The Path to Salvation

INTRO
    Paul now begins to explain the steps that are necessary for someone to call on the Lord for salvation. He traces out in logical order what must take place. The importance of this in the context of Romans 9-11 is:
1) to show that this process took place among the Jews so they are without excuse for their rejection of Christ. They heard the gospel but did not heed the gospel.
2) to show that this same process is reaping a spiritual harvest of souls among the Gentiles to make Israel jealous with the hopes of moving them toward Christ.

I. THE PATH TO SALVATION EXPLAINED.

A. A five step process for salvation (vv. 13-15).

1 - In order to be saved, one must call on the Lord (v. 13);
2 - In order to call on the Lord, one must believe;
3 - In order to believe, one must hear the gospel of Christ;
4 - In order to hear, there must be a preacher;
5 - In order for one to preach, he must be sent.

B. A two step summary (v. 17).

1) Saving faith comes by hearing
2) hearing comes by (Grk = dia, or "through") the word of Christ,that is, by the preaching of             the word of Christ (vv. 8-9).

II. TWO ESSENTIAL TRUTHS FROM THIS "PATH TO SALVATION."

A. The doctrine of election and missions go together.

1) The doctrine of election does not minimize the importance of missions. A common objection against Calvinism is "If you believe that God chooses whom He will save before the foundation of the world, and it is He that chooses us and there is nothing we can do about it, THEN WHY EVANGELIZE?

The reason why election and evangelism go together is because as God has ordained WHO will be saved, He has also ordained HOW He will save them. And the means of bringing the elect to saving faith is through the preaching of the gospel by evangelists and missionaries. Thus, missions is a vital part of God’s plan to save the elect.

2) The vital role of evangelists and missionaries.

a) They must be sent. Both by God (Acts 9:15), and through the endorsement of leaders in a local church (Acts 13:1-4).

We should also pray toward this end (Lk. 10:2).

b) Their feet are beautiful (Isa. 52:7).

This is a figure of speech called a SYNECDOCHE (exchange) OF THE PART FOR THE WHOLE, where the feet are put for the character of the whole life:

Psa. 17:5 My steps have held fast to Thy paths. My feet have not slipped. (feet = obedient lifestyle)
Psa. 25:15 My eyes are continually toward the LORD, For He will pluck my feet out of the net.
Psa. 31:8 And Thou hast not given me over into the hand of the enemy; Thou hast set my feet in a large place.
Psa. 40:2 He brought me up out of the pit of destruction, out of the miry clay; And He set my feet upon a rock making my footsteps firm.
Rom. 3:15 "Their feet are swift to shed blood, (character of feet = character of heart to plan and act)
Rom. 10:15 "How beautiful are the feet of those who bring good news of good things!" (feet = the missionaries who bring the gospel to the lost)

B. There is only one way to salvation.

The gospel of Christ is exclusive, meaning that Christ is the only way to heaven. The modern gospel, however, is inclusive, meaning that it many, if not all, who follow non-Christian religions will go to heaven. The Westminster Confession calls this inclusive teaching "very pernicious and detestable".

You can find this inclusivism view growing in three circles:

1) Liberals.

2) Roman Catholicism.

3) Evangelicals.

CONCLUSION