DOES THE BOOK OF ROMANS STATE THAT BELIEVERS NEED ONLY SPEAK TO BE SAVED ?
Does the Apostle Paul state in Romans 10:13 that all a believer has to do is call out the name of Jesus to be saved? Is it sort of like a magic word or phrase needed for salvation? Is this even true? Is it just that easy or is it a misunderstanding when taken out of context?
Romans 10:13, “For ‘whoever calls on the name of the LORD shall be saved.’” (NKJV)
Is the Apostle saying that all a believer needs to do is call on the name Jesus to be saved? Does this one passage contain all there is to becoming a Christian and being saved? First, remember that the Apostle is writing to gentiles in Rome who also worshiped at the synagogues, where the Jewish leadership was misguided. Note Paul's words:
Romans 10:1-3, “Brethren, my heart's desire and prayer to God for Israel is that they may be saved. 2 For I bear them witness that they have a zeal for God, but not according to knowledge. 3 For they being ignorant of God's righteousness, and seeking to establish their own righteousness, have not submitted to the righteousness of God.”
We know that the Jewish leadership had been allowed by God to reject Jesus of Nazareth.
WHAT IS THE CONTEXT OF PAUL'S COMMENTS?
What is the problem Paul faces with the believers in Rome? The leadership in the local synagogues is misguided, although very sincere. Paul already said as much in this letter:
Romans 9:2-5, “that I have great sorrow and continual grief in my heart. 3 For I could wish that I myself were accursed from Christ for my brethren, my countrymen according to the flesh, 4 who are Israelites, to whom pertain the adoption, the glory, the covenants, the giving of the law, the service of God, and the promises; 5 of whom are the fathers and from whom, according to the flesh, Christ came, who is over all, the eternally blessed God. Amen.”
He is saying they have the crucial information and laws, but have missed the key point. That key point is the first coming of the Messiah, Jesus of Nazareth, to cover our sins because no one can earn his own salvation. Paul in this section of the letter, paraphrases Moses. Note:
Deuteronomy 30:10-12 NKJV 10 "if you obey the voice of the LORD your God, to keep His commandments and His statutes which are written in this Book of the Law, and if you turn to the LORD your God with all your heart and with all your soul. 11 For this commandment which I command you today is not too mysterious for you, nor is it far off. 12 It is not in heaven, that you should say, 'Who will ascend into heaven for us and bring it to us, that we may hear it and do it?’”
Paul is saying the information is available to you and many probably knew the verses he was quoting. The Old Testament had a lot to say about the first coming of Christ. They needed to learn to love and trust him with all of their hearts as Moses commanded. Love and obedience to Jesus is the missing ingredient. The Jewish leadership was misguided in that they were trying to establish righteousness by over-regulation. This might seem towork but it just creates resentment. For example let us look at the Sabbath law. Note what Jesus said:
Mark 2:23-27, “Now it happened that He went through the grainfields on the Sabbath; and as they went His disciples began to pluck the heads of grain. 24 And the Pharisees said to Him, ‘Look, why do they do what is not lawful on the Sabbath?’”
This is a regulation added by teachers trying to restrict “harvesting” on the Sabbath, but they had gone too far. Jesus reminds them of how David's life showed God's righteous flexibility regarding the laws.
Verses 25-27,“But He said to them, ‘Have you never read what David did when he was in need and hungry, he and those with him: 26 how he went into the house of God in the days of Abiathar the high priest, and ate the showbread, which is not lawful to eat except for the priests, and also gave some to those who were with him?’ 27 And He said to them, “The Sabbath was made for man, and not man for the Sabbath.’”
The people had been put into a type of religious bondage. Note what Jesus said:
Matthew 11:28-30, “Come to Me, all you who labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest. 29 Take My yoke upon you and learn from Me, for I am gentle and lowly in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. 30 For My yoke is easy and My burden is light.”
All God's laws are meant to benefit mankind. The leadership did not understand real righteousness and most of all had rejected Christ. God had allowed this, for they were not called, but you Roman believers are - so believe in and follow Jesus with all your hearts.
WHAT DID PAUL NOT MEAN IN THIS LETTER TO ROMAN BELIEVERS?
He is saying to call on Jesus as opposed to anyone else, even the traditional synagogue leadership. But what does “calling on Jesus” mean? We have only one savior. It makes no difference if you are a Jew or a gentile. This would be significant to the primarily Roman gentile readers. But is calling on God enough?
Matthew 15:7-9, “Hypocrites! Well did Isaiah prophesy about you, saying: 8 'These people draw near to Me with their mouth, And honor Me with their lips, But their heart is far from Me. 9 And in vain they worship Me, Teaching as doctrines the commandments of men.’”
Worshiping with our lips alone is not enough. Nor is relying on the traditions of men. We need to follow God with all our hearts, as both Moses and Paul admonished.
Mark 7:7-9, “‘“And in vain they worship Me, Teaching as doctrines the commandments of men.” 8 For laying aside the commandment of God, you hold the tradition of men –– the washing of pitchers and cups, and many other such things you do.’ 9 He said to them, ‘All toowell you reject the commandment of God, that you may keep your tradition.’”
These misguided over-regulations of God's laws –– added to many traditions which may have given the practitioners the feeling of extra purity –– were wrong. One must try and obey properly, with balance.
Matthew 7:20-23, “Therefore by their fruits you will know them. 21 Not everyone who says to Me, ‘Lord, Lord,’ shall enter the kingdom of heaven, but he who does the will of My Father in heaven. 22 Many will say to Me in that day, ‘Lord, Lord, have we not prophesied in Your name, cast out demons in Your name, and done many wonders in Your name?’ 23 And then I will declare to them, ‘I never knew you; depart from Me, you who practice lawlessness!’”
Our hearts are involved; we must believe in Jesus with our whole heart and develop a relationship with him. This is so vital.
Matthew 25:11-12, “Afterward the other virgins came also, saying, ‘Lord, Lord, open to us!’ 12 But he answered and said, ‘Assuredly, I say to you, I do not know you.’”
All of us must persevere and continue to develop that relationship until the end of our lives. It is that important. Remember also that Paul never taught that faith in Jesus canceled the value of obedience to the law for believers. In this very letter Paul had written:
Romans 3:30-31, “since there is one God who will justify the circumcised by faith and the uncircumcised through faith. 31 Do we then make void the law through faith? Certainly not! On the contrary, we establish the law.”
Romans 6:1-2, “What shall we say then? Shall we continue in sin that grace may abound? 2 Certainly not! How shall we who died to sin live any longer in it?”
Give our hearts and minds to Jesus –– all the way. The law is only our lamp, while Christ is our cleanser and justifier.
ISSUES :HOW CAN WE BUILD A RELATIONSHIP WITH JESUS
