ROMANS UNWRAPPED 169

"But the righteousness which is of faith speaketh on this wise, SAY NOT IN THINE HEART WHO SHALL ASCEND INTO HEAVEN?  (that is to bring Christ down from above); or WHO SHALL DESCEND INTO THE DEEP? (that is to bring Christ again from the dead).  but what saith it?   That THE WORD IS NIGH THEE, EVEN IN THY MOUTH AND IN THY HEART, that is the word of faith which we preach.   Romans 10 v 6-9

You see what Paul is doing here?   He is quoting Deuteronomy 30 v 11-14 and substituting Christ for the law.   Just as God brought the law so near to Israel, that they did not have to search for it, so now, Paul says that God has brought Christ, as the way of salvation, so near, it is as close to you as your mouth and your heart.

What is closer to a human being than the mouth or the heart?   That is how close to us, God has brought His way of salvation.   He has drawn so near to us, that none of us should miss it.  

In this connection there are a number of things to observe here.  

• IN THE MATTER OF SALVATION THERE IS NOTHING YET TO BE DONE.  We are not required to search for it in the heights of heaven or in the depths of the ocean.   The work has been completely done.   It is now a universal fact.
• HOW LONG WILL THIS SITUATION LAST?   As long as we live; all the while we have a mouth, and with every beat of our hearts we can be saved.
• HOW LONG DOES IT TAKE TO BE SAVED?   As long as it takes for your heart to beat for the first time in belief, or your mouth to confess to God that you need a Saviour.  
• WHAT DOES PAUL MEAN, BRINGING CHRIST DOWN FROM ABOVE, AND RAISING CHRIST FROM THE DEAD?   These are the bedrock events of human salvation, namely: (a) the incarnation of Christ  (He came down from above), and (b) the resurrection of Christ     ( He rose from the dead).   These two historical events, which are fundamental to the Christian faith, are now both facts: and so salvation is available to every man, woman and child on the planet.     It has all been done; it is waiting for you to take it.  
• HOW CAN I TAKE IT?   There are two human responses that are required.    First of all concerning your HEART; you must believe in your heart that God raised Christ from the dead.   What that means is a number of things; you believe you could not save yourself; you believe that Christ must come as your Saviour; you believe that He must die for your sins , to become your substitute, because you could not meet God's demands by yourself; you believe that Christ in dying for you meant that you deserve to die, but Christ died in your stead; you believe that God, in raising Him from the dead, has accepted His work as your substitute and He now declares salvation to all the world.   This belief is a heart belief, not just a mental assent; it requires a deep inner conviction within you of the saving value of the life and death and resurrection of Christ, as the only thing of value in the salvation of your soul.   Secondly, you must confess with you MOUTH that Jesus is Lord.   This means that God, having raised Him from the dead and placed Him on the throne of the universe, so that He will reign in all heaven and all earth, that He also will reign in your life.   The word confession is very interesting: it means to speak the same thing.   It means you agree with God about your sin, you agree with God about the only Saviour, you agree with God that He will rule the universe, and from this day forward He will rule your life.

In summary, we believe in our hearts and confess with our mouths all that God says about us, and all that God says about Christ; now these are vast subjects and we will not take them in immediately.   It may even take a lifetime before it all sinks in; but we begin on that pathway with a simple heart belief and a humble mouth confession and the deed is done!

GOD HAS BROUGHT SALVATION SO CLOSE TO US, IT IS IN OUR MOUTH, AND IN OUR HEART!