Salvation For All Who Believe

Romans 10:5-21.

In a world increasingly divided by boundaries—ethnic, cultural, economic, and social—there exists a message that transcends every barrier humanity has ever erected.

It's a message so radical that it challenged the religious establishment of the first century and continues to confront our assumptions today:

Salvation is not reserved for a select few, but is freely offered to all through faith in Christ.

Both Allowing and Challenging ALL believers to share the Hope of this Good News to everyone that we can.

In today’s passage, Apostle Paul reminds us that Salvation is not restricted by Ethnicity, Status or Cultural Acceptance.

It is a dynamic reminder that God’s grace and mercy are available to ALL who believe in Christ as their Saviour.

As Followers of Christ, we are called to proclaim the Gospel of Jesus Christ.

As Faith comes from hearing the Gospel message

We should not be selfish in sharing this Good News to all who will listen.

As an example, we have:

The biblical account in Matthew 15 of the Canaanite woman who approached Jesus, pleading for help for her daughter.

Initially, Jesus tested her faith, but her determination and faithfulness led Him to grant her request.

This narrative highlights that salvation and grace extend beyond ethnic and cultural boundaries, reflecting that the love of Christ truly offers salvation for all, no matter who they are or where they come from.

1- Righteousness Redefined

Romans 10:5–10 ESV

For Moses writes about the righteousness that is based on the law, that the person who does the commandments shall live by them. But the righteousness based on faith says, “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 that we proclaim); because, if you confess with your mouth that Jesus is Lord and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved. For with the heart one believes and is justified, and with the mouth one confesses and is saved.

Apostle Paul is now tackling the one questions that has echoed down through time, asked by Believers and those outside of faith, equally,

Why did God give The Law, when He knew they could not ever measure up to the exacting standards of the Law?

Paul uses the Contrast and Compare style to answer the question.

Comparing How Moses wrote of a Righteousness based on the Law

Contrasted by the Righteousness based on Faith.

Paul often quotes Israel’s most revered Patriarch, Moses, in this comparison.

Since he uses the OT books of Leviticus and Deuteronomy repeatedly

We can surmise that Paul is NOT being critical of the Law or of Moses.

What we need to understand is the contrast of the Intention of OT Law

Compared to how the ancient Israelites understood it.

The first thing we need to understand is what was God’s intention in giving the Law to Moses for God’s chosen people- The Israelites.

Paul asserts in Galatians 3, One of the reasons for the Law was to show the people, even God’s chosen People, how guilty they were.

What many miss in today’s world-

Law was always meant to be a Fore-shadowing of the coming Messiah

Jesus Christ.

A close study of the OT canon, exposes the continuous thread of the Blood of Christ that flows throughout the OT

From the Creation story to the final book of Malachi- The Messiah is intertwined in all of it.

The sacrificial practices of the OT Law were a temporary means of educating the People.

The ceremonial and purification Laws were to last-

Until the Coming of the Christ- The Final Sacrifice for our sins.

The reason for all those animal sacrifices.

What the Israelites missed then, Modern Humanity still misses.

What God established as a way to live a godly life, on Earth for their natural lives- In the face of all the ungodly, hedonistic practices of the Egyptians and Canaanites.

God required it of them if they were to receive His blessings and prosper in the Promised Land.

The Israelites took that concept a step further and by their own Misinterpretation, attempted to find a Righteousness that would carry over into eternal life.

The key to this is to understand that-

To gain eternal acceptance from God-

The Law had to be lived out perfectly and completely.

Being born into a sinful state, it was impossible from the beginning for the Israelites to perfectly fulfill the Law.

It simply could not be done in Man’s sinful natural existence.

Righteousness that comes from the Law is the ideal way to live our lives

But it cannot be done well enough in the natural man to gain the merit of God- Eternally

That level of Righteousness required Supernatural help

And that’s where Jesus Christ enters the picture in the NT.

To recap:

The Law was given as a means of pointing mankind in the right direction.

