This week, we're taking a break from Matthew to look briefly at a passage that has just been great to read this week as I woke up: Romans 10. Romans 10 is a beautiful chapter, and among my favorites that I have read and studied. Let's read it:
"1 Brothers, my heart's desire and prayer to God for them is that they may be saved. 2 For I bear them witness that they have a zeal for God, but not according to knowledge. 3 For, being ignorant of the righteousness of God, and seeking to establish their own, they did not submit to God's righteousness. 4 For Christ is the end of the law for righteousness to everyone who believes.
5 For Moses writes about the righteousness that is based on the law, that the person who does the commandments shall live by them. 6 But the righteousness based on faith says, “Do not say in your heart, ‘Who will ascend into heaven?’” (that is, to bring Christ down) 7 “or ‘Who will descend into the abyss?’” (that is, to bring Christ up from the dead). 8 But what does it say? “The word is near you, in your mouth and in your heart” (that is, the word of faith that we proclaim); 9 because, if you confess with your mouth that Jesus is Lord and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved. 10 For with the heart one believes and is justified, and with the mouth one confesses and is saved. 11 For the Scripture says, “Everyone who believes in him will not be put to shame.” 12 For there is no distinction between Jew and Greek; for the same Lord is Lord of all, bestowing his riches on all who call on him. 13 For “everyone who calls on the name of the Lord will be saved.”
14 How then will they call on him in whom they have not believed? And how are they to believe in him of whom they have never heard? And how are they to hear without someone preaching? 15 And how are they to preach unless they are sent? As it is written, “How beautiful are the feet of those who preach the good news!” 16 But they have not all obeyed the gospel. For Isaiah says, “Lord, who has believed what he has heard from us?” 17 So faith comes from hearing, and hearing through the word of Christ." -Romans 10:1-17, ESV
I know, that was a lot of Scripture for one blog post. I probably should have broken this down and gone over each part in my next series. Maybe I will, I don't know. But just look at these passages with me! Verses 1-3 talks about how Israel didn't put their faith in God, but instead in their good works. That's not good! Paul says he is concerned for their salvation! That means that your good deeds, your religious acts, none of that will save you. Not a bit of it.
Then Paul, in verses 4-5, says that Christ is the end of righteous from rules. What does that mean? Check out verse 6-8: no matter how dramatic we are and how hard we work, there is nothing we do. Instead, we hold the true message, the message of righteousness found by faith, which is in verses 9-13.
AHH! YES! The key to salvation is CHRIST! Putting your faith in Him is the only way! Confess that He is your Lord, and you won't be put to shame! How beautiful and easy is that?! There's no distinction between Jew and Greek, meaning that every single person, no matter their ethnicity or past, can be turned down for salvation. Everyone who calls on His name will be saved! I beg you call on His name, right now if you don't know Him! Yell out "Jesus is Lord!"
But that isn't all. Verses 14-17 asks how people will hear of this if we don't tell them. Guess what: they won't. You see, if you have this amazing truth and you can tell the world of the way to salvation, you MUST share it! I know this is hard at times. It's hard for me, too. But we are their way! It's on US to spread the good news!
So, my question is: will you spread this news? Will you tell people about your Lord? Or will you let their ears remain silent?
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