Faith Over Law: The Simplicity of Salvation

 

Summary

In Romans 10:5-10, Paul contrasts two paths to righteousness: the law and faith. The Jews, despite their zeal, misunderstood the law's purpose, believing it could lead to salvation. Paul emphasizes that the law was never meant to save but to reveal sin, leaving humanity in hopelessness. The law demands perfection, which is impossible for humans to achieve. In contrast, the righteousness of faith is accessible and simple. It doesn't require heroic efforts or intellectual prowess but a simple belief in Jesus Christ, who has already accomplished everything necessary for salvation.

Paul uses the words of Moses from Deuteronomy to illustrate that the way of faith is near and accessible. There's no need for a quest to find salvation; it's already provided through Christ. The gospel is not about human effort but about accepting what Christ has done. Salvation is not a complex intellectual exercise but a simple trust in Jesus. This message is a direct challenge to those who believe in salvation through works, mysticism, or religious rituals. The gospel is clear: believe in Jesus, and you will be saved.

Key Takeaways:

- The law reveals sin and leaves us hopeless, as it demands perfection that humans cannot achieve. It was never intended to be a means of salvation but to point us to our need for a Savior. [05:46]

- The righteousness of faith is accessible and simple. It doesn't require heroic efforts or intellectual prowess but a simple belief in Jesus Christ, who has already accomplished everything necessary for salvation. [18:03]

- Salvation is not a quest or a voyage of discovery. The gospel is clear and present, requiring no extraordinary effort to understand or achieve. It is a gift, not a reward for human effort. [21:55]

- The gospel challenges the belief in salvation through works, mysticism, or religious rituals. It emphasizes that salvation is through faith in Jesus Christ alone, not through human efforts or intermediaries. [39:14]

- The simplicity of the gospel means that anyone, regardless of intellect or status, can be saved. It is not about understanding complex doctrines but about trusting in Jesus Christ and His finished work. [44:23]

Youtube Chapters:

[00:00] - Welcome
[00:14] - Introduction to Romans 10:5-10
[01:25] - The Misunderstanding of the Jews
[02:24] - The Role of the Preacher
[03:43] - Justification by Works vs. Faith
[05:15] - The Law's Demands and Human Inability
[06:51] - The Righteousness of Faith
[08:18] - Paul's Use of Deuteronomy
[12:17] - The Simplicity of the Gospel
[18:03] - The Accessibility of Salvation
[21:55] - The Gospel vs. Human Effort
[26:14] - Salvation Provided by Christ
[31:32] - Salvation for All
[33:38] - Application to the Jews and Others
[39:14] - The Error of Mysticism and Rituals
[44:23] - The Simplicity of Belief
[47:16] - Conclusion and Prayer

Study Guide

Bible Study Discussion Guide

Bible Reading:
- Romans 10:5-10
- Deuteronomy 30:11-14
- Leviticus 18:5

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Observation Questions:

1. What are the two paths to righteousness that Paul contrasts in Romans 10:5-10? How does he describe each path? [00:14]

2. According to the sermon, what was the misunderstanding of the Jews regarding the law and salvation? [01:53]

3. How does Paul use the words of Moses from Deuteronomy to illustrate the accessibility of faith? [08:18]

4. What does the sermon say about the role of human effort in achieving salvation? [21:55]

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Interpretation Questions:

1. How does the sermon explain the purpose of the law in revealing sin and pointing to the need for a Savior? [05:15]

2. In what ways does the sermon suggest that the gospel challenges beliefs in salvation through works or rituals? [39:14]

3. How does the simplicity of the gospel, as described in the sermon, make salvation accessible to everyone, regardless of intellect or status? [44:23]

4. What does the sermon imply about the dangers of relying on mysticism or religious rituals for salvation? [39:14]

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Application Questions:

1. Reflect on your understanding of the law and its purpose. How has this sermon changed or reinforced your perspective on the role of the law in your spiritual life? [05:15]

2. The sermon emphasizes the simplicity of faith in Jesus for salvation. How can you ensure that your faith remains simple and focused on Christ, rather than becoming entangled in complex doctrines or rituals? [44:23]

3. Consider the ways in which you might be relying on your own efforts or rituals for salvation. What steps can you take to shift your focus to faith in Jesus alone? [21:55]

4. The sermon challenges the belief in salvation through works. How can you identify and address any areas in your life where you might be trying to earn God's favor through your actions? [39:14]

5. How can you share the message of the gospel's simplicity and accessibility with someone who believes that salvation requires complex understanding or effort? [44:23]

