What or Who Saves Us?

5 For Moses writes about the righteousness that is based on the law, that the person who does the commandments shall live by them. 6 But the righteousness based on 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 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 that we proclaim); 9 because, 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. 10 For with the heart one believes and is justified, and with the mouth one confesses and is saved. 11 For the Scripture says, "Everyone who believes in him will not be put to shame." 12 For there is no distinction between Jew and Greek; for the same Lord is Lord of all, bestowing his riches on all who call on him. 13 For "everyone who calls on the name of the Lord will be saved." ~ Romans 10:5-13 (English Standard Version)

Apostle Paul’s explanation of those who think we are saved by keeping the law must understand that if order to be saved by the law we must keep ALL of the law ALL of the time to fulfill the laws demands and earn salvation. The problem with this is that we all have broken and violated that law a multitude of times and will do so in the future.

We violate the law everyday, every time we become angry with the driver who cut us off, or the person in the checkout in front of us taking longer than we think they should. Every time we look at anyone other than our spouse in a lustful way. Every time we break a promise or let someone, copy a music CD or movie we purchased. When we put work or play ahead of God, when we make earning money our priority ahead of God and our families. Each one of the things listed here and countless others are sins, and we break the law each time we do these things. If our salvation depends on our capability to keep God’s law, we are completely and totally lost. There is no way that we could ever redeem ourselves. Anyone who thinks, “I am a good person, I live a good life, I do good things, I am good enough to go to Heaven,” have totally fooled themselves. People who think they are good enough to get into Heaven have a defective idea of what sin is and an unrealistic view of who they are and have discounted God’s holiness.

"Do not say in your heart, 'Who will ascend into heaven?'" (that is, to bring Christ down) 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 that we proclaim) ~ Romans 10:6-8 (ESV)

Paul is referencing Deuteronomy 30 where Moses pleaded with the Israelites to obey God. His plea was that God was not asking them to preform some unearthly acts; God was not asking them to climb to Heaven or dig their way to Hell. Moses was telling the people of Israel that God just wants us to believe what He has disclosed to us.

Paul continues by telling us what is necessary to gain eternal life, he explains how we must become friends with God and not His enemy and points the way to salvation. “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. 10 For with the heart one believes and is justified, and with the mouth one confesses and is saved.” ~ Romans 10:9-10 (ESV) First Paul explains that we must confess out loud, with our mouths, by our speech, that “Jesus is Lord!” This seems simple enough; we can all say, “Jesus is Lord.” It is easy to say this right. Try it; the words flow effortlessly from our lips.

Listen, Paul is not telling us that all we have to do is say the word, we must confess earnestly, believing the truthfulness of words, “Jesus is Lord.” “Kurios” Greek for “Lord” is a title of respect used for the Roman Emperors and was the title given to Greek Gods. If you look up Kurios in the Septuagint (The ancient Greek translation of the Jewish scriptures) the word used to translate the divine name of God. Saying “Jesus is Lord” inferred several things:

1. Identifying Jesus as God in human form. Only one who can have the title “Lord” that is the title reserved for God. To call Jesus “Lord” is to acknowledge Jesus as God.
2. Identifying Jesus as the Savior. Jesus is the only one who can transform us; it is by His death alone that atones for our sin. Jesus is “Lord” in that He is the only one who can deliver us.
3.  Identifying that Jesus has the right and authority to be the ruler over our lives. When we, with truth, confess Jesus is “Lord” we are confessing the His commands and direction, His counsel have total authority over our lives. We are saying the Jesus is my King and my Master!

To confess Jesus is “Lord” could have gotten you killed when Paul wrote this. Christians taken to the lion’s den and commanded to declare Caesar as Lord, when they refused they would be put to death. They would refuse because their allegiance given to the only one, to Jesus. They could only respect the government as far as they could but when given the choice to choose between Caesar and Jesus they chose Jesus.

You may be living in a country today where this is still true; if you declare Jesus is “Lord,” you may be imprisoned or disavowed by your family. At the time of this writing, to those who declared Jesus is “Lord” was not some cute saying like; “What Would Jesus Do.” It was not some charmed phrase to help them get by. Jesus is “Lord” was a declaration of commitment to Jesus, saying these words meant they were taking a stand with Jesus.

16 Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego answered and said to the king, "O Nebuchadnezzar, we have no need to answer you in this matter. 17 If this be so, our God whom we serve is able to deliver us from the burning fiery furnace, and he will deliver us out of your hand, O king. 18 But if not, be it known to you, O king, that we will not serve your gods or worship the golden image that you have set up." ~ Daniel 3:16-18 (ESV)

Just as Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego was commanded to bow before the golden image set up by King Nebuchadnezzar, that anyone who did not bow would be thrown into the fiery furnace. When the trumpets sounded and everyone bowed except these three Hebrews, they were arrested and thrown into the blazing-hot furnace. Before they could be thrown in they said that even if God did not deliver them from the fire they would not serve his false god or worship the golden image he set up.

Charles Spurgeon gave us a list to help us confess Jesus in several different ways:

1. Attending worship.
2. Baptism and Communion.
3. Associating with God’s people.
4. Setting a Godly example at home.
5. Stand with Jesus in times of trial.
6. Chose Jesus when we are tempted.
7. Sharing our faith with those we know.

In these and many other ways we can declare and confess, Jesus is “Lord!”

Paul explains that we must believe in our heart not with our head as we usually think that believing done. Believing something with our heart is to believe to the very core of our being. When we say we love someone with all our heart we are saying that love is a deep love, it is a total love without reservation, this is what is ask from Jesus.

Faith in not just confessing or even agreeing that certain facts are true, faith is the act of placing your very life on the line. Faith means standing with Christ even if the whole world turns against you. Faith is deferring to Jesus even when His way is contrary to your own way; faith is putting all your confidence in Him.

Imagine you have a life threatening disease, the cure is in a bottle on a table next to your bed; you have three options. 1. Accept that the bottle is truly there. 2. Trust that the cure in the bottle is able to cure you from this disease, without it you will die. 3. You will not be cured unless you take action, trust in the cure and take it.

Paul tells us that we must believe that God raised Jesus from the dead; this is what sets Jesus apart from everyone else. Jesus body physically died then victoriously rose again from the dead. This is not the “Jesus live in my heart” resurrection; He physically was alive proving that what He says is true and that His promise of salvation is valid. His resurrection proves that He is a living Savior.

This is not a promise of salvation from the problems, trials, disease or struggles of this life but salvation from judgment. Jesus salvation saves us from the wrath of His Father and from the punishment for our sins. By trusting in Jesus we are no longer an enemy of God we are made into His children.

11 For the Scripture says, "Everyone who believes in him will not be put to shame." 12 For there is no distinction between Jew and Greek; for the same Lord is Lord of all, bestowing his riches on all who call on him. 13 For "everyone who calls on the name of the Lord will be saved." ~ Romans 10:11-13 (ESV)

This is salvation for everyone who believes, which means it is for YOU if you BELIEVE, we will fall back into performance mode and look at our life and think we can be saved because we are pretty good people. There are also those who believe they cannot be saved because they are made some horrible mistakes. We must remember that Jesus offer of salvation extends to all people, yes even us sinners; after all we are all sinners. That why grace is a gift, a gift we do not deserve.

When you are ready to declare Jesus as Lord and Savior do so with all your heart, with all your mind and with all your soul. Take the time daily to tell God that you acknowledge His as the one who can pay for your sins, the one who can make you new and lead you in life. If you truly call on Him you WILL be saved. Amen. <><