Series Theme: Romans: The Gospel of God’s Righteousness, Grace, and Transforming Power.
Sermon Title: The Righteousness That Comes by Faith
Primary Scripture: Romans 10:1–21
Key Verse: Romans 10:13 — “For whosoever shall call upon the name of the Lord shall be saved.” (KJV)
Theme: Salvation is available to everyone who trusts in Jesus Christ, not through religious works or personal righteousness, but through faith in the risen Savior.
Central Truth: God offers salvation through Jesus Christ to all who believe, and He calls His people to proclaim that good news to the world.
Sermon Prep: Romans 10 Study
Sermon Slide Deck: CLICK HERE to DOWNLOAD
Sermon Length: Approximately 25–30 minutes
1. Suggested Order of Worship
- Welcome and Announcements
- Opening Prayer
- Congregational Hymn — To God Be the Glory
- Scripture Reading — Romans 10:8–15
- Congregational Hymn — Wonderful Words of Life
- Offertory Scripture and Prayer
- Receiving of Tithes and Offerings
- Special Music or Congregational Hymn — Blessed Assurance
- Pastoral Prayer Before the Sermon
- Sermon — The Righteousness That Comes by Faith
- Invitation Hymn — Just As I Am
- Invitation Prayer
- Benediction
2. Opening Prayer
Heavenly Father,
We come into Your presence this morning with grateful hearts, praising You for Your goodness, mercy, and faithfulness.
You are the God who created us, the God who sustains us, and the God who loved us enough to send Your only begotten Son into the world to save us from our sins.
Lord, we thank You that salvation is not reserved for the wealthy, the educated, the powerful, or the religious. Your grace reaches across every boundary and extends to all who trust in Jesus Christ.
As we worship today, open our hearts to Your Word. Remove the distractions that compete for our attention. Strengthen those who are weary, comfort those who are grieving, encourage those who are discouraged, and draw those who are lost to the Savior.
May every hymn we sing, every prayer we offer, and every word we hear bring glory to Your holy name.
We ask these things in the name of Jesus Christ, our Lord and Savior.
Amen.
3. Offertory Scripture and Prayer
Scripture: 2 Corinthians 9:7 (KJV)
“Every man according as he purposeth in his heart, so let him give; not grudgingly, or of necessity: for God loveth a cheerful giver.”
Offertory Prayer
Heavenly Father,
You have blessed us in ways too numerous to count. You provide our daily bread, sustain us through difficulties, and surround us with reminders of Your goodness.
Above all, You have given us the greatest gift of all—salvation through Jesus Christ.
As we receive these tithes and offerings, help us give with grateful and cheerful hearts.
Bless these gifts and use them to support the ministry of this church, share the Gospel with the lost, encourage believers, and meet the needs of those who are struggling.
May our giving reflect our love for You and our desire to see others come to know Jesus Christ.
In His precious name we pray.
Amen.
4. Prayer Before the Sermon
Father,
As we open the tenth chapter of Romans, we thank You for the wonderful simplicity of the Gospel.
We confess that people often make salvation more complicated than You intended. We try to earn what You freely offer. We attempt to establish our own righteousness rather than receive the righteousness that comes through faith in Christ.
Lord, open our understanding today.
Help us recognize the difference between religious activity and saving faith.
Remind us that Jesus Christ has accomplished what we could never accomplish for ourselves.
And as we hear Paul’s words about the necessity of preaching the Gospel, burden our hearts for those who have never heard and those who have heard but have not believed.
Speak through Your Word today, and may Jesus Christ be glorified.
In His name we pray.
Amen.
5. Sermon Manuscript
The Righteousness That Comes by Faith
Romans 10:1–21
Introduction: The Most Important Question
There are many important questions we face in life.
Where will I live?
How will I provide for my family?
What will happen to my health?
What does the future hold?
But there is one question more important than all the others.
How can a sinful person be made right with a holy God?
That is the question Paul has been answering throughout the book of Romans.
