The Key to Salvation

 

ROM. 10:4-15

SUBJECT: Salvation Through Faith

THEME: We receive God’s righteousness (salvation) through Faith in the complete work of the Lord Jesus Christ, the Savior. 

RELEVANCE: Those who are saved believed on Jesus Christ and those who are lost stumbled at Jesus Christ (Rom. 9:30-33). The key to salvation is faith in Jesus Christ! Rom 1:16-17, For I am 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. 17, For therein is the righteousness of God revealed from faith to faith: as it is written, The just shall live by faith.

A prayer burden for souls is essential to a church’s success in proclaiming the gospel and reaching sinners for Christ. 

INTRODUCTION: can we unreservedly entrust our eternal future with God?  Can we rest in God for our own eternal destiny? The truth is we can rest in God’s salvation because it is received by faith in His Son, Jesus Christ. Many people miss God’s salvation and blessings because they assume God is unfair, inconsistent, merciless or baseless. But there are five considerations we need to ponder.

MESSAGE:

I.  THE SOURCE OF SALVATION IS JESUS CHRIST (Rom. 10:4-5)

Rom. 10:4-5, For Christ is the end of the law for righteousness to every one that believeth. For Moses describeth the righteousness which is of the law, that the man which doeth those things shall live by them.

         A.  AS INDICATED BY THE IDEA OF FAITH UNDER GRACE

Rom 10:4, For Christ is the end of the law for righteousness to every one that believeth. 

ILLUSTRATION:  10:4 We might reword this verse to say that Christ is the end of the Old Testament Law to the believer after the Cross, as George Washington was the end of the British law to the American after the Revolutionary War. (See 2 Cor. 3:6-11; Heb. 7:11-19; Gal. 3:24-26; Eph. 2:15; Col. 2:14.)

This principle points us to Jesus Christ as the Source of God’s righteousness!  Secondly, when a sinner receives the Lord Jesus Christ as his Savior, the law nothing else to say to him.  Through the death of his Substitute, he has died to the Law.   He is through with the law and with the futile attempts to achieve righteousness through it. 

         B.  AS INDICATED BY THE IDEA OF WORKS UNDER THE LAW

Rom 10:5, For Moses describeth the righteousness which is of the law, That the man which doeth those things shall live by them.

              1. The Purpose Behind the Law Was to Show Sinners That They Are Sinners

The law reveals sin, to convict and condemn the transgressors.  It can never impart righteousness.  The penalty for breaking the law is death.  In His death Christ paid the penalty of the law which man had broken.

              2. The Purpose of the Law Was to Point Us To Christ Who Fulfilled It

This principle, like that of Faith, also teach us to believe on the Lord Jesus Christ because of the Impossibility of living up to the law.

Gal 3:23-26, But before faith came, we were kept under the law, shut up unto the faith which should afterwards be revealed. 24, Wherefore the law was our schoolmaster to bring us unto Christ, that we might be justified by faith. 25, But after that faith is come, we are no longer under a schoolmaster. 26, For ye are all the children of God by faith in Christ Jesus.

              3.  The Idea Behind the Law Is That Through “Doing” We’ll Have Life    Vs Rom. 10:5.

In other words, if a man can obey the law perfectly and perpetually, he would not be condemned to death.  But even if a man could do this from today forward, they still would have to die for the sins that our past.  Therefore, any hope of a man obtaining righteousness by doing is doomed to failure from the very outset.

Rom 3:21-28, But now the righteousness of God without the law is manifested, being witnessed by the law and the prophets; 22, Even the righteousness of God which is by faith of Jesus Christ unto all and upon all them that believe: for there is no difference: 23, For all have sinned, and come short of the glory of God; 24, Being justified freely by his grace through the redemption that is in Christ Jesus: 25, Whom God hath set forth to be a propitiation through faith in his blood, to declare his righteousness for the remission of sins that are past, through the forbearance of God; 26, To declare, I say, at this time his righteousness: that he might be just, and the justifier of him which believeth in Jesus. 27, Where is boasting then? It is excluded. By what law? of works? Nay: but by the law of faith. 28, Therefore we conclude that a man is justified by faith without the deeds of the law.

II.  THE AVAILABILITY OF SALVATION IS THROUGH JESUS CHRIST (Rom. 10:8) "But what saith it? The word is nigh thee, even in thy mouth, and in thy heart: that is, the word of faith, which we preach" (Rom. 10:8).

