The Best Part of the Day – Romans 10:1-13
Brothers and sisters, my heart’s desire and prayer to God for them is that they may be saved. 2 I can testify that they have a zeal for God, but it is not enlightened. 3 For, being ignorant of the righteousness that comes from God, and seeking to establish their own, they have not submitted to God’s righteousness. 4 For Christ is the end of the law so that there may be righteousness for everyone who believes.
Salvation Is for All
5 Moses writes concerning the righteousness that comes from the law, that “the person who does these things will live by them.” 6 But the righteousness that comes from 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,
on your lips and in your heart”
(that is, the word of faith that we proclaim); 9 because if you confess with your lips that Jesus is Lord and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved. 10 For one believes with the heart and so is justified, and one confesses with the mouth and so is saved. 11 The scripture says, “No one who believes in him will be put to shame.” 12 For there is no distinction between Jew and Greek; the same Lord is Lord of all and is generous to all who call on him. 13 For, “Everyone who calls on the name of the Lord shall be saved.”
What does the passage say?
It is believed that Paul is writing to the Christians of Rome from Corinth, in the hope of uniting the Jews and the Gentiles. Paul’s greatest desire is for all people to seek the righteousness of God through faith. The Message explains that Paul’s concern is for the people of Israel, who are falling short of righteousness:
10 1-3 “Believe me, friends, all I want for Israel is what’s best for Israel: salvation, nothing less. I want it with all my heart and pray to God for it all the time. I readily admit that the Jews are impressively energetic regarding God—but they are doing everything exactly backward. They don’t seem to realize that this comprehensive setting-things-right that is salvation is God’s business, and a most flourishing business it is. Right across the street they set up their own salvation shops and noisily hawk their wares. After all these years of refusing to really deal with God on his terms, insisting instead on making their own deals, they have nothing to show for it.
4-10 The earlier revelation was intended simply to get us ready for the Messiah, who then puts everything right for those who trust him to do it. Moses wrote that anyone who insists on using the law code to live right before God soon discovers it’s not so easy—every detail of life regulated by fine print! But trusting God to shape the right living in us is a different story—no precarious climb up to heaven to recruit the Messiah, no dangerous descent into hell to rescue the Messiah. So what exactly was Moses saying?
The word that saves is right here,
as near as the tongue in your mouth,
as close as the heart in your chest.
It’s the word of faith that welcomes God to go to work and set things right for us. This is the core of our preaching. Say the welcoming word to God—“Jesus is my Master”—embracing, body and soul, God’s work of doing in us what he did in raising Jesus from the dead. That’s it. You’re not “doing” anything; you’re simply calling out to God, trusting him to do it for you. That’s salvation. With your whole being you embrace God setting things right, and then you say it, right out loud: “God has set everything right between him and me!”
11-13 Scripture reassures us, “No one who trusts God like this—heart and soul—will ever regret it.” It’s exactly the same no matter what a person’s religious background may be: the same God for all of us, acting the same incredibly generous way to everyone who calls out for help. “Everyone who calls, ‘Help, God!’ gets help.”
What does this mean to me/ us?
Paul is concerned for the Jews because they are deeply devoted to God, but they are misguided. They are following the law, which is based on works, and they do not know God’s righteousness is based on faith. Nobody can earn a right relationship with God using your own efforts. God’s purpose for the law ended with the birth of Jesus Christ. God gives us simple directions: Believe deep in your heart that God raised Jesus from the pit of death and if you voice your allegiance by confessing the truth, “Jesus is Lord,” then you will be saved. God loves you. He wants your heart, and he wants you to share his love. We are charged to preach the message of faith.
Gracious and heavenly Father. We long to receive your gift of salvation. We ask you to lead us to trust and continue toward righteousness. We ask you to warm our hearts. Lead us to your children who do not know you, so that we may preach to them of your mighty plan for all to be saved. Prepare us to serve you by serving your children in our church and in our community. In Christ’s name we pray. Amen.
- Contributed by Sue McCoy, Lay Servant Ministry
What are your thoughts?
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