Lord. Todd's Road Grace Church would like to invite you to listen to a sermon by our pastor, Todd Nyberg. We are located at 4137 Todd's Road, two miles outside of Manowar Boulevard. Sunday services are at 10.30 a.m. and 6 p.m. Bible study is at 9.45 a.m. Wednesday services are at 7 p.m. Nursery is provided for all services. For more information, visit our website at toddsroadgracechurch.com. Now here's our pastor, Todd Nybert.

In Romans chapter 10, verse 1, Paul says, brethren, my heart's desire and prayer to God for Israel is that they might be saved. I have entitled this message, Am I saved? Inherent in that question is an understanding that I cannot save myself. I must be saved. I always am troubled when people use language like I got saved. Have I been saved? Am I saved? Has the Lord saved me? I hope we'll all ask ourselves that question. Am I saved? Now, I didn't ask, do I have evidences in my life that convince me that I'm saved? That's not the question at all. The question is, am I saved? Has God saved me?

2 Timothy 1.9 says, He saved us. If I'm saved, it's because God saved me. What's it take for a sinner to be saved? I want to be saved, don't you? Am I saved? What does it take for a sinner to be saved? What has to take place for a sinner to be saved by God? Well, first, God's gotta elect that sinner. It takes the will of God.

It takes the life, the death, and the resurrection of Christ. Christ must live for me and keep the law for me. Christ must die for me and put away my sins. He must be raised from the dead as my justification. What does it take for sinner to be saved? The life giving grace of God, the Holy Spirit to give me life. I'm dead in sins and cannot be saved except he gives me life. What does it take for a sinner to be saved?

All that was, is, and will be. God's providence. All things working together for good. To them that love God, to them who are called according to his purpose. What does it take for a sinner to be saved? The preaching of the gospel. It pleased God, 1 Corinthians 121, listen to this scripture, It pleased God by the foolishness of preaching to save them that believe. Now, this is a reference to hearing and believing the message. What does it take for a sinner to be saved?

Well, if I'm saved by God, I will persevere all the way to the end, looking to Christ only. With my last breath, looking to Christ only. Am I saved? Well, what about if I'm not saved? Well, if I'm not saved, that means I'm God's enemy. The carnal mind is enmity against God. It's not subject to the law of God. Neither, indeed, can be. If I'm not saved, I'm God's enemy. If I'm not saved, God's against me. I love the scripture. If God be for us, who can be against us? That's true. But if I'm not saved, if God's against me, who can be for me? I'm doomed if I am not saved. I ask the question, am I saved? There is nothing more important The Lord said, what shall it profit a man if he gained the whole world and lose his soul? And what will a man give in exchange for his soul? Am I saved? I think it's very interesting that Paul poses this statement, brethren, my heart's desire and prayer to God for the Israel is that they might be saved.

That's right after Romans chapter nine, the great declaration of God's sovereignty in salvation. I love Romans chapter nine, but let me just read one verse of scripture from Romans chapter nine, verse 11. for the children, Jacob and Esau, being not yet born, neither having done any good or evil, that the purpose of God according to election might stand not of works, but of him that calleth. It was said unto her, The elder shall serve the younger. As it's written, Jacob have I loved, but Esau have I hated. Now that's a statement with regard to God's absolute sovereignty in salvation.

Now we're told by the enemies of free grace that that will destroy missions, that will destroy a love for others, to preach the gospel to them. Didn't do Paul that way. He said, brethren, my heart's desire and prayer to God for Israel is that they might be saved. I want them to be saved, but they're not saved. Now let's go on reading. He says with regard to these people who he wanted to be saved, but were not saved. He said, I bear them record that they have a zeal of God. They're very religious. And this zeal they have is for the God of the Bible. So they think they have a zeal for God, very religious, very sincere, but not according to the Bible. knowledge.

They have no saving knowledge. Now, in the next verse, he tells us what they do not know, what they are ignorant of. And I can't be ignorant of this if I'm saved. Listen carefully. He says, for they being ignorant of God's righteousness. Now, there's not a more important phrase for you and I to understand than this, God's righteousness. Every man that is not saved has no understanding of God's righteousness.

