Responding to Jesus
Romans 10:1-13


Hazards of religion

  • Trying to earn God’s acceptance through rules and rituals
  • Assuming God’s favor is based on family, community, and heritage
  • Feeling close to God because you’re sincere or enthusiastic


Sincerely wrong

Brothers, my heart’s desire and prayer to God for the Israelites is that they may be saved. 2 For I can testify about them that they are zealous for God, but their zeal is not based on knowledge.

It is not good to have zeal without knowledge… and miss the way. (Proverbs 19:2)


Self-salvation

3 Since they did not know the righteousness that comes from God and sought to establish their own, they did not submit to God’s righteousness. 4 Christ is the end of the law so that there may be righteousness for everyone who believes.


“Do!” vs. “Done!”

5 Moses describes in this way the righteous- ness that is by the law: “The man who does these things will live by them.” 6 But the righteousness that is by faith says: “Do not say in your heart, ‘Who will ascend into heaven?’ ” (that is, to bring Christ down) 7 “or ‘Who will descend into the deep?’ ” (that is, to bring Christ up from the dead).


Within easy reach

8 But what does it say? “The word is near you; it is in your mouth and in your heart,” that is, the word of faith we are proclaiming:


Believe and confess

9 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.


Lord of all

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.”


Responding to Jesus

  • What must you do first? Nothing!
  • Is response necessary? Absolutely!
  • How should you respond? Believe with heart and confess with mouth.
  • What will happen? You’ll be saved.

Last modified: Wednesday, December 16, 2020, 4:06 PM