Mon, Apr 7, 2008
How someone is saved
“What do I believe the Bible teaches about how one receives salvation. The passage, I believe, most clearly and concisely describes how one receives salvation is Romans 10:9-15
“That if you confess with your mouth, "Jesus is Lord," and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved. 10 For it is with your heart that you believe and are justified, and it is with your mouth that you confess and are saved. 11 As the Scripture says, "Anyone who trusts in him will never be put to shame." 12 For there is no difference between Jew and Gentile--the same Lord is Lord of all and richly blesses all who call on him, 13 for, "Everyone who calls on the name of the Lord will be saved."
How, then, can they call on the one they have not believed in? And how can they believe in the one of whom they have not heard? And how can they hear without someone preaching to them? 15 And how can they preach unless they are sent? As it is written, "How beautiful are the feet of those who bring good news!"
In interpreting this passage I believe it says salvation begins and ends with us sharing our faith. The NIV Bible Commentary says, “One must hear the Gospel before he or she can be expected either to receive it or reject it. The message of the Gospel has to be communicated by word of mouth to the hearing of others.” So if I have never heard about Jesus, how can I be expected to accept Him as my Lord?
Once I have heard about Jesus, in order for His grace to do me any good, I have to confess with my month and believe in my heart that God raised him from the dead. For each of us the application of Romans 10:11-13, could look different, but the meaning is the same. There is no difference to God between a clean-cut suburban kid and a strung-out junkie. God will richly bless all who call upon the name of the Lord, and, they will be saved.
As I said, salvation begins and ends with evangelism. Verses 14 and 15 are very adamant about the need to meet people who need the Lord and share the good news with them. This passage affects my approach to evangelism in that it demands that I share my faith.
Bibliography
Romans 1:20, NIV
Romans 10:9-15, NIV
The NIV Study Bible Complete Library. 1998. CD-ROM. Zondervan Reference Software
“That if you confess with your mouth, "Jesus is Lord," and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved. 10 For it is with your heart that you believe and are justified, and it is with your mouth that you confess and are saved. 11 As the Scripture says, "Anyone who trusts in him will never be put to shame." 12 For there is no difference between Jew and Gentile--the same Lord is Lord of all and richly blesses all who call on him, 13 for, "Everyone who calls on the name of the Lord will be saved."
How, then, can they call on the one they have not believed in? And how can they believe in the one of whom they have not heard? And how can they hear without someone preaching to them? 15 And how can they preach unless they are sent? As it is written, "How beautiful are the feet of those who bring good news!"
In interpreting this passage I believe it says salvation begins and ends with us sharing our faith. The NIV Bible Commentary says, “One must hear the Gospel before he or she can be expected either to receive it or reject it. The message of the Gospel has to be communicated by word of mouth to the hearing of others.” So if I have never heard about Jesus, how can I be expected to accept Him as my Lord?
Once I have heard about Jesus, in order for His grace to do me any good, I have to confess with my month and believe in my heart that God raised him from the dead. For each of us the application of Romans 10:11-13, could look different, but the meaning is the same. There is no difference to God between a clean-cut suburban kid and a strung-out junkie. God will richly bless all who call upon the name of the Lord, and, they will be saved.
As I said, salvation begins and ends with evangelism. Verses 14 and 15 are very adamant about the need to meet people who need the Lord and share the good news with them. This passage affects my approach to evangelism in that it demands that I share my faith.
Bibliography
Romans 1:20, NIV
Romans 10:9-15, NIV
The NIV Study Bible Complete Library. 1998. CD-ROM. Zondervan Reference Software
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