Romans 10:5-13 "The Righteousness Based on Faith"

Introduction:

Evangelical Christianity in America has largely defined their practice and understanding of evangelism based on this section of text.

If we can just get a person to say a set of words then that would result in their salvation. So we often count converts on how many people make a profession of faith by their words.

Some believe that this section of Scripture makes it clear that salvation is initiated by man and not by God. I actually used to be one of those people.

But is this what this text actually teaches? Are there any misconceptions that are being embraced here regarding how an individual comes to salvation?

Hopefully, as we look at our text this morning we can see the clear instruction of how God initiates His work of grace in us.

We see first that Paul sets up a contrast between Moses writing about righteousness by the law juxtaposed with the Proclamation of the righteousness that is based on faith in verses 5-9:

I. The Proclamation (5-9).

We must always remember context when we are reading such a passage. Remember that the Apostle Paul has been arguing that there is no way for human beings to be counted righteous before God except by the work of Christ alone being applied by grace through faith alone.

Remember the Jewish people who pursue to establish their own righteousness through obedience to the law. These are the one’s who Moses says are bound to live by the commandments of the law in verse 5.

Now there are more commandments than the 10 Commandments. But if we only took the 10 Commandments we would quickly realize that no one is able to live perfectly according to them. Our hearts would condemn us.

This is set in contrast with the proclamation of the righteousness that is based on faith explained in verses 6-9.

Notice that the proclamation of righteousness by faith doesn’t speak in the terminology of ascending and descending as to emphasis a physical encounter with Christ (6-7).

These two verses are being derived out of the law from Deuteronomy 30:11-13. In other words Paul is using a concept from the law in a illustrative manner and putting it into the context of Christ and the gospel.

The righteousness that is by faith does not come from a physical encounter with Christ but instead as we see in verse 8 it proclaims that, “the word is near you, in your mouth and in your heart.”

This is from Deuteronomy 30:14 so Romans 10:6-8 is derived from Deuteronomy 30:11-14. And the point being made in both text is that righteousness truly comes from the spiritual work of God in the heart.

The difference is now in the New Testament Christ has been revealed and His gospel is what the Holy Spirit uses to change the heart.

And since it is spiritual and not physical then Paul comes to a certain conclusion about the spiritual dynamic of salvation in 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.”

For many this is the formula for salvation. This is how someone is counted righteous before God. And they often think of it as a human initiated formula that people need to follow in order to be saved.

But it is not a formula as much as it is a statement of assurance of one’s salvation because of what God has done. We can see this by just looking at the Process in verses 10-13:

II. The Process (10-13).

Notice here in verse 10 that belief in the heart takes place resulting in one being “justified.” Then one confesses resulting in one being “saved.” I believe that given the context these are two different aspects of salvation.

Justification is dealing with our standing before God and the salvation refers to our standing being free from the wrath of the lamb at the second coming. It is important to follow Paul’s logic. Remember Paul didn’t know what American evangelicalism was. He never witnessed a Billy Graham Crusade or read a gospel tract nor did he ever witness an altar call.

By the way Christian, the altar concept is a hold-over from Catholicism because when the Mass is said Christ dies again. So the figurative aspect of the altar got connected to the front part of the church. And American revivalism capitalized on it to call people to Christ by coming down front. This is how you get the idea of altar-call.

When you “confess” Jesus as Lord, as in verse 10, you are conceding that something is factual and true (BAGD). That is what the Greek term means. Belief in the heart precedes such a confession.

Just try to concede something being true in your confession without believing it first in the heart. Such a confession always follows belief and it is a by-product of it. Without belief first there is no basis of conviction for you speak from in confirming something as being true.

The terms, “justified” and “saved” in verse 10 are both nouns in the Greek, not verbs. So they both are referring to a status of classification, not and action being carried out.

And Paul backs this up from the Old Testament prophet Joel. I think he definitely has the prophet Joel in mind. Because the reference from verse 11 and from verse 12 are both derived from Joel 2:26-32. And if you were to turn there you will find that not being “put to shame” in verse 11 and the “call on Him” for salvation in verses 12 and 13 is set in the context of the second coming in the Book of Joel.

This is why I believe that the “justification” and “salvation” in Romans 10:5-13 are two different aspects of salvation.

There are three: We are saved, justification and we are being saved, sanctification and we will be saved, glorification. Romans 10 is speaking of our justification and our glorification.

I believe this because of Paul getting his logic from Joel 2:26-32.

This understanding of Romans 10:5-13 does not lessen the critical nature of belief nor does it minimize a confession that is done out of the conviction of the heart. Confession without heart conviction is a lie (Jason at the Arcade).

You may even notice that when we welcome new members into church membership they make a confession of faith before representatives of the Elder board and again publicly before the Church. That confession doesn’t justify them. Faith does and then out of the abundance of the heart the mouth speaks (Luke 6:45).

Heart transformation is what the Holy Spirit produces by the word of God working in and through people that God is calling to Himself.

Conclusion:

And perhaps today is your day. Your confession will not save you unless it is being declared from a transformed heart. Churches are loaded with people who have confessed without any conviction out of a transformed heart.

No fruit of repentance just a formula that they have followed and initiated on their own. They approach their Christianity much like they buy insurance for their home or car.

If that is you today you must be born again. True saving faith comes forth out of a transformed heart and so does the good confession that Jesus is Lord. If He truly is to you it calls you to life in grace by faith alone in Christ. The transformation will show over time.

Believer our evangelism needs to be theologically informed. Our primary hope is in God to initiate His work of redemption not primarily for men to initiate it by themselves. It doesn’t come by following formula’s, it comes by the work of God moving by the Holy Spirit.

The Spirit moves like the wind and we are called by God to proclaim the gospel to a lost world and to trust in God to do His work.

Prayer is a necessity if we are dependent on God to empower our evangelism. And this kind of trust challenges us to move away from self reliance as the primary means and on to a reliance on God to work as we depend on Him.

That is what the gospel always does to us. It calls us away from self reliance to life in grace, resting in Christ. Confess and receive His forgiveness.Let’s pray!