What is Salvation?

For 8/7/2011
Romans 10:8-17 From The Message Version

Today Paul gives us the ‘core’ of his preaching; what is salvation and what needs to be done for those who do not know about it. Paul’s writing can be difficult to follow but these paraphrases from The Message offer a perspective that reads differently than the conventional texts which supplements the other translations.

Define salvation, how would you explain it to someone who does not have a church background? Has your understanding of it changed over time?

Romans 10:8-10 It's the word of faith that welcomes God to go to work and set things right for us. This is the core of our preaching. Say the welcoming word to God—"Jesus is my Master"—embracing, body and soul, God's work of doing in us what he did in raising Jesus from the dead. That's it. You're not "doing" anything; you're simply calling out to God, trusting him to do it for you. That's salvation. With your whole being you embrace God setting things right, and then you say it, right out loud: "God has set everything right between him and me!"

• How does Paul describe salvation? What are the components? What is our role and what is God’s? Where is Jesus in our path to salvation?
• A core of this scripture is “God doing in us what he did in raising Jesus from the dead.” How does salvation raise us from the dead? What do we learn from the resurrection that might apply to our own salvation? Can you explain how we are different before and after salvation?
• What must we affirm to receive salvation? What did you affirm when you verbalized your commitment?
• What allows “God to go to work”? What happens as a result of God’s action? How do you feel about the reality that our faith sets things right with God and how important is this to you as you live your daily life?
• For Paul this reality changed his life and became the focus, direction and in a very real sense brought him the strength to be able to do what he did. What should we expect to occur because of a sound relationship with God? How would you imagine your life if this was not a reality to you?

11-13Scripture reassures us, "No one who trusts God like this—heart and soul—will ever regret it." It's exactly the same no matter what a person's religious background may be: the same God for all of us, acting the same incredibly generous way to everyone who calls out for help. "Everyone who calls, 'Help, God!' gets help."

This scripture comes in the midst of Paul’s struggle to explain the fate of the Jews now that Christ is a reality. It is tied to and refers to the prior scripture about salvation.

• What is the assurance that flows from this scripture? Who should feel assured? Who should not?
• Look back at our discussion on salvation, must a person meet these criteria before God will act in “the in same incredibly generous way” for them? Do you think that God ignores the calls for help from those who do not express a faith in Christ?
• The scripture refers to trusting God – trusting that God will respond to our faith – in terms of salvation. But after salvation what should we be trusting that God will be and do on our behalf? What does it take on our part to be able to build confidence that these things will occur?
• Have you ever chosen to make a decision or respond in a way that reflects confidence that God is present with you?

14-17But how can people call for help if they don't know who to trust? And how can they know who to trust if they haven't heard of the One who can be trusted? And how can they hear if nobody tells them? And how is anyone going to tell them, unless someone is sent to do it? That's why Scripture exclaims,
A sight to take your breath away!
Grand processions of people
telling all the good things of God!
But not everybody is ready for this, ready to see and hear and act. Isaiah asked what we all ask at one time or another: "Does anyone care, God? Is anyone listening and believing a word of it?" The point is: Before you trust, you have to listen. But unless Christ's Word is preached, there's nothing to listen to.

• Sum up the main points of this scripture; what is Paul urging upon us? Are there things that you agree with or have questions about it?
• Paul lived out this scripture, it became the focus of his life which he zealously pursued until his death. But what does it mean for me today with my responsibilities and problems, what should be expected of me?
• What is your reaction to ‘how can they know’ – what level of priority should we place on giving others the salvation message? How do you feel about the responsibility he seems to place upon us?
• What frustration does this diligent proclaimer of the word seem to incur? Can you relate to it and does it impact your actively taking on the telling of the salvation story yourself?
• So what have you learned today? What are you taking home after discussing Paul’s message this morning?

Closing Prayer
Almighty God, who has poured upon us the new light of Jesus, grant us that the same light ignited in our hearts might shine forth in our lives. We pray that the life of Christ within us turns all our fears to freedom helping us live for others. Amen.


Next Week’s Lectionary Scriptures: Genesis 45:1-15 or Isaiah 56:1, 6-8, Psalm 133 or Psalm 67, Romans 11:1-2a, 29-32, Matthew 15:(10-20), 21-28