Who then can be saved?

We can see it in the messages to the seven churches in Revelation.

Revelation 2:9 "I know thy works, and tribulation, and poverty, (but thou art rich) ..."

Revelation 3:17-18 Because thou says, I am rich, and increased with goods, and have need of nothing; and knows not that thou art wretched, and miserable, and poor, and blind, and naked: I counsel thee to buy of me gold tried in the fire, that thou may be rich; and white raiment, that thou may be clothed, and that the shame of thy nakedness do not appear; and anoint thine eyes with eye salve, that thou may see."

There is an old expression that says, "One man's junk is another man's treasure."

Our carnal nature tends to value things that bring us instant gratification and reject things that require us to have to suffer for a while in hopes of something better down the road.

When we are fixated on those things that give us instant gratification we resist giving ourselves over to really try God's way but in a half-heartened sort of a way, if at all.

Anything that fills us up does so at the expense of taking up the room in ourselves that we need for the holy spirit to enter into us and reside. That is why I find it interesting to take a Strong's Exhaustive or other good Bible Concordance and look up to ponder all of the verses that speak of our being filled, or full, or empty, or 'love of'.

We find that love of material possessions, love of prominence, love of the game as we see so much today, as well as bitterness, hate, greed, and other negative emotions all fill us up, robbing us of the room in ourselves to experience the holy spirit in our lives.

Luke 6:25 "Woe unto you that are full! for ye shall hunger. Woe unto you that laugh now! for ye shall mourn and weep."

Luke 6:21 "Blessed are ye that hunger now: for ye shall be filled. Blessed are ye that weep now: for ye shall laugh."

Luke 4:28 "And all they in the synagogue, when they heard these things, were filled with wrath,"

James 1:20 "For the wrath of man worketh not the righteousness of God."

There is much worthwhile pondering to do on that subject.

Prentis said:

I suspect the disciples had a deep understanding of what Jesus meant when he said the rich could hardly enter heaven, and suspect he meant rich in more than possesions. Otherwise, wouldn't they of said 'Well, good thing we left everything behind! Be poor; Check!'

Rather the disciples heard this and wondered how anyone could be saved! What could this mean?

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Well, you better read verse 28 because that's pretty much what Peter did!

the disciples many times during Jesus' ministry were almost clueless. But, they were being taught. Their understanding was growing.

FHII said:

Well, you better read verse 28 because that's pretty much what Peter did!

the disciples many times during Jesus' ministry were almost clueless. But, they were being taught. Their understanding was growing.

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very true, remember that Peter often had to be told three times before he understood.

He had to deny Yahshua 3 times before he would realized that he fulfilled Yahshua's prophecy that night.

He was told 'then feed my sheep' three times as well. As if the first utterance of Jesus's mouth wasn't enough, considering what they had see Him do.

FHII said:

Well, you better read verse 28 because that's pretty much what Peter did!

the disciples many times during Jesus' ministry were almost clueless. But, they were being taught. Their understanding was growing.

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Very good point FHII, ignoring context is the cause for many misunderstandings, People will read only one or two verses of scripture and then form an opinion without consulting let alone understanding the rest of the context.