Romans 10:5-15

Romans 10:5-15

[Ro 10:5] For Moses writes that the man who practices the righteousness which is based on law shall live by that righteousness. [6] But the righteousness based on faith speaks thus, “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 which we are preaching, [9] that if you confess with your mouth Jesus {as} Lord, and believe in your heart that God raised Him from the dead, you shall be saved; [10] for with the heart man believes, resulting in righteousness, and with the mouth he confesses, resulting in salvation. [11] For the Scripture says, “Whoever believes in Him will not be disappointed.” [12] For there is no distinction between Jew and Greek; for the same {Lord} is Lord of all, abounding in riches for all who call upon Him; [13] for “Whoever will call upon the name of the Lord will be saved.” [14] How then shall they call upon Him in whom they have not believed? And how shall they believe in Him whom they have not heard? And how shall they hear without a preacher? [15] And how shall they preach unless they are sent? Just as it is written, "How beautiful are the feet of those who bring glad tidings of good things!" (NAS)

Romans 10:5-8

[Ro 10:5] For Moses writes that the man who practices the righteousness which is based on law shall live by that righteousness. [6] But the righteousness based on faith speaks as follows: “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 which we are preaching. (NAS)

The Law of Moses

Paul has dual purposes in writing Romans: 1) Stop the Jewish Christians from proclaiming that salvation lay in the law and Jesus.  2) Prevent Christianity from becoming a Jewish sect and/or a religion of rituals instead of a vibrant relationship with a living God.

Paul draws from the writings of Moses – the Lawgiver – to point to the purpose of the law and the freedom of relationship with a God who is near to our ‘heart and breath’.

Paul quotes from Leviticus to show how living by the law demands absolute perfection [Leviticus 18:5].  Then, he turns to Deuteronomy and some of Moses’ last words which speak of a God who is willing to share in our lives [Deuteronomy 21:14-30].  Paul proclaims the promise of Moses is unfolded in the life of Jesus.  Finally, Paul affirms the image of a God who longs to be in relationship through the writings of Isaiah and Joel [Isaiah 28:16 & Joel 2:32]. 

Paul is telling us to leave behind the law (which is death) and aspire to a higher leading (which is Christ).  The law, according to Paul, only serves the purpose of highlighting our sin and revealing our need for a relationship with Jesus.

Ritual or Relationship

When my faith becomes centered in ritual or even place – I am in danger of choosing religion over relationship.  The Jewish faith was centered in complex rituals and the temple.  The ritual was so complex that it was only decipherable by a professional, priestly class.  Worship was limited to a building and the faithful came to worship (membership) rather than being sent out to ‘teach, preach and heal’ (disciple).

Conversely, Jesus (and all of His disciples – including Paul) took their faith out to the people.  Jesus did not hand people a book and say; “Read it yourself.”  Rather, He invited His followers to ‘come and see’ then, ‘go and do’.  In fact, Jesus almost completely limits the quoting of scripture or referrals to Mosaic Law to His confrontations with Satan and the religiously pious.

Jesus spent a great deal of time teaching in the temple - but He spent a great deal more time in the streets, on the hillsides, in people’s houses, and in the mountains / deserts at prayer.  Religion was not a ritual to Jesus - not limited by space or place.  Wherever Jesus was – ‘I Am’ is.  He promised similar comfort to us;

Matthew 18:20

[Mt 18:20] “Wherever two or three are gathered in my name, I am in your midst.” (NAS)

Which faith do you desire?

It seems like an easy choice to me; a) Jesus, like a friend beside me on the journey, or b) Jesus, standing at the doorway of the church checking His watch and telling me I am late.  Still, there are so many who are just more comfortable with ritual than relationship.  It certainly appealed to the Jewish Christians of Rome.  Why?

Ritual can add beauty and symbolism to worship.  Yet, when symbolism becomes more sacred than the Spirit - it has become a false God. 

1.      Ritual can become a way of trying to box God in and others out. 

2.      It can easily become a way to replace God - forsaking His call to be a disciple with comfortable recitations of prayers or dutiful weekly attendance. 

