Weekly Devotional - February 16th

For Moses writes of the righteousness that is based on the Law, that the person who

performs them will live by them.    But the righteousness based on faith speaks as follows: “Do not say in your heart, ‘Who will go up into heaven?’ (that is, to bring Christ down), or ‘Who will descend into the abyss?’ (that is, to bring Christ up from the dead).”

Romans 10:5-7

Paul’s thought may seem a bit cryptic at first glance, but the message is straightforward.

Believers cannot guarantee their righteousness before God through their obedience, just as they cannot bring Jesus down from heaven or raise Him from the dead. Only God can accomplish such a feat.

Paul then adds this, 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, 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; for with the heart a person believes, resulting in righteousness, and with the mouth he confesses, resulting in salvation.

Romans 10:8-10

Paul emphasizes to his readers that the person and work of Christ are fundamental to our

justification and sanctification. This truth is right before us. However, we should pay close

attention to Paul’s words: “For with the heart, a person believes, resulting in righteousness.”

Following this belief, a confession of faith is made. In other words, an altar call or reciting the

sinner’s prayer does not achieve righteousness; these actions are fleeting. Only God can change a person’s heart so that they will believe. That, my friends, is grace.