Read Romans 10:5-21
In order to be saved by the law, a person would have to live a perfect life, not sinning once. Why did God give the law when He knew people couldn’t keep it? According to Paul, one reason the law was given was to show people how guilty they are (Galatians 3). The law was a shadow of Christ: that is, the sacrificial system educated the people so that when the true sacrifice came, they would be able to understand His work (Hebrews 10). The system of ceremonial laws was to last until the coming of Christ. The law points to Christ, the reason for all those animal sacrifices.
Rather than living by faith in God, the Jews established customs and traditions to try to make themselves acceptable in God’s sight. But human effort, no matter how sincere, can never substitute for the righteousness God offers us by faith. The only way to earn salvation is to be perfect: and that is impossible. We can only hold out our empty hands and receive salvation as a gift.
Paul adapts Moses’ farewell challenge from Deuteronomy 30:11-14 to apply to Christ. Christ has provided our salvation through His death and resurrection. God’s salvation is right in front of us. He will come to us wherever we are. All we need to do is to respond and accept His gift of salvation. God will always keep His side of the bargain: Those who call on Him will be saved. God will never fail to provide for those who believe.
Have you ever been asked, “How do I become a Christian?” These verses give you the beautiful answer: Salvation is as close as your own lips and heart. People think it must be a complicated process, but it is not. If you confess with your mouth that Jesus is Lord and believe in your heart that God raised Jesus 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.
We must take God’s great message of salvation to others so that they can respond to the Good News. How will your loved ones and neighbors hear unless someone tells them? Is God calling you to take a part in making His message known in your community? Think of one person who needs to hear the Gospel, and think of something you can do to help him or her hear it. Then take that step as soon as possible.
Many Jews who looked for the Messiah refused to believe in Him when He came. God offered His salvation to the
Gentiles; thus, many Gentiles who didn’t even know about a Messiah found and believed in Him. Some religious people are spiritually blind, while those who have never been in a church are sometimes the most responsive to God’s message. Because appearances are deceiving, and we can’t see into people’s hearts, beware of judging beforehand who will respond to the Gospel and who will not.