How Are We Saved? Romans 10:1-13 — Confess, Believe, and Call on the Name of the Lord
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My Heart's Desire and Prayer: Romans 10: 1-13 and God's Heart for His People
Paul's Prayer for Israel's Salvation: Justified and Saved from Wrath (Romans 10:1)
1 Brethren, my heart’s desire and prayer to God for Israel is that they may be saved.
Saved: This word is used in the NT several different ways (see1:16). In Romans, Paul seems to make a distinction between justification and salvation (see 5:9,10); the reader must pay attention to the context. Justification is what takes place at the moment of faith in Christ. Salvation, at least in Romans, refers to the work of God in the believer, that continues after justification. It is deliverance from God's wrath (see 1:18;5:9,10). The logical conclusion from chapter 9 is that Israel is under divine wrath (see 9:22).
Paul's deep desire and prayer is that Israel may be justified and saved from His wrath.
Zeal For God (Romans 10:2)
2 For I bear them witness that they have a zeal for God, but not according to knowledge.
Israel had a zeal for God; outwardly, they were very religious. But their effort was not according to knowledge.
This Is Our God" — Worship the God Who Saves
There is only one name under heaven given among men by which we must be saved — the name of Jesus Christ (Acts 4:12). Romans 10:13 declares it plainly: "Everyone who calls on the name of the Lord will be saved." No merit, no religious achievement — just a heart that confesses Jesus as Lord, believes God raised Him from the dead, and calls on His name in faith (Romans 10:9-10). This is our God — the God who is rich in mercy toward all who call upon Him (Romans 10:12), who sent His Word so that faith would come by hearing (Romans 10:17), and who saves completely and forever. Press play, call on His name in worship, and let this song be your declaration of faith.
God's Righteousness vs. Man's Righteousness: Romans 10:3-4 Explained
3 For they being ignorant of God’s righteousness, and seeking to establish their own righteousness, have not submitted to the righteousness of God.
God's righteousness is the righteousness that belongs to God, and more specifically in this context, the righteousness God gives when a person trusts Christ.
not submitted: this means "to obey". Israel did not obey God's command to believe (see 1:5; 6:17; Acts 16:31).
Christ Is the End of the Law: Fulfillment and Goal of Righteousness (Romans 10:4)
4 For Christ is the end of the law for righteousness to everyone who believes.
End can mean "fulfillment"; that is, Christ fulfilled all the requirements of the law. It can also mean "goal," to say that Christ came and fulfilled it, then offered us His righteousness through faith in Him.
Two Types of Righteousness: By Works or By Faith (Romans 10:5-8)
The Righteousness of the Law: Moses and the Standard of Works (Romans 10:5)
5 For Moses writes about the righteousness which is of the law, “The man who does those things shall live by them.”
The Righteousness of Faith: Near You, In Your Mouth and Heart (Romans 10:6-8)
6 But the righteousness of faith speaks in this way, “Do not say in your heart, ‘Who will ascend into heaven?’ ” (that is, to bring Christ down from above) 7 or, “ ‘Who will descend into the abyss?’ ” (that is, to bring Christ up from the dead). 8 But what does it say? “The word is near you, in your mouth and in your heart” (that is, the word of faith which we preach):
One Type Accessible, One Type Inaccessible: Deuteronomy 30:11-14
The two types of righteousness, by works or by faith; One is inaccessible, the other is very accessible. Paul uses the words of Deuteronomy 30:11-14 to demonstrate that righteousness by faith is not far off and inaccessible, but is as near as a person's mouth and heart. All one has to do is repent, believe in Jesus, and confess that belief.
How to Be Saved: Confess and Believe in Jesus Christ (Romans 10:9-10)
Confess With Your Mouth the Lord Jesus (Romans 10:9)
9 that if you confess with your mouth the Lord Jesus and believe in your heart that God has raised Him from the dead, you will be saved.
Believe In Your Heart That God Raised Him From the Dead (Romans 10:10)
Confess comes before believe in this verse because "mouth" precedes "heart" in Deuteronomy (see v 8). The order is reversed in the next verse. One has to confess with the mouth to be saved.
10 For with the heart one believes unto righteousness, and with the mouth confession is made unto salvation.
For indicates that this verse explains verse 9. The condition for righteousness, that is being justified, is internal faith. The condition of salvation, meaning deliverance from wrath and from the power of sin is:
External, outward confession (see verse 1:5:9,10), which is calling on the Lord for help (see verses 12,13).
The Universal Offer of Salvation: Jew and Gentile (Romans 10:11-13)
Paul emphasizes the universal offer of Salvation.
Whoever Believes Will Not Be Put To Shame (Romans 10:11)
11 For the Scripture says, “Whoever believes on Him will not be put to shame.” 12 For there is no distinction between Jew and Greek, for the same Lord over all is rich to all who call upon Him.
Whoever Calls On the Name of the Lord Shall Be Saved (Romans 10:13)
13 For “whoever calls on the name of the Lord shall be saved.”
Whoever in verses 11,13 means "All". Verse 12 explains that this includes Jew and Greek (Gentile).
Are You Ready To Call On the Name of the Lord?
You Can By Calling His Name:
Say: Dear Jesus, I ask you to come into my life, I confess with my mouth that you Jesus are my Lord and Savior, and I believe in my heart that you shed your blood, and died on the cross for me, and God raised you from the dead, and you are now seated at the right hand of the Father in heaven, Thank you for saving me, In Jesus Name, Amen.
You are now a member of God's family! You are saved! You have accepted the offer of Salvation. You shall have eternal life with Jesus and God in heaven! (John 3:16) You are a New Creation in Christ Jesus! (2 Corinthians 5:17) Praise God! Hallelujah!
John 3:16
16 For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life.
2 Corinthians 5:17
17 Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation; old things have passed away; behold, all things have become new.
Attend a good Bible-based church, get a Bible and start reading it daily. Start with the chapter John of the Gospels: Matthew, Mark, Luke and John. In this book of John, you will learn about Jesus and you will fall in love with your risen, and living Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ.
The angels in heaven are now rejoicing over your salvation!