3.      It can become professional, as if we could pay another to go to God for us. 

These patterns of faith may assuage our guilt - but they sure won't make us powerful disciples.

Rather, if you want to grow, seek out Christian mentors that are living the Gospel call of discipling and service.  Instead of studying when to sit, kneel, stand or recite a reflexive responsorial; study how to heal the sick, raise the dead, cleanse the lepers and drive out demons.  Find the Followers who are actually experiencing miracles everyday and then ask; “Can I be your roadie?”

However, don't look for the living among the dead.  You were more apt to find Jesus in the desert, on the hillside or by the seashore than in the temple.  Today, you are more apt to find His practicing disciples where the miraculous is urgent - not an interruption.  In jails, homeless shelters, nursing homes or detention centers.  Places where mop buckets become baptismal fonts because no one has fifty grand to spend on a sculptured sacramental pond.  Vestments are a second coat you gave away to the homeless teen – not a five thousand dollar matching set that accessorizes well with the altars Pentecost theme.

Go to where the prayers are urgent and sincere not pre-written and mechanical.  Go to where lives given over to Jesus are the main course and not a controversy.  Where the song leader sings; “Shout to the Lord,” and people actually do.  Where the Pastors request for an, “Amen,” can’t be heard over the congregation's, “Hallelujah.”

Bad Church / Good Church

Look at the two churches modeled in Matthew 21;

Matthew 12:12-16

[Mt 21:12] And Jesus entered the temple and drove out all those who were buying and selling in the temple, and overturned the tables of the money changers and the seats of those who were selling doves. [13] And He said to them, “It is written, ‘MY HOUSE SHALL BE CALLED A HOUSE OF PRAYER’; but you are making it a ROBBERS’ DEN.”

[14] And the blind and the lame came to Him in the temple, and He healed them. [15] But when the chief priests and the scribes saw the wonderful things that He had done, and the children who were shouting in the temple, “Hosanna to the Son of David,” they became indignant[16] and said to Him, “Do You hear what these children are saying?” And Jesus said to them, “Yes; have you never read, ‘OUT OF THE MOUTH OF INFANTS AND NURSING BABIES YOU HAVE PREPARED PRAISE FOR YOURSELF’?” (NAS)

In the Church, sans Jesus, it is steeped in ritual, but filled with selfishness, layers of it.  The people are there only for personal gain disguised as ritual.

When Jesus enters he 1) proclaims the purpose of the church; “My Father’s house is a house of prayer.”  2) He drives out the selfish and 3) takes His rightful seat.  4) Sinners come and 5) are healed (that's what the priests of our Lord’s Day thought of the blind and lame).  6) Children spontaneously begin proclaiming Jesus’ name at the top of their lungs, and... 7) the pious are indignant.

Too many churches are like Little League teams and too many Pastors are like weak coaches who change the players based upon which most obnoxious parent shouts the loudest.  Instead, we need tough coaches who will run the game by the rule book – not by the loudest complainer.  “If you got a problem,” Christian Leaders need to proclaim, “You better be able to show it to me in the rule book.  If it’s from 1^st Opinions II, I ain’t changin’ the call.”  Every time the line up or rules are changed because someone’s toes are stepped on – the rest of the team pays the price.

Lord, help us build churches where our purpose is clear, selfishness is driven away and you are seated in your rightful place as teacher.  Where the crippled are welcomed and healed of the wounds.  Let me hear children spontaneously singing out your Name.  Then, if (as I suspect) the litmus test of such a church is that the pious find it undignified - then ‘bring it on’.

Romans 10:9-13

[Ro 10:9] That if you confess with your mouth Jesus as Lord, and believe in your heart that God raised Him from the dead, you will be saved; [11] For the Scripture says, “Whoever believes in Him will not be disappointed.” [12] For there is no distinction between Jew and Greek; for the same {Lord} is Lord of all, abounding in riches for all who call upon Him; [13] for “Whoever will call upon the name of the Lord will be saved.” (NAS)

The simple truth

Paul makes the Christian faith so simple in light of the Judaism of his day and the denominationalism of ours.  He tears down the walls of ritualism just like Jesus flipping over the tables of the temple money changers. 

