 Brothers, my heart's desire and prayer to God for them is that they may be saved. 2 For I bear them witness that they have a zeal for God, but not according to knowledge. 3 For, being ignorant of the righteousness of God, and seeking to establish their own, they did not submit to God's righteousness. 4 For Christ is the end of the law for righteousness to everyone who believes.
The Message of Salvation to All 5 For Moses writes about the righteousness that is based on the law, that the person who does the commandments shall live by them. 6 But the righteousness based on 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 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 that we proclaim); 9 because, if you confess with your mouth that Jesus is Lord and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved. 10 For with the heart one believes and is justified, and with the mouth one confesses and is saved. 11 For the Scripture says, “Everyone who believes in him will not be put to shame.” 12 For there is no distinction between Jew and Greek; for the same Lord is Lord of all, bestowing his riches on all who call on him. 13 For “everyone who calls on the name of the Lord will be saved.” 14 How then will they call on him in whom they have not believed? And how are they to believe in him of whom they have never heard? And how are they to hear without someone preaching? 15 And how are they to preach unless they are sent? As it is written, “How beautiful are the feet of those who preach the good news!” 16 But they have not all obeyed the gospel. For Isaiah says, “Lord, who has believed what he has heard from us?” 17 So faith comes from hearing, and hearing through the word of Christ. 18 But I ask, have they not heard? Indeed they have, for “Their voice has gone out to all the earth, and their words to the ends of the world.” 19 But I ask, did Israel not understand? First Moses says, “I will make you jealous of those who are not a nation; with a foolish nation I will make you angry.” 20 Then Isaiah is so bold as to say, “I have been found by those who did not seek me; I have shown myself to those who did not ask for me.” 21 But of Israel he says, “All day long I have held out my hands to a disobedient and contrary people.” Meditation God stands with arms wide open (21) eager to welcome all who believe. From love, God desires to send you to share the good news of His salvation. Israel was ignorant of God’s way to salvation (1-4) because they had stubborn hearts (16-21). God clearly laid out how to be right with Him (5-8) but they remained stubborn and unbelieving. Still, God stood with open hands, eager to welcome people with His love (21). Salvation does not necessitate Herculean feats, only belief: “If you confess with your mouth that Jesus is Lord and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved” (9). From the heart people believe and are made right with God (10). Belief is all we need to trust and turn to the open arms of our Father. Simple evangelism, sending people with beautiful feet to share the message of salvation, is spelled out through four verbs: Sent: From love, the Father sent Jesus and Jesus sent the Spirit. Christians are a sending people because we serve a sending God- All Christians are sent to share God’s love with the world. Preach: Simple proclamation of the love and Lordship of Jesus with our lips, lives, and labor is the medium and the message of evangelism. Hear: To hear is to understand, to receive the seed of God’s word with hearts receptive to God’s truth and love. Believe: This is what makes a Christian a Christian, total trust and concrete confidence in the covenant love and the finished work of Jesus. Richly Dwelling -What stands out to you from today’s reading? Why? -Do you celebrate being sent to share the good news of the gospel? Why or why not? -How does the fact that God is a sending God, seeing that the Father sent Jesus and Jesus sent the Spirit so God sends us, empower boldness and excitement to share the good news of salvation in Christ alone? Key Verse 9 because, if you confess with your mouth that Jesus is Lord and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved. Comments are closed.
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