In the opening chapters, he demonstrated that everyone is a sinner.
The religious person is a sinner.
The irreligious person is a sinner.
The educated person is a sinner.
The uneducated person is a sinner.
Romans 3:23 declares:
“For all have sinned, and come short of the glory of God.”
Paul then explained that no one can earn righteousness through obedience to the Law.
Instead, God provides righteousness through faith in Jesus Christ.
In Romans 9, we considered God’s sovereignty, His faithfulness to His promises, and His mercy toward sinners.
Now, in Romans 10, Paul turns our attention to the human response to the Gospel.
And he makes something wonderfully clear.
Salvation is not achieved by human effort. It is received through faith in Jesus Christ.
There are five truths I want us to consider this morning.
I. Religious Sincerity Cannot Save Us (Romans 10:1–4)
Paul begins this chapter with a statement that reveals his heart.
Romans 10:1 says:
“Brethren, my heart’s desire and prayer to God for Israel is that they might be saved.”
Remember what Paul told us in chapter 9.
He was deeply grieved because so many of his fellow Israelites had rejected Jesus Christ.
And now he tells us that he is praying for their salvation.
That is important.
Paul believed in the sovereignty of God, but he also believed in the necessity of prayer and evangelism.
He did not say, “If God wants them saved, there is nothing for me to do.”
He prayed for them.
He preached to them.
He pleaded with them to trust Christ.
Then Paul identifies their problem.
Romans 10:2 says:
“For I bear them record that they have a zeal of God, but not according to knowledge.”
They were sincere.
They were enthusiastic.
They were devoted to their religious traditions.
But they were wrong about the way of salvation.
And here is a truth we must understand.
A person can be sincerely religious and still be spiritually lost.
Sincerity does not make something true.
Religious enthusiasm does not guarantee a right relationship with God.
Paul understood this personally.
Before his conversion, he had been a zealous Pharisee.
He believed he was serving God when he persecuted Christians.
He was sincere, but he was sincerely wrong.
The Problem of Self-Righteousness
Romans 10:3 explains:
“For they being ignorant of God’s righteousness, and going about to establish their own righteousness, have not submitted themselves unto the righteousness of God.”
Their problem was not a lack of religious activity.
Their problem was that they were trying to establish their own righteousness.
They believed that obedience to the Law could make them acceptable to God.
But the Law reveals our sin. It cannot provide the righteousness we need.
Paul then makes a remarkable statement in verse 4:
“For Christ is the end of the law for righteousness to every one that believeth.”
The word end carries the idea of goal or culmination. Christ fulfills the Law’s purpose and brings the attempt to gain righteousness through the Law to its conclusion.
Jesus accomplished what we could never accomplish.
He obeyed the Father perfectly.
He fulfilled the righteous requirements of God’s Law.
And through His death and resurrection, He provided the way of salvation.
Illustration: The Wrong Road
Suppose you are driving to an unfamiliar destination.
You are completely convinced that you know the way.
You drive confidently for an hour.
But eventually, you discover that you have been traveling in the wrong direction.
Your sincerity does not change your destination.
You can be absolutely sincere and still be on the wrong road.
The same is true spiritually.
A person may sincerely believe that good works, religious ceremonies, or church membership will get him into heaven.
But sincerity cannot replace the truth of God’s Word.
Jesus said in John 14:6:
“I am the way, the truth, and the life: no man cometh unto the Father, but by me.”
Application
Let me ask you a personal question.
What are you trusting to get you into heaven?
Are you trusting your church membership?
Your baptism?
Your good deeds?
Your religious upbringing?
Or are you trusting Jesus Christ?
Religion cannot save you.
Only Jesus can save you.
II. Salvation Is Received Through Faith (Romans 10:5–10)
Paul now contrasts two approaches to righteousness.
The first attempts to establish righteousness through obedience to the Law.
The second receives righteousness through faith.
In verses 6–8, Paul draws upon Deuteronomy 30.
