How to Be Saved - Romans 10:1-17

By David Woods

Read "Introduction"

Read Romans 10:1-8

Discussion: How great a desire do we (the Church) have for the lost to be saved? (v. 1)

Discussion: If a person is sincere about being a good person, will he be saved? (v. 2)

True or False: Good works done to gain salvation = evil.  (v. 3)
(I would lean toward a "true" answer. While I would be hesitant to call the good-hearted intentions of people "evil", I think such good works done to gain salvation are evil in essence. Sin is rebellion against God. If one insists on trying gain salvation instead of accepting Christ's provision by faith, they are basically rejecting God and refusing to obey Him.)

Discussion: What does "Christ is the end of the law" mean? Has Christ abolished the Law? (v. 4)
(No, God's Law is not done away with, Matthew 5:17. Paul is saying that in Christ we no longer try to gain salvation by our adherence to the Law.)

Discussion: Why is it impossible to gain salvation through the Law? (v.5)

Discussion: Why would someone reject Christ and try to perform heroic deeds to gain salvation? What is the logic? (vv. 6-7)

Discussion: Restate verse eight in your own words. (v. 8)
(Teacher: Try to develop statement as class project. Write on white board. Suggestion: Gaining salvation is simple.)

Read Romans 10:9-17

Discussion: What is so attractive about doing good works to gain salvation, anyway? (v. 9)

Discussion: Why does it seem so hard for to believe? (v. 9)

Discussion: Can a person be a secret Christian? (v. 10)
(William Barclay wrote, "Christianity is something which is meant to be seen. As someone has well said, 'There can be no such thing as secret discipleship, for either the secrecy destroys the discipleship, or the discipleship destroys the secrecy.' A man's Christianity should be perfectly visible to all men.")

Discussion: Is "confession" limited to the altar/conversion experience of telling Christ He is the Lord of one's life?

Discussion: Why would someone be ashamed of Christ? (v. 11)

Discussion: Do Christians by their actions sometimes betray an ashamed-ness of Christ? How?

Internalize: "The Lord over all is rich unto all that call upon him." What does this mean? (v. 12)

Internalize: "For whosever shall call upon the name of the Lord shall be saved." What does this mean practically? (v. 13)

Discussion: Who is the "preacher" Paul talks about in verse fourteen?

Discussion: Can we honestly believe that only "ministers of the Gospel" (i.e. licensed/ordained ministers) are responsible for the salvation of the lost?

Discussion: What is the predicament of the person who does not hear the Gospel?
(He is condemned to a life of trying, but failing, to reach God. He is ignorant of the only way to salvation, he is exhausting himself doing worthless good works, and he is doomed to eternity in Hell.)

Discussion: There are millions and millions who have never heard the Good News. What is God telling you to do about this problem?