the voice of thanksgiving; I will pay that that I have vowed. Salvation is of the LORD.”

e. Psalms 3:8 states, “Salvation belongeth unto the LORD: thy blessing is upon thy people.”