He explains that we do not have to climb into heaven to bring Christ down.
We do not have to descend into the depths to bring Christ up from the dead.
God has already acted.
Jesus Christ came into the world.
He lived among us.
He died upon the cross.
He rose from the grave.
And the message of salvation is now being proclaimed.
We do not have to accomplish salvation.
Christ has already accomplished it.
The Simplicity of the Gospel
Romans 10:9 says:
“That if thou shalt confess with thy mouth the Lord Jesus, and shalt believe in thine heart that God hath raised him from the dead, thou shalt be saved.”
What a wonderful promise!
Notice the two expressions Paul uses.
First, confess Jesus as Lord.
Second, believe in your heart that God raised Him from the dead.
These are not two unrelated requirements.
They describe the outward confession and inward conviction of genuine faith.
To confess Jesus as Lord means acknowledging who He truly is.
He is not merely a religious teacher.
He is not simply a moral example.
He is the risen Son of God, worthy of our faith, obedience, and worship.
To believe in your heart means more than accepting historical information.
It means personally trusting Jesus Christ.
The resurrection is essential because it demonstrates that Jesus is the victorious Savior.
A dead savior could not save anyone.
But Jesus is alive!
Illustration: Trusting the Chair
Imagine that I place a sturdy chair in front of you.
You examine it.
You agree that it appears strong enough to support your weight.
You might even tell others that it is a very good chair.
But until you sit down, you have not personally trusted it to hold you.
There is a difference between believing something about the chair and actually resting your weight upon it.
The same principle applies to faith in Christ.
You may believe that Jesus lived.
You may believe that He died on the cross.
You may even believe that He rose from the dead.
But saving faith involves personally entrusting yourself to Him as Lord and Savior.
Faith Begins in the Heart
Romans 10:10 says:
“For with the heart man believeth unto righteousness; and with the mouth confession is made unto salvation.”
Paul is not teaching that speaking certain words automatically saves someone.
Salvation is not produced by reciting a formula.
Rather, genuine faith in the heart naturally expresses itself in confession.
A person who truly trusts Christ should not be ashamed to acknowledge Him.
Application
Perhaps someone here today has known the facts of the Gospel for many years.
You know about Bethlehem.
You know about Calvary.
You know about the empty tomb.
But have you personally trusted the Savior?
Knowing about Jesus is not the same as knowing Jesus.
The question is not merely whether you believe the facts.
The question is whether you have entrusted your life and eternal destiny to Him.
III. God’s Invitation Extends to Everyone (Romans 10:11–13)
Now we come to one of the most encouraging passages in all Scripture.
Romans 10:11 says:
“For the scripture saith, Whosoever believeth on him shall not be ashamed.”
Then Paul explains that there is no difference between Jew and Greek in the availability of salvation.
Both need the same Savior.
Both must come through faith.
Both may receive the riches of God’s grace.
And then comes verse 13:
“For whosoever shall call upon the name of the Lord shall be saved.”
I love that word whosoever.
It means that the Gospel invitation is not restricted by nationality, social position, wealth, education, or family background.
The same Lord is rich in mercy toward all who call upon Him.
Salvation Is Available to the Rich and Poor
A wealthy businessman cannot purchase salvation.
A poor laborer does not have to earn it.
Both come to Christ on the same basis.
Faith.
Salvation Is Available to the Educated and Uneducated
A person with several college degrees does not have an advantage before God.
A person who never finished school is not excluded.
Salvation does not depend upon intellectual achievement.
It depends upon Jesus Christ.
Salvation Is Available to People from Every Nation
The Gospel is not an American Gospel.
It is not a European Gospel.
It is not an Asian or African Gospel.
It is the Gospel of Jesus Christ.
And it is good news for the whole world.
Illustration: The Open Door
Imagine a great banquet prepared by a generous host.
The tables are filled with wonderful food.
The invitation goes out to the entire community.
Some are wealthy.
Some are poor.
Some are respected.
Some are overlooked.
