Castlebar Christian Fellowship

Our reachable Saviour

Reading: Romans 10:5-13
The Message of Salvation to All
5For(A) Moses writes about the righteousness that is based on the law, that(B) the person who does the commandments shall live by them. 6But(C) the righteousness based on faith says,(D) "Do not say in your heart, 'Who will ascend into heaven?'" (that is, to bring Christ down) 7or "'Who will descend into the(E) abyss?'" (that is,(F) to bring Christ up from the dead). 8But what does it say?(G) "The word is near you, in your mouth and in your heart" (that is, the word of faith that we proclaim); 9because, if(H) you confess with your mouth that Jesus is Lord and(I) believe in your heart(J) that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved. 10For with the heart one believes and is justified, and with the mouth one confesses and is saved. 11For the Scripture says,(K) "Everyone who believes in him will not be put to shame." 12(L) For there is no distinction between Jew and Greek;(M) for the same Lord is Lord of all,(N) bestowing his riches on all who call on him. 13For(O) "everyone who calls on the name of the Lord will be saved."

Introduction:

Last time when we looked at Romans 9:30-10:4, we saw the dominant themes of Romans resurfacing i.e. righteousness and faith.

When Paul uses the word righteousness he's thinking primarily of a certain type of relationship with God. He's thinking of "a right standing with God." (Leon Morris)
In other words, very briefly, "God's righteousness refers to that act by which God declares sinful people to be just in his sight." (Douglas Moo)
We saw that Paul contrasted two types of righteousness. In Romans 10:3 he describes the pursuit of righteousness by his fellow Jews. For, being ignorant of the righteousness of God, and seeking to establish their own, they did not submit to God's righteousness.
Paul pictured the Gentiles who accepted Christ as getting right with God without even trying and the Jews who were working hard at hitting the target were missing it big time.
The good news however is God has made a way for all mankind.
His gift of righteousness can only be received by faith. By humbly confessing our need to Him and asking Him to do for us what we could never do in all eternity.
There is no room for boasting but there's plenty of room for gratitude and grateful service that gives glory to God.


"In these nine verses (of this morning's reading) the righteousness that comes through the Law of Moses (v5) is contrasted with the righteousness based on faith (vv6-13).

The righteousness based on faith is not only available (vv5-8), and worldwide in its application (vv11-13), but rests upon the historical fact of Jesus' death and resurrection (vv9-10)." (Adapted from Alan F. Johnson)

Three headings came to mind as I studied this all under the letter A. It's Accomplished! It's Accessible! It's for All!

---oo0oo---

It's Accomplished!

First he talks about, the righteousness that is based on the law.
V5.For Moses writes about the righteousness that is based on the law, that the person who does the commandments shall live by them.
The key word in this quotation from Leviticus 18:5, is does.
"The person who does the commandments shall live by them."
If we could live in perfect obedience to the commandments we would experience life in all its fullness. This would require amazing consistency in willpower and exertion on our behalf. However such a task is impossible. Romans 3:9-10 What shall we conclude then? Are we any better[a]? Not at all! We have already made the charge that Jews and Gentiles alike are all under sin. 10As it is written:
"There is no one righteous, not even one;
Remember Paul's personal testimony. I found that the very commandment that was intended to bring life actually brought death. Romans 7:10.
The only person who ever obeyed the law perfectly was Jesus, and 'God credits his obedience to you'. (Romans 5:19)
Thankfully we are not required to perform some impossible feat.
Next Paul talks about the righteousness based on faith.

VV6-7 But the righteousness based on faith says, "Do not say in your heart,
"When Paul uses the words in verse 6, "Do not say in your heart," he is quoting from Deuteronomy 9:4 where God warns Israel, "Do not say in your heart . . . 'It is because of my righteousness that the Lord has brought me in to possess this land."
In other words, he knows that the gift of the promised land was not owing to how easy it was to keep the commandments. It was not owing to any human righteousness. It was owing to God's totally undeserved grace apart from any human performances. Paul sees in that a picture of the way justification comes to the believer - how we enter into the promised land of God's favor." John Piper.

But the righteousness based on faith says, "Do not say in your heart,
'Who will ascend into heaven?'" (that is, to bring Christ down) 7or "'Who will descend into the abyss?'" (that is, to bring Christ up from the dead).

We don't have to strive to bring him down from heaven, he has already done that. That particular Christian doctrine is called the Incarnation: The Word became flesh and made his dwelling among us. John 1:14.Jesus was born into this world, to live and die for us. We are justified by his blood. (Rom.5:9)

We don't have to try and bring him up from the abyss (or from the past) He's alive. He rose triumphant from the grave. He was delivered over to death for our sins and was raised to life for our justification. Romans 4:25.
He is not just some figure from the past but he is the living Saviour and Lord.