6. Reflect on a time when you felt distant from God. How does the message of the gospel being "near" change your approach to seeking a relationship with Him? [16:23]

7. Identify one person in your life who might be struggling with the concept of grace. How can you demonstrate or explain the simplicity of the gospel to them this week? [32:49]

Devotional

Day 1: The Law's Purpose: Revealing Our Need for a Savior
The law serves as a mirror, reflecting humanity's inability to achieve perfection and highlighting the need for a Savior. It was never intended to be a means of salvation but to expose sin and point towards the necessity of divine intervention. The Jews, despite their zeal, misunderstood this purpose, believing that adherence to the law could lead to salvation. However, the law's demands are impossible for humans to fulfill, leaving them in a state of hopelessness. This realization is crucial as it directs individuals to seek righteousness through faith in Jesus Christ, who fulfills the law on their behalf. [05:46]

"For by works of the law no human being will be justified in his sight, since through the law comes knowledge of sin." (Romans 3:20, ESV)

Reflection: In what ways have you relied on your own efforts to achieve righteousness? How can you shift your focus to trusting in Jesus' fulfillment of the law today?


Day 2: Faith's Simplicity: Belief in Jesus Christ
The righteousness of faith is both accessible and uncomplicated. Unlike the law, which demands perfection, faith requires a simple belief in Jesus Christ, who has already accomplished everything necessary for salvation. This path to righteousness does not demand heroic efforts or intellectual prowess but invites individuals to trust in the finished work of Christ. The simplicity of faith is a profound truth that challenges the notion of earning salvation through personal achievements or understanding. [18:03]

"For we hold that one is justified by faith apart from works of the law." (Romans 3:28, ESV)

Reflection: What barriers, if any, prevent you from fully embracing the simplicity of faith in Jesus? How can you practice trusting Him more deeply today?


Day 3: Salvation: A Gift, Not a Quest
Salvation is not a quest or a voyage of discovery; it is a gift that is clear and present. The gospel emphasizes that salvation is not about human effort but about accepting what Christ has done. This message challenges those who believe in salvation through works, mysticism, or religious rituals. The gospel is straightforward: believe in Jesus, and you will be saved. This truth liberates individuals from the burden of trying to earn salvation and invites them to rest in the assurance of Christ's completed work. [21:55]

"For by grace you have been saved through faith. And this is not your own doing; it is the gift of God, not a result of works, so that no one may boast." (Ephesians 2:8-9, ESV)

Reflection: How can you remind yourself today that salvation is a gift and not something you need to earn? What practical steps can you take to rest in this truth?


Day 4: The Gospel's Challenge to Human Effort
The gospel challenges the belief in salvation through works, mysticism, or religious rituals. It emphasizes that salvation is through faith in Jesus Christ alone, not through human efforts or intermediaries. This message confronts the idea that one can achieve righteousness through personal achievements or spiritual practices. Instead, it calls individuals to place their trust solely in Jesus, who has already accomplished everything necessary for their salvation. [39:14]

"Not by works of righteousness which we have done, but according to his mercy he saved us, by the washing of regeneration, and renewing of the Holy Ghost." (Titus 3:5, ESV)

Reflection: Are there areas in your life where you are relying on rituals or personal achievements for spiritual fulfillment? How can you refocus your faith on Jesus alone today?


Day 5: The Universality of the Gospel's Simplicity
The simplicity of the gospel means that anyone, regardless of intellect or status, can be saved. It is not about understanding complex doctrines but about trusting in Jesus Christ and His finished work. This universality of the gospel's simplicity ensures that salvation is accessible to all, inviting everyone to experience the transformative power of faith in Christ. The message of the gospel is clear: believe in Jesus, and you will be saved. [44:23]

"For there is no distinction between Jew and Greek; for the same Lord is Lord of all, bestowing his riches on all who call on him." (Romans 10:12, ESV)

Reflection: How can you share the simplicity of the gospel with someone in your life today? What steps can you take to ensure that your message is clear and accessible to them?

