Romans 10

These verses contain statements that are often misinterpreted, especially by evangelicals. For example, Paul states in verse 13, "For whosoever shall call upon the name of the Lord shall be saved." There are many that believe that all they have to do is confess, or say, that Jesus Christ is my Savior and that person then has salvation. Following this logic, they teach that a person who has spent their life murdering, stealing, or other serious sins can confess at the point of death that Jesus is their Savior and that person will go to heaven. While another person who has lived a righteous live will be condemned to hell because they never made that confession. But even many evangelicals will say this confession only is "cheap salvation." It should be remembered that in this chapter Paul couples confession of the "word of faith" with belief. And in chapter 2 of Romans, he has already taught that true faith includes works. A person should confess their faith, we call it bearing testimony. But true faith also involves hearing and doing.

More importantly, we forget that underlying this chapter and all of Romans is the contrast between the gentiles being accepted of God and the Jews, or Israel, being rejected because of their rejection of Christ and of hearing the words of those sent to testify of him. I like what Verse by Verse, Acts through Revelation states about this chapter, "The basic message Paul attempts to convey follows a logical progression. The heavens testified of the glory of God. But the Gentiles, who were not a single nation forged by God the way the Jews were, understood better than Israel did. Israel itself is responsible for its rejection by God owing to disobedience.