God is saying that the Gospel is not hidden, distant, or inaccessible.  In fact, the opposite is true; the Gospel is nigh, accessible, and available to all—everyone. This is true because of two historical facts.

       A.   GOD SENT TO US HIS SON (INCARNATION OF CHRIST) (Rom. 10:6)

But the righteousness which is of faith speaketh on this wise, Say not in thine heart, Who shall ascend into heaven? (that is, to bring Christ down from above)" (Rom. 10:6).

            1.  This Is Impossible for Man to Do

We cannot go all the way to Heaven to get Christ and bring Him down to the earth in order for folk to believe.

            2.  This Is Not Necessary for Man to Do

The fact of the matter is that He already came down from Heaven and was born into the human race.  We must accept this by faith. 

      B.  GOD MIRACULOUSLY RAISED HIS SON (RESURRECTION OF CHRIST) (Rom. 10:7) "Or, Who shall descend into the deep? (that is, to bring up Christ again from the dead)" (Rom. 10:7).

            1.  This Is Impossible for Man to Do

We cannot go even into the depths of the Grave to bring up Christ again from the dead.  This is humanly impossible!

            2.  This Is Not Necessary for Man to Do

It also is not necessary for us to raise Christ from the grave, He already accomplished this.  We must accept this by faith.  The Incarnation and Resurrection are two elements of the saving faith in the Gospel. The Righteousness of God is nigh, near, accessible, intelligible, and easily understood! It is communicated in the gospel, to be saved a person must accept the Incarnation and the Resurrection.

III.  THE PROCEDURE OF SALVATION IS FAITH IN JESUS CHRIST (Rom. 10:9-10) "That if thou shalt confess with thy mouth the Lord Jesus, and shalt believe in thine heart that God hath raised him from the dead, thou shalt be saved" (Rom. 10:9).

        A.  CONFESSING THE LORD JESUS

I Jn 2:23, Whosoever denieth the Son, the same hath not the Father: (but) he that acknowledgeth (Confess; Rom. 10:9) the Son hath the Father also.

              1.  To Confess the Lord Jesus is the same as acknowledging that the Babe born in Bethlehem’s manger is the very Lord of Glory, that the Jesus of the NT is indeed the Lord Jehovah of the OT.

              2.  To Confess the Lord Jesus is to acknowledge Him as the Supreme Sovereign over all Humanity and not merely the Jews. One must deal with Him if they are to be saved; He is the Way, the Truth and the Life! 

              3.  To Confess the Lord Jesus is NOT an act of 100% Submission to Him as a Condition of Salvation. Yes, He is Lord of all and Yes, He is Jehovah God and every repentant sinner must acknowledge this!  However, to require total commitment of every aspect of ones life as a condition of salvation is not scriptural.  The problem is, we don’t even know yet all that He requires of us, so to what degree do we submit?  When we present the gospel, the sole condition for salvation must be maintained based on faith for justification.

         B.  BELIEVING WITH THE HEART UNTO RIGHTEOUSNESS

Rom 10:9-10, That if thou shalt confess with thy mouth the Lord Jesus, and shalt believe in thine heart that God hath raised him from the dead, thou shalt be saved. 10, For with the heart man believeth unto righteousness; and with the mouth confession is made unto salvation.

                  1.   The Element of Heart-based-Faith in the Resurrected Christ   vs 9

God has raised Christ from the Grave as proof that Christ completed the work necessary for our salvation, and that God is satisfied with that work.  Believing this with the heart means that we trust God through our mental, emotional, and volitional powers.

                  2. The Exercise of Heart-based-Faith to have a Righteous Status   Vs 10

Saving faith consist in the personal appropriation of the Person and work of the Lord Jesus Christ.  We receive credit for righteousness through faith in Him!

                  3.  Some have made oral confession a condition of salvation based on 10:10: "For with the heart man believeth unto righteousness; and with the mouth confession is made unto salvation." The Bible, of course, does not impose this limitation. Paul evidently was stressing the same truth found in James 2:20; that is, a genuine possession of Christ in one's heart will surely lead to a confession of Christ with one's mouth. The fruit will prove the root. (See Matt. 10:32; Luke 12:8; John 12:42-43; Matt. 12:34.) The method, then, of righteousness, is faith in Christ not a work of confession; however, confession is the natural result of saving faith in the heart!

