“Believe And Confess” (Romans 10: 9 – 10, HCSB) by Carley Evans

A zeal for God which ignores “the righteousness from God” and “attempts to establish [its] own righteousness” is not a saving zeal, writes Paul. The Jews of his day are relying upon their obedience to the law and the prophets for their salvation; while Paul is exhorting, “The righteousness that comes from God” is your salvation.

He writes, “The message is near you, in your mouth and in your heart.” (Romans 10: 8)

He promises, “Everyone who believes on Him is not put to shame.” (Romans 10: 11) “For everyone who calls on the Name of the Lord is saved.” (Romans 10: 13)

“This is the message of faith that we proclaim: If you confess with your mouth, ‘Jesus is Lord,’ and believe in your heart that God raises Him from the dead, you are saved. One believes with the heart, resulting in righteousness, and one confesses with the mouth, resulting in salvation.”

Submit yourself to God’s righteousness. His method of snatching you from death may seem counterproductive or too easy; but if you know you have need of God’s gift, then accept it. He does not deny us. He says, “Allow the little children to come to Me, for of such is the Kingdom of God.”

Our faith is close to us; in our hearts and in our mouths. We believe; we confess. God forgives.

“The Free Gift” (2 Corinthians 5: 14 – 15, HCSB) by Carley Evans

Paul is convinced that “if one dies for all, then all die.” The One who dies is Jesus Christ. Since He dies for all, then we who live because of Him “should no longer live for [ourselves].”

In Christ, we are “new creation[s].” (2 Corinthians 5: 17) In Him, we are “the righteousness of God.” (2 Corinthians 5: 21)

The righteousness of God comes “through faith in Jesus Christ for all who believe. For there is no distinction: for all sin and fall short of the glory of God, and are justified by His grace as a gift.” (Romans 3: 22 – 24, ESV)

Our salvation is a gift. And, this gift is free as Paul repeatedly proclaims: “But the free gift is not like the trespass. For if many die through one man’s trespass, much more has the grace of God and the free gift by the grace of that one man Jesus Christ abound for many. And the free gift is not like the result of that one man’s sin. For the judgment following one trespass brings condemnation, but the free gift following many trespasses brings justification.” (Romans 5: 15 – 16)

Paul is not concerned with being redundant, and so encourages us with this truth: “The free gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord.” (Romans 6: 23, ESV)