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by Sandy Shaw
As we move into Romans Chapter 10 , I am so grateful that God has given us a Rock on which we can stand. Some struggle on and sink - and fall far short of the glory of God.
Paul prays for the Israelites – for the Israelis - his kith and kin - his family - his nation - the race to which he belonged. My heart’s desire and prayer is - that they may be saved.
When we are concerned about people - pray for them - whether it be family or friends or neighbours - or people we just hear about who may be in some kind of trouble or danger. Paul prays - that they may be saved.
He knows what they were like - zealous for God - but they had the wrong kind of zeal - their zeal was not based on knowledge. We read of the Pharisees and Sadducees - the religious leaders of Jesus day who planned and plotted to have Jesus killed. They were legalists - trying to live according to the law with all its rules and regulations. That never saved - no matter how sincere a man might be.
Sincerity is never enough - it is possible to be sincerely wrong.
Only Jesus Christ saves.
Sometimes you hear people say - “O at least he is sincere.” When it comes to salvation - when it comes to being saved in the eyes of God that means little. Nothing we do saves!
They were trying and trying - and Paul is pointing to Christ.
Verse 3 explains why there was this terrible problem. They did not know the righteousness that comes from God - they sought to establish their own - and they did not submit to God’s righteousness.
The law was meant to lead us to Jesus Christ - so that there may be righteousness for everyone who believes. It is made so clear here - the right way is to believe – and it is not just knowing what is in the law and keeping the commandments – but doing what God has said – in and through Jesus Christ.
It is the end of the law in as much as it is a way to make a person righteous - the death of Jesus Christ on the Cross means that there is no longer any need for the law as far as making you righteous.
The law is near you - on your lips - in your heart. Take it and apply it. Paul takes what Moses said about the law and applies it all to Jesus. Christ is so near you - confess Him - let His Name be on your lips. Let it flow in your heart and from your heart.
How should the Jews - the Israelites - have reacted? The same as anyone should react. Believe in your heart - the seat of feelings - emotions - motives. All that committed to Jesus Christ - the inner personality - the inner thoughts.
And - Confess with your lips. There is no such thing as a secret faith. Real feelings will be expressed. If it is real in the heart, it will be expressed from the lips in some way - in some form. People do express it - love or hatred of Jesus - commitment to or rejection of Jesus Christ.
Paul is saying - If you have faith - express it - show it - reveal it. If I tell others about Jesus - Jesus will tell the Father about me. Mark 8 verse 38 .
Believe - speak - and be saved. And believe in the resurrection - in Jesus Who is risen and alive - in Jesus Who is Lord. Mouth and heart are involved. And there is not all that much difference - when we say we learn by heart - the Hebrew says we learn by mouth.
How do we learn it? By repeating it - by saying it so often - and the Word now dwells in your heart - and it gets into our heart by way of the mouth.
Verse 11 . Nobody who does that will be put to shame - let down - or disappointed.
Everybody who does that will be taken up out of the floodwaters and saved. And it is the same for Jew and Gentile. Accept that all this is necessary - believe it in the heart - confess it from your mouth - and Jesus will save you from sin and its consequences.
The same Lord - Jesus Christ - is Lord of all - Jews and Gentiles - and richly blesses all who call on Him.
Verse 13 . For everyone who calls on the name of The Lord will be saved.
As we make our way through these verses, the risen and living Jesus wants to bless our lives in some way - and enrich our lives in some way - blessing - power - peace - prayers answered.
“Loving heavenly Father – Your Word is so rich – enriching our lives – guiding us and directing our paths – giving understanding in this confused and baffled world. Help us to use the gifts and graces you bestow upon us – keep us faithful loyal and loving – empowered by the Holy Spirit – willing and enabled to serve wherever we go – in Jesus Name we pray. Amen.”
Alexander 'Sandy' Shaw is pastor of Nairn Christian Fellowship in Nairn, Scotland. Nairn is 17 miles east of Inverness - on the Moray Firth Coast - not far from the Loch Ness Monster!
Gifted as a Biblical teacher, Sandy is firmly committed to making sure that his teachings are firmly grounded in the Word.
Sandy has a weekly radio talk which can be heard via the Internet on Saturday at 11:40am, New Orleans time, at wsho.com.
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