But everyone who accepts the invitation is welcomed.
The invitation is generous, and the provision has already been made.
That helps us understand the wonderful invitation of the Gospel.
God has provided salvation through His Son.
And everyone who calls upon the Lord in genuine faith will be saved.
Application
Never assume that someone is beyond the reach of God’s grace.
That difficult neighbor may be saved.
That rebellious family member may be saved.
That person who has spent years in sin may be saved.
And if you have never trusted Christ, you may be saved today.
The promise is not that everyone will be saved regardless of faith.
The promise is that everyone who calls upon the Lord will be saved.
IV. The Gospel Must Be Proclaimed (Romans 10:14–17)
Paul now moves from the availability of salvation to the responsibility of sharing the Gospel.
He asks a series of questions.
Romans 10:14 says:
“How then shall they call on him in whom they have not believed? and how shall they believe in him of whom they have not heard? and how shall they hear without a preacher?”
Think about the progression.
People must call upon the Lord to be saved.
But how can they call upon someone they do not believe in?
How can they believe in someone they have not heard about?
And how can they hear unless someone proclaims the message?
Paul then asks:
“And how shall they preach, except they be sent?” (Romans 10:15)
Here we discover the importance of evangelism and missions.
God has chosen to use the proclamation of His Word to bring people to faith.
And that places a responsibility upon the church.
The Church Has a Message to Deliver
Our primary responsibility is not simply to maintain buildings.
It is not merely to conduct religious activities.
It is not even to preserve our traditions.
Our great responsibility is to proclaim Jesus Christ.
Church buildings are useful.
Programs can be helpful.
Traditions may have value.
But none of those things can replace the Gospel.
Beautiful Feet
Paul quotes Isaiah:
“How beautiful are the feet of them that preach the gospel of peace, and bring glad tidings of good things!” (Romans 10:15)
Now, most of us do not spend much time admiring people’s feet.
But Paul is not talking about physical beauty.
He is talking about the beauty of bringing good news.
Imagine someone receiving a message that a loved one has survived a terrible accident.
The messenger becomes precious because of the wonderful news he brings.
That is how Paul describes those who proclaim the Gospel.
They bring the greatest news anyone can hear.
Jesus Christ saves sinners!
Faith Comes by Hearing
Romans 10:17 declares:
“So then faith cometh by hearing, and hearing by the word of God.”
Faith is not produced by clever arguments alone.
It is not manufactured through emotional pressure.
It is not created by entertainment.
Saving faith comes through hearing the message of Christ.
That is why preaching and teaching Scripture matter.
That is why Sunday School matters.
That is why personal witnessing matters.
That is why Bible studies matter.
That is why missions matter.
And that is why we must keep the Word of God at the center of everything we do.
Illustration: The Unopened Letter
Suppose a man receives a letter containing wonderful news.
The letter announces that a debt he could never repay has been fully paid.
But he never opens the envelope.
He places it on a shelf and forgets about it.
The wonderful news is there, but he never receives the message.
There are people all around us who have never clearly heard the Gospel.
Some have heard religious language.
Some have attended church.
Some know a few Bible stories.
But they have never understood that Jesus Christ died for their sins, rose from the dead, and offers salvation through faith.
Someone needs to tell them.
Application
You may not be called to preach from a pulpit.
You may never serve as a missionary in another country.
But every Christian can participate in sharing the Gospel.
You can pray for the lost.
You can invite someone to church.
You can share your testimony.
You can explain what Jesus Christ has done for you.
You can support those who proclaim the Gospel.
And you can live in a way that makes your testimony credible.
Let me ask you something.
Who might hear the Gospel because you are willing to speak?
V. Hearing the Gospel Requires a Response (Romans 10:18–21)
Paul concludes this chapter by returning to Israel.
He asks whether the people had heard God’s message.
His answer is that the message had indeed gone forth.
The problem was not simply a lack of information.
Many had heard but refused to believe.
