The Word of Faith

Romans 10:5-8 “For Moses writes about the righteousness which is of the law, “The man who does those things shall live by them.” 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) or, “‘Who will descend into the abyss?’” (that is, to bring Christ up from the dead). 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).

I’ve always been fascinated by the difference between the law of works and the law of faith. I recently read an interesting article on the subject, where the author pointed out that the first-century Jews pursued the law by works, not by faith. Not knowing the “righteousness of God,” they sought to establish their own righteousness. They believed that they could use the Mosaic law in a way God never intended, namely, as a means for sinful people to attain the holy righteousness necessary to stand before Him. However, the law’s purpose in justification is not as a tool for sinners to make themselves righteous; it is the means to reveal their sin and drive them to the righteousness that is in Christ for all who believe; the righteousness found in Christ by faith.

Romans 7:7 “What shall we say then? Is the law sin? Certainly not! On the contrary, I would not have known sin except through the law. For I would not have known covetousness unless the law had said, “You shall not covet.”

The article explains that the law curses those who so not obey all of it. Try to justify yourself by the law, and you forfeit righteousness the first time you mess up. God did not intend for sinners to justify themselves by keeping the law. Paul quotes Deuteronomy: “Do not say in your heart, ‘Who will ascend into heaven?’”, and “‘Who will descend into the abyss?’” to describe the righteousness found in Christ by faith. The lord came to them and saved them even while they were unrighteous.

Galatians 3:23-24 “But before faith came, we were kept under the law, shut up unto the faith which should afterwards be revealed. Wherefore the law was our schoolmaster to bring us unto Christ, that we might be justified by faith.”

Justification by faith alone recognizes these things. It tells us that our righteousness and final salvation are not due to our being better than anyone else or that, therefore, we cannot merit redemption. This righteousness knows that God – in Christ – does the work to establish His saving relationship with us. We do not earn it in any sense of the word. The gospel is not something we have to wonder about. It has been revealed clearly. The word of faith; believe it and get in here.

In Christ, Brian