The Gospel According to Grace

Doctrine is just not there

Throughout reading this commentary there are some good insights and examples. But even so I find throughout the commentary I find a biased view on the doctrine of “praying Jesus into your heart.” This is not the true way to be saved. The book of Romans is written to the church in Rome, therefore Paul’s writing would be addressed to a certain group of people: Baptized disciples. The issue is that even though Romans 10:9 says: “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.” This is taken completely out of context. It’s as if you completely disregard the audience of the letter to Rome. Why would baptized disciples need to get baptized again? There’s only one true baptism as Christ was only crucified once. Therefore what Paul is saying here is for the disciples to believe that Jesus is lord and repent so they may stay saved. It is very possible to lose your salvation.

“If we deliberately keep on sinning after we have received the knowledge of the truth, no sacrifice for sins is left,”
‭‭Hebrews‬ ‭10:26‬ ‭NIV‬‬

Also in chapter 4 he mentions that baptism is a symbol and cannot save you. Now this is completely false, baptism is not a symbol, nor is it a work. It is the GODS grace, it is the avenue which GOD has provided for us to be saved. It is taking part in the death, burial, and resurrection of Jesus Christ. Our sins our put to death, and we are “resurrected” able to live a new life. Becoming a disciple and being baptized is the only way to be saved according to the scriptures (John 3:1-7, Matthew 28:18-20, Colossians 2:12, Acts 2:36-39, Luke 24:45-47). The Jesus never mentions that you must pray for him to come into your heart in order to be saved, oftentimes people will use Revelations 3:20 as another scripture similar to Romans 10:9 but it is also taken out of context because again a church of baptized disciples are The ones being addressed.

All in all I like some of the insights but this can be very deceptive if people don’t have an understanding of scripture and convictions on salvation, we need to be vigilant about what is being preached (Acts 17:10-12). We should never worship by tradition (Matthew 15:1-9) or believe a doctrine simply because it’s what our family did before us or it’s what your pastor said. GOD is the only one we are to please and sometimes the people around us won’t agree.