I Believe - Therefore
Romans 10:17 (1-18)
11-15-2009
Rom.10:17 Consequently, faith comes from hearing the message, and the message is heard through the word of Christ.
What have you heard? From what you have heard, what have you believed? From what you have believed, what have you done? That is to say, how has your beliefs modified your actions? How has your actions enhanced your present circumstances? (Real circumstances verses the worlds perceptions of)
When asked about God and eternity a person might express their belief in God and affirm that they are in fact going to heaven but when asked about Jesus, or repentance, or baptism or the in dwelling of the Spirit, or some other issue, they will go off on some speal about how God is loving and accepting of peoples and since they are basically good that …Well you likely have heard similar.
We can see through this illustration that what they believe is only part of what they have heard but have chosen to not adjust their actions and so enhance their circumstance. Sadly they are still dead in their sins and their situation has not improved. To not believe and in believing adjust ones actions results in failure to enter. (Heb.3:18-19, 4:3)
Jesus paid a heavy price to save us human beings and saying that it was not needed and that God the Father will just welcome everyone in anyway cheapens Jesus’ efforts. Not to mention the fact that the plan of redemption worked out in the council of the trinity set in place a process for men and woman to follow so that may enhance their futures. Jesus wants the entire world to know that He did in fact pay the price for their purchase from sin and death. He also wants the people of the world to come to know that there is a prescribed method or procedure to receive the benefits of His sacrifice. As seen in the Hebrew passage, disobedience and unbelief have some equality.
We know these things to be true from what we read in Holy Scripture. Paul speaks of faith being produced by hearing the message. (Rom.10:1-17) Faith produces a response of the lips. (v.8-9) the heart believes and the mouth confesses. But we know that this is not the whole message proclaimed but the summation. Earlier Paul contended that baptism was part of this entrance strategy laid down for the world to accept. (Rom.6:1-4) Peter’s beginning words of exhortation to his own lost brethren. (Acts 2:38-39) Paul’s own entrance into redemption included this vital step. (Acts 9:18; 22:12-16)
New Testament texts makes it clear that hearing, believing, repenting, confessing and being baptized are all viable, necessary, parts to the successful entrance into this new enhanced state of existence. Intertwined in the process is the calling on the name of Jesus and the declaration of fact – Jesus is Lord. (Rom.10:9)
Many of us have different backgrounds and varied beliefs about many things but this does not change the truth of the message once and for all handed down to us from of old. It is recognizable by more than just Scripture that this message of redemption brings change. (1Thes.1:6) This change is radical, God driven, flesh experiencing, and transformational at a deep, inside outward enhancement of what and who we are. (Acts 2:41; 5:20; 1Cor.1:18) Our journey heavenward once begun includes deepening our understanding of Who God is and what He has called us to.