THEME:  The primary purpose of salvation is not to give you entrance into heaven.  The primary purpose of salvation is to make you fit for heaven.  Nothing can enter into heaven unless it is already righteous in the eyes of God.  Hebrews 12:14Follow peace with all men, and holiness, without which no man shall see the Lord:
See All... speaks of the “holiness, without which no man shall see the Lord.”  Revelation 21:27And there shall in no wise enter into it any thing that defileth, neither whatsoever worketh abomination, or maketh a lie: but they which are written in the Lamb's book of life.
See All... says of heaven that “there shall in no wise enter into it any thing that defileth, neither whatsoever worketh abomination, or maketh a lie: but they which are written in the Lamb's book of life.”

God is “of purer eyes than to behold evil, and canst not look on iniquity” (Habakkuk 1:13Thou art of purer eyes than to behold evil, and canst not look on iniquity: wherefore lookest thou upon them that deal treacherously, and holdest thy tongue when the wicked devoureth the man that is more righteous than he?
See All...).  Even the moon and the stars are not pure in His sight (Job 25:5Behold even to the moon, and it shineth not; yea, the stars are not pure in his sight.
See All...) and man is no more than a worm and is much lower than the stars (Job 25:6How much less man, that is a worm? and the son of man, which is a worm?
See All...).  How can we be accepted into God’s holy heaven?

Yet, there is a way provided to us by God Himself.  It is not simply a ticket into heaven but it is a way by which we are made righteous in the eyes of God.  Through faith in Jesus Christ, we receive the imputed righteousness of Christ on us.  We are “accepted in the beloved” (Ephesians 1:6To the praise of the glory of his grace, wherein he hath made us accepted in the beloved.
See All...).  Christ is “made unto us wisdom, and righteousness, and sanctification, and redemption” (1 Corinthians 1:30But of him are ye in Christ Jesus, who of God is made unto us wisdom, and righteousness, and sanctification, and redemption:
See All...).

This message demonstrates the frustration and failure of those who go about to establish their own righteousness through good works.  Then, it describes the gift of God and how we can have His righteousness through faith in Jesus Christ.  This message is also a remedy to those who would cheapen the true greatness of the gospel.  Please observe the two paths to righteousness (HINT: Only one gets you to heaven).

