The will of God is that all people be saved. Paul has said this over and over again that what is needed is faith. Here is the heart of the Gospel, the salvation of man. Today let’s look at three aspects of salvation by faith.
I. Inspect the direction of zealousness (vs.1-3)
First let’s look at the point that you aren’t saved by just being zealous. Look at verses 1 to 3. Paul always deeply desired that his fellow men, the Israelites be saved. They were certainly zealous toward God, but unfortunately, their zealousness was not based upon correct knowledge. To put it another way, their zealousness was not based upon a knowledge of God, but was zealousness of their own.
In our life of faith, having zealousness is very important. It is like the engine of a car. The car won’t move unless the engine is turned on. In the same way, if there is no zealousness, there is no change in a person’s life. The Bible tells us that zealousness is important. For example, Romans 12:11, and Rev. 3:15. God wants us to be either hot or cold. God wants us to return to the basics of our faith. When we first entered the faith we were so enthusiastic, but that enthusiasm gradually faded without us realizing it. Heat heats other objects and influences them. The heat becomes cold. Therefore, we need to continuously reset our faith by being enthusiastic and repenting.
The problem is the direction. The Israelites were certainly enthusiastic, but the direction of their enthusiasm was wrong. They were zealous towards God, but their zealousness was not based upon correct knowledge. It wasn’t based upon the Word of God. Therefore, even though they had zealousness, it was completely in the wrong place. They were completely outside of the will of God.
For example, Paul was like this. Before he was saved he was very zealous. The Bible tells us that he was so zealous that he arrested those who believed in Jesus and put them in the prison. He thought that a person who was put on the tree was to be cursed and there was no way that such a person could be the Son of God. He thought that those who believed in Christ were blaspheming God. He went to Damascus to arrest the Christians. In today’s world that would mean persecuting Christians not only in your country, but also going to a foreign country to persecute them. What he was doing for God was actually being against God, and being an obstacle to the Kingdom of God. This is zealousness that doesn’t bring life, but kills. It is zealousness not for God, but a zealousness of your own. Enthusiasm is a wonderful thing, but if that enthusiasm is not rooted in the Word of God, it can become like this. We all have this tendency. Therefore, Jesus said to Martha the words recorded in Luke 10:41-42.
Before we start running around being enthusiastic, we need to learn from Mary. Mary didn’t run around being hospitable to Jesus. Reversely, she sat at the feet of Jesus and listened to the Word of God. After a while, Martha who was fretting and was anxious came to Jesus and asked him to tell Mary to help her. Jesus answered Martha telling her, “You are worried and upset about many things, but few things are needed-or indeed only one. Mary has chosen what is better, and it will not be taken away from her.” (Luke 10:41,42) What “Mary has chosen” (Luke 10:42) which is better is to listen to the Word of God. We need to first listen to the Word of God and then run. We need to make prayer and the Word of God first, realize what the will of God is, open our ears to the Word of God and then we should eagerly serve the Lord. While making worship and prayer meetings a priority, upon that foundation we should build our life of faith and build up our life. This is what Mary chose. This is what Jesus desires of us. When the direction of our zealousness is right, then there is meaning.
II. The salvation of Christ (vs. 3-7)
Next let’s look at the right direction which is Jesus Christ. Let’s look at verses 3 to 7. First in verse 3 the reason why they went the wrong direction is given. God’s righteousness is an important theme of the Bible and runs consistently throughout the Old Testament. That is how we mankind can be accepted by God, in other words, how we can be saved. They didn’t know the salvation that God had prepared for them and tried to obtain salvation by themselves. They didn’t follow God’s way of salvation. However, the Bible says, “All men have sinned and fallen short of the glory of God.” (Romans 3:23) Man was born as a sinner. If he opens his mouth, he curses and speaks bitterly. It is like a poisonous snake spitting out poison everywhere. This is because man has sin within him. This is what mankind is like. Therefore, man can never meet the demands of God. Even if we were to outwardly completely follow the law, God who can see our hearts and thoughts would never be ale to accept us.
Therefore we should not depend upon our own righteousness, but follow God’s righteousness, Jesus Christ. “Christ is the end of the law so that there may be righteousness for everyone who believes.” (4) No matter how strong a will, no matter how high of morals, no matter how much steel like strength, none of these things can solve the power of sin, but Jesus through the cross, was able to do this. This is the method that God prepared. The methods of world were impossible, but God’s cross was the special method that God prepared. By God having His only Son die on the cross, the price of each of our sins were paid on our behalf. Therefore, we need to just believe that Jesus who died on the cross is our Savior and live depending upon him. God gave this only one way to be saved to the world
Acts.4:1
Jesus also said that through the cross Jesus was the only way to be saved.
John 14:6
However, mankind is stupid and thinks of other solutions. Even though the road of the cross is the way to life, they try taking other roads. For example, they compare themselves with other people. However, God does not grade on the curve. Anyone who believes can go to heaven. Also if you do not repent and believe in Jesus Christ then you will go to hell.
Other people think that if they do good things they will be saved.
Romans 6:23
No matter how small a sin we sin, the result is death. Doing just a little good won’t cover it. However, God by sending his Son to die on the cross, Christ took upon himself all of our sins. Therefore, we need to believe in Jesus who died in our place on the cross so that our sins would be forgiven.
III. Depend on our Lord Jesus (vs. 8-13)
Therefore, the third point is to depend on our Lord Jesus. Let’s look at verses8-13.
We need to only believe in the words of faith. If you confess with your mouth and believe in your heart that Jesus is Lord, then you will be saved. In order to go to heaven, it is not necessary to strive to do many things, but to concentrate on Christ, and to believe from your heart the Gospel, and to confess with your lips. “For it is with your heart that you believe and are justified, and it is with your mouth that you confess and are saved.” (10) “It is with your heart that you believe” (10) means that you accept the Gospel, in other words, the salvation of Christ that God prepared in your heart. “With your mouth that you confess” means not to hide and clearly say what you believe. Baptism is one way to do this. In other words, this Gospel of Jesus’ cross is to be believed in with your whole heart. This is not just by words. It is not going around acting like a Christian. It is to respond with your whole self to the salvation that Jesus obtained by his life. This is faith. God gave Christ that through Him God gave us salvation and this the only way that we can be saved. There is no other way. There is no difference between Jews and Greeks. “The same Lord is Lord of all and richly blesses all who call on him.” (12) Anyone who calls upon him will be saved. ”Everyone who calls on the name of the Lord will be saved.” (13) What are you looking at as you live? What are you zealous for? Jesus Christ is our savior that God prepared so that we could be led to heaven. “Let us fix our eyes on Jesus, the author and perfecter of our faith.” (Hebrews 12:1) Let’s keep our eyes fixed on Jesus, concentrate on Him, and climb the stairs to Heaven one step at a time.