It is not through some Herculean feat of exertion and human will on our part, that we gain access to Him. It is not by achieving but by believing. If it is by achieving it can only ever be by what He has achieved by his cross and resurrection. He has made a way for us. He has drawn near to us.

Remember Paul sees Christ as the goal of the law and as the end of the law for righteousness for everyone who believes.(Romans 10:4)

Paul reads those great verses in Deuteronomy and when he sees the references to bringing the commandment near he substitutes the bringing of Christ near. Listen to Deuteronomy 30:11-14.
Now what I am commanding you today is not too difficult for you or beyond your reach. 12 It is not up in heaven, so that you have to ask, "Who will ascend into heaven to get it and proclaim it to us so we may obey it?" 13 Nor is it beyond the sea, so that you have to ask, "Who will cross the sea to get it and proclaim it to us so we may obey it?" 14 No, the word is very near you; it is in your mouth and in your heart so you may obey it.

Listen to what Paul does with that text. He gives comment in the style of a rabbi and replaces the commandment with Christ. Look at the brackets Romans 10:6-7. 'Who will ascend into heaven?'" (that is, to bring Christ down) 7or "'Who will descend into the abyss?'" (that is, to bring Christ up from the dead).

Do you notice how in both cases in Romans he replaces the references to commands in Deuteronomy with Christ?
For Paul, righteousness does not come from keeping commands but from embracing by faith, the Lord Jesus Christ. As he says elsewhere that God has made Christ Jesus "our righteousness, holiness and redemption. 31Therefore, as it is written: "Let him who boasts boast in the Lord."" 1Corinthians 1:30-31.

Not only has Christ accomplished all this for us but,

It's Accessible!

This is not Israel's or anybody else's achievement. Christ came down for us. He rose again from the grave for us. He has made himself accessible to us. We don't gain access to him through our moral sweat and law keeping.

We cannot of course gain access to him to him if our hearts are in a place of unbelief. Remember the words of Thomas. John 20:24-25. Now Thomas (called Didymus), one of the Twelve, was not with the disciples when Jesus came. 25So the other disciples told him, "We have seen the Lord!"
But he said to them, "Unless I see the nail marks in his hands and put my finger where the nails were, and put my hand into his side, I will not believe it." (Thankfully Thomas did not stay in that place of unbelief!)

We cannot gain access to Jesus, full stop!
He has made a way for us. As were reminded in the Gospel account after Jesus breathed his last on the cross. "The curtain of the Temple was torn in two from the top to the bottom."
He has made a way for us. Only he could!


V8.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); This righteousness based on faith is here, present and within reach. We cannot attain it by our earning or our searching. It's offered to us freely.

VV9-10 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. 10For with the heart one believes and is justified, and with the mouth one confesses and is saved.

If you confess with your mouth.
One definition says, "To confess means to declare, avow, profess, proclaim. Someone put it in these words, It seems evident that the 'confession' is to be made out loud before others, with the mouth, not by some other action." (Johnson)

[I would say it has to be something audible not necessarily loud. It's not about decibels! It's about testifying to Jesus. Luke 12:8. "I tell you, whoever acknowledges me before men, the Son of Man will also acknowledge him before the angels of God. Matthew 12:34. For out of the overflow of the heart the mouth speaks. ]

The two core Christian bedrock beliefs are Jesus is Lord and God raised him from the dead. He is talking here about heart beliefs. Not just sentiment or emotion but something that is embraced at the very core of our being by our emotions, intellect and will.

The shortest and possibly earliest Christian confession of faith is "Jesus is Lord". That may seem a simple statement on the surface but when you realise the times in which these words were spoken and the meaning behind them you begin to see that they are very profound and challenging words.

The early believers lived in a world where the Emperor of Rome took the title Lord. He thought he was God and he expected his subjects to show unswerving loyalty and obedience to him alone.

When Christians began to declare that Jesus is Lord, they were setting themselves on a course of opposition and endangerment.

The same word that is used for Yahweh in Hebrew is translated Lord in the Greek Old and New Testament.

It's used to denote owner, master, emperor, God.
Of course it's not just a case of declaring with our lips that Jesus is Lord. Many throughout history have and will call him Lord but there is no reality to what they profess. There is no real relationship between them and the Lord. The words of Matthew 7:22-23, are very sobering! Many will say to me on that day, 'Lord, Lord, did we not prophesy in your name, and in your name drive out demons and perform many miracles?' 23Then I will tell them plainly, 'I never knew you. Away from me, you evildoers!'


Were reminded by Paul that no one who is speaking by the Spirit of God says, "Jesus be cursed," and no one can say, "Jesus is Lord," except by the Holy Spirit. 1 Corinthians12:3.