Throughout Romans, Paul is stating; “Rid your life of every obstacle between Jesus and you!”  “Then,” he continues, “rid your life of every impediment you would put on others; Confess with your mouth, believe with your heart.”

Peter said it even more adamantly in his first sermon to the High Priests of the temple;

Acts 15:10-11

[Ac 15:10] “Now therefore why do you put God to the test by placing upon the neck of the disciples a yoke which neither our fathers nor we have been able to bear? [11] “But we believe that we are saved through the grace of the Lord Jesus, in the same way as they also are.” (NAS)

Jesus said it stronger still;

Matthew 18:6-7

[Mt 18:6] but whoever causes one of these little ones who believe in Me to stumble, it would be better for him to have a heavy millstone hung around his neck, and to be drowned in the depth of the sea.

[7] “Woe to the world because of its stumbling blocks! For it is inevitable that stumbling blocks come; but woe to that man through whom the stumbling block comes! (NAS)

Keep it simple!  That’s what Jesus and His apostolic followers are telling us.  Share the faith story without complication.  Get rid of any part of you that would complicate or 'denominationalize' these words: “If you confess with your mouth Jesus as Lord, and believe in your heart that God raised Him from the dead, you will be saved.”

To confess

There are three words for ‘to confess’ in Greek.  Yet, each one has a root in the word 'thanksgiving'.  To, ‘confess with your mouth that Jesus is Lord,’ is to give public thanksgiving for the Lord's hand in your life.  This may be pretty uncomfortable for a people who are afraid to even say a murmured ‘Amen’ at a church service.  Yet, the statement Paul wants us to make is much deeper than even this.  Praising God in the congregation is minor compared to telling the Roman Christians to proclaim Jesus in the Emperor Nero’s Rome. 

Paul (who is facing troubles of his own and writes from a jail in Caesarea) is telling us that – no matter what our circumstance – we should exemplify the Lord's grace.  The Lord should be on our lips and in our faces at all times – could I say that after a bad day – let alone while in prison or facing Nero’s persecution?

Confess Jesus as your Lord.  Shout praises and thanksgiving to everyone for what He has done for you.  Make His gift of salvation the center point of your existence.  What greater gift can we give to others than the promise of an abundant eternity that begins with letting Jesus become the Master of my life?

Let us start confessing the joy: “Praising Jesus with thanksgiving!”

Believe in your heart

To believe with your heart is like saying; "If you believe to the core of your being."  The heart [kardia] was the middle – 'the center' of your being.  Paul is saying; "If you believe on an unshakeable gut level." 

Paul is talking about faith at an untouchable depth – a faith that goes to the very fiber of our being.  Not a convenient faith - but a faith that is practiced even when it is inconvenient – especially when it is inconvenient!

Jesus said it like this;

Matthew 10:33

[Mt 10:33] “But whoever denies Me before men, I will also deny him before My Father who is in heaven."  (NAS)

Later, our Lord deepens that statement with this one;

Matthew 16:24-26

[Mt 16:24] Then Jesus said to His disciples, “If anyone wishes to come after Me, he must deny himself, and take up his cross and follow Me. [25] “For whoever wishes to save his life will lose it; but whoever loses his life for My sake will find it. [26] “For what will it profit a man if he gains the whole world and forfeits his soul? Or what will a man give in exchange for his soul? (NAS)

The greatest growth as a follower will come from following Christ when it is least convenient, when we are rocked ‘to the core’ (to the kardia).  When our head tells us; “It’s not fair,” and our emotions tell us; “If God loved me - He wouldn't do this to me.”

That is the time when faith takes ‘the next step’ in personal and communal growth.   That is when faith grows – not by an inch – but by a universe.

Paul tells us exactly how to access salvation.  Not through ritual or head knowledge.  It is when we tell everyone the Great News and believe through the toughest moments – only then, we will know freedom (salvation) at a level we could never understand without trials.

