Download Romans 10:5

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Romans 10:5-17 (ESV)
For Moses writes about the righteousness that is based on the law, that the person who does
the commandments shall live by them. [6] But the righteousness based on faith says, "Do
not say in your heart, 'Who will ascend into heaven?' " (that is, to bring Christ down) [7] or
" 'Who will descend into the abyss?' " (that is, to bring Christ up from the dead). [8] But
what does it say? "The word is near you, in your mouth and in your heart" (that is, the word
of faith that we proclaim); [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. [10] For
with the heart one believes and is justified, and with the mouth one confesses and is saved.
[11] For the Scripture says, "Everyone who believes in him will not be put to shame." [12]
For there is no distinction between Jew and Greek; the same Lord is Lord of all, bestowing
his riches on all who call on him. [13] For "everyone who calls on the name of the Lord
will be saved." [14] But how are they to call on him in whom they have not believed? And
how are they to believe in him of whom they have never heard? And how are they to hear
without someone preaching? [15] And how are they to preach unless they are sent? As it is
written, "How beautiful are the feet of those who preach the good news!" [16] But they
have not all obeyed the gospel. For Isaiah says, "Lord, who has believed what he has heard
from us?" [17] So faith comes from hearing, and hearing through the word of Christ.
“A Name We Can Trust”
Grace to you and peace from God our Father and our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ,
Amen. In an average day, a 21-year-old adult will hear approximately 3,000 marketing
messages. That is an exposure rate of roughly a million per year and well over 90 million
messages in a lifetime. Whether we like it or not having this commercialized environment
affects us. People become immune when bombarded with so many messages. They tend to
lump everything together for the sake of keeping their sanity. In addition, such a surge of
marketing naturally makes a person noncommittal. Who settles down when you can jump
onto the next best thing that happens to come your way?
As strange as it might seem, St. Paul knew exactly this type of environment. His
words to the church in Rome faced the glorious spectacle of the Roman Empire. Since it
was the capitol a great deal of civic, social, and spiritual activities were always taking
place. Christians there had a daily life saturated with an overabundance of everything
whether they liked it or not. In the midst of this commotion, Paul directs his attention to
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Christ. He alone would stand out from the works of man by the work of God for man. Their
livelihood was to be around the one who lives for them by His Word. The primary need in
the church at Rome as it is for us today is to hear the message of the Gospel. In the
preaching of Jesus, God’s presence and victory comes alive promising a true righteousness
by faith that calls on a Name we can trust.
The extent of the Law is clear for St. Paul states, “For Moses writes about the
righteousness that is based on the law that the person who does the commandments shall
live by them.” No one likes to live by anything today, but the Law still gets to us one way
or another. If a person follows but a single rule for life, they show their captivity to the
Law. Of course, it might come in a different form than what we know as the Ten
Commandments. Some find it within the instruction of another religion or philosophy that
has somehow brought order and peace to their life. Others go about it in a more personal
direction just being able to face themselves in the mirror at the end of the day. To have a
righteousness based on the law means a goodness focused on me and my way of life. Most
are comfortable living in this kind of environment. It is why all the chitchats about selfhelp and talk radio to infomercials and health advice. Yet, the lurking problem with the law
is that those who do will eventually die. In reality, there is no righteousness in the law
because what does man have to show for it?
Only the good news of the Gospel gives us a Name we can trust because Jesus’
works for us. Paul declares,
“But the righteousness based on faith says, "Do not say in your heart, 'Who will
ascend into heaven?'" (that is, to bring Christ down) 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 that we
proclaim); 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.”
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Those in Rome were tempted to deny Jesus’ real presence and diminish His victory. They
saw so many doing works of looseness for self or having religious codes they could finally
live up to for their life. The same still happens as we fall into doubt over the Gospel. Jesus
came into time, died on the cross, and rose from the dead, but what about today? What
about right now, as the law of life reveals our sin and uncovers the reality of death around
us? Where is our comfort by faith and not in our works? It will not happen from reaching
back into the past, but looking for what God is still doing today at the present.
In other words, the word is near you. Jesus is near you. His presence is real as the
Gospel encounters our lives. He comes when God’s Word and sacrament repeatedly
declares His life for our life. Doctors, counselors, or advisers all work for bettering our
lives under the law. Jesus works alone to raise us up out of our life to have faith in His life
of the Gospel. His presence would not be true if it were not for the fact that He has risen
from the dead. This means we deal with sins by confessing them to Him, receive new life
by dying into His death, and stand firm in our salvation by what He says. What we hear by
the Word Christ makes visible for us to receive in the Sacrament. It is the answer to the
statement, “For ‘everyone who calls on the name of the Lord will be saved.” Jesus is a
Name we can trust in our life for He comes bringing His good gifts from the cross. His
blood pours out for our sins and His victory is the victory over our life. It is more than a
thought, but an actual event that takes place from day to day by faith in His working Word
for us.
Unlike so many who might detach this Gospel message away from the life of the
church. St. Paul points out, “As it is written, ‘How beautiful are the feet of those who
preach the good news!" Christ creates a direct relationship between God’s people and their
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pastor. The office of the holy ministry is a name we are to trust because those men
entrusted with it are sent to give us Jesus. Yes, some have spoiled the name, “Pastor” by
unrepentant lives or by preaching a doctrine of either cheap grace or merciless forgiveness.
This should be a warning to not trust men, but place our trust in the words of the one man
Jesus Christ. At the same time, there is no excuse to abandon what the savior gave for the
good of His church, which was to have men publicly called to purely preach His Word and
faithfully administer His sacrament. Martin Kretzmann writes,
“The feet of the messengers of the Gospel are lovely, because their coming is
delightful, because they are eager to bring the tidings of joy. The content of their
proclamation is peace, reconciliation with God through Jesus, good things, the
fullness of God’s blessings through the work of Jesus. (Commentary 56)
Pastors want to declare forgiveness to the repentant, restore broken lives by words of the
cross, and make certain that there is a savior “given and shed” for you. It is just as all the
baptized in Christ have the same desire to go out into their private lives preaching the
Gospel of salvation to those they encounter.
Of course, this is not easy in a world run by the law. Religions of man make people
feel like they actually succeed with their works just as others are very comfortable living up
to their own personal standard. Its why our reading ends declaring, “But they have not all
obeyed the gospel. For Isaiah says, "Lord, who has believed what he has heard from us?"
So faith comes from hearing, and hearing through the word of Christ.” It finally rests on
Jesus. His Word by the work of the Holy Spirit moves hearts and mouths to let people
receive and confess the joy of His true presence in their lives and the victory He has over
the grave. Christ has made a Name for Himself and it is the Name of God giving His love
for us by His sacrifice on the cross. There is plenty of work to do and people will do it one
way or another, for better or for worse. All the while Jesus holds a righteousness that is
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secure in His Work of suffering, death, and resurrection preached for us by the words of the
Gospel. Truly, that is a message we can believe will stick out before men for without doubt
it is the only message standing out before God. Amen. Now may the peace God which
passes all understanding be with your hearts and minds in Christ Jesus to life eternal,
Amen.