Introduction
In our reading today we turn to Paul's letter to the Romans, where he proclaims the good news that salvation is available to all who believe.
This message is at the heart of our faith
—a declaration that no one is beyond God's saving grace. Our passage, Romans 10:8-13, reminds us that salvation is not about human effort but about faith in Jesus Christ.
Many people are lost in the darkness of sin, searching for a way out. But God has already provided the way.
Imagine a man stranded in the middle of the ocean, treading water and exhausted. A rescue boat approaches, and the crew throws him a life preserver. All he has to do is grab hold of it, and he will be saved. But what if he hesitates? What if he thinks, “I will swim to shore by myself,” or “I need to prove I can stay afloat a little longer before accepting help”?
Many people approach salvation in this way. They think they must earn it, work for it, or be “good enough” before God will save them. But our reading tells us something different: salvation is near, salvation is accessible and it is available to anyone who believes and confesses that Jesus is Lord.
1. The Word of Faith is Near You (v. 8)
Paul begins by quoting Deuteronomy 30:14, where Moses instructs the Israelites that God's word is not distant or unreachable. V8 says, it is near us—in our mouths and in our hearts. Meaning, the gospel is not hidden or reserved for an elite few. The gospel states that salvation is available to all and simple to receive. It is given freely by grace.
While good deeds are important as a response to salvation, they are not the means of salvation. Some people mistakenly believe that performing religious acts guarantees salvation. This was a mistake the Pharisees made—focusing on outward rituals while their hearts were far from God.
Religious rituals, such as baptism, holy communion, prayer, and church attendance, these are important expressions of faith. They help you grow spiritually, they strengthen your faith, and they express your relationship with God, but they are not the basis of salvation. Prayer and fasting help us stay connected to God, but they cannot replace faith in Jesus as the foundation of salvation.
In Matthew 15:8 Jesus said, “These people honor me with their lips, but their hearts are far from me.” We are saved by grace alone. God’s unmerited love and mercy despite our sins.
Consider the prodigal son in Luke 15:11 where the father welcomes his son back, not because of his worthiness but out of the father’s love and mercy.
In John 3:1, Nicodemus was a Pharisee and a respected teacher of the law, yet he did not understand the true nature of salvation. Jesus told him, “Nicodemus, you must be born again.” He was teaching that salvation requires a spiritual transformation and no amount
of religious knowledge or status could replace the need for a personal relationship with Christ.
Jesus criticized those who relied on religious traditions but lacked true faith.
In Mark 10:17, A wealthy young man approached Jesus and asked, “What must I do to inherit eternal life?” He believed that eternal life could be earned by keeping the commandments. He had followed the law since his youth but after his conversation with Jesus…. the man walked away sorrowful because he relied on his own righteousness rather than faith in Christ.
This story shows that no matter how much good we do, we cannot earn salvation—it is a gift from God. Ephesians 2:8 says, “For it is by grace you have been saved, through faith—and this is not from yourselves, it is the gift of God…” This means that your salvation is secure because it depends on God’s faithfulness and not your own abilities. God has already done the work through Jesus Christ and it’s available to all.
In Luke 23:39, One of the criminals crucified alongside Jesus mocked Him, but the other, he recognized who Jesus was. He said: “Jesus, please remember
me when You come into Your kingdom.”
Jesus responded: “Truly I tell you, this very today you will be with Me in paradise.” This man had no time to perform good deeds, He had no time to prove his worth—he simply believed and confessed Jesus as Lord. Salvation was accessible to him, just as it is available to us today.
Salvation is not a complicated process.
2. Salvation Comes Through Faith in Christ (vv. 9-10)
Paul clearly lays out in V9 what it means to be saved. He says, “Believe in your heart that God raised Jesus from the dead …. And confess that Jesus is Lord". This means having deep, genuine faith that Jesus' resurrection is real and
that it confirms His victory over sin and death.
The resurrection is the foundation of our salvation because it proves that Jesus is the Son of God and that His sacrifice for our sins was accepted by God.1 Corinthians 15:17 says, "If Christ has not been raised, your faith is futile; you are still in your sins." Salvation comes through faith and a willing confession of Christ as Lord. These two go hand in hand—what we believe in our hearts should be reflected in our words and actions. Faith is not a one-time decision but a lifelong journey. It requires standing firm in trials and trusting God in all circumstances.
Charles Blondin, a French acrobat, was a famous tightrope walker who once set up a rope across the Niagara Falls. A large crowd gathered to watch as he walked across the whole length of the Niagara with ease. Then, he got more confident. He took a wheelbarrow and asked, “Do you believe I can push this wheelbarrow across?” The crowd shouted, “Yes!” Then he asked, “Who will get inside the wheelbarrow?” Silence. It’s one thing to believe Jesus is Lord—it’s another to put our lives in His hands. True faith is stepping into that “wheelbarrow” and trusting Him completely.
Faith Is not just belief but a commitment to following Christ. A deep, personal trust in Christ. Learning and following. A change of heart. Turning away from sin and turning toward Christ. Being obedient to his teachings.
Faith begins with the belief in recognizing Jesus as the son of God, the Messiah, the fulfillment of God’s promises, your Lord and Savior through whom salvation comes.
When Jesus asked His disciples, “Who do you say that I am?” Peter boldly declared: “You are the Messiah, the Son of the living God. "Jesus affirmed Peter’s faith, showing that confessing Christ is a defining moment of salvation. Confessing "Jesus is Lord" is a declaration of allegiance.
In the Roman world, saying "Caesar is Lord" was expected, but Paul calls us to confess Jesus as the Lord of lords. This is more than words; it is a commitment to live under Christ’s rule.
When we believe that God raised Jesus from the dead, we affirm that Christ's sacrifice was accepted, that sin and death have been defeated, and that new life is possible for all of us.
3. Salvation is for Everyone Who Believes (vv. 11-13). Paul continues by quoting Isaiah 28:16 in V11 saying “Anyone who believes in him will never be put to shame.” This means that anyone who puts their trust in Christ will never be abandoned or disappointed or disgraced in God’s presence. God will never fail those who put their faith in Him. God will always honor your faith, and your eternal salvation will always be secure.
In Acts 10, there is a man called Cornelius. He was a Roman centurion and a God-fearing man, but he did not yet know Christ. God sent Peter to preach the gospel to him, and as Peter spoke, the Holy Spirit fell upon Cornelius and his household. This shocked the Jewish believers—how could Gentiles receive the same salvation? But Peter declared in Acts 10:34, “I now realize how true it is that God does not show favoritism but accepts from every nation the one who fears Him and does what is right.” Salvation is for all who believe. Jew and Gentile alike, there is no difference. The same Lord is Lord of all and richly blesses all who call on him."
In a world full of divisions, Paul declares that salvation is for everyone. There is no partiality with God. Verse 13 seals this truth, which says, "Everyone who calls on the name of the Lord will be saved." Salvation is not limited by ethnicity, background, or past sins. The only requirement is faith in Christ.
Salvation Restores Your Relationship with God – through Jesus Christ Salvation secures your eternal life with God.
Conclusion
We don’t need to complicate the gospel. Salvation is simply about your faith in Christ and your confession. Salvation is available to all who believe. Just like the drowning man must grab the life preserver and like the tightrope walker invites us into the wheelbarrow, we must respond in faith.
The message is clear: salvation is near, it is accessible, it is not complicated, distant, or exclusive. It is a gift, and it is available to all who believe.
May we, as God’s people, live in this truth and share it with the world.
Amen
