The Word is Near You Romans 10:8

Paul the apostle told the people in Rome, “the righteousness which is of faith speaks on this wise, Say not in your heart, who shall ascend into heaven? (that is, to bring Christ down from above:), and he added, “Or, Who shall descend into the deep? (that is, to bring up Christ again from the dead.)” In chapter ten and verse eight of Romans, Paul answered his questions with, “the word is near you, even in your mouth” where we read:

But what does it say? The word is near you, even in your mouth, and in your heart:

that is, the word of faith, which we preach;

The verse begins, “But what does it say? The word is near you, even in your mouth, and in your heart:” Paul began with the word, “but” which means “moreover and” “what does it say” which means “what does the scripture utter, declare and proclaim”? “The word” which refers to “that which is or has been uttered or spoken by the living voice” “is near you” or “is imminent and close at hand”, “even in your mouth” which means “within the orifice in the face used for speech”, “and in your heart” which refers to “the soul or mind, as it is the fountain and seat of the thoughts, passions, desires, appetites, affections, purposes and endeavors ”. Paul refers to Moses' words in Deuteronomy chapter thirty and verse fourteen, “But the word is very near unto you, in your mouth, and in your heart, that you may do it.”

The verse goes on to say, “that is, the word of faith, which we preach;” Paul added the words, “that is” which means “which refers to”, “the word” which means “any sound produced by the voice and having definite meaning” “of faith” or “pertaining to the conviction that God exists and is the creator and ruler of all things, the provider and bestower of eternal salvation through Christ”, “which we preach” which means “that Paul and his companions herald, publish and proclaim publicly” Paul and his companions “declared and proclaimed” that “the word” is so “near” that in their very “mouths” was “faith” to believe the “gospel of Jesus Christ”.

When we consider these words of Paul, we see how receiving Jesus Christ as “Savior and Lord” is through “believing and trusting” God's “word” through “faith”. God provided His Son Jesus as a “sacrifice” on the cross for the sins of the world, and since He was “raised” back to life again, now everyone who puts their “faith and trust” in Him shall have “everlasting life”. God desires for every person to be saved, and regardless of how wicked they have been, their sins have been covered and paid for by Jesus. This “word” must be “believed”, and because it is so “near” everyone, even in their “mouths”, no person has reason or excuse not to receive it.

Next time we see Paul tell his readers what happens, “if you confess with your mouth the Lord Jesus, and shall believe in your heart that God has raised him from the dead”, so read ahead, and we shall join together then.

Until tomorrow…there is more…

Look for the daily devotional book “Equipped for Battle – From Generation to Generation”, the marriage book “So, You Want to Be Married”, “One Year in the Sermon on the Mount” and the new poetry book "Random Mushrooms" in all major bookstore sites, http://www.amazon.com ; http://www.barnesandnobles.com ; download to e-books, and find it locally at www.mrzlc.com/bookstore.