May 27
“‘The word is near you, in your mouth and in your heart’ (that is, the word of faith which we preach): that if you confess with your mouth the Lord Jesus and believe in your heart that God has raised Him from the dead, you will be saved. For with the heart one believes unto righteousness, and with the mouth confession is made unto salvation. For the Scripture says, ‘Whoever believes on Him will not be put to shame.’ For there is no distinction between Jew and Greek, for the same Lord over all is rich to all who call upon Him,” Romans 10:8-12.
The Bible speaks about a righteousness of the law and a righteousness of faith. Moses wrote about the righteousness of the law (Deuteronomy 30:11-14). But no one can attain the righteousness of the law, which is expressed in its demand to be perfect: “You shall be perfect, just as your Father in heaven is perfect,” Matthew 5:48. By our own efforts, we remain far from being perfect. Scripture states, “By the deeds of the law no flesh will be justified in His sight, for by the law is the knowledge of sin . . . All have sinned and fall short of the glory of God,” Romans 3:20, 23.
Where then is our Christian hope? It is in the righteousness of faith, which is near at hand, as it is revealed in the Gospel in Holy Scripture. If you believe that Jesus suffered, died, and rose again to redeem you, you will be saved. It is clearly expressed in the words of the apostle: “If you confess with your mouth the Lord Jesus and believe in your heart that God has raised Him from the dead, you will be saved. For with the heart one believes unto righteousness, and with the mouth confession is made unto salvation.” We believe in Jesus as God’s Son and our Savior, and we make His righteousness, which He gained for us, our very own. Believe with all your heart that Jesus died and rose again to save you. Then, “Out of the abundance of the heart the mouth speaks,” Matthew 12:34. Joyfully and boldly we confess the faith and hope that we have in our hearts.
Paul quotes from the prophecy of Isaiah: “Behold, I lay in Zion a Stone for a foundation, a tried Stone, a precious Cornerstone, a sure Foundation; whoever believes will not act hastily,” Isaiah 28:16. Paul says that Isaiah’s words apply for all believers: “Whoever believes on Him will not be put to shame.”
Our Christian faith rests securely upon a sure Foundation, as the apostle wrote to the Corinthians: “No other foundation can anyone lay than that which is laid, which is Jesus Christ,” 1 Corinthians 3:11. To the Ephesians, the apostle wrote, “You are no longer strangers and foreigners, but fellow citizens with the saints and members of the household of God, having been built on the foundation of the apostles and prophets, Jesus Christ Himself being the Chief Cornerstone,” Ephesians 2:19-20.
God is not a respecter of persons: “(Christ) died for all,” 2 Corinthians 5:15. God sent Him into the world to redeem all people. All are invited and promised, “Believe on the Lord Jesus Christ, and you will be saved,” Acts 16:31. With our mouths, let us confess what we believe in our hearts to all those with whom we come into contact, that others might also believe and be saved.
“I know my faith is founded
On Jesus Christ, my God and Lord;
And this my faith confessing,
Unmoved I stand upon His Word.
Man’s reason cannot fathom
The truth of God profound;
Who trusts her subtle wisdom,
Relies on shifting ground.
God’s Word is all-sufficient,
It makes divinely sure;
And trusting in its wisdom,
My faith shall rest secure.” Amen.