When we address the question, “what is righteousness?” we come back around and meet ourselves. Here we are going to see that this answer to our question is really a continuation of our first answer that of hearing and believing the gospel. Paul wrote, “Know ye not that the unrighteous shall not inherit the kingdom of God? Be not deceived: neither fornicators, nor idolaters, nor adulterers, nor effeminate, nor abusers of themselves with mankind, Nor thieves, nor covetous, nor drunkards, nor revilers, nor extortioners, shall inherit the kingdom of God” (I Cor. Who then can be saved? Only those who have put away unrighteousness. 10:17), and the Hebrew writer stated, “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” (Heb. Paul wrote, “So then faith cometh by hearing, and hearing by the word of God” (Rom. Fourthly, faith comes my hearing that word and faith is absolutely mandatory to please God. Jesus said, “He that rejected me, and received not my words, hath one that judged him: the word that I have spoken, the same shall judge him in the last day” (John 12:48). Thirdly, we will be judged by it in the last day. Secondly, because “therein is the righteousness of God revealed from faith to faith: as it is written, The just shall live by faith”. Paul’s was that he was “…not ashamed of the gospel of Christ: for it is the power of God unto salvation to every one that believeth to the Jew first, and also to the Greek” (Rom. So why is it that only those who have heard and believed the gospel can be saved? Well, first of all it is the power of God unto salvation. When Jesus first began His earthly ministry, he preached, “The time is fulfilled, and the kingdom of God is at hand: repent ye, and believe the gospel” (Mark 1:15). Though there are three things mentioned in this passage that must be done, we are presently noticing two, one must hear the gospel of Christ and that person must believe the gospel of Christ. He that believeth and is baptized shall be saved but he that believeth not shall be damned” (Mark 16:15-16). Just prior to the Lord ascending into heaven, He told His apostles, “Go ye into all the world, and preach the gospel to every creature. Who then can be saved? Only they who have heard and believed the gospel of Christ. However, these listed, if heeded, will lead one to the salvation they seek if they are seeking in honesty. It is a short list because space would not allow coverage of all that could be said concerning the subject.
![go ye into all the world go ye into all the world](https://i.pinimg.com/originals/cf/d5/58/cfd55809809963b9721c421ac4db37d7.png)
Who then can be saved? Following is somewhat a “short list” of those who can be saved. But, the question is a good one nevertheless. For the rich young ruler, he could, if he was willing to put his trust in God rather than his material riches. It was to this statement that the question was posed, “Who then can be saved?” (Luke 18:26). He said, “For it is easier for a camel to go through a needle’s eye, than for a rich man to enter into the kingdom of God”. Jesus then told him he would have to sell all that he had and give it to the poor. Based on the words of Mark’s account, it is easy to see what the Lord had seen in the man.
![go ye into all the world go ye into all the world](https://image1.slideserve.com/2603053/go-ye-into-all-the-world-and-preach-the-gospel-to-every-creature-mark-16-15-l.jpg)
After having claimed his adherence to the things mentioned, he was told by the Lord that there was yet one thing he had to do. The Lord first pointed him toward the old law of Moses under which he was living. Matthew, Mark and Luke all tell of the rich young ruler that came to Jesus and asked what he would have to do to inherit eternal life.