THIS WORD OF FAITH WHICH WE PREACH

Romans 10:8 (NKJV) — 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 preach)

Romans 10:6–8 (NKJV) — 6 But the righteousness of faith speaks in this way, “Do not say in your heart, ‘Who will ascend into heaven?’ ” (that is, to bring Christ down from above) 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 preach):

Deuteronomy 30:11–14 (NKJV) — 11 “For this commandment which I command you today is not too mysterious for you, nor is it far off. 12 It is not in heaven, that you should say, ‘Who will ascend into heaven for us and bring it to us, that we may hear it and do it?’ 13 Nor is it beyond the sea, that you should say, ‘Who will go over the sea for us and bring it to us, that we may hear it and do it?’ 14 But the word is very near you, in your mouth and in your heart, that you may do it.

“The word is near to you, on your lips and in your heart.” Paul quotes Deut 30:14, from which he draws his conclusion.

That is, the word of faith that we preach.

The Word of Faith is the Gospel of Jesus instead of the righteousness of the Law

Paul thus implies that faith is the expected human reaction to the preached word

, The gospel that he proclaims. The word that stirs up faith in those whom it accosts and challenges is to be found on the lips and in the heart, i.e., close to one who would believe

Here God says that his commandment ‘is not too hard for you, neither is it far off. It is not in heaven, that you should say, “Who will go up for us to heaven, and bring it to us, that we may hear it and do it?” Neither is it beyond the sea, that you should say, “Who will go over the sea for us, and bring it to us, that we may hear it and do it?”

But the word is very near you; it is in your mouth and in your heart, so that you can do it.’

The doing of the commandment is the way to life

‘See, I have set before you this day life and good, death and evil. If you obey the commandments of the LORD your God which I command you this day, by loving the LORD your God, by walking in his ways, and by keeping his commandments and his statutes and his ordinances, then you shall live …’ (Deut 30:15–16).

Original Context

Moses’ conclusion to the “blessings and curses” section of Deuteronomy (Deut. 28–30) concludes with his admonition that “what I am commanding you today is not too difficult for you or beyond your reach” (Deut. 30:11). To the extent that any faithful Israelite wanted to obey God’s laws, God had made his will perfectly clear and accessible to them.

Deuteronomy 30:12–14

It is not up in heaven, so that you have to ask, “Who will ascend into heaven to get it and proclaim it to us so we may obey it?” Nor is it beyond the sea, so that you have to ask, “Who will cross the sea to get it and proclaim it to us so we may obey it?” No, the word is very near you, it is in your mouth and in your heart so you may obey it.

Romans 10:6–8

But the righteousness that is by faith says, “Do not say in your heart, ‘Who will ascend into heaven?’ ” (that is, to bring Christ down) “or ‘Who will descend into the deep?’ ” (that is, to bring Christ up from the dead). But what does it say? “The word is near you; it is in your mouth and in your heart,” that is, the word of faith we are proclaiming.

Paul’s Application

Building on the Old Testament theme of “accessibility to the will of God,” Paul substitutes Christ and the gospel (the word of faith) for Moses’ references to the law. No Jew (or any person) would be able to complain that the will of God (righteousness by faith in Christ) was hidden. The transition from law to faith was as plain as the initial standard of law had been in Deuteronomy.

“Faith isn’t faith until it’s all you’re holding on to.” - Toralii proverb

Christ has accomplished the two great things necessary for salvation. He has descended to earth and has risen from the dead.

All that is necessary is to accept by faith the incarnate and risen Christ, instead of having recourse to the long and painful way of establishing one’s own righteousness by obedience to the law.

Paul concludes the quotation: But what does it say? The word is near you, in your mouth and in your heart. He adds that this is the word of faith that we preach.

In its original context, the Deuteronomy passage is a declaration that the law is easy to keep.

However, Paul is using it for a different purpose.

The “word” he preaches is not the law but the good news of Christ—or even Christ himself.

The word is near to you Paul cites Deut 30:14 to affirm the accessibility of the word of faith.

Just as Moses announced the accessible nature of the law,

Paul announces the accessible nature of the gospel.

This word is especially near because the Spirit wrote it upon the hearts and minds of believers (Jer 31:33; 2 Cor 3:3).

Romans 10:9 confess with your mouth “Jesus is Lord” Describes an outward expression of inward trust.

Paul does not regard believing in the heart and confessing with the mouth as separate activities, but as parts of a singular expression of faith in Jesus’ lordship.

God raised him from the dead Paul presented God’s resurrection of Christ as the basis of the believer’s justification before God (see Rom 4:25; 5:1).

Therefore, faith in the resurrection is essential.

The resurrection also shows that God vindicated Christ from the shame of the cross (compare Romans 9:33).

Elsewhere in his letters, Paul associates Christ’s resurrection with His lordship (Eph 1:19–22; Phil 2:9).

Romans 10:11 Everyone who believes in him Paul again quotes from Isa 28:16, adding the Greek word pas, meaning “everyone” or “all,” to demonstrate that this promise applies to both Jewish and non-Jewish people (compare Rom 9:33).

It is easy, it is available; it is for all, which was so different from the Mosaic Law code.

Word of Faith, which we preach (presents the declaration by Paul that Justification is on the Faith-Principle, as opposed to the Works-Principle;

it speaks of Faith in Christ and what He did at the Cross; in other words

Every Preacher should “Preach Christ and Him Crucified” - 1 Corinthians 2:2

That is all it takes. It is this belief and this confession that bring salvation (Romans 10:10; Acts 16:31; 1 Cor 12:3; Phil 2:11).

This righteousness is accessible to anyone who believes: Anyone who trusts in him will never be put to shame (Romans 10:11).

That is how available the gospel is to both Jews and Gentiles (Romans 10:12–13).

Paul quotes a familiar passage from Joel 2:32 “And it shall come to pass That whoever calls on the name of the Lord Shall be saved. For in Mount Zion and in Jerusalem there shall be deliverance, As the Lord has said, Among the remnant whom the Lord calls.”

Making the point that everyone who calls on the name of the Lord will be saved. While Joel was speaking only to Jews, his words now also apply to Gentiles.

Accepting Christ is the factor that unites people of all backgrounds.

To attain this righteousness, one has to hear the gospel. In Romans 10:14–15a,

Paul asks four rhetorical questions, identifying steps that have to be taken for any person to come to faith. The steps are,

first, the sending of preachers;

second, the preaching of the good news;

third, the hearing of the message preached;

and fourth, the response to the message, which is believing in Christ and calling on the name of the Lord.

These steps show that those who have already confessed Christ and believed in him will be used by God to help others hear the same message.

Every believer must be involved in some of the above steps if others are to hear the message of God’s salvation. Paul quotes Isaiah 52:7 to indicate that those who bring good news to others are blessed (Romans 10:15b).