Quotes

The law was never meant to save by the law is the knowledge of sin it condemns it was brought in to condemn if you can keep this as the law you'll save yourself yes but what an if so you start considering what you're asked to do and then you'll soon see if you're honest that it simply cannot be done it is impossible by the Deeds of the law there shall no flesh be justified in his sight he's already said that in the third chapter in the 20th verse now then there's the first preacher and he leaves us in a state of complete hopelessness absolute helplessness if people who think that they can make themselves Christian Christian but realized what they've got to do in order to make themselves Christian they'd never say it again the trouble with them is that they put up their own little standard they've never considered God's standard that is what makes people who thinks that who think that their good lives are sufficient so un intelligent apart from anything else once they realize what God asks them to do they will soon realize that they can't do it that was the experience of Martin Luther who him we've just been singing before his eyes were open to the truth it was a way of despair of hopelessness it's a way of death the Apostle has already called it in the second verse of the e8th chapter the law of sin and of death hopeless thank God we can listen to the second preacher but he says and thank God for this but this contrast the righteousness which is of faith speaketh on this wise listen these to this second preacher having been rendered utterly Hopeless by the first listen to the second listen to what he has got to say to you and so he States the case once more for justification by faith only now he means by the righteousness which is of Faith this of course the righteousness which is based upon Faith or the righteousness which results from faith or if you like still better the way of obtaining righteousness by faith that's what he really means now the former Words which the Apostle uses here have often caused great deal of difficulty they're not easy that's quite true they're not easy and yet I think that if we take them in their context they're not as difficult as some of the commentators tend to to make out they're they're a bit difficult simply because of the way in which the Apostle puts the statement of this second preacher he's personalizing the way of righteousness which is by faith and says this is what he says now the difficulty is due to this the Apostle clearly here had in his mind the words we read at the beginning from Deuteronomy 30: 11-4 in particular but it's equally obvious that he isn't making an exact quotation and the difficulties arise because people think that he is making an exact quotation or misunderstand his object in doing so now what gives us the key I think to the understanding of what the Apostle is saying is this these words uh say not in thine heart who shall Ascend into heaven or who shall descend end into the deep and the word is nigh the even in thy mouth and in thy heart and so on they are words that were spoken by Moses they were words that were spoken by Moses in exactly the same way as The Words which he quotes in verse five were spoken by Moses that the man which doeth those things shall live by them there as we saw last week the Apostle is quoting Leviticus 185 here he has in his mind Deuteronomy 30 11-14 but you notice the significant difference he doesn't refer to Moses here there he says Moses describeth the righteousness which is of the law and he quotes Moses here he doesn't say but Moses says concerning that isn't what he says he says the righteousness which is our faith speaketh on this wise and that I think gives us the key to the understanding of what the Apostle is doing here what then is he saying well people have gone astray because they've omitted to notice the point I've just been making and they have said that what the Apostle is doing here is to say this now Moses in the statement of Leviticus 185 tells us about the way of righteousness by the law whereas Moses in Deuteronomy 30 11 to4 is giving us a description of the way of righteousness by faith so that Moses has made the two statements and he has contrasted the one with the other now I'm referring to this for this reason that many commentators have said that and amongst them John Kelvin so we can't dismiss this kind of thing as a an aside it is worthy of our respectful consideration but I want to suggest that it is an entirely wrong and false Exposition and I do so for two main reasons one is as I say the very form of words if the Apostle were still quoting Moses and Moses's opinion as to the way of righteousness he would have said so Moses says this Moses also says that doesn't do that Moses says this the way of righteousness by faith says that that's one reason and the second is this that as our reading of that chapter must have shown us very plainly just now what Moses is talking about in Deuteronomy 30 is still the law and he's talking about keeping the law Moses in Deuteronomy 30 is rely saying exactly the same thing as he said in Leviticus 18 5 exactly the same thing you notice the emphasis upon the doing and what happens if you don't do and he he he even says says explicitly that he's talking about the law which has been given therefore I cannot accept this suggestion and explanation that's put forward that what the Apostle is doing here is quoting Moses's opinion with regard to the two whales well then what is he doing what is the Apostle doing here why does he refer to these words in Deuteronomy 30 at all and it seems to me the explanation must be this and it is the explanation that has been adopted by many other commentators throughout the centuries Mo the Apostle is borrowing the words of Moses in order to present us with a statement of the way of justification or righteousness by faith what he's doing in other words is this he's got this idea he knows what he wants to say and he thinks of these words that were used by Moses there in Deuteronomy 30 and he says now this puts the thing very perfectly so he quotes the words he doesn't even quote them exactly there is