The Key to Salvation

Posted on August 13, 2023

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1 Kings 19:9-18

Psalm 85:8-13

Romans 10:5-15

Matthew 14:22-33

If only people would read Romans 10 more often how much better would their understanding be about salvation. The key to salvation is written within just a few verses here in particularly verse 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.” That is it, right there, so simple and yet so powerful. Yet there are so many in our world today that do not understand this verse and unfortunately so many out in the world preaching but fail to preach this very message which is the key to salvation. I am sure there are many reasons for this whether it be fear or a desire of all-inclusiveness. However, by not preaching this message a great disservice is being made to the world.

Romans 10:14 starts off by saying, “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?” How will anyone know the key to salvation unless someone tells them. If we keep it to ourselves or hidden within these scriptures then we in affect are causing harm to the world and condemning the world. I have witnessed for myself other pastors and have been guilty myself at times of wimping out when we are called upon to deliver this very truth to someone when they need to hear it the most. And sadly, we may never get a chance again to share that message because we blew our only opportunity. All we had to do is site Romans 10:9 and it would be enough. But no instead we find ways to justify why it is ok for people to believe whatever they want to believe in regards to salvation. As a result, we have this concept that there is more than one truth which is impossible based upon the definition of truth. But hey people have hard enough time defining the meaning of truth in the first place. Maybe the reason why it is so difficult to define is because we do not stand behind the truth when it really matters. There can only be one truth and there is only one way to salvation and that is through Jesus alone. Could God have made other ways to salvation if he decided to? Absolutely he could have done so for he is God, but according to His word, he didn’t.

We read about Elijah this morning, he is out in the wilderness and running for his life. He spoke the truth in power through the Holy Spirit but now is afraid for his life. God shows up though and tells him to go up to the mountain because he is going to pass by. It seems that there is this huge storm of events happening on this mountain that if it were any one of us witnessing this, we would be very afraid but the scriptures do not speak to that of Elijah’s fear of wind tearing the mountain apart or of the earthquake or of the fire. He seems to be more afraid of Jezebell which I can understand because she was a pretty scary woman. But you see God was not in any of these scary events of nature taking place. Elijah hears this still voice and this is God coming to him in calmness to save him from his fear. God commands him to anoint two new kings and a new prophet to take his place after he is gone. God also explains what will happen through these men that Elijah is to anoint. These three are going to put to death all of those who turned against him and bowed their heads to worship and kiss the feet of the false idol Baal. Notice that Baal was not the pathway to salvation for these people who worshipped him. This is because there is only one way to salvation and it is through a faith in God alone.

Yet it is not enough to just believe in God to receive salvation. We are told that even demons believe in God and fear God but there is no salvation for them as they choose disobedience and evil. Muslims believe in one God whom they call Allah but there is no path to salvation in the faith of Islam. Jews believe in God as well yet they will still die in their sins even though they believe in the same God. So how then are we to be saved?

In Matthew 14, Jesus just finished feeding a great multitude of people with just a few fish and loaves of bread. He then sends his disciples out ahead of him in a boat. There is a great storm that comes and it seems that they are dead in the water as the waves and wind are against them and keeping them from going anywhere. Jesus then appears to them walking on the water. They see him and are afraid but Peter asks for Jesus to call him out on the water. While Peter has his eyes on Jesus, he is able to walk on the water with him. However, when he takes his eyes off of Jesus he begins to sink and cries out to Jesus to save him. He says, “Lord please save me!” Jesus reaches out his hand and saves Peter from drowning and when they get back on the boat, they all worship Jesus and confessing with their mouths that he is truly the Son of God.

So then what must one do to be saved? What is the key to salvation? There are two parts according to what we read in our scripture passages for today. One part is through the mouth and one part is through the heart. “If you declare (or confess) with your mouth, ‘Jesus is Lord.’” Lord of who? Lord of your life. So, confess with your mouth, not just acknowledging this in your head or to yourself or in silence. But confessing out loud with your mouth and not being afraid of what others may think of you, that you know Jesus as the Lord of your life. Then the second part is with the heart. “Believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead.” You must believe that he is Lord and that he died for you and that God raised him up from the dead and by doing so he raises you also from the sin in your life that will cause you eternal death. By confessing and believing in the truth you will be saved. This is the key to salvation. This is what you must share with your loved ones who do not yet know Jesus as their Lord and Savior. You don’t have to worry about being embarrassed about sharing this truth as he tells us we will not be put to shame for our faith. If you simply quote the scripture itself and they still reject it then it is not you who they are rejecting but it is God’s Word that they reject. We who believe though will never be put to shame and though there may be some who try to persecute you for what you believe, you will not be put to shame for your faith and confession brings you salvation and an eternity in paradise with the Lord. Have you found the key to salvation for your life? If yes, how will others have salvation if you do not share it with them? Then again, how will you really have salvation if you will not confess to them truth that you know? Will you share this key with those whom you love? I pray that you do.