This is seen in the belief in salvation by works. If I think I can be saved by my works, by anything that I do or intend to do, if salvation is in any way dependent upon me in my thinking, I prove that I'm ignorant of God's righteous character. I prove that I am ignorant of His righteousness in my condemnation. and I demonstrate that I'm ignorant of His righteousness in salvation. Now, let's consider these three things.

God's righteous. His righteous character. He is altogether righteous. He's righteous in my condemnation. If God sends me to hell, just and holy is his name. It's the righteous thing for him to do. When I hear people object to the gospel, how can it be fair for God to do this? Or how can a loving God let this take place? I realize this is someone who has never seen the righteous character of God or they wouldn't say things like that. He's righteous in my condemnation, but thank God, His righteousness is seen in my salvation if He saved me.

You see, if He has saved me, His very righteous character demands that I be saved because my sins have been put away. They're gone. I stand before God as one who has never sinned. Christ put my sins away. Christ's righteousness is given to me, and the righteous character of God demands my salvation. Now, these people who were not saved, Paul says, they're ignorant of God's righteousness. Would that describe me? Would that describe you? Well, if it does, We certainly are not saved. Those that God has saved understand something of His righteous character, His righteousness in their condemnation, and His righteousness in their salvation.

Now, here's what demonstrates that they're ignorant of God's righteousness. They go about to establish their own righteousness. They think, if I can do this, if I can stop doing that, I've put God in a place where he is obligated to save me. I've done what I should do. I've checked the boxes. I have done what needs to be done for one to save themselves, not really understanding salvation. going about to establish their own righteousness, and in doing that, they've not submitted themselves unto the righteousness of God. Now, people who are saved have submitted themselves to the righteousness of God, His righteous character, His righteousness in their condemnation. Have you ever done that? and his righteousness in their salvation.

And Paul says, here's what all this means. Verse four, Christ is the end of the law for righteousness to everyone that believeth. Have you ever understood, have I ever understood that Christ is the end of the law for righteousness? The only righteousness there is is the righteousness of the Lord Jesus Christ.

Only his righteousness will make me saved. Now let's go on reading in this very important passage of scripture, verse five. For Moses described the righteousness, which is the law, that the man which doeth those things shall live by them. Now, if I'm going to be saved by my works, what does it take?

Perfect continual obedience to God's holy law. I can't break one commandment one time. If I'm gonna go the law route, if salvation is going to be dependent on something I do, here's what it must be. Perfect, continual obedience to God's holy law all the time. I break one commandment, I've broken them all. I cannot be saved apart from perfect obedience if I'm gonna go that route.

Verse six, but the righteousness which is of faith, Now he talked about the righteousness which is of the law. Now he speaks of the righteousness of faith. But the righteousness which is of faith speaketh on this wise. Now the righteousness of faith is not a lower standard of righteousness. Here's the standard of righteousness. Christ is the end of the law for righteousness. And there's the righteousness of faith. Now what does the righteousness of faith have to say? The righteousness which is of faith speaketh on this wise.

Say not in thy heart. First it tells us what not to say. Get this saying, get this thinking out by the grace of God. Say not in your heart, who shall ascend into heaven? That is bring Christ down from above. What can I do to get Christ to come down here and save me? That's works. Don't say that in your heart. What can I do to get Christ to come down here and save me? That means salvation is dependent upon what I do. Get that thinking out.

Then he says in verse seven, or who shall descend into the deep? That is bring up Christ again from the dead. What can I do to make what he did work for me? What can I do to make his blood to be applied to me? That is salvation by works. That's salvation dependent upon what you do.

Don't say that. Am I saved? Well, don't say any of this. Don't say, what can I do? Don't say, do I show evidences of the things that I've done that would prove to me I'm saved? But what says it? The righteousness faith. What does it have to say? Listen to this, the word is nigh thee. Don't think about what you have to go out and do. The word is nigh thee. Even in thy mouth and in thy heart, that is the word of faith which we preach. Now, listen to what he says. The word's very near. It's in your mouth, the word of faith, it's in your mouth, it's in your heart, the word of faith, which we preach.

