Christ
Is The Culmination Of The Law
Brothers and sisters,
my heart’s desire and prayer to God for the
Israelites is that they may be saved. For I can testify about
them that they are zealous for God, but their zeal is not based on knowledge.
Since they did not know the righteousness of God and sought to establish their
own, they did not submit to God’s righteousness. Christ is the culmination of the law so that
there may be righteousness for everyone who believes.
Moses writes this about
the righteousness that is by the law: “The person who does these things will
live by them.” But the righteousness
that is by 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 deep?’” (that is, to bring Christ up from the
dead). But what does it say? “The word is near you; it is in your mouth and in
your heart,” that is, the message concerning faith that we proclaim: If you
declare with your mouth, “Jesus is Lord,” and believe in your heart that God
raised him from the dead, you will be saved. For 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. As Scripture says, “Anyone who believes in him will never
be put to shame.” For there is no difference between Jew and Gentile—the same
Lord is Lord of all and richly blesses all who call on him, for, “Everyone who
calls on the name of the Lord will be saved.”
How, then, can they
call on the one they have not believed in? And how can they believe in the one
of whom they have not heard? And how can they hear without someone preaching to
them?
Romans
10:1-14
We are all called to
minister with the talents God gave us, and to the people God will direct us to.
The issue is the full
belief and understanding that Jesus Christ is Lord. He saves us.
Don’t
withhold from the world the best news that’s ever come to it.
Our
Daily Bread – November 21, 2012