a variation but he uses them in order to convey his teaching and the point that he's anxious to make now this is something that the Apostle does quite often I suggest that he does very much the same thing in verses 18 and 19 of this same chapter but but I say have they not heard yes verily their sound went into all the Earth and their words and to the ends of the world but I say did not Israel know first Moses sayth I will provoke you to jealousy by them that are no people and by a foolish Nation I will anger you and this is something which most preachers do from time to time it's something that we do quite apart from religious truth altogether a man may be anxious to make a point and as he's speaking he suddenly remembers something that Shak SHP said so he makes his point not by using his own words but by quoting Shakespeare because the form of words and of expression used by Shakespeare in that particular case which may not be absolutely relevant to his point conveys this idea now that is what I'm suggesting to you that the Apostle is doing on this occasion what then is he anxious to say well this is what he's saying what was the main object of the words as used by Moses especially in those uh verses 11 to4 say not in thine heart who shall Ascend into heaven or who shall descend into the deep and so on well it's perfectly clear read the chapter again for yourselves when you get home that that is just mes his way of bringing out very forcibly this spite he's addressing the children of Israel at the end of his life it is the Deuteronomy the second giving as it were of the law and he's now at the end of his address and he's driving the point home if you remember how he finally Ends by saying see I have set before you this day these two ways life and death the two possibilities and then he he says and this is the point made here he says no you can't say that you didn't know you can't say that God is unfair or that you're being left in a position with something extremely difficult that you are left to find out he says it isn't like that the thing has been put before you so plainly and so clearly the word is n the even in thy mouth it's there it's obvious it's right in front of you so that you've got no excuse at all and you can't say that you didn't know what you were being called upon to do now that is the exact object of Moses as he used these particular words he says it's no use here saying you don't know the thing is there staring you in the face it's right with you in your mouth and in your heart as it were it can't be nearer than that now then what the Apostle does I'm suggesting is to take up that idea and he says now then the righteousness which is our faith has this characteristic that it's there right with you right before you perfectly plain and clear now that is what the Apostle is conveying as his teaching at this point and I want to work this out with you now you notice the slight variation in the language used the Apostle doesn't say who shall go over the sea as you have in Deuteronomy 30 he says who shall descend into the deep but of course it makes no difference the sea is deep the sea was regarded as unfathomable its great depth so the whole notion of the sea became almost synonymous with the idea of depth and then the idea of depth in turn carried the whole notion of Hell the depth of Hell the abyss so the Apostle just takes the language and modifies it to that extent in order to bring out the thing he's anxious to bring out and instead of talking about crossing the sea he talks about going down to Hades as it were in order to bring rised up again from the dead but that doesn't make the slightest difference indeed it enforces the exposition which I'm giving you that the Apostle is taking the language using it in a very general sense to convey just this one big Point what is it very well the thing he's anxious to do is to show the contrast between this way of righteousness by faith with that other attempt to get righteousness by means of the law the trouble with that was that it was not only extremely difficult but it was impossible what does he say about this but he says here's a contrast the righteousness which is of faith speaketh on this Wise It's not like that well what does it say well it says look here don't begin to say in your heart who shall Ascend into heaven that is to bring Christ down from above or who shall descend into the deep that is to bring up Christ again from the dead but what Seth it and on he goes now you notice that these words that is to bring Christ down from above and that is to bring up Christ again from the dead or in Brackets and that is where people have got into difficulty you see the Apostle is rarely anxious to State the gospel and therefore he borrows this pictorial language from Moses and from the book of Deuteronomy but he makes it clear that what he is really talking about is the Christian Gospel and so we should wouldn't have been misled by that into attributing the whole thing to Moses Paul by putting this exposition of what he's saying in terms of Our Lord is clearly saying it isn't Moses who's speaking now I'm borrowing his language to show you what the preaching of the Gospel says very well what does it say well the first thing is this and these are the things for which we should thank God there is no difficulty about knowing what the way of salvation is nobody has the excuse today of saying that he doesn't know what the way of Salvation is why not well because it's been made perfectly plain and clear or to put it like this there is no need to investigate there's no need to set out on a voyage of Discovery or some great Quest it's all here there's no need to do that now you see the importance of of oldness it was important then it is important now it's always been important there are many people today who think that the Christian is one who set out in a great quest for truth and for reality there are many who think that that is Christianity I remember reading a book by a well-known author an American Author a famous Quaker he took this view of course it's typical of the Quaker teaching and he said if some somebody came to me and