June 5, 2020
Old Testament Reading: Jeremiah 47-49
New Testament Reading: Romans 10

If you confess with your mouth, “Jesus is Lord,” and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved. One believes with the heart, resulting in righteousness, and one confesses with the mouth, resulting in salvation. For the Scripture says, Everyone who believes on him will not be put to shame, Romans 10:9-11

Everything about the Jewish religion pointed to the coming Messiah – their sacrifices, priesthood, temple services, religious festivals, and covenants.  Their Law told them they were sinners in need of a Savior.  But instead of letting the Law bring them to Christ, they worshiped their Law and rejected their Savior.

Paul makes it clear that the sinner does not need to preform difficult works or obey a strict set of rules in order to be saved.  All he needs to do is trust Christ. Salvation is by faith. One believes with the heart, resulting in righteousness, and one confesses with the mouth, resulting in salvation. v10  Anyone attempting to earn the gift of righteousness that God has already given us, is at best a fool, and at worst idolatrous.

Paul then reminds his readers of God’s impartiality just as he did when discussion human sinfulness. (See Rom. 3) Just as all who sin will be judged with the same judgement and receive the same punishment, so all who believe will be saved and richly blessed.

The Gospel of Christ is available and accessible to all.  Quoting Joel 2:32 Paul states, For everyone who calls on the name of the Lord will be saved. v13  The Jews do not have a special righteousness of their own through the Law, and the Gentiles a different lesser righteousness. There is no distinction between Jews and Gentiles.  There is only one Gospel for everyone.

The Apostle Paul then shows how confession is dependent on faith, and faith is dependent on hearing, and hearing is dependent on someone speaking.  Faith is not some miraculous gift; it is the response of a thinking person to what that person hears.  The message does not come in a voice in the clouds, it is given through a human messenger. And the message is not something they dream up on their own, it is given to them.  It is all from God, but it is spread through human beings. Paul closes with the inspiring description of those messengers from Isaiah; How beautiful are the feet of those who bring good news. v15