Rom_10:13-14

3. Romans 10:13-14
Romans 10:13 is also sometimes used as a condition for salvation, "For whosoever shall call upon the name of the Lord shall be saved." The word "saved" here would be better translated "delivered" as the context will show. Romans 10:13 states, "For whosoever shall call upon the name of the LORD, shall be saved." This is a direct quote from Joel 2:32 where "saved" is translated "delivered" from the Hebrew. This is not speaking of salvation; but, being delivered, or saved, from the persecution they were going to receive after they were identified as being a Christian.

Before Paul was saved, he consented to Stephen's death. (See Acts 7:1-60).

"And Saul was consenting unto his (Stephen's) death. And at that time there was a great persecution against the church..." - Acts 8:1.

After Paul was saved, he suffered great persecution for being a Christian. He testified to the Thessalonians,

"For ye brethren...also have suffered like things of your own countrymen, even as they have of the Jews: (14) Who both killed the Lord Jesus, and their own prophets, and have persecuted us; (15) ...Forbidding us to speak to the Gentiles that they might be saved..."-1 Thessalonians 2:14-16. To the Corinthians he wrote,

"We are troubled on every side, yet not distressed; we are perplexed, but not in despair; (8) Persecuted, but not forsaken; cast down, but not destroyed." - Corinthians 4:8,9.

Calling upon the Lord has nothing to do with salvation; but, is a privilege given to those who are already saved. This is clarified by Romans 10:14, "How then shall they call upon him in whom they have not believed." The question has arisen, "If we are already saved before we call upon Him, then what do we call upon Him for?"

Romans 10:12 will shed some light,

"For there is no difference between the Jew and the Greek: for the same Lord over all is rich unto all that call upon him (Christ)." The phrase that the "Lord over all is rich unto all that call upon him" cannot be speaking of salvation as those that called were already saved by faith. So,the being "rich to those that call" must pertain to additional blessings and provisions after salvation.

Here are several important things to consider:

A. No Difference Between Jew & Greek
"There is no difference between the Jew and Greek" (Gentile). (Romans 10:12) There is no preference or special privileges because of nationality. The Lord is dealing with individuals regardless of race. Remember, the Jewish people had the advantage over the Gentiles because unto them were committed the oracles of God (Romans 3:1-2). When, nationally, they rejected their Messiah, God temporarily stopped working through them as a nation. He is reminding them that, individually, Gentile and Jew will be treated alike; even though Israel, as a nation, has been temporarily set aside.

B. Great Persecutions
Christians, at this time, faced great persecutions for the name of Christ.

Those that called upon Him were the saved.
The Lord promised to be rich upon all that called.
He also promised to deliver those who called. With this in mind, the passage should become clear. Those that believed in Christ, knowing they were going to face persecutions, could now call upon the Lord to deliver them. He would be rich unto them by giving them strength and boldness to confess Him. He would be rich in comforting them during their trials or whatever need they might have had. We, who are saved today, must also call upon the Lord to supply our needs, give us boldness to witness and comfort to go through our trials or whatever need we may have. But I can say, as Paul did, "I can do all things through Christ which strengtheneth me,"

...only because the Lord is rich upon all (saved) that call upon Him.

Now, let us look at Romans 10:13-14 together.

"For whosoever shall call upon the name of the Lord, shall be saved (i.e., ‘delivered'). (13) How then shall they call on Him in whom they have not believed..." (14)

Therefore, those who are believers in Christ now have the privilege to call upon the Lord, to deliver them through whatever persecution they may endure. These verses have nothing to do with coming to the front of the church and confessing Christ.

Since the portions of Scripture we have been considering, Romans 10:9-10 and Romans 10:13-14 are often quoted to motivate people to come to the front of a church to confess Christ, we might consider this summary:

Confession is not a condition for salvation. Many people are confused by mixing salvation with the work of confessing.

Nothing is said in Scripture about coming to the front of a church.

People are made to feel as though they are not saved if they do not come forward, and this is not what the Scriptures teach.

Nothing is said in Scripture about confession being simultaneous with salvation. The author was saved a year or so before he confessed Christ publicly.

Many say you can be saved in your seat, but then will not invite people to actually trust Christ where they sit.

Many want to be saved but do not want to stand before a crowd of people. If God does not make this a condition for salvation, what right do we have to make it a condition? Should we not give the lost every opportunity that God does?

We need to remember that confession is not always simultaneous with salvation. It takes time to grow, and confession comes with growth. Many have left a church service lost, with their blood on the preacher's hands because he wanted to make the people do something that God did not require for salvation.

God's Work Done God's Way Yields A Bountiful Harvest.
A Clear Gospel Produces Believers; Not Counterfeit Christians.