Romans 9:30-10:21: How to Gain Salvation

Romans 9:30-10:21 is all about how salvation is gained. This is truly what the entire book of Romans is about, but we see it so evidently here in these verses. Salvation is gained by faith and not by works (Romans 9:30-10:4), by calling on the name of the Lord (Romans 10:5-13), and by believing that which one hears (Romans 10:14-21).

Salvation is gained by faith. Firstly, we see in this section of scripture that salvation is gained by faith and not by works. The Jews tried to obtain it by works of the law, and thus stumbled over the stumbling stone. In contrast, the Gentiles pursued salvation by faith, and thus obtained it because they pursued Christ, who "is the end of the law for righteousness to everyone who believes." Thus, salvation is gained by faith.

Salvation is gained by calling on the name of the Lord. Secondly, we see that "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." This is one of the most concise statements on how to be saved throughout the entirety of the Bible. Anyone, either Jew or Gentile, can be saved if they simply believe and confess. In short, this is calling upon the name of the Lord. This is beating one's breast in his guilt and shame and pleaing for the Lord's mercy, because he knows that he cannot save himself (see Luke 18:13). Salvation is gained by calling on the name of the Lord.

Salvation is gained by believing that which one hears. No one can be saved unless someone hears the Gospel, and no one will hear the Gospel unless it is preached to them. Thus, salvation is a response to what one hears. If one hears the Gospel and responds in faith, he will be saved. However, Paul is noting here that they must be told, and therefore we must go and tell them. They will not be saved unless we go and tell them. Salvation is gained by believing that which one hears.

In the end, this is the Gospel: that all who hear of the Lord's great salvation and call on the name of the Lord by faith will be saved. Once again, we see the beautiful harmony between our responsibility and the unbeliever's responsibility. It is our responsibility to tell them (and I would argue that we must faithfully, effectively, and consistently tell them); it is their responsibility to believe. Therefore, go and tell them. They will not believe unless you go and tell them. Not your neighbor, not your friend: YOU!

But amidst all of this doctrine, let us not miss Paul's point here: Salvation is attainable. We do not have to be seperated from our Creator for all of eternity in hell. There is an opportunity to be saved. Praise the Lord.

1. Note that these are not three seperate ways in inherit salvation, [because that would be called heresy] but rather one way to gain salvation put into three different aspects. The only way to gain salvation is by faith, but that faith it played out in calling upon the Lord (the second aspect listed) and that faith is a response to believing that which was heard (the third aspect listed).