One Door for All

Everyone who calls on the name of the Lord will be saved. Romans 10:13

Passages of Scripture like Romans 10:8–13 help us to see that all are welcome in the family of God; there’s no back door. All enter the same way—through belief in Jesus’ death for cleansing and forgiveness. The biblical word for this transformative experience is saved (vv. 9, 13). Your social situation or racial status or that of others doesn’t factor into the equation. “As Scripture says, ‘Anyone who believes in him will never be put to shame.’ For there is no difference between Jew and Gentile—the same Lord is Lord of all and richly blesses all who call on him” (vv. 11–12). Do you believe in your heart the Bible’s message about Jesus? Welcome to the family! By Arthur Jackson REFLECT & PRAY

What evidence is there in your life that you’ve believed the Bible’s message about forgiveness through Jesus? Who do you know that needs to hear the good news about Christ? Father, my heart rejoices that You so loved the world that You sent Jesus.

Scripture Insight 

After declaring that we’re all sinners (Romans 1–3), Paul explains how God justifies us through Christ’s death on the cross (chs. 4–8). In chapters 9–11, he explains that many Jews are still not saved because they’ve rejected God’s way of salvation and maintain that they must meticulously keep the law to have a right relationship with Him (10:3–4). Paul explains, “People are made right with God when they believe that Jesus sacrificed his life, shedding his blood” (3:25 nlt). The apostle calls these Jewish brothers and sisters—and everyone—to believe in Christ: “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” (10:9). God’s way of salvation is the same for all people—whether Jews or gentiles (v. 12): “Everyone who calls on the name of the Lord will be saved” (v. 13).

K. T. Sim