offered me in the one hand the thrill and the excitement and the pleasure of the Quest for truth and in the other hand truth itself and the knowledge of Truth he said I would without any hesitation choose the first the search for reality the search for truth what's a Christian he's a man of seeking and searching after the truth how many regard that as Christianity well here's the LIE direct of it don't say that there's no need to you need to start off with your Heroes climbing into the heavens going down into the to find truth there's no need to that's what he's saying you see how important this is today some of the most popular books today are the books who which say we've got to have a new Truth for this Century men in the atomic age scientific men grown up come of age we got to set out to discover truth the truth that's adequate for men today the answer is say not in thine heart who there's no need for you to do anything it's all here it's all available that's what he's saying there's no difficulty we are not as Christians here to exalt one another to seek and to search for the way of Salvation and of truth there's no need to there's no need for you to search at all there's a revelation being given it isn't a quest it isn't a voyage of Discovery it isn't research it's here it's given there the first thing but then a second thing he rejoices in the fact that the way of Salvation is not impossible the other was impossible the moment you realize as I say what it asks of you you realize you can't do it it's it's an utterly impossible way but this is not an impossible way and he puts it in this an extraordinary manner if you and I had to go up into the heavens in order to get it well then it would be impossible if we had to go down into the abyss to bring it up it would again be impossible but he says you mustn't say that there's no need to it is not impossible in other words that's what he's saying and of course this language that was used by Moses is most appropriate to bring out this notion because there are people who really do make the Christian salvation Impossible by saying that you've got to go up or down these are the very terms they're using today in the most interesting manner you see the Bible's always contemporary and up to date God is depth we are told and the man who's discovered depth in himself discovers God that's the very thing we are told here that you mustn't be doing no no you didn't move from where you are it's not impossible what is not impossible well it's this there is no need as I say for men to feel that he's got to Now set out in this great Endeavor the truth is always there somewhere in the distance there's no need for that the thing is not impossible now the Apostle has already said this they being ignorant of God's righteousness and going about you remember you remember how we interpreted that all this going about this tremendous effort here and there and a number of parties researching in different directions and then you try and get all the data together and Cate them to see if you can find some sort of solution it's all put out it's a denial of Christianity it's all wrong the very attempt is already a proof that the man hasn't understood the gospel or perhaps there's wonderful illustration of all this thing that I'm trying to say and that the Apostle is saying here to be found in the Book of Job that great chapter on the search for wisdom in the 28th chapter of the Book of Job it puts it all very plainly and you remember how he goes through it all I'm not going to read it all too long read it for yourselves when you go home where is where shall wisdom be found where is the place of understanding man knoweth not the price thereof neither is it found in the land of the living the depth says it is not in me the sea say it is not in me it cannot be gotten for gold neither shall silver be weighed for the price thereof it cannot be valued with the gold of ofer with the precious onx of the sappa the gold and the Crystal cannot equal it in the exchange of it you not jewels of fine gold no mention shall be made of coral or of pearls for the price of wisdom is above rubies and on he goes whence then cometh wisdom and where is the place of understanding seeing it is hid from the eyes of all living and kept close from the fouls of the earth destruction and death sa we have heard the fame thereof with our ears God understandeth the way thereof and he knoweth the place thereof for he lookth to the ends of the Earth and seeth unto the whole heaven and so on and then he ends and unto Men He said said behold the fear of the Lord that is wisdom and to depart from Evil is understanding you see you set out in this Great quest to search for wisdom and you needn't have moved the thing is essentially simple the fear of the Lord that's all you've got to do then you'll be given it now this is very much the same idea it's not something that you and I have to search for to try and find it it is not impossible for us to do and thirdly the way of Salvation demands no effort on our part because it is provided by the Lord Jesus Christ now he puts this you see at the end of verse eight that is the word of faith which we preach then he goes on to elaborate that as we shall see in verses 9 and 10 that if Thou shalt confess with thy mouth the Lord Jesus and shalt believe in thine heart that God ha raised him from the dead Thou shalt be saved for with the heart men believeth unto righteousness and with the mouth confession is made unto salvation so I put this as a principle in this way the way of Salvation thank God says the Apostle but listen to this this is what it says you don't have to indulge in these heroics either mentally or in your works and your behavior and conduct why well because it is all provided by the Lord Jesus Christ so we can put it like this we don't have to provide the Savior we don't have to ascend into the heavens to pull down the Savior neither do we have to go down into the abyss to bring him up again from the dead we don't have to do that now there are people who almost give the impression that they do have to do that they as it were have to bring him down or raise him