The Word of Faith
Romans 10:8-11
Introduction Revision and New Observations of the Preceding Context (vv.2-7) •
Ignorant zeal of the Jews (vv.2-3)
– Inconsistent with the knowledge (v.2b)
– Ignorant of God’s righteousness (v.3a)
– Insistent on self-righteousness (v.3b)
– Insubordinate to God’s righteousness (v.3c)
• Christ, “the end of the law” (v.4)
– Christ is the designed end (telos) or the purpose or the object of the law concerning righteousness.
– He has fulfilled the law (all its righteous precepts – moral and ceremonial)
– So He became the “righteousness to every one that believeth.”
Paul then applies two Old Testament passages to urge his readers to exercise faith in Christ as their righteousness.
i)
v.5: Cf. Leviticus 18:5 – “That the man which doeth those things shall live by them.”
• If any one wants to live by the righteousness of the law, it requires complete obedience to all of the law.
• But such a perfect righteousness through total obedience is impossible for the sinful man ever to achieve.
Romans 3:20 – “Therefore by the deeds of the law there shall no flesh be justified in his sight: for by the law is the knowledge of sin.”
Romans 9:31- “But Israel, which followed after the law of righteousness, hath not attained to the law of righteousness.”
James 2:10 – “For whosoever shall keep the whole law, and yet offend in one point, he is guilty of all.”
• This not at all due to the fault or error of the law, but man’s inability. The law, by itself, does not make us righteous, but it exposes and condemns our sins.
Romans 7:7 - What shall we say then? Is the law sin? God forbid. Nay, I had not known sin, but by the law: for I had not known lust, except the law had said, Thou shalt not covet.
ii) v.6 : Cf. Deuteronomy 30:12-14
The point of Moses’ exhortation (Deut. 30:11) is that God’s Word given to the Israelites in his day.
• Since they had the message, they did not need to ask that it be brought down from heaven or that someone cross the sea to get it (Deut. 30:13).
• Instead, the Word of God was near them (Deut. 30:14).
• In effect, Paul, like Moses, urged the people to see that it takes no strenuous effort from them to find their righteousness.
• There is no need for anyone to attempt to bring Christ down or to bring Christ up from the dead. God had already sent His Son to us. Christ had already come, lived, died and resurrected.
• Whosever believes on Him will have all his sins forgiven and imputed with Christ’s perfect righteousness.
We Preach the Word of Faith (v.8)“
The word is nigh thee, even in thy mouth, and in thy heart: that is, the word of faith, which we preach”
– The term, “the word” (rhēma) occurs twice. It is often translated as “saying.”
– The emphasis of the word is “that which has been stated or said, with primary focus upon the content of the communication.”
– Our message should never be a message of exertion or superstition or tradition.
– Our message ought to be a message of faith in Christ.
– We ministers of the church must preach the “word of faith.” If we add anything to it, we will drag our hearers into a false religion that cannot save.
– This is truth for which the Reformers separated themselves from the false Gospel preached by the Roman Catholicism.
– Today the evangelical preachers from Protestant churches seek to merge with the Roman Catholics. So they created ECT and other ecumenical efforts.
– God forbid that we preach or do anything that will lead our hearers to a religion that cannot save.
Galatians 1:6-9 6 I marvel that ye are so soon removed from him that called you into the grace of Christ unto another gospel: 7 Which is not another; but there be some that trouble you, and would pervert the gospel of Christ. 8 But though we, or an angel from heaven, preach any other gospel unto you than that which we have preached unto you, let him be accursed. 9 As we said before, so say I now again, If any man preach any other gospel unto you than that ye have received, let him be accursed.
– Our duty, as a church and preachers, is to declare the “word of faith.”
– Preaching Christ is our greatest duty that sinners be brought to Christ and be saved.
Acts 28:31 - “Preaching the kingdom of God, and teaching those things which concern the Lord Jesus Christ, with all confidence, no man forbidding him.”
1 Corinthians 1:17 - “For Christ sent me not to baptize, but to preach the gospel: not with wisdom of words, lest the cross of Christ should be made of none effect.”
1 Corinthians 1:21 - “For after that in the wisdom of God the world by wisdom knew not God, it pleased God by the foolishness of preaching to save them that believe.”
You Believe on Christ (vv.9-10)
“9 That if thou shalt confess with thy mouth the Lord Jesus, and shalt believe in thine heart that God hath raised him from the dead, thou shalt be saved. 10 For with the heart man believeth unto righteousness; and with the mouth confession is made unto salvation.”
– Confession and believing are not two separate steps to salvation.
– They are chronologically together. Salvation comes through acknowledging to God that Christ is God and believing in Him.
– The confession is an acknowledgement of one’s faith that Christ has incarnated to be our Saviour and that Jesus Christ is God.
– Confessing with the mouth that Jesus is Lord is mentioned first to conform to the order of the quotation from Deuteronomy 30:14 in Romans 10:8.
– One essential aspect of your heart-faith must be that God raised Him from the dead (cf. v. 7).
– The true order is given in verse 10: For it is with your heart that you believe and are justified (“believeth unto righteousness”), and it is with your mouth that you confess and are saved .
Salvation is Guaranteed (vv.10-11)
“10 For with the heart man believeth unto righteousness; and with the mouth confession is made unto salvation. 11 For the scripture saith, Whosoever believeth on him shall not be ashamed.”
• Paul quotes again Isaiah 28:16 (cf. Rom. 9:33).- “Whosoever believeth on him shall not be ashamed.”
• No one who believes in Christ will be exempted from receiving the salvation. None who believes will be condemned.
• Paul reemphasized this truth in verse 12-13, “12 For there is no difference between the Jew and the Greek: for the same Lord over all is rich unto all that call upon him. 13 For whosoever shall call upon the name of the Lord shall be saved.”
Conclusion
May we, who believe on Gospel of Christ, rejoice that we shall never be condemned. My hearer, if you are still in your sin and its condemnation, you must turn to Christ for your redemption and purification. He lived perfect life and His righteousness is promised to all those who would put their faith in Him. He also died to remove the condemnation of our sins.
Final Hymn – Saved, Saved!
I’ve found a Friend, who is all to me,
His love is ever true;
I love to tell how He lifted me
And what His grace can do for you.
Saved by His pow’r divine, Saved to new life sublime!
Life is now is sweet and joy is complete, For I’m saved, saved!
- Jack P.Scholfield
