What must I do to be saved? That question is the subject of much debate and much confusion as you might expect. But in our lesson today Paul answers that questionwith plain, unmistakable clarity. He says, "...if you confess with your mouth Jesus as Lord and believe in your heart that God raised Him from the dead, you will be saved." There's nothing confusing in that statement. A child can understand it, and anyone can do it. He's telling us that God has already done all the work. He has provided everything we need for salvation and now requires of us only that we confess and believe, assuring us that if we do we will most certainly be saved. So why is that so hard for so many people? All the work has been done, and the response required of us is easily understood and quite doable, yet something inside the human heart still wrestles against it. Apparently, being saved is easy, but getting the human heart to take those steps is not. Confessing a Lord requires humility, a quality not initially present in most of us. And believing in a resurrected Savior means acknowledging my own desperate need and accepting as fact the most profound miracle imaginable. So the steps I need to take are simple, but preparing my heart to take them is not.

Paul isn't offering us mere words to recite here. Salvation doesn't come from a superficial prayer. He's inviting us to make two deep heartfelt decisions... and to continue in those decisions for a lifetime: To confess Jesus as our Lord and to live out the implications of that confession, and to cling to Him as our risen Savior, trusting that He forgives us and is our righteousness no matter what condemnation and shame try to come our way. So simple, but yet so hard!

To receive a free copy of Dr. Steve Schell's book Understanding Romans, email us at info@lifelessonspublishing.com and ask for your copy at no charge. The book has all the notes from each sermon in this series.

Also check out our website at lifelessonspublishing.com for additional resources for pastors and leaders. We have recorded classes and other materials offered at no charge.

And if you would like to receive a copy of Pastor Steve's newest book Study Verse by Verse: Revelation at no charge, we are still giving this book out as well!