SALVATION IS A FREE GIFT TO ALL WHO BELIEVE

¹⁶ “For I am not ashamed of (the Gospel) this Good News about Christ. It is the power of God at work, saving everyone who believes—the Jew first and also the Gentile. ¹⁷ This Good News tells us how God makes us right in His sight. This is accomplished from start to finish by faith. As the Scriptures say, “It is through faith that a (person becomes) righteous, (and by that faith in Christ that a) person has life” (Rom. 1:16-17).

⁶ “When we were utterly helpless, Christ came at just the right time and died for us sinners. ⁷ Now, most people would not be willing to die for an upright person, though someone might perhaps be willing to die for a person who is especially good. ⁸ But God showed His great love for us by sending Christ to die for us while we were still sinners. ⁹ And since we have been made right in God’s sight by the blood of Christ, He will certainly save us from God’s condemnation. ¹⁰ For since our friendship with God was restored by the death of His Son while we were still His enemies, we will certainly be saved through the life of His Son. ¹¹ So now we can rejoice in our wonderful new relationship with God because our Lord Jesus Christ has made us friends of God” (Rom. 5:6-11).

⁹ “If you openly declare that Jesus is Lord and believe in your heart that God raised Him from the dead, you will be saved. ¹⁰ For it is by believing in your heart that you are made right with God, and it is by openly declaring your faith that you are saved. ¹¹ As the Scriptures tell us, “Anyone who trusts in Him will never be disgraced (ashamed).” ¹² Jew and Gentile are the same in this respect. They have the same Lord, who gives generously to all who call on Him. ¹³ For “Everyone who calls on the name of the Lord will be saved.  ¹⁴ But how can they call on Him to save them unless they believe in Him? And how can they believe in Him if they have never heard about Him? And how can they hear about Him unless someone tells them? ¹⁵ And how will anyone go and tell them without being sent? That is why the Scriptures say, “How beautiful are the feet of messengers who bring (the) Good News!”  ¹⁶ But not everyone welcomes the Good News, for Isaiah the prophet said, “Lord, who has believed our message?”  ¹⁷ So faith comes from hearing, that is, hearing the Good News about Christ” (Rom. 10:8-17).

⁸ “God saved you by His grace when you believed.

And you can’t take credit for this; it is a gift from God.

⁹ Salvation is not a reward for the good things we have done. 

(Therefore,) none of us can boast about it” (Eph. 2:8-9).