ESOCS Devotional 3 January 2022
TEXT: ROMANS 10: 5-13
MEMORY VERSE:
“But what saith it? The word is nigh unto 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 with thine heart that God raised him from the dead, thou shalt be saved.” Romans 10: 8-9
After setting the commandments of God before the Israelites, Moses taught the Israelites that the doctrine, laws, and commandments he set before them were not difficult to do. That they neither needed to fetch it, not take the difficult and risky sail across the Mediterranean Sea to get it. Rather, it was in their mouth and in their heart, so that they were inexcusable (Deut. 30:11-14). As Barnes put it: “They did not require deep search, long journeys or painful toil. There was no need of crossing the seas, and going to other lands, no need of looking into the profound mysteries of the high heavens or the deep abyss, but they were near them, had been plainly set before them, and easy to be understood.”
If the righteousness, which was by the law and doctrine of Moses were that simple, much more is the gospel of salvation by grace through faith, which Paul and all the apostles set forth before the New Testament Church, most simple. Through the grace of God, ours is a salvation fully and freely packaged by God and laid at our doorstep. We are justified by faith, as it is written: “the just shall live by faith” (Rom. 1:7). Even then, both grace and faith are the gift of God. He is the source of them both: “For by grace are ye saved through faith, and that not of yourselves; it is the gift of God” (Eph. 2: 8).
Like Moses, Paul insisted that the doctrine of saving faith does not require us to travel to heaven, nor to hell nor some distant country, nor some mystery world to find salvation. You do not require to move from church to church, from prayer house to prayer house, crusade to crusade, mountain to mountain, or prophet to prophet in search of salvation. Whatever your challenges may be, the “Word of Faith” is able to save you, and that word of faith is not across the sea, nor in another church. It is right there with you. It is in your mouth and in your heart. It is as simple as confessing with your mouth that God raised the Lord Jesus Christ from the dead, and believing same in your heart. So, when you first believe in your heart and confess the risen Jesus with your mouth, your salvation is settled by the grace of God. This is Saving Faith and it is that simple.
- Take a quick look at verse 13: “for whosoever shall call upon the name of the Lord shall be saved.” Also, “He that spared not his son but delivered him up for us, shall also with him freely give us all things” (Rom. 8:32). Just ask.
- Almighty God, the Father of my Lord Jesus Christ, I confess your holy son Jesus as my Lord and savior. In his name I pray thee Lord, save me from sin and Satan, and from all my afflictions and challenges. Amen.
Read Other ESOCS Devotional here
FURTHER READING: Joshua 1:1-9; Isaiah 44:1-5; 1 Corinthian 3:1-9
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ESOCS Devotional 3 January 2022