Paul quotes Moses and Isaiah to show that God had foretold the inclusion of the Gentiles and Israel’s resistance.
Then we come to the final verse.
Romans 10:21 says:
“But to Israel he saith, All day long I have stretched forth my hands unto a disobedient and gainsaying people.”
What a remarkable picture.
God describes Himself as stretching out His hands toward a rebellious people.
The image communicates patience, invitation, and compassion.
Israel’s unbelief did not mean that God had failed to keep His promises.
Nor did it mean that God was indifferent to their condition.
Paul presents a God who has spoken, warned, invited, and shown remarkable patience.
Hearing Is Not the Same as Obeying
There is a great difference between hearing the Gospel and responding to it.
A person may listen to sermons for decades and never trust Christ.
He may know the hymns.
He may know the order of worship.
He may know when to stand and when to sit.
But religious familiarity is not the same as salvation.
Illustration: The Fire Alarm
Imagine that a fire alarm sounds in a building.
Everyone hears the warning.
Some immediately respond and move toward safety.
Others ignore it.
They assume there is no danger.
They continue what they are doing.
But hearing the alarm does not protect anyone who refuses to respond.
In the same way, hearing the Gospel is not enough.
We must respond to Christ in repentance and faith.
Application
God’s Word calls for a response.
For the unbeliever, the proper response is repentance and faith in Jesus Christ.
For the believer, the proper response is obedience, gratitude, and faithful witness.
We should never become so accustomed to hearing the Gospel that we stop responding to its truth.
Conclusion: The Gospel Is Good News for Everyone
As we come to the end of Romans 10, I want us to remember five important truths.
First, religious sincerity cannot save us.
Second, salvation is received through faith in Jesus Christ.
Third, God’s invitation extends to everyone who calls upon Him.
Fourth, the Gospel must be proclaimed.
And fifth, hearing the Gospel requires a response.
Now, I want to return to the most important verse in this chapter.
Romans 10:13:
“For whosoever shall call upon the name of the Lord shall be saved.”
That verse contains one of the greatest promises in the Bible.
It does not say that whosoever joins a particular church shall be saved.
It does not say that whosoever performs enough good deeds shall be saved.
It does not say that whosoever understands every difficult doctrine shall be saved.
It says that whosoever calls upon the name of the Lord shall be saved.
Jesus Christ has done everything necessary to provide salvation.
He lived a sinless life.
He died upon the cross for our sins.
He was buried.
And on the third day, He rose again.
Now, the Gospel calls us to respond.
You cannot save yourself.
But you can trust the Savior.
You cannot earn righteousness.
But God provides righteousness through faith in Christ.
You cannot undo your past sins.
But Jesus Christ can forgive them.
And when you trust Him, you can rest upon His promise.
“Whosoever shall call upon the name of the Lord shall be saved.”
That is good news worth believing.
And that is good news worth sharing.
Amen.
6. Closing Invitation
As we prepare to sing our invitation hymn I want to ask you a simple question.
Have you personally trusted Jesus Christ as your Lord and Savior?
Not merely believed that He existed.
Not simply agreed with the teachings of Christianity.
But personally turned from your sin and placed your faith in Him.
If you have never done that, I invite you to come to Christ today.
You do not need to make yourself worthy.
You cannot earn His forgiveness.
You must come as you are, trusting His grace and mercy.
Perhaps you are already a Christian, but God has placed someone upon your heart who needs to hear the Gospel.
Would you commit yourself to praying for that person and looking for an opportunity to share Christ?
Perhaps you have grown comfortable in your Christian life and have lost your concern for the lost.
Ask God to renew your compassion.
Whatever the Lord is calling you to do, respond to Him in faith and obedience.
7. Invitation Prayer
Heavenly Father,
Thank You for the wonderful promise that everyone who calls upon the name of the Lord shall be saved.
Thank You that salvation is not earned through our works but received through faith in Jesus Christ.
Lord, I pray for anyone here today who has never trusted Your Son as Savior.
