The Path To Salvation Series

Chico Alliance Church

Pastor David Welch

“The Path to Salvation”

Review

Consider the following sentences as an overview of the flow of thought in Romans.

• Everyone desperately needs the righteousness of God because everyone has utterly failed to conform to God’s standard of righteousness. (1-3)

• The substitutionary death and resurrection of Christ freed God to offer the perfect righteousness of Christ to all who believe (justification). (3-4)

• As a result of justification, God lovingly extends every spiritual benefit and blessing necessary for victorious kingdom living. (5-8)

• God is not finished dealing with Israel (9-11)

God did not choose all Jews and all Jews did not choose Christ. (9)

Salvation for both Jews and Gentiles comes by genuine faith and open confession of Christ as Lord. (10)

God rejected Jews who rebelled and disbelieved and received all Gentiles who trusted Christ and will one day will restore all Jews who believe. (11)

• God invites all those justified by faith to live transformed lives. (12-16)

An outline might look like this.

I. Receive the gift of righteousness

II. Apply the Gift of Righteousness

Paul anticipate the question concerning why haven’t the Jews responded in mass to the gospel. After all, Jesus came to the lost sheep of Israel. In this intricate and sometimes misunderstood section, Paul presents his arguments as to why many Jews weren’t saved and whether God has and future plans for Israel as a people.

III. Consider the place of Israel in the God’s Plan of Salvation

A. The Passion of Paul for souls Expressed 9:1-5

B. The Problem Exposed: Why aren’t all the Jews Saved?

1. God’s word hasn’t failed has it?

2. Every person or group has not been chosen by God

a) Isaac was chosen, Ishmael was not

b) Jacob was chosen, Esau was not

3. God shows mercy to whomever he chooses to show mercy

4. God has the right to call whoever he desires

5. Jews are lost because they failed to believe 9:30-10:4

On the one hand, God clearly chooses some apart from any work and merit in the one chosen and doesn’t choose others apart from any deficiency and failure in the one not chosen. On the other hand, it is also clear that man has a responsibility to choose back.

The Bible presents a strong case for the absolute sovereignty of God.

The Bible also presents a sturdy case for the responsibility of men.

The Bible does not directly resolve the two.

Chapter nine clear presented the case for the fact and right of the Master potter, the Creator, the Almighty to chose some over others and to have mercy on whom He chooses to have mercy and to harden those He chooses to harden. Paul presented this argument in relation to his longing to see Israel saved. Not all Jews will be saved because God didn’t choose all Jews. Paul also cites the fact that not all his beloved countrymen were saved because their stubborn, proud hearts refused to trust God for the necessary righteousness to restore relationship with God.

Why do you do what you do? Do you think that somehow you are more acceptable to God because you do certain things and not others? Do you think that God will answer your prayer faster or fix your problems faster or send help sooner if you do certain things and avoid others? If so, then you are seeking to establish your own righteousness and not subjecting yourself to the righteousness of God. All religions of the world operate on an “establish your own righteousness” premise. Only Christianity offers you someone else’s perfect righteousness. Paul reiterates what he spent eight chapters explaining.

Christ is the end of the law for righteousness to everyone who believes. Romans 10:4

Jesus Chris is the way to become sufficiently righteous to commune with God. Only the perfect righteousness of Christ can please God. How do we get it? What is the path to salvation? The first eight chapters of this letter clearly explain the place of faith in the pursuit of the righteousness of God. In this chapter we see the path so simply presented as to what we must do to be saved.

C. The Path and process of Salvation Explained 10:5-21

God’s choice plays the primary role in salvation but man’s belief also plays a part.

Just what part does believe play in salvation?

1. The Path 10:5-13

a) Choice #1 – Live the law perfectly

For Moses writes that the man who practices the righteousness which is based on law shall live by that righteousness. 10:5

Moses declares that the one who embraces a path that requires keeping of the law must perfectly keep that law.

Keeping the law is one of the paths to eternal life but if you choose that path, you must keep the law perfectly. When it come to law, there is no grading on the curve or on percentages. Fifty-one percent won’t cut it. It must be one hundred percent adherence.