Romans 10 - The Message of Salvation
Righteousness by Faith and the Universal Call to Believe
Romans 10
The Word of Faith Brings Salvation
Brethren, my heart's desire and my prayer to God for them is for their salvation.
For I testify about them that they have a zeal for God, but not in accordance with knowledge.
For not knowing about God's righteousness and seeking to establish their own, they did not subject themselves to the righteousness of God.
For Christ is the end of the law for righteousness to everyone who believes.
For Moses writes that the man who practices the righteousness which is based on law shall live by that righteousness.
But the righteousness based on faith speaks as follows: "DO NOT SAY IN YOUR HEART, 'WHO WILL ASCEND INTO HEAVEN?' (that is, to bring Christ down ),
or 'WHO WILL DESCEND INTO THE ABYSS?' (that is, to bring Christ up from the dead)."
But what does it say? "THE WORD IS NEAR YOU, in your mouth and in your heart "-that is, the word of faith which we are preaching,
that if you confess with your mouth Jesus as Lord, and believe in your heart that God raised Him from the dead, you will be saved;
for with the heart a person believes, resulting in righteousness, and with the mouth he confesses, resulting in salvation.
For the Scripture says, "WHOEVER BELIEVES IN HIM WILL NOT BE DISAPPOINTED."
For there is no distinction between Jew and Greek; for the same Lord is Lord of all, abounding in riches for all who call on Him;
for "WHOEVER WILL CALL ON THE NAME OF THE LORD WILL BE SAVED."
How then will they call on Him in whom they have not believed? How will they believe in Him whom they have not heard? And how will they hear without a preacher?
How will they preach unless * they are sent? Just as it is written, "HOW BEAUTIFUL ARE THE FEET OF THOSE WHO BRING GOOD NEWS OF GOOD THINGS!"
However, they did not all heed the good news; for Isaiah says, "LORD, WHO HAS BELIEVED OUR REPORT?"
So faith comes from hearing, and hearing by the word of Christ.
But I say, surely they have never * heard, have they? Indeed they have; "THEIR VOICE HAS GONE OUT INTO ALL THE EARTH, AND THEIR WORDS TO THE ENDS OF THE WORLD."
But I say, surely Israel did not know, did they? First Moses says, "I WILL MAKE YOU JEALOUS BY THAT WHICH IS NOT A NATION, BY A NATION WITHOUT UNDERSTANDING WILL I ANGER
And Isaiah is very bold and says, "I WAS FOUND BY THOSE WHO DID NOT SEEK ME, I BECAME MANIFEST TO THOSE WHO DID NOT ASK FOR ME."
But as for Israel He says, "ALL THE DAY LONG I HAVE STRETCHED OUT MY HANDS TO A DISOBEDIENT AND OBSTINATE PEOPLE."
Three Questions
How does Romans 10 define faith's role in salvation?
What obstacles hinder the acceptance of God's righteousness?
How does the accessibility of the Gospel impact salvation?
Questions 1 - How does Romans 10 define faith's role in salvation?
This passage from Romans explores how faith leads to salvation, contrasting it with the idea of earning salvation through adherence to the law.
The righteousness that comes from God is attained through faith in Jesus Christ, not by attempting to establish one's own righteousness through works of the law.
Believing in Jesus Christ is the key to salvation. This belief entails confessing Jesus as Lord and believing in the resurrection.
This inward belief ("with the heart") is manifested outwardly through confession ("with the mouth"). Both are necessary for salvation.
This faith arises from hearing the "word of Christ," which is preached by those who have been sent to share the good news.
The passage highlights that not all who hear the message will believe. Some, like the Israelites, may have heard but did not understand or accept the message.
Romans 10 emphasizes that salvation comes through faith in Jesus Christ, which involves inward belief and outward confession. This faith is sparked by hearing the word of God preached. The passage contrasts this faith-based salvation with the idea of earning righteousness through following the law.
Questions 2 - What obstacles hinder the acceptance of God's righteousness?
Here are some obstacles that hinder the acceptance of God's righteousness:
Lack of Discernment and Attempting to Establish One's Own Righteousness: People may have zeal for God, but without discernment, they may try to establish their own righteousness instead of submitting to the righteousness that comes from God.
Unbelief: People may not believe in Jesus Christ or that God raised him from the dead. This lack of belief prevents them from calling upon the name of the Lord and receiving salvation.
Not Hearing the Good News: Faith comes from hearing the word of Christ. If people haven't heard the gospel, they can't believe. This could be due to a lack of preachers or people not heeding the message.
Disobedience and Contention: Even when people hear the message, they may choose to disobey and contend with God, as illustrated by the example of Israel.
Questions 3 - How does the accessibility of the Gospel impact salvation?
The accessibility of the Gospel significantly impacts salvation.
The sources explain that faith comes from hearing the word of Christ.
Therefore, the ability to hear the Gospel message, which proclaims Christ's death and resurrection, is essential for individuals to come to faith and receive salvation.
The sources highlight the importance of preachers spreading the good news to enable people to hear and believe.
This suggests that the more accessible the Gospel message is, through preaching and sharing, the greater the potential for people to be saved.
This emphasizes that salvation is available to all who call upon the name of the Lord. However, they also acknowledge that not everyone has heeded the good news. This implies that while salvation is universally available through Christ, access to the Gospel message plays a crucial role in individuals coming to faith.
Today’s Action
One action you can take to apply the teachings of Romans 10 is to share the message of Christ with others:
Share Your Faith Story: Take the opportunity to share your personal faith journey or testimony with someone who might be open to hearing it. This can be a friend, family member, or colleague. Focus on how your faith has impacted your life and offer to answer any questions they might have.
This action reflects the message of Romans 10:14-15, which underscores the necessity of preaching and sharing the gospel so that others may hear and believe. By sharing your story, you contribute to spreading the message of faith.
Check out this podcast as the hosts dive deeply into this topic.