As we think about living with the end in mind and the reality that there really is a heaven and a hell, we eventually face the reality that we must decide who we will put our trust in and who we will live for. Jesus offers us eternal life with Him in heaven. It is up to us if we will accept His free gift.
Paul makes it very clear in Romans 10 that salvation is for anyone who places their faith in Christ. He writes in verse 9, “If you openly declare that Jesus is Lord and believe in your heart that God raised Him from the dead, you will be saved.” This, according to Paul, is what it means to accept God’s gift of salvation. To “openly declare that Jesus is Lord” means to acknowledge out loud and to other people that you believe in Jesus. Along with confession, Paul makes it clear that part of accepting the gift of salvation is believing that God raised Jesus from the dead. Paul continues this explanation by saying, “For it is by believing in your heart that you are made right with God, and it is by openly declaring your faith that you are saved” (verse 10). These are the logical steps of accepting the free gift of salvation that Christ offers.
Along with the call in Romans 10 to accept God’s gift of salvation, we also find a promise. Paul explains to us that God is generous. He writes in verses 11-12, “’Anyone who trusts in Him will never be disgraced.’ Jew and Gentile are the same in this respect. They have the same Lord, who gives generously to all who call on Him.” Take in that truth for one moment. God is a generous God. He gives generously to every single person who calls on Him. As a result, “everyone who calls on the name of the Lord will be saved” (verse 13).
God is generous towards you. When you were lost in your sin, He offered you the gift of salvation. Take time today to thank God for His generosity towards you. Thank Him that every person who calls on Him for salvation will be saved.
Have you accepted His free gift of salvation and established a relationship with Him? If not, now is a great time to begin that relationship. For more information on growing in this relationship with God, watch this video. If you have a relationship with God, how have you been growing? What areas of growth do you see? Take steps today to pursue even more growth in your relationship with Him.
For Moses writes that the law’s way of making a person right with God requires obedience to all of its commands. But faith’s way of getting right with God says, “Don’t say in your heart, ‘Who will go up to heaven?’ (to bring Christ down to earth). And don’t say, ‘Who will go down to the place of the dead?’ (to bring Christ back to life again).” In fact, it says,
“The message is very close at hand;
it is on your lips and in your heart.”
And that message is the very message about faith that we preach: If you openly declare that Jesus is Lord and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved. For it is by believing in your heart that you are made right with God, and it is by openly declaring your faith that you are saved. As the Scriptures tell us, “Anyone who trusts in him will never be disgraced.” Jew and Gentile are the same in this respect. They have the same Lord, who gives generously to all who call on him. For “Everyone who calls on the name of the Lord will be saved.”