1. RIGHTEOUSNESS WITHOUT FAITH (Romans 10:1-5 [1] Brethren, my heart's desire and prayer to God for Israel is, that they might be saved. [2] For I bear them record that they have a zeal of God, but not according to knowledge. [3] 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. [4] For Christ is the end of the law for righteousness to every one that believeth. [5] For Moses describeth the righteousness which is of the law, That the man which doeth those things shall live by them.
   See All...)
1. Its Failure: They Still Are Not Saved (Romans 10:1Brethren, my heart's desire and prayer to God for Israel is, that they might be saved.
   See All...)
2. Its Features (Romans 10:2-3 [2] For I bear them record that they have a zeal of God, but not according to knowledge. [3] 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.
   See All...)
1. A zeal for God (Romans 10:2For I bear them record that they have a zeal of God, but not according to knowledge.
   See All...; Galatians 4:17-18 [17] They zealously affect you, but not well; yea, they would exclude you, that ye might affect them. [18] But it is good to be zealously affected always in a good thing, and not only when I am present with you.
   See All...)
2. Self-righteousness (Romans 10:3For they being ignorant of God's righteousness, and going about to establish their own righteousness, have not submitted themselves unto the righteousness of God.
   See All...a; Matthew 5:20For I say unto you, That except your righteousness shall exceed the righteousness of the scribes and Pharisees, ye shall in no case enter into the kingdom of heaven.
   See All...)
3. Rejection of God’s righteousness (Romans 10:3For they being ignorant of God's righteousness, and going about to establish their own righteousness, have not submitted themselves unto the righteousness of God.
   See All...b; see Philippians 3:4-9 [4] And his brightness was as the light; he had horns coming out of his hand: and there was the hiding of his power. [5] Before him went the pestilence, and burning coals went forth at his feet. [6] He stood, and measured the earth: he beheld, and drove asunder the nations; and the everlasting mountains were scattered, the perpetual hills did bow: his ways are everlasting. [7] I saw the tents of Cushan in affliction: and the curtains of the land of Midian did tremble. [8] Was the LORD displeased against the rivers? was thine anger against the rivers? was thy wrath against the sea, that thou didst ride upon thine horses and thy chariots of salvation? [9] Thy bow was made quite naked, according to the oaths of the tribes, even thy word. Selah. Thou didst cleave the earth with rivers.
   See All...)
3. Its Flaw (Romans 10:4-5 [4] For Christ is the end of the law for righteousness to every one that believeth. [5] For Moses describeth the righteousness which is of the law, That the man which doeth those things shall live by them.
   See All...)
1. Their rejection of Christ (Romans 10:4For Christ is the end of the law for righteousness to every one that believeth.
   See All...); in seeking after God in their own efforts, they reject the way God provides through Christ
2. The requirements of the law (Romans 10:5For Moses describeth the righteousness which is of the law, That the man which doeth those things shall live by them.
   See All...; Galatians 3:10-13 [10] For as many as are of the works of the law are under the curse: for it is written, Cursed is every one that continueth not in all things which are written in the book of the law to do them. [11] But that no man is justified by the law in the sight of God, it is evident: for, The just shall live by faith. [12] And the law is not of faith: but, The man that doeth them shall live in them. [13] Christ hath redeemed us from the curse of the law, being made a curse for us: for it is written, Cursed is every one that hangeth on a tree:
   See All...)
1. Under the law, life is only provided to those who fulfill every whit.
2. Those who fail in even one point (meaning all men) are placed under its curse. (see James 2:10For whosoever shall keep the whole law, and yet offend in one point, he is guilty of all.
   See All...)
2. RIGHTEOUSNESS BY FAITH (Romans 10:6-13 [6] But the righteousness which is of faith speaketh on this wise, Say not in thine heart, Who shall ascend into heaven? (that is, to bring Christ down from above:) [7] Or, Who shall descend into the deep? (that is, to bring up Christ again from the dead.) [8] But what saith it? The word is nigh thee, even in thy mouth, and in thy heart: that is, the word of faith, which we preach; [9] 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. [10] For with the heart man believeth unto righteousness; and with the mouth confession is made unto salvation. [11] For the scripture saith, Whosoever believeth on him shall not be ashamed. [12] 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. [13] For whosoever shall call upon the name of the Lord shall be saved.
   See All...)
1. It is Available (Romans 10:6-8 [6] But the righteousness which is of faith speaketh on this wise, Say not in thine heart, Who shall ascend into heaven? (that is, to bring Christ down from above:) [7] Or, Who shall descend into the deep? (that is, to bring up Christ again from the dead.) [8] But what saith it? The word is nigh thee, even in thy mouth, and in thy heart: that is, the word of faith, which we preach;
   See All...; Deuteronomy 30:11-14 [11] For this commandment which I command thee this day, it is not hidden from thee, neither is it far off. [12] It is not in heaven, that thou shouldest say, Who shall go up for us to heaven, and bring it unto us, that we may hear it, and do it? [13] Neither is it beyond the sea, that thou shouldest say, Who shall go over the sea for us, and bring it unto us, that we may hear it, and do it? [14] But the word is very nigh unto thee, in thy mouth, and in thy heart, that thou mayest do it.
   See All...)
1. God does not require great feats of endurance or devotion in order to save us.
2. Naaman represents those who think they should accomplish “some great thing” (2 Kings 5:13And his servants came near, and spake unto him, and said, My father, if the prophet had bid thee do some great thing, wouldest thou not have done it? how much rather then, when he saith to thee, Wash, and be clean?
   See All...).
2. It is Attainable (Romans 10:9-11 [9] 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. [10] For with the heart man believeth unto righteousness; and with the mouth confession is made unto salvation. [11] For the scripture saith, Whosoever believeth on him shall not be ashamed.
   See All...)
1. Its reception (Romans 10:9That 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.
   See All...)
1. By confession (Matthew 16:15-17 [15] He saith unto them, But whom say ye that I am? [16] And Simon Peter answered and said, Thou art the Christ, the Son of the living God. [17] And Jesus answered and said unto him, Blessed art thou, Simon Barjona: for flesh and blood hath not revealed it unto thee, but my Father which is in heaven.
   See All...)
2. By faith (Acts 8:37And Philip said, If thou believest with all thine heart, thou mayest. And he answered and said, I believe that Jesus Christ is the Son of God.
   See All...; 16:30-34
   See All...)
2. Its results (Romans 10:10-11 [10] For with the heart man believeth unto righteousness; and with the mouth confession is made unto salvation. [11] For the scripture saith, Whosoever believeth on him shall not be ashamed.
   See All...)
1. Righteousness (Romans 10:10For with the heart man believeth unto righteousness; and with the mouth confession is made unto salvation.
   See All...; Romans 4:6-8 [6] Even as David also describeth the blessedness of the man, unto whom God imputeth righteousness without works, [7] Saying, Blessed are they whose iniquities are forgiven, and whose sins are covered. [8] Blessed is the man to whom the Lord will not impute sin.
   See All...)
2. Salvation (Romans 10:11For the scripture saith, Whosoever believeth on him shall not be ashamed.
   See All...; Romans 6:23For the wages of sin is death; but the gift of God is eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord.
   See All...)
3. Boldness (Romans 10:11For the scripture saith, Whosoever believeth on him shall not be ashamed.
   See All...)
3. It is Accessible (Romans 10:12-13 [12] 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. [13] For whosoever shall call upon the name of the Lord shall be saved.
   See All...)
1. To both Jew and Greek (Romans 10:12For there is no difference between the Jew and the Greek: for the same Lord over all is rich unto all that call upon him.
   See All...; Romans 1:16For I am not ashamed of the gospel of Christ: for it is the power of God unto salvation to every one that believeth; to the Jew first, and also to the Greek.
   See All...)
2. To whosoever will (Romans 10:13For whosoever shall call upon the name of the Lord shall be saved.
   See All...; John 1:10-12 [10] He was in the world, and the world was made by him, and the world knew him not. [11] He came unto his own, and his own received him not. [12] But as many as received him, to them gave he power to become the sons of God, even to them that believe on his name:
   See All...)

CONCLUSION:  Are you fit to enter heaven—not by your own righteousness, but by the imputed righteousness of Jesus Christ?  As Philippians 3:9Thy bow was made quite naked, according to the oaths of the tribes, even thy word. Selah. Thou didst cleave the earth with rivers.
See All... says, “And be found in him, not having mine own righteousness, which is of the law, but that which is through the faith of Christ, the righteousness which is of God by faith.”

If you are saved, are you walking worthy of your calling in Jesus Christ?  As Ephesians 4:1I therefore, the prisoner of the Lord, beseech you that ye walk worthy of the vocation wherewith ye are called,
See All... declares, “I therefore, the prisoner of the Lord, beseech you that ye walk worthy of the vocation wherewith ye are called.”