Talk by Alun

I’m concentrating on Romans 10:5-15 this week. It’s an extract from Paul’s letter stressing that both Jews and Gentiles are welcome to belong in relationship with Jesus the Son of God. He’s contrasting the righteousness or justice that comes from following God’s Law with the righteousness or justice that comes from faith in God through Jesus alone.  Scripture tells us these were divinely revealed to Moses on Mount Sinai as a guide for ethical, spiritual, and communal life and so were instrumental to Jewish life.

I’m going to develop a theme prompted by verse 13 in our Romans passage where we read ‘For everyone who calls on the name of the Lord will be saved.’  Surely this means that there must be multiple ways to come to faith in the Lord and not just our own individual preferred churchmanship, which, let’s face it, most often comes from how we were raised ourselves. The Apostle Paul’s arguments are therefore naturally shaped by his first century perspective, when he and most early Christians had been raised in the Jewish religion. Because of this they divided humanity into two simple groups: “Jew” and “Gentile.” He stressed that everyone’s covered under God, and of course it fits with his thoughts I used earlier ‘For everyone who calls on the name of the Lord will be saved.’  Paul’s teaching then was that Christ made it possible that all humanity could be saved. Both Gentiles and Jews.

We must recognise that when Paul said and wrote that “there is no distinction between Jew and Gentile,” the words were seen as blasphemous and revolutionary to the Jews. Paul was stating that, under Christ, they must shift away from the idea that the Gentiles were inherently unrighteous, sinful, and completely excluded from God’s family to the realization that God doesn’t divide the world along the same lines as they thought. How would we feel if I suddenly said that we and our ancestors had been completely misreading our beloved scripture for centuries.

Here’s a challenge for each one of us. Have we ever had, albeit however small, a thought around “Who’s in and who’s out of God’s Kingdom?” We must remember that there’s no getting away from ‘For everyone who calls on the name of the Lord will be saved.’  It’s not up to us is it? But today, Paul’s words come down to our salvation is by faith, not by works. Paul makes it clear that righteousness cannot be earned through following the Law alone. He says that many people strive to please God through their good works, but human effort on its own always falls short. Yes, he says the law is useful in that it reveals our sin, but alone it cannot save us. After all Jesus himself said as recorded in Matthew 5 verse 17 ‘’Don’t misunderstand why I have come. I did not come to abolish the law of Moses or the writings of the prophets. No, I came to accomplish their purpose.’ The gospel is a message of grace. God provides salvation freely to those who believe. Salvation is not about what we do but about what Christ has done for us. Paul is clear that ultimately, only faith in Christ brings true righteousness. Paul was raised and schooled on the importance of the Holy Law as the route to righteousness but now points out that he has come to the realisation that it’s not the truth. A person can be fully devoted to religious traditions yet still be lost. This is a core truth of the gospel. Salvation is not about what we do, but about what Christ has done for us. True faith or trust in what he has done for us by coming to earth and living among us and then dying on that cross to take away sin and death for ever. Paul emphasizes that salvation is for everyone, and that the faith coming from our belief in the heart and mind combined with true confession is essential for salvation.

This truth challenges us to examine our own faith and to share the gospel with others. As we apply these teachings to our lives, may we live with boldness in declaring Jesus as Lord and continue trusting in him for our salvation. Boldness in declaring Jesus is Lord? Why should we? Well, Paul writes in verses 14&15 today: – ¹⁴ But how can they call on him to save them unless they believe in him? And how can they believe in him if they have never heard about him? And how can they hear about him unless someone tells them? ¹⁵ And how will anyone go and tell them without being sent? That is why the Scriptures say, “How beautiful are the feet of messengers who bring good news!”

Can we commit afresh today to seek knowledge alongside our passion for God. To work on deepening our faith shaped by Scripture, not our personal opinions or traditions. Can we ask God to give us a heart that is both passionate and informed. Then, we can commit to sharing the truth with those who are sincere but misled. True passion or zeal for God comes from devotion rooted in his truth. However, let’s be very clear to finish with! Paul’s words about faith over works aren’t an excuse not to work in the Lord’s name! Those jobs still need to be done! It’s just that we need to continuously seek for Jesus in our lives by asking him to deepen our faith and then ask for his practical help through his Holy Spirit to enable us to do what we need to do always in his name and to his glory!