Romans 10:14-15

[14] How then shall they call upon Him in whom they have not believed? And how shall they believe in Him whom they have not heard? And how shall they hear without a preacher? [15] And how shall they preach unless they are sent? Just as it is written, “How beautiful are the feet of those who bring glad tidings of good things!” (NAS)

How then will they call on Him?

Here is a phrase that should melt every Believer's heart.  Paul asks the Roman Church to look outward.  He literally says; “How can unbelievers even ‘appeal’ [epikaleomai] to our Lord if we are too busy scuffling over rituals?”

Paul’s cry should fill us with a passion to share Jesus everywhere and all the time.  Yet, why do so few of us burn with such a passion?  Why (when we are talking about people’s eternal souls) are we so timid about sharing the Good News? Do we fear their rejection more than we desire their salvation?  Why did the primary role of church become internal maintenance and not evangelism? 

How will they hear without a preacher?

Paul does not use the word for elder, deacon or an apostle in this question.  This would be a far easier reading if Paul were talking only about a class of professional clergy.  Instead, he uses the word for a 'town crier' [kerusso]. 

The main requirements for being a town crier were;

a)      To be loud;

b)      To boldly stand on a street corner; and

c)      To tell the news as it was written and not adapt it to the whim of the crowd. 

Of course, sometimes shouting the news made you an object of acclamation – at other times, it made you an object of scorn.  Nevertheless, the truth was the truth and it was not the town crier’s right to adapt it to any crowd.

Can you do this?  The same news you preach which brings hope to one man’s ears will bring you hatred from another.  Do we love praise and fear rejection too much to be a preacher, er – I mean, town crier?

How will they preach unless they are sent?

Now Paul is honing in on the mission of the Church (to send disciples).  The verb for ‘to send’ is apostello – the root of the title, Apostle.  It translates best as; “Set apart to be sent.”

Herein is the mission of the church.  Not to implode with arguments about personal needs and religious ritual, but to explode with those who are ‘set apart to be sent’.  If this is the mission established by Jesus and affirmed by Paul, then is it what your fellowship (whether you are reading this in a situation where your fellowship is a jail or a large church) is using to measure its success?  Forget about membership, about budgets, about building size; are you sending out Apostles?  If not, what are three steps you can do to start doing what we've been commanded to do?

Notice that I did not say; "What are three steps your church needs to take?"  You!  What three steps do you need to take?

“HOW BEAUTIFUL ARE THE FEET OF THOSE WHO BRING GOOD NEWS OF GOOD THINGS!”

Paul refreshes the ears of the people of Rome (and, in particular the Jews who knew this scripture) with the greatest call of a faithful Jewish follower.  He is obviously not only trying to challenge their prejudice – but reaffirm their heritage. 

It is tragedy that all too often – one seems to beget the other.  Paul is telling us this does not have to be the case.  He encourages the Jewish Christians (and through them – all engrained pew-sitters) to use their rich tradition to support and give encouragement to others, not block them and force them away.  He quotes from the pivotal fifty-second chapter of Isaiah.

Isaiah 52:7

[Isa 52:7] How lovely on the mountains are the feet of him;

Who brings good news;

Who announces peace;

And brings good news of happiness;

Who announces salvation;

and says to Zion, “Your God reigns!”

Here is the promise chapter of Isaiah – the tough-guy prophet who preached the complete decimation of the Jews and also prophesied their rebuilding as a New People with a New Covenant under the humble Anointed One of God.

Imagine, for a moment, that you were an Israelite in the Davidic days left behind while the King and his men went to wage war.  Fearfully and hopefully we wait for news from the front.  Everyday we post those with great eyesight to watch for the runners to bring the news.  First, we see the dust from runner’s feet as he races down the path, we strain with our ears for his cry. “Our King reigns!” he cries.  There is joy in the entire city! The whole city drops everything to celebrate the news.

The enemy is vanquished; we won't be a hostage or slave to the adversary.  We fumble over ourselves to bless the feet of the messenger.  He has accomplished his duty, run miles, probably even days to bring us Great News. 

