Faith and Confession: The Path to Righteousness

Romans 10:1–13 KJV 1900

Brethren, my heart’s desire and prayer to God for Israel is, that they might be saved. 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 themselves unto the righteousness of God. For Christ is the end of the law for righteousness to every one that believeth. For Moses describeth the righteousness which is of the law, That the man which doeth those things shall live by them. But the righteousness which is of faith speaketh on this wise, Say not in thine 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.) But what saith it? The word is nigh thee, even in thy mouth, and in thy heart: that is, the word of faith, which we preach; That if thou shalt confess with thy mouth the Lord Jesus, and shalt believe in thine heart that God hath raised him from the dead, thou shalt be saved. For with the heart man believeth unto righteousness; and with the mouth confession is made unto salvation. For the scripture saith, Whosoever believeth on him shall not be ashamed. 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. For whosoever shall call upon the name of the Lord shall be saved.

**Title: "Faith and Confession: The Path to Righteousness"**

**1. Introduction (1 minute)**

- *Context:* Briefly introduce Paul’s letter to the Romans and his heart for Israel’s salvation. This passage focuses on the relationship between faith, righteousness, and salvation.

- *Key Verse:* Romans 10:9 - “If you declare with your mouth, ‘Jesus is Lord,’ and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved.”

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### **2. Key Themes & Discussion (6 minutes)**

Zeal Without Knowledge (v. 1-4)

- *Verse 2:* “For I can testify about them that they are zealous for God, but their zeal is not based on knowledge.”

- **Discussion Question 1:** How can someone be passionate about faith but still miss the mark? Have you ever experienced a time where you were zealous but lacked direction?

- **Application:** Like Paul’s concern for Israel, there’s a difference between religious zeal and understanding God’s righteousness through Christ. It’s important to align passion with truth.

Righteousness by Faith (v. 5-8)

- *Verse 5:* Paul contrasts the righteousness based on the law (works) with the righteousness that comes by faith. He emphasizes that faith brings salvation close to us.

- **Discussion Question 2:** Why is it important that salvation is based on faith rather than works? How does this truth impact how we live out our faith?

- **Application:** You don’t need to “climb to heaven” to earn righteousness; it’s accessible through faith. This relieves us from striving for perfection by our own effort.

Confession and Belief (v. 9-10)

- *Verse 9:* “If you declare with your mouth, ‘Jesus is Lord,’ and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved.”

- **Discussion Question 3:** What does it mean to confess with your mouth and believe in your heart? How are these two elements interconnected in a Christian’s life?

- **Application:** Salvation involves both an internal belief and an external confession. Faith is personal but also public.

God’s Promise for All (v. 11-13)

- *Verse 13:* “Everyone who calls on the name of the Lord will be saved.”

- **Discussion Question 4:** What does this verse tell us about the inclusivity of the gospel? How does this shape our approach to sharing the good news with others?

- **Application:** The invitation to salvation is for all—regardless of background. This should encourage us to boldly share the gospel, knowing it’s available to everyone who believes.

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### **3. Application (3 minutes)**

**Takeaway Point:**

- Salvation is a gift available through faith in Christ, not through our own works. Confession and belief are the core of receiving this gift.

**Challenge:**

- Reflect on your own confession and belief. Is there an area where you’ve relied on “works” rather than faith? How can you boldly live out your confession of Jesus as Lord this week?

**Closing Prayer:**

- Lead a prayer of thanksgiving for the gift of salvation and ask for boldness in confessing faith in Jesus publicly and living it out.