up again or secondly we do not have to struggle to find him or to lay hold upon the Savior now there are many as I'm going to show you who seem to try to do that they say yes the Lord Jesus Christ is the savior but how can I get hold of him what a tremendous task it is I've got to climb up into heaven to lay hold or I've got to go down into the deep to lay hold of him there's no need to says the Apostle it's all wrong you don't have to do that he's not difficult to find he's not a far away off somewhere he's with you he's at end wherever you are he's there why are we sure sure of this well the answer is he says there is no need for you to go up into the heavens to drag the Savior down because the Savior came down himself when the fullness of the times was come God sent forth his son made of a woman made of under the law this is how the righteousness of Faith speaks it preaches an Incarnation there's no need for us to try to scale the Heights and to climb into heaven why well because he's come down and a man who tries to climb into heaven when he's come down is a fool he can't do it to start with but he shouldn't even try it the Savior has come down it's a gospel of the Incarnation the word was made flesh and dwelt Among Us he's come down from heaven so you needn't try to bring him down not only that you need to go down Into the Depths and try and bring him up again from the grave coming into this world and bearing our burden cost him his life and he was buried in a grave you say he's been defeated he's finished if only could have conquered you didn't say that he has conquered he's come up from the dead you and I don't have to bring him up he has done everything himself everything that is necessary for us in other words that's another way of saying what he's already said in verse four Christ is the end of the law for righteousness to everyone that believeth man has failed to keep the law man at his best has failed to keep the law we need somebody more than man to keep the law where can I find him you needn't start searching my friend he's come the only one who's ever kept the laws already done so yes but there was the penalty of the law which is death it's all right he's paid the penalty and he's proved that it was sufficient by Rising again from the dead so you need do nothing at all it has all been done not only that there is no difficulty about knowing how he's done this it's been preached says the apostle that is the word of faith which we preach he says I've said it before you you remember his extraordinary phrase that he uses in writing to the Galatians uses it there in the third chapter at the beginning oh foolish Galatians who hath Bewitched you that you should not obey the truth before whose eyes Jesus Christ ha been evidently set forth crucified among you patently set forth clearly set forth amongst you and he's got the same idea here he preached Jesus Christ and him crucified there is no difficulty about discovering the way of Salvation in Christ Jesus the gospel is full of it it says that he came and had to take on human nature otherwise he couldn't represent us it says that he had to live a life of perfect obedience to the law in order to satisfy that law which we' broken and which condemns us it says that he must pay the penalty the penalty being death and he's done so this is the preaching of the Gospel the word of faith which we preach there's no difficulty about it you see it's men who make the difficulties it's men who make it sound involved and complicated and difficult the gospel itself is essentially simple the word is nigh thee even in thy mouth and in thine heart so that we put it finally in this way that we are not called upon to make some impossible effort of understanding you are not saved by your understanding my friend you are saved by your simple belief in and Trust in and abandonment of yourself to the Lord Jesus Christ in other words this is salvation for all for anybody who believes however ignorant however poor in the matter of intellectual equipment it doesn't matter at all it isn't a man's intellectual understanding that saves him otherwise he'd be saved by works it is his simple trust in the word preached which tells him Believe on the Lord Jesus Christ and thou shalt be saved now that's the that's the message of the Gospel says Paul that is the word of faith which we preach it was the old message preached to the Philippian Jailer believe on the Lord Jesus Christ and thou shalt be saved and thy house and they explain to him the word of the Lord he wasn't a man of great intellect or of understanding but he was able to believe the Common People heard him gladly the word is neither it's simple it's not some great effort up into the heavens or down into the depth no no a little child can believe it a child can be saved the way of Salvation is as simple as that it is this simple belief and trust in the Lord Jesus Christ the son of God the word is nigh thee even in thy mouth now then you see how the apostles has contrasted the two ways of Salvation the first involved difficult and in the end impossible this one simple plain done for us simple belief all of Grace by faith now that is the apostles message but I must apply this the apostle was applying it and you and I must apply it this epistle to the Romans chapter 10 is not something theoretical or academic we don't meet here simply in order to take this as if it were a lesson in literature and give an alternative translation or analyze it no no this is to be applied my friends and it's most urgent and most important because this ancient misunderstanding still persists the application was first of all to the case of the Jews at that time and it is still true about the Jews they rejected the gospel because they thought that they could justify themselves by keeping the law and attain a righteousness in that way and they were all together wrong they' misunderstood the purpose and the function of the law they' never realized what it demanded they substituted their own standards their own interpretation of the law which was wrong as we saw they were all together wrong but here's the tragedy that they prefer to try that and fail rather than accept this offer which told them that all had been done in the Lord Jesus Christ and that they can have it as a free gift their pride was such that they prefer to try in try in their own effort and fail rather than to admit that they were poers and receive it as the free gift of God's grace that was the trouble with the Jews but it is still the trouble with all who refuse to believe the message of justification by faith only it is still the position of all those who trust to their own works and to their own activity it is still the trouble with those who regard our Lord as but a teacher and an example to follow that's the trouble with them they have never realized what they're saying how easy to say I'm going to follow Jesus follow Jesus you stop and think what he did who he was what he was like and then you won't move a fraction of a centimeter in an attempt to follow him you can't follow him and it's only blindness that makes men and women talk about following him no no he's the Savior not the example it applies to them but it can be much more subtle and I do want to emphasize this there are very subtle denials of this teaching the two I've refer to are open and obvious the case of the Jews is a very obvious one and the case of all people who think that a bit of morality is the same as Christianity there that's an obvious case any man who says he can make himself a Christian well there's no difficulty about him he's altogether wrong he hasn't started seeing the gospel at all people who think that being members of churches and being nice and good and moral and unlike the people you read about in the newspapers and see on the television people who think that that makes them Christian well they're such obvious and complete misunderstands of the Gospel that there's no difficulty but there are others who are much more subtle who are these well who am I referring to well I'm thinking of people now who do subscribe to the essential Christian doctrines and the Christian teaching but who nevertheless do violence to this particular teaching what sort of people well let me put first the mystics the mystics what's the teaching of the mystics well there some of the mystics have believed all all the great doctrines of the Christian faith with respect to our Lord his person and his work but having done that they then set it all on one side and set out to save themselves they say that what they want to know is to arrive at that knowledge of God blessed are the pure in heart for they shall see God so they set out on what is called The Mystic way the way of self-denial the way of trying to find the god that is in you the negative way The Dark Night of the soul and you follow the Mystic way the books are written books and manuals about this Mystic way telling you what you've got to do it'll involve perhaps a good deal of fasting it'll involve regular prayers at given times and you just thus die and die to yourself until you enter into that completely negative State and then you reach the stage of contemplation you read the works to the mystics if you like and you'll see what's involved in it now that's a complete denial of all this the Mystic is a man who ascends into the heaven or tries to and tries to go down into the abyss he enters out into this tremendous effort the answer to him is say not stop the word is nigh in thee even in thy mouth and in thy heart so here is really a condemnation of mysticism because ultimately the Mystic is Trust trusting to his own efforts now they're very honest they're very sincere and they make tremendous efforts it is like trying to climb to the Heavens to go down into the abyss but the answer to the Mystic is this it's all unnecessary look and live believe on the Lord Jesus Christ and thou sh be saved Paul and Silas didn't say to the Philippian Jailer look here we'll set you off in the Mystic way you can start now but it'll involve this that and the other and you must go on and on not at all believe and thou shalt be saved and he was and rejoiced immediately with all his house that's the word of faith which we preach this is the Christian message then there are others who are equally guilty with the mystics the gospel I say is always contemporary so the second error or the second way of error or second misunderstanding of this text is of course the teaching of the Roman Catholic Church it was when he discovered their error and saw this that Martin Luther was saved and was filled with a spirit of rejoicing and the Protestant Reformation broke forth the teaching of the Roman Catholic Church is a denial of these verses that we are examining together and it is still a denial there is no change in the teaching of the Roman Catholic Church they may allow certain parts of the mass to be said in English in the future they may make some slight alterations in their Salter but when they have changed their Doctrine I shall be very glad if you let me know they haven't done so they're not proposing to do so I'll go further they cannot do so it would cease to be the Roman Catholic Church what do I mean well what I mean is this Paul says the the word of faith which we preach says this you needn't go up into the heavens to try and get hold of him or down Into the Depths he's with you he's at hand he's here turn to him where you are believe in him and you are saved no no says Roman Catholicism the Lord Jesus Christ is very remote he is the Lord he's far away in the glory so far that we must get somebody to help us to get to him who can we get ah his mother now this I'm not caricaturing their teaching that is precisely their teaching they say she's a woman she's tender and she will have influence with him she understands us and she'll have influence with him let us ask her to help us you see they put her between him and us he saw far away in the heavens they banish him and Mary is necessary first so in many of their churches you go into into them and you see Mary and somewhere behind him there he is on the cross or look at their pictures very often he's generally represented as as a babe he's either the babe or he someone who's so far removed Mary is always essential