The Impossible is Now Possible
Introduction
1. Jesus’ words ring with crystal-clear confidence: “With men it is
impossible, but not with God, for with God all things are possible”
(Mark 10:27).
2. In the movie "The Princess Bride," Vizzini, the brains behind the trio,
repeatedly responds to the heroic s of "the masked man" by saying,
'inconceivable." In time, the sword-bearing Inigo Montoya replies,
"You keep saying that word. I do not think it means what you think
it means."
3. Despite the amazing accomplishments and inventions of the past
century, our lives are full of limits and impossibilities. Today, in our
series “From Here to There,” we are introduced to the
inconceivable, a God without limits. “Impossible,” I do not think it
means what you think it means.
The Story Behind the Scene
1. It was another busy day for our Lord. He met with followers
teaching them the principles of grace. It appears He was expected
and it was His habit to meet with them regularly.
2. The Pharisees (religious leaders opposed to Jesus’ lack of legalism)
were irritated by His messages of grace and interrupted Him with a
legalistic question about divorce, which Jesus answered.
3. Later that evening, the disciples brought up the divorce subject
again and Jesus gave greater clarification. However, people who
brought children for Him to bless interrupted the conversation. The
disciples would have turned them away, but Jesus embraced them,
explaining that they were an example of what we must become if
we expect to enter into Heaven.
4. Finally, a wealthy young man desired to become a disciple, but was
discouraged by Jesus’ request that he sale everything before
following Him. As he left, the Lord spoke of the difficulty rich men
have making it to Heaven. The disciples asked, “Who then can be
saved?” Jesus’ said, “With men it is impossible, but not with God,
for with God all things are possible.”
1. Often our idea of a God without limits is too limited. Let me explain.
There was a day when a severely ill man was brought to Jesus. Jesus
said, “Thy sins be forgiven thee.” Immediately, the Lord was accused
of blasphemy. However, you also have to scratch your head and
wonder why Jesus brought up the subject of sin when there was a
more serious issue at hand, this man needed physical healing.
2. Jesus replied, “Whether is easier, to say, Thy sins be forgiven thee; or
to say, Arise, and walk? But that ye may know that the Son of man
hath power on earth to forgive sins, (then saith he to the sick of the
palsy,) Arise, take up thy bed, and go unto thine house. And he
arose, and departed to his house. But when the multitudes saw it,
they marvelled, and glorified God, which had given such power unto
men.” (Matthew 9:2-8). At that very moment, Jesus expanded the
paradigm of God’s power
3. Often our idea of a God without limits is too limited. As the crowds
of Jesus’ day, we consider physical healing a far greater
demonstration of the power of God than spiritual healing, which is
why Jesus asked, “Whether is easier?”
4. Spiritual healing is far more impossible than physical healing. Jesus
did heal the man, but for one singular reason: “that ye may know
that the Son of man hath power on earth to forgive sins.” Jesus’ new
paradigm of impossibilities made possible by God was this: the apex
of God’s power is not creating the universe, healing a broken body or
raising the dead. The apex of His power is in saving a soul from Hell!
Further Thoughts on “The Impossible is Now Possible””
1. One reason we under estimate the impossibility of the notion that
God could save a man from his sins is because we do not have a
clear understanding of our unsaved condition before Almighty God.
2. Blind eyes, incurable cancer, broken marriages, a life lost or a
financial crisis seem monumental and overwhelming. If God defies
the medical community by healing or raising the dead, if He restores
a broken marriage or miraculously sends a financial windfall, we are
amazed and seem ready to claim, “with God all things are possible.”
Of course, we are right. Nevertheless, we are also shortsighted,
very shortsighted.
3. The reason? We are too physically minded. Moreover, our pulpits
promote the limiting of God’s power by over emphasizing the
miracles of the Bible and under-emphasizing the spiritual miracle of
salvation.
4. God shows His power in a far greater way than previously imagined.
He reaches deep within Himself, forgiving sin and saving souls. If
you have received Christ as Savior, God has performed the greatest
impossibility that could ever be experienced. Nothing is more
miraculous than the saving of a soul.
The Impossibility of Your Salvation
1. Impossibility #1 – You Were “Dead” (Ephesians 2:1). Dead is dead,
no matter how you cut it. Romans 6 is devoted to the spiritual
resurrection that has taken place in the life of the believer. Brother,
you have been raised from the dead (not a physical resurrection, a
lesser miracle; but a spiritual resurrection). The dead now live!
2. Impossibility #2 – You Were “Dead In Trespasses and Sins”
(Ephesians 2:1). To many, the topic of sin is a laughable and light
thing, but not to God. In fact, God despises sin so much that its very
presence necessitates His absence. So, Jesus cried out at the very
moment He bore our sin, “My God, my God, why hast Thou
forsaken Me?” As sinners, we have no other destiny but Hell.
However, as a forgiven sinner saved by grace, we have shed our fate
with eternal torment and anguish for eternity with Him in Heaven.
3. Impossibility #3 – You Were a Hopeless Case (“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.” Matthew 19:24).
“The eye of a needle” was either a hyperbole or it referred to an
entrance into the city called “The Needle Gate,” a short and narrow
gate. Either way, your entrance into Heaven was an impossibility
until the day Jesus “became sin for us that we might be made the
righteousness of God in Him.” Then the impossible became
possible!
4. You have been raised from the dead, forgiven of every sin and given
the destiny of Heaven. But then again, there is more. Impossibility
#4 – You Were the Enemy of God. James writes, “whosoever will be
a friend of the world is the enemy of God” (James 4:4). Enemy is a
strong world. It is akin to opponent, adversary, foe, antagonist and
nemesis (a bitter and hated enemy who deserves excessive and
merciless punishment by extreme force). However, by the grace of
Jesus, He is “the friend of sinners.” Thank God, He turned His
bitterness into love and exchanged His vengeance for mercy.
Other Impossibilities Made Possible
1. On more than a few occasions, we struggle with a God Who can but
does not. We reason, what good is a God of Impossibilities if He
does not exercise His power and strength? This usually happens
when there is a terrible disaster, a horrible event, an unthinkable
action or a personal trial.
2. Why didn’t He stop the hurricane, the criminal, the terrorist or the
accident? Why doesn’t He heal a loved one, cure the diseased or fix
what is broken? Of course, sometimes—occasionally—He does;
but, often He does not—and we wonder. More than wonder, we
get miffed and some venture to tell God about it (Jeremiah comes
to mind).
3. I cannot explain God, nor do I always agree with what He does or
allows, but that does not mean I do not trust Him. Trusting God
requires only one thing and that thing is neither understanding nor
agreeing. The one thing it takes to trust God is the unshakable
confidence that God does all things well and is always righteous
even when He appears to be neither (remember Job?).
4. Any miracle beyond my salvation is more than I deserve. Wait,
what am I saying? The miracle of salvation itself is not deserved.
So, while others might quarrel with God, wondering why He limits
His limitless self, I will choose today to thank Him for including me in
the greatest miracle He has ever performed (extreme impossibility
made possible), my salvation. Won’t you join me?
5. Let your words ring with crystal-clear confidence: “With men it is
impossible, but not with God, for with God all things are possible”
(Mark 10:27).
This message was brought to you
out of a sincere heart and a fervent
desire to share God’s truth with His people
by Rick Metrick, Pastor of Jones Memorial
Baptist Church in Beckley, West Virginia
info@TLCWV.com