Not only is he Lord but God raised him from the dead.
As one writer reminds us, "The resurrection is a crucial historical event because it marks out Jesus, the Lord from heaven, as absolutely distinct from any other lord. He is the One in whom alone the Father has accomplished His redeeming work for the world." Alan F. Johnson.



Not only is this righteousness accomplished and accessible,

It's for All.


V11For the Scripture says, "Everyone who believes in him will not be put to shame."

Not be put to shame, has the idea of being not ultimately dismayed or disillusioned. It looks forward to being vindicated on the last day, the Day of Judgment. (Rom.9:33)

Have you noticed the theme of everyone? We were reminded in,
Romans 10:4. "For Christ is the end of the law for righteousness to everyone who believes."

Just listen to the use of the words all or everyone.
V11For the Scripture says, "Everyone who believes in him will not be put to shame."

V12-13. 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. 13For "everyone who calls on the name of the Lord will be saved."
The invitation of the gospel is given to all humanity. As God promised Abraham, "In you all the families of the earth shall be blessed." Genesis 12:3.
There is no distinction made between the Jews and the Gentiles. Look at v12 again. For there is no distinction between Jew and Greek;(M) for the same Lord is Lord of all,(N) bestowing his riches on all who call on him. A declaration like that helps us to bring balance to the present Jewish/Gentile scenario. A statement like that in the first century, must have really hit the religious pride of the Jews and we know that it frequently amazed the Gentiles that they were included in the invitation.
There's a universal scope to the gospel. Romans 3:22, 29
For there is no distinction between Jew and Greek;(M) for the same Lord is Lord of all,(N) bestowing his riches on all who call on him. Or as J. B. Phillips puts it, "For all have the same Lord, whose boundless resources are sufficient for all who turn to him in faith."
What are the riches that he bestows on those who call on him? The riches of his kindness, tolerance and patience, Romans 2:4
The immeasurable riches of his grace in kindness toward us in Christ Jesus. Ephesians 2:7
The riches are summed up in v13, For "everyone who calls on the name of the Lord will be saved."
In the biblical language to call on the Lord is the language of worship and supplication. Paul doesn't hesitate to use this type of language when referring to Christ. He in fact takes a text from the book of Joel that refers to Yahweh and applies it to Jesus. For "everyone who calls on the name of the Lord will be saved."

That initial knowledge of salvation comes into our lives when we call on Him and we need to call on Him for the rest of our days. If you're not a believer today call on him and you will know him at work in your life. If you are a believer, even of many years standing, you know that you need to call on him every day!


"Thou art coming to a King,
Large petitions with thee bring.
For his power and love are such,
None can ever ask too much."



Conclusion:

Therefore God exalted him to the highest place
and gave him the name that is above every name,
10that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow,
in heaven and on earth and under the earth,
11and every tongue confess that Jesus Christ is Lord,
to the glory of God the Father. Philippians 2:9-11.

It is Accomplished for us: He has done for us what we could never do or what no law could ever do. for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God, Rom 3:23, For what the law was powerless to do in that it was weakened by the sinful nature,[a] God did by sending his own Son in the likeness of sinful man to be a sin offering.[8:3.
It is Accessible:
It is for All (Universal): 'Everyone'. We are all the same. However not all roads lead in the same direction! The claims of Christ are exclusive.
There is salvation in no other name.
The human race knows of great diversity in its languages, history and culture and yet we are all the same in that we have a sinful nature. Rom. 3:9, What shall we conclude then? Are we any better[a]? Not at all! We have already made the charge that Jews and Gentiles alike are all under sin.21-23. But now a righteousness from God, apart from law, has been made known, to which the Law and the Prophets testify. 22This righteousness from God comes through faith in Jesus Christ to all who believe. There is no difference, 23for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God,

Another A is required to complete the circuit.
It's an Action required of you.
Are you willing to call on the name of the Lord today and be saved?

Notes:

Our society is becoming increasingly pluralistic.One of the dictionary meanings of pluralism / n.
3 Philos. a theory or system that recognizes more than one ultimate principle. (In contrast with monism. / n.
2 Philos. & Theol. the doctrine that only one supreme being exists.)

"A few verses earlier (Deuteronomy 30:6) Paul says that the eventual perfect obedience of Israel would only come in the day when God fulfills his new covenant promise perfectly and totally changes the heart of Israel. Moses writes, "And the Lord your God will circumcise your heart and the heart of your offspring, so that you will love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul, that you may live." Almost certainly Paul read this with Christ in mind. Christ would bring this to pass. His blood would be the blood of the new covenant (Luke 22:20). Someday there would not only be perfect justification, there would be perfect sanctification. The commandments really would be easy - someday. Through Christ!" John Piper: