Verse of the Day 4/3

Verse of the Day 4/3

Romans 10:8-9

New International Version

8 But what does it say? "The word is near you; it is in your mouth and in your heart," that is, the message concerning faith that we proclaim: 9 If you declare with your mouth, "Jesus is Lord," and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved.

In today's verses the Apostle Paul outlines the basics of saving faith.  It is not faith plus this or that it is "declaring" that Jesus is Lord and believing in your heart.  This "declaring" or "confessing" as used in other translation is not simply acknowledging that He is God, but it is with personal conviction that He is God and Lord of my life, which includes confession, repentance, trusting and submitting to Jesus as Lord of our lives.

In a few weeks we will be celebrating Easter, the resurrection of Jesus from the dead.  It is not a story it is a fact.  Our believing and our declaring with our mouth that Jesus is Lord is based on His resurrection.

Pastor John Piper writes, "The resurrection of Jesus is God's declaration to Israel and to the world that we cannot work our way to glory but that he intends to do the impossible to get us there....The resurrection is the promise of God that all who trust Jesus will be the beneficiaries of God's power to lead us in paths of righteousness and through the valley of death.  Therefore, believing in your heart that God raised Jesus from the dead is much more than accepting a fact. It means being confident that God is for you, that he has closed ranks with you, that he is transforming your life, and that he will save you for eternal joy."

Are you confident that "God is for you"?  Easter is a celebration that God is for you.  He came, He died and He arose because He is for you.  Our response is to declare that He is Lord and to live for Him.

Blessings,

Mike

Folllow the Verse of the Day blog at http://mikesvotd.blogspot.com

Ephesians 1:7 In him we have redemption through his blood, the forgiveness of sins, in accordance with the riches of God's grace.  NIV

Romans 10:8-17

New International Version

8 But what does it say? "The word is near you; it is in your mouth and in your heart,"[a] that is, the message concerning faith that we proclaim: 9 If you declare with your mouth, "Jesus is Lord," and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved. 10 For it is with your heart that you believe and are justified, and it is with your mouth that you profess your faith and are saved. 11 As Scripture says, "Anyone who believes in him will never be put to shame."[b] 12 For there is no difference between Jew and Gentile—the same Lord is Lord of all and richly blesses all who call on him, 13 for, "Everyone who calls on the name of the Lord will be saved."[c]

14 How, then, can they call on the one they have not believed in? And how can they believe in the one of whom they have not heard? And how can they hear without someone preaching to them? 15 And how can anyone preach unless they are sent? As it is written: "How beautiful are the feet of those who bring good news!"[d]

16 But not all the Israelites accepted the good news. For Isaiah says, "Lord, who has believed our message?"[e]

 17 Consequently, faith comes from hearing the message, and the message is heard through the word about Christ.