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9 If you declare with your mouth, “Jesus is Lord,” and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved. 10 For it is with your heart that you believe and are justified, and it is with your mouth that you profess your faith and are saved. 11 As Scripture says, “Anyone who believes in him will never be put to shame.” 12 For there is no difference between Jew and Gentile—the same Lord is Lord of all and richly blesses all who call on him, 13 for, “Everyone who calls on the name of the Lord will be saved.”
14 How, then, can they call on the one they have not believed in? And how can they believe in the one of whom they have not heard? And how can they hear without someone preaching to them? 15 And how can anyone preach unless they are sent? As it is written: “How beautiful are the feet of those who bring good news!”
Romans 10:9-15
Devotional
Romans 10:9-15 is one of the clearest passages about how a person is saved and who is involved in that salvation process. First, let’s look at how a person is saved. Then, let’s look at who is involved in that salvation.
This passage tells us that salvation comes to anyone and to everyone who will confess with their mouth that “Jesus is Lord” and believe in the heart that God brought Jesus back from the dead. This biblical text promises that they will be saved. The salvation certainty is based on the character and work of God, not on the person doing the believing. It requires faith, that is, belief in Christ–who he is and what he did for us. What an incredible gift from God! Simply believe in the Crucifixion of Christ and the Resurrection of Christ and confess with your mouth publicly that Jesus Christ is your Lord–and you will be saved. Why? Because sincerely making that confession requires repentance and surrender to Christ. It is important to notice that the text continues to explain how a person “who calls on the name of the Lord will be saved.”
The key word is “calls.” The transition between vs.13 and vs.14 is connected through this word. The Scripture is informing us that no person can call on the Lord and believe unless they first have someone else tell them the story of the cross and empty tomb. After hearing the story, they may believe it and make a confession and be saved. However, how can anyone hear this story of love, grace, and forgiveness unless someone else who has experienced it tells them? So, someone must be sent. Again, Jesus said, “the harvest is plentiful, but the laborers are few. Ask the Lord of the harvest to send out workers.” And yes, beautiful are the feet of those who bring good news through telling their stories of life change in Christ. Jesus does the saving, and he chooses to use the beautiful feet of people who don’t discount their story of “Good News.”
7 How beautiful on the mountains are the feet of those who bring good news, who proclaim peace, who bring good tidings, who proclaim salvation, who say to Zion, “Your God reigns!
Isaiah 52:7