Now the heart he's speaking of is not the natural heart you were born with. Jeremiah says the heart is deceitful above all things, desperately, incurably wicked. In Genesis 6, 5, we read, And God saw the wickedness of man was great in the earth, and that every imagination of the thoughts of his heart was only evil continually.

Now, that's not the heart that believes. God's got to give you a new heart. I've heard preachers say, won't you give Jesus your heart? He doesn't want it, not that wicked thing. He'll give you a new heart though, a heart that believes, a heart that repents, a heart that loves. This is the heart he's talking about.

He says in verse eight, but what saitheth the word is nigh thee, something that said the word, the word is nigh thee. Even in thy mouth and in thy heart, that is the word of faith which we preach, that if thou shalt confess with thy mouth the Lord Jesus, and believe in thine heart that God hath raised him from the dead, thou shalt be saved. For with the heart man believeth unto righteousness, and with the mouth confession is made unto salvation. If thou shalt confess with thy mouth the Lord Jesus. Now what you confess with your mouth is what you believe in your heart. If thou shalt confess with thy mouth the Lord Jesus. Now we confess that Jesus Christ is Lord.

He doesn't want to be Lord. When I've heard preachers say, make him the Lord of your life, you can't do that. He already is the Lord of your life. Whether you believe or whether you do not believe, he's your Lord. Scripture says he's Lord both of the dead and the living. You don't make Jesus Lord. I don't make Jesus Lord, he is Lord. Now what is meant by the Lordship of Jesus Christ? If you'll confess with thy mouth, the Lord Jesus.

First of all, it means he's Lord of creation. He spake the world into existence. You see, life can only come from life. That which is not life cannot produce life. He, the living Christ, the eternal Son of God, the Lord of creation, spake the world into existence. It was He who said, let us make man in our own image. He is the one who created the universe. He's Lord of creation. Secondly, he's Lord of Providence. Providence is everything that happens in time. Everything that happens in time without exception, he is the first cause behind it.

Now somebody says, what about the bad stuff? Well, he said, I form the light and I create darkness. I make peace and I create evil. I, the Lord, do all these things. He is in control of everything. Somebody says, well, he permits things to happen. No, he is the first cause of everything. And something that's totally different about him that you and I could never do, he always brings good out of evil. I know there's a lot of evil things that happen, a lot of heartbreaking, horrible things that happen, but the Lord's in control of it. He's the first cause behind everything, and He always brings good out of evil.

All I got to talk about is the cross. The most evil thing to take place was when men nailed Jesus Christ, the son of God, to a cross. And oh, what good came from that. He's Lord of providence, everything that happens in time, and he's Lord of salvation.

You know what that means? That means my salvation and your salvation. I'm asking the question, am I saved? That means my salvation and your salvation is up to him. The leper understood this when he said, Lord, if you will, you can make me clean. I can't make myself clean. If you will, you can make me clean. If you will, you can save me. Salvation is in his hands.

Now, if thou will confess with thy mouth the Lord Jesus and believe in thine heart, that God raised him from the dead. Now, what's it mean to believe with the heart? Well, this is the new heart he gives, but the heart is the whole man. It's the understanding, it's the affections and the will. You believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, not just the fact of the resurrection, but why he raised him from the dead.

He raised him from the dead because he was completely satisfied with what he did. That's why he raised him from the dead. There was nothing left to be done. He completely satisfied the justice of God. He answered the demands of God's law. God was satisfied with him and everybody he did it for. And God raised him from the dead. He was delivered for our offenses and raised again for our justification.

Paul says, for with the heart, man believeth under righteousness. Now, with my understanding, I believe that the righteousness of Jesus Christ is the only righteousness I have. There is no other righteousness. Not only do I understand this with what understanding I have, I love this.

I love being saved by his righteousness and not my own. Paul put it this way, oh that I may win Christ and be found in him not having my own righteousness. which is of the law, but that which is through the faith of Christ, the righteousness, which is of God by faith. And this is the way I want to be saved. If I'm given the choice, do you want to be saved by your righteousness or Christ's? I want to be saved by Christ's righteousness. And with the heart man believeth unto righteousness, and with the mouth confession is made unto salvation, I confess with my mouth that Christ Jesus is my salvation. That's what I believe in my heart.

