May 10, 2017
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Reading along with us in Romans? Here’s today’s reading:
Romans 10 (ESV)
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… Continue Reading
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i love the verse from Deuteronomy 30:14 used here in ch. 10, as God gave me that verse when He asked me to do what He was asking that was out of the box for me.
“No, the word is verynear you, in your mouth and in your heart so you may obey it.”😊
How beautiful are the feet
Still camped out in Hebrews 11, taking in the great cloud of witnesses.
I’ve been thinking all day about everything I’m internalizing as I read through Romans! What a difference it makes to have the previous chapters of Romans read out loud to me each day (especially as I read along, so my mind doesn’t wander), and then read along with the new chapter for that day. I wish I could explain what’s happening. The Holy Spirit is making God’s Word come alive for me as never before.
I read/listened to Romans 1-7 today, then read aloud Romans 8-10, this time in the King James version on BibleGateway.com.
I see no way anyone can read these chapters and walk away believing they are saved by anything other than faith in God and in Jesus Christ. And even more, that those who are saved by faith are saved only by God’s grace upon them (Romans 8:29-31; 9:13, 17-18, 22-23). Any who believe their good deeds or works attain righteousness before God, or that their good deeds or works save them, or that their good deeds or work play any part in their salvation, Paul teaches otherwise. Our good deeds and works are fruit of our salvation, but they should flow from our new nature, from the Spirit of God within us, to His glory and praise, and not from our flesh, for the praise of men.
According to Paul, only a remnant of Israel will be saved, no matter how zealously they keep the law of God. Only those who have believed, who confess (agree) that Jesus Christ has been given to us for salvation, and who by faith set aside their pursuit of righteousness by works, are heirs to the promise given to Abraham. (See Romans 10:6-13.) The same can be said, then, for those of other religions or beliefs who believe it is by their good deeds that they will be measured by God to determine their salvation.
Letting go of a works-based religion is a scary thing for someone who has been striving to keep the “law of works” so they may be saved! I imagine this is why many hold on for dear life to their works-based religions. They genuinely fear God’s wrath and cannot imagine that He would make salvation an act of His grace. Yet, as Paul teaches, it is impossible to be justified by the law, for no one is able to keep it. We NEED a Savior!
“Brethren, my heart’s desire and prayer to God for Israel is, that they might be saved. For I bear them record that they have a zeal of God, but not according to knowledge. 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. For Christ is the end of the law for righteousness to every one that believeth.” Romans 10:1-4
On a related topic, I had a conversation with someone about how some believers in Christ are very law-focused even after salvation, while others are grace-focused. They had a very interesting theory. In a nutshell, both groups believe God loves them, but one lives with a burden to prove to God that they love HIM. The others are so overjoyed to be set free from the burden of striving to keep the law, they can’t help but live for God. What do you think? Does this strike a chord with anyone else?
Amen! (Michelle)
Faith is certainly the key to salvation, but the Jews works blind them to that. We should be wary of how a works based system can blind us to the power and influence of faith that relies on God’s power.
I also like how Paul emphasizes the call on our lives to share our faith….how can they believe in the one they have not heard…good stuff!!