Introduction

Good morning, church! Today, we're going to dive into God's Word, specifically Romans 10:5-15, and talk about three key truths: the necessity of faith for salvation, the universality of salvation, and the invitation to believe. God's got a message for us today and I'm thrilled to share it with you.

Before we begin, let's look at something Max Lucado once said, "Though the Bible was written over sixteen centuries by at least forty authors, it has one central theme - salvation through faith in Christ." This is a journey we're all on, friends. Not just a single moment, but a lifetime of growing, learning, and drawing closer to Christ.

Let's read the Scripture passage together:

"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. 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.' 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 not 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!'" (Romans 10:5-15, ESV)

The Necessity of Faith for Salvation

The Apostle Paul, in his letter to the Romans, contrasts the righteousness based on the law with the righteousness based on faith. The law, as given to Moses, required strict adherence to a set of commandments. The righteousness that comes from the law is about doing, about action. It's about striving to live a perfect life, which, as we all know, is impossible due to our human nature.

Based on faith: On the other hand, the righteousness based on faith is not about doing, but about believing. It's not about our actions, but about our heart's condition. It's about acknowledging our inability to achieve righteousness on our own and putting our trust in Jesus Christ, who has accomplished it on our behalf. This is the essence of faith - a complete trust and confidence in God. It's a reliance on God's promises, His power, and His unfailing love.

Confess: When we confess with our mouth that Jesus is Lord and believe in our heart that God raised Him from the dead, we are saved. This is the promise of God to us. It's not about our works, our efforts, or our attempts to be good enough. It's about faith in Jesus Christ. This is why faith is necessary for salvation. Without faith, we are trying to earn our salvation, which is an impossible task. With faith, we accept the gift of salvation that God offers us through Jesus Christ.

The grace of God: Grace is God's unmerited favor towards us. It's His love and mercy given to us not because we deserve it, but because He is a loving and merciful God. Salvation is a gift of grace, and faith is the means by which we receive this gift. We don't earn it; we simply receive it. This is why Ephesians 2:8-9 says, "For by grace you have been saved through faith. And this is not your own doing; it is the gift of God, not a result of works, so that no one may boast."

It transforms us: When we put our faith in Jesus Christ, we are not just saved from the penalty of sin; we are also changed from the inside out. Our old self, with its sinful desires and habits, is crucified with Christ, and a new self, created to be like God in true righteousness and holiness, is born. This transformation is a work of the Holy Spirit, who comes to live in us when we believe in Jesus Christ. Faith, therefore, is not just a ticket to heaven; it's a catalyst for a new life in Christ.

Permeates the entire Bible: From Abraham, who "believed the Lord, and he counted it to him as righteousness" (Genesis 15:6), to the thief on the cross, who simply said to Jesus, "Remember me when you come into your kingdom" (Luke 23:42), the Bible is full of examples of people who were saved not by their works, but by their faith in God.

The Universality of Salvation

The universality of Salvation is the idea that God's offer of salvation through Jesus Christ is available to all people, regardless of their race, nationality, social status, or past sins ... View this full PRO sermon free with PRO