ROMANS 9-10: DAY 29 JOURNEY THROUGH THE BIBLE IN A YEAR
January 29, 2023
ROMANS 9-10
DAY 29 JOURNEY THROUGH THE BIBLE IN A YEAR
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Focus Verses For Today: Romans 10:9-13
In today’s Journey Through The Bible In A Year, the Apostle Paul, while lamenting about the hardened heart of his people, Israel, contrasts the difference between the law (works) and mercy (faith in Jesus).
Before reading, stop and pray, asking that the Lord provide understanding of Romans 9-10. Read Romans 9-10. Let’s journey!
Romans 9-10: Paul talks of how his people, Israel, allowed the law to become a stumbling block to their salvation through Jesus Christ. Remember, since Moses, the children of Israel carried The Ten Commandments around with them wherever they went. It was their code of conduct. When a sin was committed that violated The Ten Commandments or the Mosaic laws, the punishment was to be meted out promptly, per the broken commandment or Mosaic law. The people of Israel, somewhat like the Puritans of New England, saw their relationship with God through the way they conducted themselves and their adherence to rules designed to implement atonement when a commandment or Mosaic law was offended. After all the sacrifices you offered to God for atonement; you are now told that offering sacrifices isn’t necessary anymore. Jesus, the Messiah, is the atonement you need to cover your sin before God. Quite a change, a bit confusing, and evidence of the importance of studying the entirety of the Bible. (Romans 9:1-10:21)
Our focus verse for today:
9If you declare with your mouth, “Jesus is Lord,” and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved. 10For it is with your heart that you believe and are justified, and it is with your mouth that you profess your faith and are saved. 11As Scripture says, “Anyone who believes in him will never be put to shame.” 12For there is no difference between Jew and Gentile—the same Lord is Lord of all and richly blesses all who call on him, 13for, “Everyone who calls on the name of the Lord will be saved.” (Romans 10:9-13, NIV)
After reading the focus verse you may be asking, what happened to the law? Nothing! It is still telling us what we shouldn’t be doing. The law tells us what sin is. That is it. It does not tell us how to avoid it. It does not tell us how to atone for our sin. IT CONDEMNS US! JESUS TO THE RESCUE!
Let’s get in the right frame of mind. If I declare, verbally, that Jesus is Lord and believe in my heart that God raised Jesus from the dead I will be saved from eternal damnation. That is it! This is just too simple. No, it is not! Declaring something lord requires that you forsake all your lord’s enemies. Have you ever wondered why the word “Repent” was a keyword in the messages of John the Baptist and Jesus Himself? Does this mean that if I sin after declaring Jesus my Lord I am condemned to hell? No! We all sin and will continue to struggle with sin until we join Jesus. The issue is, do we live a life to honor Jesus or a life that promotes his enemy, Satan: a life directed by sin? What is the difference between works and repentance, law and mercy? What does the word Lord mean in your life?
Godspeace!
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