God's Plan Of Eternal Salvation

God’s Plan of Salvation by Faith

Romans 10:1-17

“Dear brothers and sisters, the longing of my heart and my prayer to God is for the people of Israel to be saved. 2 I know what enthusiasm they have for God, but it is misdirected zeal. 3 For they don’t understand God’s way of making people right with himself. Refusing to accept God’s way, they cling to their own way of getting right with God by trying to keep the law. 4 For Christ has already accomplished the purpose for which the law was given. As a result, all who believe in him are made right with God. 5 For Moses writes that the law’s way of making a person right with God requires obedience to all of its commands. 6 But faith’s way of getting right with God says, “Don’t say in your heart, ‘Who will go up to heaven?’ (to bring Christ down to earth). 7 And don’t say, ‘Who will go down to the place of the dead?’ (to bring Christ back to life again).” 8 In fact, it says, “The message is very close at hand; it is on your lips and in your heart.” And that message is the very message about faith that we preach: 9 If you openly declare that Jesus is Lord and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved. 10 For it is by believing in your heart that you are made right with God, and it is by openly declaring your faith that you are saved. 11 As the Scriptures tell us, “Anyone who trusts in him will never be disgraced.”12 Jew and Gentile[f] are the same in this respect. They have the same Lord, who gives generously to all who call on him. 13 For “Everyone who calls on the name of the Lord will be saved.” 14 But how can they call on him to save them unless they believe in him? And how can they believe in him if they have never heard about him? And how can they hear about him unless someone tells them? 15 And how will anyone go and tell them without being sent? That is why the Scriptures say, “How beautiful are the feet of messengers who bring good news!”[h] 16 But not everyone welcomes the Good News, for Isaiah the prophet said, “Lord, who has believed our message?” 17 So faith comes from hearing, that is, hearing the Good News about Christ. (NLT)

In Romans chapter 10, Paul sets forth the doctrine of Salvation in a clear and simply way. Paul’s purpose seems to be to make the way of salvation by faith in Christ Jesus perfectly clear to the new believers at Rome. During the early days of the Christian church, the message of salvation had become confusing and complicated by some of the Jewish teachers. Knowing that some Jewish teachers were torn between keeping the Law of Moses and embracing salvation by faith in Christ alone, Paul’s desire was to clear up their misgivings and illuminate the truth of God’s plan of salvation.

Some preachers had complicated, confused, and even distorted the message of salvation to the point that many people wonder, “Does anyone know; Is anyone sure what to believe?” There are so many denominations, “Can they all be right?” What about the talk show host, “Are they right, after all, they are rich, powerful, and influential people?” The confusion of our day is nothing new. If salvation was and is a God thing, God and His word are probably the best sources for the truth about salvation. God inspired the apostle to pen a letter to the newly formed church at Rome to clear up this very matter. I believe an understanding of Romans 10 will help clear up some of the confusion about salvation. Romans 10, addresses the subject of salvation by faith in Christ Jesus.

The Apostle Paul sets out to answer several questions. What plan has God provided for mankind’s Salvation? What are the requirements for salvation? Is there any salvation in keeping the Law? What are the benefits of the Law if it cannot save? And what are the benefits of being a Jew if all men need salvation? Paul begins his discourse by expressing his earnest desire for the salvation of the Jews, his own nation. He loved the Law of God, his heritage and his countrymen. He wanted them to embrace God’s plan of salvation. Subsequently he explains the difference between the righteousness of the law, and the righteousness provided by faith in Christ. Paul recognized that the Law was good and that a person could be declared righteous if they perfectly kept the law. The requirement of the Law was perfection. The problem was that no one except Jesus Christ had been able to fulfill the demands of the law. Men knew what to do, but they were powerless to execute what they knew to do. Knowledge without performance equals condemnation. Consequently, all mankind stood condemned before the Law. Jesus the Christ perfectly obeyed the law of God and fulfilled all its righteous demands. God’s plan of salvation by faith is now offered to all mankind on the bases of what was accomplished by Christ alone. The righteousness of God is a free gift to all who believe on the Lord Jesus Christ and accept God's free gift of grace. Finally, Paul declares that the Gentiles stand on level ground with the Jews so far as justification and salvation are concerned. Both Jews and Gentiles were guilty before God, but Salvation for both are offered freely by faith in Christ. I want us to look at God's plan of Salvation. His plan of salvation is clear and simply. I have entitled the message: Understanding the Way of Salvation by Faith. Jesus Christ is the most complete revelation of the Father God to the world. In Jesus Christ, God reveals Himself in a way that all mankind could relate to him. So, we cannot truly come to know God by any other path. Philosophers, psychologists, sociologists and anthropologists may have great value and be of benefit to the human race. If we really want to know God, we must seek another source, a higher source. Read what the Bible reveals about God in Hebrews 1:1-2,