Romans 10:5-7 – “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).”
In the last message covering Romans 10:1-4 we saw that there is salvation is no one else apart from Jesus Christ. No amount of morality will save you; the entire point of the law of Moses (10 commandments + other laws added in the Old Testament) was to point people to God, to His righteousness and our need for God as our Savior. Today’s message continues that with a look at what Moses himself said in Deuteronomy 30. In Deuteronomy 30:6 Moses writes – “the Lord your God will circumcise your heart and the heart of your offspring, so that you will love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul, that you may live.” I could write an entire message on Deuteronomy 30, but sufficed to say that if you break down what Moses says in that chapter, it is clear that salvation and the outworkings of salvation are a work of God. The first 10 verses of Deuteronomy 30 all speak of what God will do, climaxing in the verse above, that God will circumcise the hearts of His people, so that they will be free to love Him. The latter 10 verses all speak to the outworking of that work of God, the obedience of man to the commandments of God.
Ultimately, unless God gives us hearts to love Him, our obedience to Him will be impossible. The obedience of God is not a matter of works, but of the heart. Jesus gives examples of this in Matthew 5:21-22,27-28 – “You have heard that it was said to those of old, ‘You shall not murder; and whoever murders will be liable to judgment.’ But I say to you that everyone who is angry with his brother will be liable to judgment; whoever insults his brother will be liable to the council; and whoever says, ‘You fool!’ will be liable to the hell of fire.” “You have heard that it was said, ‘You shall not commit adultery.’ But I say to you that everyone who looks at a woman with lustful intent has already committed adultery with her in his heart.”
Being better people will get us no closer to God than jumping up in the air will get us closer to the Sun. We as people have a massive problem called sin, just as some fool jumping in the air thinking they can reach the sun has a massive problem called gravity. The Jews spoken of here in Romans 10 thought that by being “good people” according to the law, they would be able to reach God – it’s foolishness. Does this mean we ignore God’s commandments – no, but we know that our hearts must be changed by God, rather than just cleaning up the outside. We know that from beginning to end, our salvation, our righteousness, is a gift of God through the blood of Jesus, not a task to be completed by us.
If you find yourself today stuck in sin or frustrated by trying to please God through your works, take a moment and just thank God from freeing you from both the sin of immorality and the sin of self righteousness in Jesus. Consider the greatest sin you’ve ever committed and know that Jesus bore the wrath of God for you sin. Now consider your best righteous act, and know that Jesus bore the wrath of God for your sin in that act too. The gospel is meant to be a gospel of peace and rest. Are you resting in Jesus alone? Instead of trying to clean yourself up on the outside, start with your heart. Ask God for affections for Him, to incline your heart towards Him, to give you desires to see Him in His Word, to delight and find joy in all that He is for us in our Lord, Jesus Christ. He loves you, it’s not a prayer He will say no to.
Grace and Peace,
Adam
Following the Way 