Salvation Is Impossible If Sin Is Not Dealt With

We see this in Matthew 19:16-26 where Jesus did not answer a man’s request for “eternal life” by saying, “Believe on Me!” Of all Bible examples we could have for Jesus running straight to a “sinner’s prayer,” bypassing or sugarcoating the necessities, this is it.

Jesus gives this man a series of impossible things to do for his salvation. Afterwards He tells this man that all these things are impossible with men, that all things pertaining to salvation are only possible with God. These impossible things were given to show this man that he was a sinner, and dealing with sin is impossible with men. It is seen here that until a man acknowledges sin, that he is a sinner, and his sin is dealt with, there is no salvation.

Countless people today believe they are saved, but they are no different then the man in these verses. Many will stand before God one day and be cast into Hell, honestly thinking they were saved (Matthew 7:22-23). Their problem is that they never dealt with sin by the blood of Jesus Christ, so God will say to them, “I never knew you: depart from me, ye that work iniquity.”

God does not know us through our works, but only through the work Jesus on the cross and the work He began in us at salvation (Philippians 1:3-7; Hebrews 12:2-4; Romans 3:25; Ephesians 1:7; Revelation 1:5).

As a soulwinner, with Jesus as our example, we need to be thorough in the truth of salvation. If not, their blood will be on our hands (Ezekiel 3:18-20).

This outline of Jesus’ interaction with this man can be expounded in different ways, but here is a good starter: