Daily Devotions
Romans
"The righteousness of faith..."
Text: Romans 10:6
ARGUMENTS FOR RIGHTEOUSNESS OF FAITH
Let us look at how Paul argued for “the righteousness of faith” (Romans 10:6). This phrase means simply, “the righteousness that comes from faith in Christ”.
“But the righteousness of faith speaks in this way,
‘Do not say in your heart, ‘Who will ascend into heaven?’
(that is, to bring Christ down from above) or,
‘Who will descend to the abyss?’ (that is, to bring Christ up
from the dead).'”
Romans 10:6-7
1. Detractors of the theology of “righteousness of faith”
a) They plant doubts in the heart and mind.
b) They raise up outrageous demands.
i) Christ must come down to earth to prove this theological system.
ii) Christ must prove His resurrection from the dead (all over again).
2. Do not say in your heart
a) These demands must be seen for what they are!
i) Outrageous and outlandish demands.
ii) Spurious remarks.
iii) No theological system is subject to such demands.
3. Borrowing a theological argument from none other than Moses
Paul’s language harks back to a text Moses wrote in Deuteronomy.
“For this commandment which I command you today
is not too mysterious for you, nor is it far off.
It is not in heaven, that you should say,
‘Who will ascend into heaven for us and bring it to us,
that we may hear it and do it?’ Nor is it beyond the sea,
that you should say, ‘Who will go over the sea for us
and bring it to us, that we may hear it and do it?'”
Deuteronomy 30:11-13
Moses’ teaching when it was first spoken must have sounded very difficult to understand and accept. Hence these “objections”. Paul’s teachings, if given careful consideration, would also be found to be sound and absolutely acceptable!