Help that person recognize the need for forgiveness, turn from sin, and place genuine faith in Jesus Christ.
For those who already know You, renew our gratitude for the Gospel.
Give us compassion for the lost, courage to share our faith, and wisdom to speak the truth in love.
May we never forget that someone shared the Gospel with us, and now we have the privilege of sharing it with others.
In Jesus’ precious name we pray.
Amen.
8. Benediction
Romans 10:11–13 (KJV)
“For the scripture saith, Whosoever believeth on him shall not be ashamed.”
“For there is no difference between the Jew and the Greek: for the same Lord over all is rich unto all that call upon him.”
“For whosoever shall call upon the name of the Lord shall be saved.”
May the Lord fill your hearts with gratitude for His salvation, confidence in His promises, and compassion for those who have not yet believed.
Go in peace, and may your words and actions proclaim the good news of Jesus Christ.
Amen.
9. Sermon Outline for the Bulletin
The Righteousness That Comes by Faith — Romans 10:1–21
Central Truth: Salvation is God’s gracious gift, received through faith in Jesus Christ and proclaimed through the Gospel.
| Sermon Point | Scripture |
| I. Religious Sincerity Cannot Save Us | Romans 10:1–4 |
| II. Salvation Is Received Through Faith | Romans 10:5–10 |
| III. God’s Invitation Extends to Everyone | Romans 10:11–13 |
| IV. The Gospel Must Be Proclaimed | Romans 10:14–17 |
| V. Hearing the Gospel Requires a Response | Romans 10:18–21 |
Take-Home Truth: We cannot earn salvation, but we can receive it through faith in Christ. And because the Gospel is for everyone, every Christian has a responsibility to help proclaim it.
10. Questions for Reflection and Discussion
- Why is religious sincerity insufficient for salvation?
- What does Paul mean when he says that Christ is the end of the Law for righteousness?
- What is the difference between knowing facts about Jesus and personally trusting Him?
- Why is the resurrection of Jesus essential to the Gospel?
- What does Romans 10:13 teach us about the availability of salvation?
- How does Romans 10:14–17 emphasize the importance of preaching and evangelism?
- What practical steps can our church take to help more people hear the Gospel?
- Who is one person you can pray for and seek to share the Gospel with this week?
11. Pastoral Teaching Notes
Romans 10 provides a valuable balance to the teaching of Romans 9.
In Romans 9, Paul emphasizes God’s sovereignty in His redemptive purposes.
In Romans 10, he emphasizes the necessity of faith, the responsibility to respond to the Gospel, and the importance of proclaiming Christ.
These chapters should not be separated from one another.
Paul does not treat God’s sovereignty as a reason to neglect evangelism. Instead, he demonstrates that God’s saving purposes include the proclamation of the Gospel.
Three truths deserve particular emphasis when preaching this chapter.
First, salvation is by grace through faith, not by religious achievement. Paul is not condemning obedience or good works. He is condemning the attempt to establish righteousness before God through them.
Second, genuine saving faith involves the heart and expresses itself through confession. Romans 10:9–10 should not be presented as a mechanical formula in which repeating certain words guarantees salvation. Paul is describing sincere trust in the crucified and risen Lord.
Third, the Gospel must be proclaimed. Romans 10:14–17 gives the church one of its clearest biblical motivations for evangelism and missions.
The sermon should leave the congregation with assurance in Christ and a renewed desire to make Him known.
A sentence worth repeating during the sermon:
We cannot earn the salvation Christ has accomplished, but we can receive it by faith and share its good news with the world.
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Dr. Alan Holden has served in pastoral ministry for more than 35 years, preaching and teaching the Bible in churches across the United States. He holds a Doctor of Ministry from Luther Rice Seminary and a Master of Divinity from The Southern Baptist Theological Seminary. Through What’s It Mean?, he seeks to help readers understand the meaning of Scripture and grow in their walk with Christ. He is currently the pastor of Lake Saunders Baptist Church in Tavares, FL.