IV.  THE RANGE OF SALVATION IS ANYONE WHO BELIEVES (Rom. 10:11-13) "For whosoever shall call upon the name of the Lord shall be saved" (Rom. 10:13).

Paul had earlier shown that all were lost. He now says that all can be saved. Compare the "whosoever" mentioned here with that in Revelation 20:15.

God’s glorious salvation is for all people, both Jew and Gentile.  There is no difference (vs 12) or no distinction as far as the availability of salvation is concerned.  Here we see the universal scope of the grace of God.  Even the phrase “Lord over all” (vs. 12) strongly implies that Salvation is to Jew and Gentile alike.

Rom 9:33, As it is written, Behold, I lay in Sion a stumblingstone and rock of offence: and whosoever believeth on him shall not be ashamed.

1 Pet 2:6, Wherefore also it is contained in the scripture, Behold, I lay in Sion a chief corner stone, elect, precious: and he that believeth on him shall not be confounded.

Acts 10:43, To him give all the prophets witness, that through his name whosoever believeth in him shall receive remission of sins. 

John 5:24, Verily, verily, I say unto you, He that heareth my word, and believeth on him that sent me, hath everlasting life, and shall not come into condemnation; but is passed from death unto life. 

APPLICATION: The scope of the gospel clearly includes all who will believe on Christ.  This refutes the teaching of a limited atonement by the Calvinist and it also refute the teaching of the Universalist who claim we all are going to be saved eventually and are going about it differently.  To the Calvinist God says “whosoever”!  And to the Universalist God says “whosever believeth!”

V.   THE PRESENTATION OF SALVATION TO OTHERS (Rom. 10:14-15)

"How then shall they call on him in whom they have not believed? and how shall they believe in him of whom they have not heard? and how shall they hear without a preacher? And how shall they preach, except they be sent? as it is written, How beautiful are the feet of them that preach the gospel of peace, and bring glad tidings of good things!" (Rom. 10:14-15). 

There are three reasons why God sends preachers, pastors, evangelist, and teachers.

       A. A SINNER MUST CALL UPON THE LORD TO BE SAVED.

       B. A SINNER MUST BELIEVE IN ORDER TO CALL.

       C. A SINNER MUST HEAR IN ORDER TO BELIEVE.

APPLICATION: How often do we share Christ with others?  How often do we present the gospel?  I realize that some have greater opportunities than others but are we taking advantage of the opportunities we have?  What about at work on breaks or during lunches? What about neighbors and associates? Are we using our social media platforms to share the gospel?  Maybe keeping track of our own personal efforts is a good idea?  Be a witness of Christ!

CONCLUSION: Taken as a whole, people do not seek after God. Regardless of their claims…. They are satisfied with their own pagan religions. They make baseless assumptions about God’s goodness and judgment. But many people will respond when they hear the gospel! Relatively speaking the Gentiles responded more favorably than the Jews, and it may surprise us how open people are to the gospel.  While the Gentiles were flocking to the Lord, Isaiah portrays Him standing with outstretched hands, pleading with the Nation of Israel, and they only response is disobedience and stubborn refusal.  God is still yearning for His earthly people, and I believe He wants to use you and me, us gentiles to reach them with the Gospel of Jesus Christ.  We should not only appreciate the Jews, but we should love them for Jesus’ sake and send the gospel to them! The same can be said for people all around the world.

The teaching for receiving God’s righteousness (salvation) is by Faith in the completed work of Jesus Christ and not even the best of human efforts. This is why many people are presently unsaved because of unbelief. We can rest in God’s salvation because it is received by faith in His Son, Jesus Christ. Many people miss this simple reality, God’s salvation, and multiplied blessings because of their lack of faith in Christ and not the unfairness or inconsistency of God.

      1.     Do you have the righteousness of God?    

      2.     Are you trying to establish your own righteousness?

      3.     Are you merely hoping for positive results in the end?

      4.     Are you praying for someone specifically to be saved? Do you have anybody that you are earnestly pleading with God to save? 

      5.     Are we witnessing to whosoever?

      6.     Are you presenting the Gospel faithfully?

      7.     Are we exploring new ways or methods to present that same old ‘good news’?