Saturday 20th September
Read Romans 10:4-10
“Christ is the culmination of the law so that there may be righteousness for everyone who believes. 5 Moses writes this about the righteousness that is by the law: ‘The person who does these things will live by them.’ 6 But 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). 8 But what does it say? ‘The word is near you; it is in your mouth and in your heart,’ that is, the message concerning faith that we proclaim: 9 if you declare with your mouth, ‘Jesus is Lord,’ and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved. 10 For it is with your heart that you believe and are justified, and it is with your mouth that you profess your faith and are saved.” (NIVUK)
Many are concerned that Paul has misinterpreted Moses. How can he take a passage that is speaking about obedience to the covenant with Yahweh as the people are about to enter the promised land and then claim that righteousness is gained simply by faith?
The only direct quote though concerns the nearness of the message. It is not an external message that must be studied and grasped and worked at to understand. There are no actions needed to get to the point of faith. It is internal and transformative – it requires decision and commitment. It is a change of allegiance.
If it is a change of allegiance, then it is not actually that far away from what Moses called on Israel to do all those centuries ago.
