IMPOSSIBLE AND POSSIBLE

Matthew 19:23-26

Pastor Rick Jackson

 

I. MISSION IMPOSSIBLE: SALVATION

1. It is IMPOSSIBLE for any Man to Save Himself [Mt. 19:23-26]

i.e., apart from God man cannot be saved

2. It is IMPOSSIBLE for anything Tainted by Sin to Pay for Sin [Heb. 10:1-11, Rm. 8:21-22]

- For the law having a shadow of good things to come, and not the very image of the things, can never with those sacrifices which they offered year by year continually make the comers thereunto perfect. For then would they not have ceased to be offered? because that the worshippers once purged should have had no more conscience of sins. But in those sacrifices there is a remembrance again made of sins every year. For it is not possible that the blood of bulls and of goats should take away sins. Wherefore when he cometh into the world, he saith, Sacrifice and offering thou wouldest not, but a body hast thou prepared me: In burnt offerings and sacrifices for sin thou hast had no pleasure. Then said I, Lo, I come (in the volume of the book it is written of me,) to do thy will, O God. Above when he said , Sacrifice and offering and burnt offerings and offering for sin thou wouldest not, neither hadst pleasure therein; which are offered by the law; Then said he, Lo, I come to do thy will, O God. He taketh away the first, that he may establish the second. By the which will we are sanctified through the offering of the body of Jesus Christ once for all. And every priest standeth daily ministering and offering oftentimes the same sacrifices, which can never take away sins:

-Because the creature itself also shall be delivered from the bondage of corruption into the glorious liberty of the children of God. For we know that the whole creation groaneth and travaileth in pain together until now.

i.e., apart from Christ man cannot be saved

3. It is IMPOSSIBLE for any to be Saved after going too Far [Heb. 6:4-6, Gn. 6:3]

- For it is impossible for those who were once enlightened, and have tasted of the heavenly gift, and were made partakers of the Holy Ghost, And have tasted the good word of God, and the powers of the world to come, If they shall fall away, to renew them again unto repentance; seeing they crucify to themselves the Son of God afresh, and put him to an open shame.

- And the Lord said, My spirit shall not always strive with man, for that he also is flesh:

i.e., apart from the Holy Spirit man cannot be saved

 

II. THINGS HUMANLY IMPOSSIBLE

1. It is Humanly Impossible Defeat Demonic Powers Without God’s Power [1 John 4:4, Mt. 12:28, 17:21]

-greater is he that is in you, than he that is in the world.

- But if I cast out devils by the Spirit of God, then the kingdom of God is come unto you.

- this kind goeth not out but by prayer and fasting

2. It is Humanly Impossible that Offences NOT Come [Lk. 17:1, 1 Cor. 11:19]

- Then said he unto the disciples, It is impossible but that offences will come: but woe unto him, through whom they come!

- For there must be also heresies among you, that they which are approved may be made manifest among you.

3. It is Humanly Impossible to Please God Without Faith [Heb. 11:6, Rm. 10:17]

- But without faith it is impossible to please him: for he that cometh to God must believe that he is, and that he is a rewarder of them that diligently seek him.

- So then faith cometh by hearing, and hearing by the word of God.

 

III. THINGS DIVINELY IMPOSSIBLE

1. It is Impossible that Death could hold Christ [Acts 2:22-24, Rm. 6:23]

-Ye men of Israel, hear these words; Jesus of Nazareth, a man approved of God among you by miracles and wonders and signs, which God did by him in the midst of you, as ye yourselves also know: Him, being delivered by the determinate counsel and foreknowledge of God, ye have taken, and by wicked hands have crucified and slain: Whom God hath raised up, having loosed the pains of death: because it was not possible that he should be holden of it.

2. It is Impossible that God could Fail [Lk. 1:34-37]

Then said Mary unto the angel, How shall this be, seeing I know not a man? And the angel answered and said unto her, The Holy Ghost shall come upon thee, and the power of the Highest shall overshadow thee: therefore also that holy thing which shall be born of thee shall be called the Son of God. And, behold, thy cousin Elisabeth, she hath also conceived a son in her old age: and this is the sixth month with her, who was called barren. For with God nothing shall be impossible.

3. It is Impossible that God could Lie [Heb. 6:18, Jn 14:6=Christ, 16:13=the Spirit, 17:17=the Father]

- That by two immutable things, in which it was impossible for God to lie, we might have a strong consolation, who have fled for refuge to lay hold upon the hope set before us:

- Jesus saith unto him, I am the way , the truth, and the life: no man cometh unto the Father, but by me.

- Howbeit when he, the Spirit of truth, is come, he will guide you into all truth:

- Sanctify them through thy truth: thy word is truth.