Whenever someone arrives with news like that – it is time to celebrate.  The term, How beautiful [horario] are the feet,” literally means, “How great was the moment when he arrived with the news of our King’s victory.”

Who brings Good News - The Evangelist

Now – to a person who is crushed by life – who brings welcome news?  Paul says it is the evangelist [euaggelizo]; the one ‘set apart to be sent out’ to announce good news.

If that person is not you – then who are you counting on to do your work?  Is there not one person you know who needs the hope of the Gospel today?  Who is that person?  Are you strapping on your sandals?  Are you free and unencumbered enough to run for days?  Weeks?  As long as it takes? 

Listen to these closing words of Paul to his Son-in-the-Lord, Timothy.  These words were written under a death sentence.  Time was nigh and Paul knew it.  The axe was already being sharpened as Paul dictated these last words:

2 Timothy 3:1-4:17

CHAPTER 3

1    But realize this, that in the last days difficult times will come.

2    For men will be lovers of self, lovers of money, boastful, arrogant, revilers, disobedient to parents, ungrateful, unholy,

3    unloving, irreconcilable, malicious gossips, without self-control, brutal, haters of good,

4    treacherous, reckless, conceited, lovers of pleasure rather than lovers of God;

5    holding to a form of godliness, although they have denied its power; and avoid such men as these.

6    For among them are those who enter into households and captivate weak women weighed down with sins, led on by various impulses,

7    always learning and never able to come to the knowledge of the truth.

8    And just as Jannes and Jambres opposed Moses, so these {men} also oppose the truth, men of depraved mind, rejected as regards the faith.

9    But they will not make further progress; for their folly will be obvious to all, as also that of those {two} came to be.

10  But you followed my teaching, conduct, purpose, faith, patience, love, perseverance,

11  persecutions, {and} sufferings, such as happened to me at Antioch, at Iconium {and} at Lystra; what persecutions I endured, and out of them all the Lord delivered me!

12  And indeed, all who desire to live godly in Christ Jesus will be persecuted.

13  But evil men and impostors will proceed {from bad} to worse, deceiving and being deceived.

14  You, however, continue in the things you have learned and become convinced of, knowing from whom you have learned {them}

15  and that from childhood you have known the sacred writings which are able to give you the wisdom that leads to salvation through faith which is in Christ Jesus.

16  All Scripture is inspired by God and profitable for teaching, for reproof, for correction, for training in righteousness;

17  that the man of God may be adequate, equipped for every good work.

CHAPTER 4

1    I solemnly charge {you} in the presence of God and of Christ Jesus, who is to judge the living and the dead, and by His appearing and His kingdom:

2    preach the word; be ready in season {and} out of season; reprove, rebuke, exhort, with great patience and instruction.

3    For the time will come when they will not endure sound doctrine; but {wanting} to have their ears tickled, they will accumulate for themselves teachers in accordance to their own desires;

4    and will turn away their ears from the truth, and will turn aside to myths.

5    But you, be sober in all things, endure hardship, do the work of an evangelist, fulfill your ministry.

6    For I am already being poured out as a drink offering, and the time of my departure has come.

7    I have fought the good fight, I have finished the course, I have kept the faith;

8    in the future there is laid up for me the crown of righteousness, which the Lord, the righteous Judge, will award to me on that day; and not only to me, but also to all who have loved His appearing.

(NAS)

God is not telling you to start a program and save the world.  However, He is telling you to go to that person you named and love them 'as He loved you'.  He is telling you to fellowship with others and support them as they “go and make disciples.”   We must immediately cease encumbering the scripture of Christ with personal opinions.

[Romans 10:8] But what does it say? “The word is near you, in your mouth and in your heart”-- that is, the word of faith which we are preaching, [9] that if you confess with your mouth Jesus {as} Lord, and believe in your heart that God raised Him from the dead, you shall be saved;

Yes, it will be a risk.  Yes, it will be uncomfortable.  Yes, it means dying to your pride so God can use you.  Yet, He still says; "Go!"