If we’re saved, we want others to be saved too; it is the mark of the believer, that we believe God is a Savior, and we believe that men desperately need Christ - “Brethren, my heart‘s desire and prayer to God for Israel is, that they might be saved“ (Rom 10:1). If we have no knowledge, our godly zeal is false fire; it won’t help the soul; it deludes us into thinking we’re safe, when we’re lost - “For I bear them record that they have a zeal of God, but not according to knowledge. For they being ignorant of God‘s righteousness, and going about to establish their own righteousness, have not submitted to the righteousness of God“(vs2-3).
The righteousness of God is how He saves the sinner by what Christ has done, rather than by what the sinner has done for God. “Be merciful to me the sinner” is the cry of the justified (Luke 18:13-14). God declares those who BELIEVE on Him - who BELIEVE Christ for mercy - to be righteous. If we believe, then Christ JUSTIFIES us, and the law isn’t needed- “For Christ is the end of the law for righteousness to every one that believes“ (vs4). Faith and law are opposites. Faith receives the Lord, while the law demands I contribute. The law isn’t “BELIEVE” you should, or BELIEVE that someone has done it for you. The law is DO IT, and you’re saved. Don’t do it, and you die (Gal 3:10-12). Romans 10:5 says, - “For Moses describes the righteousness which is of the law, That the man which does those things shall live by them“ (vs5). This isn’t justification; it is death deceiving all under the curse.
No one needs make Christ WILLING. He met our need already, rising again too. He paid the debt, put sins away, and He saves the sinner willingly and from the heart. There isn’t pretense in Him! He did all that was needful, and God said, “Well done”, by raising Him victorious, proving that we are saved graciously and rightfully by the blood - “But the righteousness which is of faith speaks on this wise, Say not in your heart, Who shall ascend into heaven? (that is, to bring Christ down from above:) Or, Who shall descend into the deep? (that is, to bring up Christ again from the dead.)” There is no extra work, no last bit of effort needed. “Believe only” because the work is done. Be saved by the work He finished, rather than helping God!
The word is near you. It is in your mouth and heart; it is the word preached unto you right now. All you need to do is believe it, like 2+2 is 4 and live that way from now on. Live upon the truth of your salvation, and it will work out - “But what says it? The word is near you, even in your mouth, and in your heart: that is, the word of faith, which we preach; that if you shall confess with your mouth the Lord Jesus, and shall believe in your heart that God has raised Him from the dead, you shall be saved (vs8-9).
“The Lord Jesus” means that He’s King of kings and Lord of lords. He is the Master and the Boss, and we DO what He says, which is BELIEVE on Him and love as He gave us command (1 John 3:23). We believe, by grace, and we love by grace, too. (vs9)
The heart - not the mouth, not the actions, not the show - but the HEART is where faith must reside. It can’t be pretense and fraud. We MUST trust the Lord to secure us from sin. We must BOW to His salvation and Him as Savior. God raised the Lord Jesus because He honored God the Father. We believe that His REWARD is evidence we’re SAFE by faith only - “For the scripture says, Whosoever believes on him shall not be put to shame” (vs11). He says “Do this”, and you’ll be saved, so DO it. Don’t falter, wait, or miss out. Be saved GOD’S way by faith only. If the heart is RIGHT with God, the mouth is tied to it also - “For with the heart man believes unto righteousness; and with the mouth confession is made unto salvation“ (vs10). Confess Christ willingly at all costs.
“Whosoever” includes you and everyone in the world who calls on the Lord. None is EXCLUDED for past or present sin. Salvation is yours absolutely and surely, “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 (vs12). We won’t trust Him and starve, but He WILL fulfill the promise - For whosoever shall call upon the name of the Lord shall be saved” (vs13).
BELIEVE FIRST
To call is to say “Lord, save me”, “Lord, if you will, you can”, and “Have mercy on me, O Lord” (Matt 14:30; Matt 8:2; Matt 15:22). We ask Him to help us on His terms as subjects dependent on mercy. We have no merit, no claims of control. We have only His goodness promised to us in the word. We ASK Him to do for us what we need and can’t deserve, but what He’s promised that He’ll do. Deliverance is the result of calling. Bless God. I’m a sinner with many failures, and yet I’m SAVED from falling, saved from unbelief, and SAVED from my lusts and faults. The Lord SAVES by paying the price, putting down the rebellion by giving us the Spirit, and by removing the rebellion eternally in the new heavens and new earth. We will dwell in righteousness to sin no more.
