How Do You Know If You Are Saved? - Romans 10

10 Dear brothers and sisters, the longing of my heart and my prayer to God is for the people of Israel to be saved. 2 I know what enthusiasm they have for God, but it is misdirected zeal. 3 For they don’t understand God’s way of making people right with himself. Refusing to accept God’s way, they cling to their own way of getting right with God by trying to keep the law. 4 For Christ has already accomplished the purpose for which the law was given.  As a result, all who believe in him are made right with God.

Although Paul is known as the apostle to the Gentiles, it doesn't mean he doesn't have a heart for his fellow Jewish brothers and sisters.  He wants them to be saved every bit as much as anyone else.  It is not that they are lacking in enthusiasm but it is misdirected.  They have not put their efforts in the right place.  But worse than that, they have been shown the correct way to be made right with God, yet they stubbornly refuse to accept it.  They think they have a better way and completely miss the grace God has offered in Christ Jesus.  Their eyes are so focused on themselves, they can't see God's plan for them all along since he called them as His chosen people. 

Salvation Is for Everyone

5 For Moses writes that the law’s way of making a person right with God requires obedience to all of its commands. 6 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). 7 And don’t say, ‘Who will go down to the place of the dead?’ (to bring Christ back to life again).” 8 In fact, it say,“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: 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. 10 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. 11 As the Scriptures tell us, “Anyone who trusts in him will never be disgraced.” 12 Jew and Gentile are the same in this respect. They have the same Lord, who gives generously to all who call on him. 13 For “Everyone who calls on the name of the Lord will be saved.”

The problem with the law is that it demands perfection.  For if we are guilty of one part of the law, we are guilty of all of it.  Most importantly, the Jews misunderstood the purpose of the law.  The purpose of the law was to point out that they could not justify themselves, but God had a solution that would involve trusting in Him, which we call faith.  Faith is trust in God's promises.  God's promise of salvation had come in the person of His Son, Jesus. God's promise was translated into a message of faith and hope, which we call the "gospel", or the "Good News".  Its called "Good News" because at the heart of the message is that God has saved us not because of us perfectly keeping the Law, but by believing Jesus is the Lord and God raised him from the dead.

Paul also mentions the importance of publicly proclaiming one's belief in Jesus as Lord and Savior.  Some call this one's "testimony".  As with other commitments in your life, going public with something you believe in gives it a special meaning.  Some churches call this "profession of faith", "confirmation of faith", or "affirmation of baptism. Some churches recite the Apostle's Creed every every week.  In the Second Article we confess, "I believe Jesus Christ, God's only Son our Lord, who was conceived by the Virgin Mary, suffered under Pontius Pilate, was crucified, died and buried.  On the third he rose from the dead and ascended to the right hand of the Father. and he shall come to judge the living and the dead."  That about cover it don't you think?

Are you still trying to make yourself right with God by trying to keep the law or doing enough good deeds?  Have you put your faith in Jesus alone?  Have you publicly made testimony to your belief in Jesus?  The Good News which Paul states in Roman 10:9 is, "Everyone who calls on the name of the Lord will be saved."  God loves everyone and wants them to be saved by believing in His Son.