The Legalist minds of the Jews,

And many religions of today, as well...

Twisted that into a means of gaining favor and merit with God

In summation: Romans 10:9-10,

Is one of the most often used ways of diagraming the steps of Salvation.

One must believe that “Jesus is Lord of All”

The Septuagint, or the Greek OT, uses this phrase over five thousand times to describe the Nature of Jesus.

If we cannot accept this fact, there is no Salvation available to us.

Salvation apart from the acknowledgement of the Lordship of Christ is not possible.

The idea that one can have a good time on Earth and somehow gain a backseat in Heaven- Is a fools concept

There are no back seats in Heaven.

No one slips in clinging to someone else’s coat tails.

There is only one way to Eternity in Heaven:

Confess with your mouth that ‘Jesus is Lord of all”

Believe, in your heart that God raised Jesus from the dead.

With that, Salvation and eternal security is yours.

Belief and Confession are the key elements to Salvation.

As a Pastor friend of mine often says, “It’s not difficult, it’s just not always easy”

Now leading into our next point-

The parable of the lost sheep from Luke 15 powerfully illustrates that no one is beyond the reach of God's salvation.

Jesus tells us that the good shepherd leaves the ninety-nine sheep to search for one that is lost.

This demonstrates not only His immense love for every individual but also the truth that salvation is not limited; it is an invitation extended to everyone, emphasizing the importance of each believer in the eyes of God.

2- Salvation for All

Romans 10:11–13 ESV

For the Scripture says, “Everyone who believes in him will not be put to shame.” For there is no distinction between Jew and Greek; for the same Lord is Lord of all, bestowing his riches on all who call on him. For “everyone who calls on the name of the Lord will be saved.”

As a summation Paul quotes from Isaiah 28:16.

Paul just condenses it down to two parts of one step

Trust and Belief.

Just as raising ones foot and putting it back down are two parts to taking a single step.

Salvation comes from Trust and Belief in God. Two parts of a single action.

A continuing theme of the Apostle- In Romans and other NT Letters

There is no distinction between Jew and Gentile in God’s Kingdom

And there is no difference because Salvation is available to all who would

Trust, Believe and Confess their Faith...

The same Lord is Lord of All.

Because sin is a universal human condition-

It’s only remedy is a Universal Faith that leads to our Justification in God’s sight.

God’s plan for His Chosen People- Israel reached its’ apex in and through Christ.

Through the Divine Sacrifice and Resurrection access to God has been open to all of humanity.

Paul’s last point, “Everyone who calls on His name will be saved”

Now opens the door for Worldwide Evangelism-

All who call on Jesus as their Lord, submit to Him as their Lord and Saviour.

In John 4, Jesus’ encounter with the Samaritan woman at the well breaks cultural and gender barriers, showcasing that His message of salvation is for everyone.

Despite societal norms that defined her as an outsider, Jesus engaged her in conversation, revealing His identity as the Messiah and offering her living water.

This profound interaction illustrates the inclusive nature of Christ’s salvation—open to all who come to Him in faith, regardless of their past or society’s labels.

In public life, you may encounter individuals from diverse backgrounds who seem far from God or dismissive of faith.

Engage them with kindness and curiosity rather than judgment. For instance, volunteer for community clean-ups or local charity events, and intentionally get to know people.

Share stories about moments when you felt God’s presence in your life during these interactions.

This humility and service demonstrate that salvation is a gift meant for all. Your actions and openness might encourage someone to explore faith in Christ.

Which leads us perfectly into our next point.

3- Proclaim the Gospel

Romans 10:14–17 ESV

How then will they call on him in whom they have not believed? And how are they to believe in him of whom they have never heard? And how are they to hear without someone preaching? And how are they to preach unless they are sent? As it is written, “How beautiful are the feet of those who preach the good news!” But they have not all obeyed the gospel. For Isaiah says, “Lord, who has believed what he has heard from us?” So faith comes from hearing, and hearing through the word of Christ.

