Romans 10:1-21
Jesus is LORD
1Brothers, my heart's desire and prayer to God for the Israelites is that they may be saved. 2For I can testify about them that they are zealous for God, but their zeal is not based on knowledge. 3Since they did not know the righteousness that comes from God and sought to establish their own, they did not submit to God's righteousness. 4Christ is the end of the law so that there may be righteousness for everyone who believes.
5Moses describes in this way the righteousness that is by the law: "The man who does these things will live by them." 6But the righteousness that is by 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 deep?'" (that is, to bring Christ up from the dead). 8But what does it say? "The word is near you; it is in your mouth and in your heart," that is, the word of faith we are proclaiming: 9That if you confess with your mouth, "Jesus is Lord," and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved. 10For it is with your heart that you believe and are justified, and it is with your mouth that you confess and are saved. 11As the Scripture says, "Anyone who trusts in him will never be put to shame." 12For there is no difference between Jew and Gentile—the same Lord is Lord of all and richly blesses all who call on him, 13for, "Everyone who calls on the name of the Lord will be saved."
14How, then, can they call on the one they have not believed in? And how can they believe in the one of whom they have not heard? And how can they hear without someone preaching to them? 15And how can they preach unless they are sent? As it is written, "How beautiful are the feet of those who bring good news!"
16But not all the Israelites accepted the good news. For Isaiah says, "Lord, who has believed our message?" 17Consequently, faith comes from hearing the message, and the message is heard through the word of Christ. 18But I ask: Did they not hear? Of course they did:
"Their voice has gone out into all the earth,
their words to the ends of the world." 19Again I ask: Did Israel not understand? First, Moses says,
"I will make you envious by those who are not a nation;
I will make you angry by a nation that has no understanding." 20And Isaiah boldly says,
"I was found by those who did not seek me;
I revealed myself to those who did not ask for me." 21But concerning Israel he says,
"All day long I have held out my hands
to a disobedient and obstinate people."
St. Paul tells us that there are many who have a zeal for God...But their zeal is not based on knowledge if we do not believe in Jesus Christ, whom God has sent...Jesus fulfills the Mosaic Law...St. Paul tells us that Moses said it was the righteousness who followed the law, but the righteousness by faith are the ones who will ascend to heaven...We can do and have great deeds and follow the letter of the law, man's law, and be morally correct, but salvation comes by faith alone...And God allows us entry into heaven only then by His grace...
St. Paul teaches to the early Christians that if we confess with our mouth that Jesus is LORD, and believe in your heart that God raised Him from the dead, you will be saved...For it is with our mouths that that we confess and are saved, and it is our hearts that we believe and are justified...
St. Paul boldly teaches that the Gentile is equal to the Jew, there is no difference...The LORD is the LORD, whoever calls on Him... All believers who call on Him will be saved...
The Bible is the the Father and Son...The Mosaic Law told us how we should live...Jesus fulfilled the Old Testament Scripture and Mosaic Law...Throughout the four gospels, Jesus puts into context the Mosaic Law and explains much of it (the law)...He puts it in a way, how we are to live, and how to use the commandments in our daily lives...And without question, Jesus teaches us that God is the first thing, the priority in our lives, and to Him belongs the power and the glory...
Keeping the Father, a priority can be hard to do as a hectic busy life can pull us away from God and separate us, from our Father, who created us...Families, friends, work, material things, as well as other things can get in our way...We allow this to happen...We must work and struggle to keep Him in our lives, and what we believe in as our priority...
When Jesus was born, lived, died, and was resurrected, things changed...Since He fulfilled the Law and the Bible, the way the Law and Bible are read, studied, and interpreted must now be taken into this new context...If we believe Jesus came, died, and was resurrected for us, then we are saved...This is why He came...
St. Paul teaches us that God is for everyone...Belief comes from the heart...Faith comes from the heart...Love comes from the heart...True faith does not come to us from our heads, but our hearts...Christians do not have to do great deeds to earn salvation... We have to believe in Jesus and the One who sent Him...This is the faith, that gives salvation...Confess with your mouth that Jesus is LORD...Believe that God raised Him from the dead...Then you will be saved...