The righteousness of God is how He saves the sinner by what Christ has done, rather than by what the sinner has done for God. “Be merciful to me the sinner” is the cry of the justified (Luke 18:13-14). God declares those who BELIEVE on Him - who BELIEVE Christ for mercy - to be righteous. If we believe, then Christ JUSTIFIES us, and the law isn’t needed- “For Christ is the end of the law for righteousness to every one that believes“ (vs4). Faith and law are opposites. Faith receives the Lord, while the law demands I contribute. The law isn’t “BELIEVE” you should, or BELIEVE that someone has done it for you. The law is DO IT, and you’re saved. Don’t do it, and you die (Gal 3:10-12). Romans 10:5 says, - “For Moses describes the righteousness which is of the law, That the man which does those things shall live by them“ (vs5). This isn’t justification; it is death deceiving all under the curse.
No one needs make Christ WILLING. He met our need already, rising again too. He paid the debt, put sins away, and He saves the sinner willingly and from the heart. There isn’t pretense in Him! He did all that was needful, and God said, “Well done”, by raising Him victorious, proving that we are saved graciously and rightfully by the blood - “But the righteousness which is of faith speaks on this wise, Say not in your heart, Who shall ascend into heaven? (that is, to bring Christ down from above:) Or, Who shall descend into the deep? (that is, to bring up Christ again from the dead.)” There is no extra work, no last bit of effort needed. “Believe only” because the work is done. Be saved by the work He finished, rather than helping God!
The word is near you. It is in your mouth and heart; it is the word preached unto you right now. All you need to do is believe it, like 2+2 is 4 and live that way from now on. Live upon the truth of your salvation, and it will work out - “But what says it? The word is near you, even in your mouth, and in your heart: that is, the word of faith, which we preach; that if you shall confess with your mouth the Lord Jesus, and shall believe in your heart that God has raised Him from the dead, you shall be saved (vs8-9).
“The Lord Jesus” means that He’s King of kings and Lord of lords. He is the Master and the Boss, and we DO what He says, which is BELIEVE on Him and love as He gave us command (1 John 3:23). We believe, by grace, and we love by grace, too. (vs9)
The heart - not the mouth, not the actions, not the show - but the HEART is where faith must reside. It can’t be pretense and fraud. We MUST trust the Lord to secure us from sin. We must BOW to His salvation and Him as Savior. God raised the Lord Jesus because He honored God the Father. We believe that His REWARD is evidence we’re SAFE by faith only - “For the scripture says, Whosoever believes on him shall not be put to shame” (vs11). He says “Do this”, and you’ll be saved, so DO it. Don’t falter, wait, or miss out. Be saved GOD’S way by faith only. If the heart is RIGHT with God, the mouth is tied to it also - “For with the heart man believes unto righteousness; and with the mouth confession is made unto salvation“ (vs10). Confess Christ willingly at all costs.
“Whosoever” includes you and everyone in the world who calls on the Lord. None is EXCLUDED for past or present sin. Salvation is yours absolutely and surely, “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 (vs12). We won’t trust Him and starve, but He WILL fulfill the promise - For whosoever shall call upon the name of the Lord shall be saved” (vs13).
BELIEVE FIRST
To call is to say “Lord, save me”, “Lord, if you will, you can”, and “Have mercy on me, O Lord” (Matt 14:30; Matt 8:2; Matt 15:22). We ask Him to help us on His terms as subjects dependent on mercy. We have no merit, no claims of control. We have only His goodness promised to us in the word. We ASK Him to do for us what we need and can’t deserve, but what He’s promised that He’ll do. Deliverance is the result of calling. Bless God. I’m a sinner with many failures, and yet I’m SAVED from falling, saved from unbelief, and SAVED from my lusts and faults. The Lord SAVES by paying the price, putting down the rebellion by giving us the Spirit, and by removing the rebellion eternally in the new heavens and new earth. We will dwell in righteousness to sin no more.
No comments:
Post a Comment