Apostle Paul asks four profound question here.

When asked in reverse order-

We get to the heart of Paul’s entire discourse here.

Preachers are sent- Commissioned by Christ

The Preachers preach

People Hear the Word

Those hearing- Believe

Those that Believe, call on God

Those that call on God are saved.

Although Paul is using the example of the office of the Preacher-

This applies to all believers.

At your workplace, you might often feel the pressure to conform to the office culture, where conversations about faith are sidelined.

One approach is to begin authentically sharing your experiences of how Christ’s love has transformed you.

Start by finding common ground with coworkers through casual discussions about hope and purpose.

When they see the genuine influence of your faith in overcoming challenges, they may open up to you about their struggles, allowing you to introduce them to the salvation that is available to everyone, including them.

It is often said that we may be the only version of Jesus an unbeliever may ever see-

Will that experience repel them away from the Gospel

Or draw them closer to the Gospel.

We are all “Called” to be messengers for God.

He has chosen to use us as imperfect believers- to be His voice to the lost.

It is a high calling- And not to be taken lightly by any of us.

If God has placed us to be a light in a dark place-

We cannot shirk the responsibility. No excuse is good enough to disobey God’s calling.

It should be comforting to know that Jesus has promised us that He will never leave us or forsake us.

It is our continuing challenge to be pro-active in sharing the Gospel message.

In a world becoming more and more hostile to the Truth of Gospel-

We must be about our Fathers business in spreading that message of Grace and Mercy to the world.

It is our calling to speak boldly of God’s Grace and Mercy that we have experienced in our lives.

It is God’s responsibility to move on the hearts of lost men to respond to the message.

If we are strong in our Faith and do our part

God will certainly do His part.

In summary,

A lasting challenge for all Ministers comes from the great Evangelist-

John Wesley,

Romans Romans 10

What is the best general method of preaching?

(1) to invite,

(2) to convince,

(3) to offer Christ,

(4) to build up;

4- Persistence Wins the Day

Romans 10:18–21 ESV

But I ask, have they not heard? Indeed they have, for “Their voice has gone out to all the earth, and their words to the ends of the world.” But I ask, did Israel not understand? First Moses says, “I will make you jealous of those who are not a nation; with a foolish nation I will make you angry.” Then Isaiah is so bold as to say, “I have been found by those who did not seek me; I have shown myself to those who did not ask for me.” But of Israel he says, “All day long I have held out my hands to a disobedient and contrary people.”

Paul now raises two questions, in answering the directive from the previous section, in regards to the unbelief of the Jews

First question, “Have they not heard?”

Answer- indeed they have

Coming from Psalms 19. Confirming that even the Heavens declare the Glory of God.

The Jews were without excuse- They were gifted the very Words of God- Declaring God’s glory

Second question, “Perhaps they did not understand?”

Paul’s answer is quick and cutting

Using the OT text, again quoting Moses and Isaiah

The implication being, that-

If those outside of God’s Covenant could understand it:

The Israelites had no excuse for not understanding

Since the Jews of Paul’s time held themselves in such high regard and everyone else in such low regard in the ways and teachings of God...

How could those so uneducated get the message when the Jews rejected it.

As described in verse 21, “Israels ignorance was all about blatant disobedience and rebellion”

Romans 10:18–21 ESV

“All day long I have held out my hands to a disobedient and contrary people.”

It has been proposed that the imagery of God’s outstretched hands-

Is God extending His undying love for His people, pleading for them to come back to what He knows is best for them.

We ask the same question today-

With everything we have at our disposal, information and knowledge,

Yet humanity still chooses to refuse the call and reject the Gospel message.

Could it be that they continue to see the man hung on the cross between two common thieves.

And cannot accept the emptiness of the Tomb and the reality of a Risen Saviour,

As the answer to all their questions.

Our final thought today- It is our calling to be the personal representation of that Living Saviour to the world lost in the dark.