Presented, February 6, 2005 pm
CALLING ON THE NAME OF THE LORD
Romans 10:8-15
Tonight we continue our study in the book of Romans. We have noted in this challenging book filled with the meat of the gospel that we are all saved the same way –by the grace of God through our obedient faith. Paul has written much to his Jewish brethren explaining the weakness and fulfillment of the Law of Moses. In chapters 9-11 he is addressing why Israel was rejected –namely because they rejected God. In our last lesson we noted Paul’s heartfelt desire and prayers for Israel was that they might be saved. But sadly he acknowledged that they would not because rather than accepting the grace of God, they sought to establish their own righteousness and rejected Jesus Christ, their only hope. Quoting Moses from Deuteronomy 30:12-14 in his farewell address, Paul notes that the word of God is not out of our reach, but rather it is near us, within our hearts. What is that word? It is the hope of salvation which is THE SAME for all men – obeying the gospel of Christ. In our text tonight, we want to notice what Paul says we need to do and clarify some misunderstandings about this text.
I. Belief and Confession (8-12)
A. Paul says what we (all) need to do to be saved?
a. In vs. 8 he quotes Deut. 30:14 noting WHERE the word of God needed to be for Israel to be pleasing to God – in their mouths and in their hearts.
b. In vs. 9, Paul equates these two places to WHERE we need our faith in Him to be – in our mouth and in our heart.
B. He mentions two things in particular – (9)
a.
We need to confess the Lord Jesus Christ with our mouth.
Acts 8:37 records the example of the Ethiopian Eunuch who was taught by Philip.
b. We need to believe in your heart that God has raised Him from the dead, you will be saved. John 8:24, 1 Corinthians 15:12-19, etc.
c.
(10-11) – Paul elaborates repeating these things and then quotes from
Isaiah 28:16, a promise of hope to those who turn to God.
ONE difference between vs. 8-9 is that the order of what Paul says is reversed.
In vs. 8, Paul ties together the statement of Moses in the order he mentions
where God’s word needs to dwell. Then in vs. 9, Paul puts it together for OUR
order. Before we can confess Jesus as the Son of God, we have to first believe
in Him.
C. Does this text mean one does not need to be baptized?
a. Many use this text and say it tells us all we are required to do to be saved.
b. Notice Paul does NOT say faith ONLY or confession ONLY.
c.
Why is baptism NOT mentioned?
1) Because Paul’s point is NOT to outline the steps of salvation, but to put
all, both Jew and Gentile alike, on notice that only in Christ can they be
saved.
Baptism was NOT the issue Paul had to address dealing with his Jewish brethren.
It was belief in Jesus Christ and their willingness to confess Him as their only
hope and the promised Messiah they were looking for.
2) Paul dealt with baptism earlier in this book – Romans 6:3-6
3) Even in this context, it is alluded to – we will show that vs. 13 involves
baptism
d. Note also vs. 12 – For there is NO distinction between Jew and Gentile, but the same Lord is rich to all who call upon Him.
D. With these we can be saved.
a.
There is some question as to whether the salvation Paul mentions here has
reference to specific acts leading to one becoming a Christian
OR the manner of life of the believer – that is, an ongoing lifestyle –
that leads to final salvation if we are faithful until death. While both may be
in consideration and necessary, the context seems (at least to me) to be dealing
with one’s manner of life.
i. In Matthew 10:32-33 – as Jesus gave instructions to His disciples, this was not just a onetime occurrence, but something to be done throughout your life.
ii. Revelation 2:10 calls upon the church at Smyrna to be faithful unto death and then you will receive the crown of life.
b. One commentator on this verse noted there are four classes into which men are divided with these two commands: Faith and confession. There are those who:
i. Neither make confession of any such belief with the mouth, nor believe these truths in their hearts.
ii. Believe indeed in the heart, but who fear to confess their belief in Christ before men, or who even do as Peter did, when in the time of trial he denied that he knew the Lord (Matt 26:72; cf. Mark 8:38). Tatjr - Another example of this is found in John 12:42
iii. Confess with their lips the truths revealed by God, but who do not believe in Him with their hearts; who profess that they know God, but in works they deny Him, being abominable, and disobedient, and unto every good work reprobate (Titus 1:16; cf. Matt 15:7,8). Tatjr - Consider again Matthew 7:12, Luke 6:46
iv.
Confess Him with their mouth before men, and who believe in Him with
their hearts. To these is the promise made that they shall be saved.
(W. Denton, M.A.) (from The Biblical Illustrator Copyright (c) 2002 AGES and
Biblesoft, Inc.)
II. Calling on the Name of the Lord (13-17)
A. Vs. 13 – Paul clearly says, “Whoever calls on the name of the Lord shall be saved.”
a. A quote from Joel 2:32 – a prophecy about the coming kingdom and the Spirit of God being poured out on ALL flesh (2:28)
b.
What does Paul mean here?
Does he mean that all we need to do is pray for salvation? It doesn’t say that.
Consider Acts 22:16 where Paul was told what he needed to do to be saved –
“arise and be baptized and wash away your sins, calling on the name of the
Lord.”
B. Vs. 14-15 – HOW does one call on the name of the Lord?
a. It is not merely confessing Jesus as the Son of God – because Matthew 7:21-23 says that
b. It is not merely believing – because says that they have to believe BEFORE they can call on him (14a)
c. How do they come to believe? By hearing the word (14b)
d. How do they hear the word? It is preached to them (14c – 15). Note that it is NOT the Holy Spirit speaking directly to someone. It is through the word of God. There is not ONE example of a man being saved without the gospel being preached by A MAN. Even occasions where the Holy Spirit did marvelous works (Acts 2 – tongues like fire on the apostles, Acts 10 - Cornelius saw a vision, Acts 9 - Paul was struck blind and spoken to by the Lord on the road to Damascus), a man came and gave them instructions AND baptized them.
C. Vs. 16- Not all will believe. Paul quotes Isaiah 53:1, “Lord, who has believed our report?” The problem the Jews had in the days of Isaiah and the other prophets was that they rejected their warnings and did whatever they wanted to do themselves.
D.
Vs. 17 – So then faith comes by hearing and hearing by the word of God.
Our faith is not based upon some miraculous event, but by hearing the word of
God preached and taught. God is not going to force anyone to receive His word,
nor is He going to hide it from anyone who is truly searching.
We need the attitude of the Thessalonians in 1 Thessalonians 2:13
1 Peter 1:23 – we are “Born again, not of corruptible seed but incorruptible,
through the word of God which lives and abides forever.”
Romans 1:16 – Paul said he was not ashamed of the gospel, for it is the power of
God unto salvation.
Putting this in context, WHAT ARE WE DOING to introduce the gospel of Christ to
others?
In the rest of this chapter, we have Old Testament passages that note Israel being rejected and God turning to other nations “to provoke you to jealousy”. Chapter 11 deals more with this and we will note that in our next study.