Righteousness in your own strength? Romans 10:5-10 (part 1)

Romans 10:5-10 (ESV)
For Moses writes about the righteousness that is based on the law, that the person who does the commandments shall live by them. 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. For with the heart one believes and is justified, and with the mouth one confesses and is saved.

Over the next few studies, we will look at these verses in Romans where Paul discusses again our salvation in Jesus! The first part of this discussion is a simple reiteration, almost a summary, of righteousness from the Old Testament law.

If you want to be declared righteous from the law, you must do everything that is in the law, all of the time. You must, in essence, live the law.

Difficult, but achievable? No, it is simply impossible.

Romans 3:9-12 (ESV)
What then? Are we Jews any better off? No, not at all. For we have already charged that all, both Jews and Greeks, are under sin, as it is written:
“None is righteous, no, not one;
no one understands;
no one seeks for God.
All have turned aside; together they have become worthless;
no one does good,
not even one.”

No one, by their own obedience and works, will be justified before God. If we were to go back to our studies in Romans 2 and 3 (This one is a good summary – What use is the Law?), you will see that the law shows us our sin, and our need for a savior. If you go back to Romans 6 (Is the law sin?), you will see that when the law comes it guides and directs, but more than anything it shines the light on the sin that is already is in our lives.

If we were to stop right here, we would think the whole proposition is hopeless. There is no way, on our own, to be righteous. There is simply nothing we can do – nothing we can say – no effort we can make, that will make us righteous on our own effort.

But.

That’s right, the very next word is but. And this ‘but’ leads us to this simple statement – 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.

We will spend more time on this over the next few days, but know this. You cannot do it yourself – no way, no how. But God has done it for you, and you just need to take on His righteousness, rather than strive for your own, and you will be saved.

Yes, it really is that easy.

Lord God, thank you that you have made a way for us to be righteous, you have made a way that we can truly overcome sin and death, and be right with you for eternity. Continue to give us revelation into your Word, as we take the time to study It and truly know what it means. Teach us as ever to know You more. In Jesus Name. Amen.

(photo flickr / Barak-Janah)