Reformed Doctrine Daily Devotions

Today’s devotion comes from Romans 10:5-13.

 

“⁵  For Moses writes that the man who practices the righteousness which is based on law shall live by that righteousness.

 

⁶  But the righteousness based on faith speaks as follows: “DO NOT SAY IN YOUR HEART, ‘WHO WILL ASCEND INTO HEAVEN?’ (that is, to bring Christ down),

 

⁷  or ‘WHO WILL DESCEND INTO THE ABYSS?’ (that is, to bring Christ up from the dead).”

 

⁸  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,

 

⁹  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;

 

¹⁰  for with the heart a person believes, resulting in righteousness, and with the mouth he confesses, resulting in salvation.

 

¹¹  For the Scripture says, “WHOEVER BELIEVES IN HIM WILL NOT BE DISAPPOINTED.”

 

¹²  For there is no distinction between Jew and Greek; for the same Lord is Lord of all, abounding in riches for all who call on Him;

 

¹³  for “WHOEVER WILL CALL ON THE NAME OF THE LORD WILL BE SAVED.”  Romans 10:5-13.

 

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We read again the contrast between attempting to attain righteousness through the law compared to attempting to attain righteousness through faith in Christ.  Those who attempt to attain righteousness through the law focus on themselves and what they can do such as:  ‘WHO WILL ASCEND INTO HEAVEN?’ (that is, to bring Christ down), or ‘WHO WILL DESCEND INTO THEABYSS?’ (that is, to bring Christ up from the dead).”  Those who attempt to attain righteousness through faith in Christ don’t ask such questions about what they can do, but rather they believe that Christ provides all that is necessary for salvation and that Christ is “Lord of all, abounding in riches for all who call on Him”.

 

Through God’s grace, they (those who attempt to attain righteousness through faith in Christ) don’t only believe.  “… the demons also believe, and shudder.”  James 2:19.  They also confess with their mouth Jesus as Lord, and they call upon Him to save them, submitting to Him as Lord and trusting Him to provide all that is needed for salvation.

 

Here is what The Heidelberg Catechism states:

 

Question 21. What is true faith?

 

Answer.  True faith is not only a certain knowledge,  whereby I hold for truth all that God has revealed to us in his word, but also an assured confidence, which the Holy Ghost works by the gospel, in my heart;  that not only to others, but to me also, remission of sin, everlasting righteousness and salvation, are freely given by God, merely of grace, only for the sake of Christ’s merits. 

 

In conclusion, so that we are reminded of God’s sovereignty over salvation;  and so that we don’t view “WHOEVER WILL CALL ON THE NAME OF THE LORD WILL BE SAVED.” as our act of “free-will faith” and our contribution to salvation that would entitle us to some kind of credit;  let us view the source of that quote which is Joel 2:32.

 

“And it will come about that whoever calls on the name of the LORD
Will be delivered;
For on Mount Zion and in Jerusalem
There will be those who escape,
As the LORD has said,
Even among the survivors whom the LORD calls.”  Joel 2:32.