- Romans 10:13 KJV
Have you been saved? Have you come to a saving knowledge of Jesus Christ? It is a question that is almost exclusive to Christianity. The word saved in the Bible had three tenses. We were saved from the penalty of sin the very moment we put our trust in Christ Jesus as our savior. We are now being saved from the power of sin by the process of progressive sanctification. Moreover, we shall be saved from the presence of sin at the coming of our Lord in His glory.
We were justified by faith in Christ, we are being sanctified by the Holy Spirit and we shall be glorified when Christ returns for us.
The word salvation is related to the good news of the atoning death of Jesus Christ. The apostle Paul wrote, "For I am not ashamed of the gospel of Christ: for it is the power of God unto salvation to every one that believeth; to the Jew first, and also to the Greek" (Romans 1:16 KJV).
God has delivered us from the penalty and power of sin and has preserved us with His gift of eternal life. It is the sum of all blessings bestowed by God through Jesus Christ.
It is only by the name of Jesus Christ that we can ever be saved. Acts 4:12 KJV says, "Neither is there salvation in any other: for there is none other name under heaven given among men, whereby we must be saved.” “For whosoever shall call upon the name of the Lord shall be saved” (Romans 10:13 KJV).
In salvation God deals with the whole person: spirit, mind and body. The gospel of salvation includes justification, sanctification and glorification.
In the context of this great verse, the apostle Paul reminds his readers, "[18] For the wrath of God is revealed from heaven against all ungodliness and unrighteousness of men, who hold the truth in unrighteousness; [19] Because that which may be known of God is manifest in them; for God hath shewed it unto them" (Romans 1:18-19 KJV).
Therefore, we are all without excuse. "But we are sure that the judgment of God is according to truth against them which commit such things" (Romans 2:2 KJV). What “things”? Paul tells us in vivid detail in 1:18-3:20.
The Jews were guilty of breaking God’s revealed law. "(For not the hearers of the law are just before God, but the doers of the law shall be justified" (Romans 2:13 KJV). The only problem is no one, but Jesus Christ ever lived up to the Law. All stand guilty before God. “As it is written, There is none righteous, no, not one” (Romans 3:10 KJV). “For all have sinned, and come short of the glory of God” (Romans 3:23 KJV).
In vivid contrast Jesus Christ revealed the perfect righteousness of God.
However, not only have the Jewish people broken the written Law of God, but “[14] For when the Gentiles, which have not the law, do by nature the things contained in the law, these, having not the law, are a law unto themselves: [15] Which shew the work of the law written in their hearts, their conscience also bearing witness, and their thoughts the mean while accusing or else excusing one another;) [16] In the day when God shall judge the secrets of men by Jesus Christ according to my gospel." (Romans 2:14-16 KJV).
What was the problem? Again all stand guilty before God. “[11] For there is no respect of persons with God. [12] For as many as have sinned without law shall also perish without law: and as many as have sinned in the law shall be judged by the law; [13] (For not the hearers of the law are just before God, but the doers of the law shall be justified. [14] For when the Gentiles, which have not the law, do by nature the things contained in the law, these, having not the law, are a law unto themselves” (Romans 2:11-14 KJV).
What is the solution since we are all depraved sinners? Jesus Christ is our only hope. Salvation is a gift of God by His grace through the redemption that is in Christ Jesus (Rom. 3:22-25; Eph. 2:8-9; Rom. 5:6-8, 10:9-10, 13:8-11).
"For therein is the righteousness of God revealed from faith to faith: as it is written, The just shall live by faith” (Romans 1:17 KJV).
Are you Saved?