and this is an utter denial of the teaching you don't need her the Virgin Mary is not necessary for us to arrive at the Son of God we don't need the Saints there is no need to pray to them there is no need to borrow from their works of super arrogation there is no need of the church there is no need of a priesthood there is no need of sacraments the Roman Church says all these things are essential the sacraments they say absolutely essential baptism and the Lord's Supper they say his body is in there you've got to eat of him literally and the church alone can do this and the priesthood alone can work this miracle not only that they say the church alone can expand the scriptures nobody else they say can understand the teaching of the scriptures you mustn't say the word is Nei the even in thy mouth and in thy heart you mustn't say that it isn't difficult it is tremendously difficult so difficult that only the church can rarely expound the scriptures you must take our tradition in addition to the word must say the word is NE the even in thy mouth this word of faith which we preach it's very difficult and you've got to do penances and you've got to make great sacrifices and you need the sacrament of extreme Antion at the end otherwise your old Destiny is going to be doubtful it's a tremendous problem it's an awful problem this problem of Salvation you notice the exact opposite of what the Apostle tells us that's why we're going into all this so thoroughly don't be miserable LED dear Christian people by niceness realize what the teaching is what the doctrine is and you'll see as Luther saw that it is a denial of the plain teaching of the Scripture it had held him in darkness and in bondage and in misery this butt is not there they do away with the butt they make it difficult it's as difficult as the law was and to be perfectly Fair let me end by saying that the are those who make it difficult from a purely intellectual standpoint and this includes many Protestants I say once more that the most ignorant and the most illiterate the most bited can believe this message and be saved by it in a second that's the whole basis of the missionary work what's the point of sending missionaries to the heart of Africa if it is a man's intellectual apprehension of doctr that saves him it doesn't you're not saved by a knowledge of doctrines you are saved by the person of the Lord Jesus Christ and what he has done on your behalf it is he who saves not the doctrines concerning him nor even what he has done let us be very careful therefore that with a kind of false intellectualization or intellectualism we again turn this word that is nigh thee even in thy mouth and in thy heart heart into something extremely difficult which only the Great Brain of the Theologian can understand now this is the beginning of Salvation that's what the Apostle is dealing with I know that when you come on to other aspects you need all the ability of God but even that won't help you without the Holy Spirit but this initial it doesn't matter what you are nor how great your brain or how small your brain it doesn't matter at all by grace are saved through faith and that not of yourselves it is the gift of God let us therefore be careful even as Protestants that we don't turn this which is no longer difficult and impossible into something which is difficult and impossible let us realize that the word of faith which is preached is a word which is NI us and even in our mouth there is nothing which we have to do but to believe as the Philippian Jailer did let's never forget that the Common People heard him gladly let's not forget what the Apostle says to the Corinthians you see you're calling Brethren how that not many wise men after the flesh not many mighty not many noble are called thank God we don't have to drag him down or lift him up he's done it all he's come he's done the work he's risen again so that all you and I have to say is just as I Am Without One Plea but that thy blood was shed for me and that thou bidst me come to thee Oh Lamb of God I come I don't understand F many a conflict many a doubt doesn't matter go as you are and cast yourself upon Him and He will receive you oh the tragedy that the Jews were rejecting this and attempting The Impossible how monstrous how foolish how blind but what US my friends of you the word of the Gospel is this only believe and thou shalt see that Christ is All In All To Thee only believe by grace are he saved through faith and that not of yourselves it is the gift of God believe on the Lord Jesus Christ though you've come to this meeting from the very jaws of hell and though you're the vest sinner that London has ever known though you've got no intellect no brain nothing believe on the Lord Jesus Christ now and you shall be saved now that's all you don't Ascend into the heavens you don't Ascend into the deeps Into the Depths you believe this word salvation ation is by faith justification is by faith and by faith alone let us pray oh Lord Our God how can we thank thee sufficiently for this blessed word we are acutely aware oh lord of our blindness and of our Folly we are to bring in something of ourselves still oh grant us to see this in all the glory of its Clarity and essential Simplicity we bless thee for this way of righteousness by faith which speaks to us in this way and tells us that he has come from the glory into the world and has lived and died and has risen again and is seated at thy right hand in the glory Everlasting oh Lord Lord Our God teach us to rest our faith on him alone who died for our transgressions to atone grant that we all may know as never before the Blessed rest of Faith give us this understanding and Grace to lay our everying upon him who came in order that we might do so here us oh God and receive our unworthy prayers and now May the grace of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ and the love of God and the fellowship and the communion of the Holy Spirit abide and continue with us now throughout the remainder of this our short and certain Earthly life and pilgrimage and ever more amen [00:05:15]

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