Now he goes on to say, verse 11, for the scripture saith, whosoever believeth on him. shall not be ashamed. He won't be put to shame on judgment day. He's going to be justified and he won't be ashamed of the gospel. He believes it's a gospel that's incapable of improvement. It's the gospel of God. Paul said, I'm not ashamed of the gospel of Christ for it's the power of God and the salvation burst.

Well, for there's no difference between the Jew and the Greek, no difference at all. 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." Now, the question, am I saved? Well, listen to what this says. Whosoever shall call upon the name of the Lord shall be saved.

Whosoever, are you a whosoever? I'm a whosoever. This is a very broad word, whosoever. It doesn't say only the elect. It doesn't say only those that Christ died for. It says whosoever. Are you a whosoever? This is better than if it said, if Todd shall call on the name of the Lord, because there's a lot of Todds. It might not mean me, but I'm a whosoever.

Whosoever shall call upon the name of the Lord. There's the important word. The name of the Lord. The name of the Lord is who he is. It's the person behind the name. It's his attributes. It's his holiness. It's his absolute sovereignty and power. It's his wisdom. It's His grace. It's His independence.

I'm calling upon all the attributes of God to save me. Lord, save me as an act of Your will. Save me in a way that glorifies Your righteousness and justice. Save me by Your grace. Save me by Your merciful kindness. Save me by who You are. Whosoever shall call. There's the easy word. Lord, save me. Whosoever shall call upon the name of the Lord shall be saved. There's this certain word, they shall be saved.

Now let's go on reading, verse 14. How then, Paul asks five questions that begin with a how. How then shall they call in him in whom they've not believed? You can't call upon someone you do not believe. Here's the second how. How should they believe in Him in whom they've not heard? You can't believe what you've never heard any more than you can come back from a place where you've never been. It can't be done. How should they call upon Him in whom they've not heard? Here's the third how. How should they I love what the Ethiopian eunuch said to Philip. When Philip said, do you understand what you're reading? He said, how can I except some man should guide me?

Now the emphasis here is not on the preacher. One preacher's just as useless as another preacher as far as what a man is in himself. But if God has sent that preacher with God's message, that message must be heard, that message must be believed. How shall they hear without a preacher? And here's the fourth how. How shall they preach except they be sent? I've got to hear a God sent preacher, not a man made preacher, but a preacher that God has sent that has God's message.

And then he makes this statement. Here's the fifth. How, how beautiful are the feet of them that preach the gospel of peace and bring glad tidings of good things. He doesn't say how beautiful is the face. The man's not the emphasis. How beautiful are the feet of them that bring the message, the gospel of peace, and bring glad tidings of good things.

The good things of the gospel, how God can be just and justify the ungodly, how he can freely choose a people by his grace, give them to his son, his son put away their sins, His Son raised from the dead to justify them. Oh, all the good things of the gospel, how I can be without guilt before God.

But they've not all obeyed the gospel. Verse 16, for Isaiah said, the Lord who had believed our report. There are many who do not believe the gospel. So then, verse 17, faith cometh by hearing. and hearing by the Word of God. Am I saved? Do I believe? Faith cometh by hearing and hearing by the Word of God. Now, think about this statement.

Faith cometh not by studying. Faith doesn't come by working. Faith doesn't come by doing. Faith comes by hearing. Hearing is the most passive thing you can do. Hearing the message. The message of the gospel. Faith cometh by hearing. Do you hear? Hearing by the word of God.

Am I saved? Am I saved? Philippian jailer said to Paul and Silas, sirs, what must I do to be saved? I see I can't save myself. What must I do to be saved? And I love this answer. Believe on the Lord Jesus Christ and thou shalt be saved. Am I saved? Do you believe on the Lord? This is the Christ of the Bible, not the Jesus that preached that wants things but can't have them unless you let him. No, he's the Lord. He's Jesus, the Savior. He is God's Christ. Believe. To receive a copy of the sermon you have just heard, send your request to todd.neibert at gmail.com or you may write or call the church at the information provided on the screen.