What Must We Do To Be Saved?

Romans 10:5-13

Highway signs, such as speed limits, stop signs or caution signs warn of dangers ahead, paying attention can prevent accidents. That is their purpose. They will not tell you how to fix your engine if the car breaks down, or how to cure a heart attack. They were not intended to do those things. While they need to be followed, they will not solve every problem.

The Old Testament law warned of sin, and promised a better life on earth. It made no promise to correct sin or take anyone to heaven. Violating it, on the other hand guaranteed God’s judgment. It was to make us aware of our guilt, according to Romans 3:19. “Now we know that what things soever the law saith, it saith to them who are under the law: that every mouth may be stopped, and all the world may become guilty before God.” It was not there to make us sinless, but to make us aware of our guilt. To try to live by the law demanded total obedience, but could not deliver justification. As Romans 3:20 states, “Therefore by the deeds of the law there shall no flesh be justified in his sight.”

Paul refers to this in Romans 10:5. “For Moses describeth the righteousness which is of the law, That the man which doeth those things shall live by them.” The consequences for breaking the law are imperative for those who live by the law. The story of the lawyer in Luke 10:25-29 portrays man’s efforts to get around the guilt from the law. “And, behold, a certain lawyer stood up, and tempted him, saying, Master, what shall I do to inherit eternal life? He said unto him, What is written in the law? how readest thou? And he answering said, Thou shalt love the Lord thy God with all thy heart, and with all thy soul, and with all thy strength, and with all thy mind; and thy neighbour as thyself. And he said unto him, Thou hast answered right: this do, and thou shalt live. But he, willing to justify himself, said unto Jesus, And who is my neighbour?” He was seeking a way to show he was obeying the law, and didn’t deserve judgment.

The righteousness of faith, on the other hand doesn not try to hide or excuse our sin. It recognizes the natural tendency to sin, and the importance of having an advocate before God. While sin is not approved, we still do it. I John 2:1 states, “My little children, these things write I unto you, that ye sin not. And if any man sin, we have an advocate with the Father, Jesus Christ the righteous.” It accepts his resurrection and ascension to heaven as critical to salvation. It also accepts that his death was essential for the atonement for sin. The sin could not just be overlooked.

“But the righteousness which is of faith speaketh on this wise, Say not in thine heart, Who shall ascend into heaven? (that is, to bring Christ down from above:) Or, Who shall descend into the deep? (that is, to bring up Christ again from the dead.)” (Romans 10:6-7)

The righteousness which comes by faith recognizes man’s inability live to God’s standard in order to be saved, or to keep oneself saved. Such faith demands action to produce results. James 2:14-26 cites several examples. Believing that God wants people to be fed doesn’t accomplish much if we don’t give some food. Believing that God would save Isaac’s life would not have meant much if Abraham had not put him on the altar. Believing that God would destroy Jericho would not have saved Rahab if she didn’t help the spies. Faith has to be acted on to produce results. Otherwise it is dead, and has as little benefit as the devil’s belief in God. James 2:19 states, “Thou believest that there is one God; thou doest well: the devils also believe, and tremble.” Without acting on that belief, they still face God’s judgment.

In each of the cases described in James 2, there is a potential cost to be counted. To give money would reduce what was available for personal wants. To kill Isaac might well cause a problem between Sarah and Abraham. Rahab risked her life to help the spies. Once the action was taken there was no changing one’s mind. Jesus was talking about counting the cost in Luke 14:26, when he said, “If any man come to me, and hate not his father, and mother, and wife, and children, and brethren, and sisters, yea, and his own life also, he cannot be my disciple.” Such faith will act despite the cost. So what do we need to do?

“But what saith it? The word is nigh thee, even in thy mouth, and in thy heart: that is, the word of faith, which we preach; That if thou shalt confess with thy mouth the Lord Jesus, and shalt believe in thine heart that God hath raised him from the dead, thou shalt be saved. For with the heart man believeth unto righteousness; and with the mouth confession is made unto salvation.” (Romans 10:8-10)

The words are so simple, just believe Jesus paid in full for your sins, and that he was raised to both keep you from sin, and to take care of it when you do sin, and to confess your belief and recognition of your sin to him. Inherent in that belief is the conviction that nothing else is so important as having Christ. Paul describes what was required for his own conversion in Philippians 3:7-9. “But what things were gain to me, those I counted loss for Christ. Yea doubtless, and I count all things but loss for the excellency of the knowledge of Christ Jesus my Lord: for whom I have suffered the loss of all things, and do count them but dung, that I may win Christ, And be found in him, not having mine own righteousness, which is of the law, but that which is through the faith of Christ, the righteousness which is of God by faith.”

Such faith is the gift of God according to Ephesians 2:8. As John 6;44 states, “No man can come to me, except the Father which hath sent me draw him.” Time after time in Acts, when God drew them, we see people asking “What must I do to be saved?” The answer is always the same. There is no difference.

“For the scripture saith, Whosoever believeth on him shall not be ashamed. For there is no difference between the Jew and the Greek: for the same Lord over all is rich unto all that call upon him. For whosoever shall call upon the name of the Lord shall be saved.” (Romans 10:11-13)