Romans 10:3-13: Say it! Know it! Do it!

 Presented to Swift Current Corps of The Salvation Army, 11 Sept. 2011; Corps 614 Regent Park, Toronto, 14 Feb. 2016; The Warehouse Mission, Cabbagetown, 11 Feb, 2018; and TSA Alberni Valley Ministries, 11 May 2025 by Major (Captain) Michael Ramsay

 

Also included in Chapter 6 of SALVOGESIS Guidebook to Romans Road by Michael Ramsay (The Salvation Army: Vancouver Island, 2022)

 

THIS IS THE 11 MAY 2025 VERSION

 

Click to see the original version here:

https://sheepspeaks.blogspot.com/2011/09/romans-109-say-it-know-it-do-it.html

 

Click to see the abbreviated 2018 version here:

http://sheepspeaks.blogspot.ca/2018/02/romans-109-say-it-know-it-do-it.html

 

Romans 10:9: “That if you confess with your mouth, ‘Jesus is Lord’ and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved.” Romans 10:13, “For everyone who calls on the name of the Lord will be saved.” These are some of the basics of the whole Christian faith.

 

As it is Mothers’ Day. I have one sort of Mother’s Day story that relates to this. This story is a piece of wisdom that was presented to us at a gathering of Salvation Army Officers by Major David Ivany, who at the time, was in charge of Spiritual Care for all of Canada and Bermuda. He shared this story with us about a kind elderly mother and grandmother who upon a public confession of faith is experiencing the pure joys of Christian love.

 

This lady, Emma, she goes into a local Christian bookstore and sees a ‘Honk if you love Jesus’ bumper sticker. Feeling particularly good that day because she has just come from a great choir practice and prayer meeting, she buys the bumper sticker, and she puts it on her car – professing her faith publicly. She recalls, “Boy, I’m glad I did! What an uplifting experience “It is a good thing someone else loves Jesus,” she said, “because if he hadn’t honked, I’d never have noticed that the light had changed!” She then noted that indeed, lots of people actually love Jesus because while she sat unmoving, blocking the lane of traffic, the guy behind her also honked like crazy before leaning out of his window and screaming, “For the love of God! Go! Go! Jesus Christ, Go!” She remembers thinking, “What an exuberant cheerleader he was for the Lord!”

 

Suddenly, it seemed as though she had started an epidemic and everyone started honking. Impressed by such a response, she leaned out of her window and started waving and smiling at all these loving people – while she was still parked in front of the intersection. “I even honked my horn a few times to share in the love!” she recited. Then she realized the mix of celebrants. “There must have been a man from Florida back there because I heard him yelling something about a “sunny beach… I saw another guy waving in a funny way with only his middle finger in the air. I asked my teenage grandson in the back seat what that meant, and he suggested that it was probably an Hawaiian good luck sign or something…”

 

The woman admitted that she had never met anyone from Hawaii before and was unaware of their customs. “I leaned out the window and gave him the good luck sign right back,” she reminisced.

 

She also remembers that a few persons were so caught up in the joy of the moment that they got out of their cars and started walking towards her. “I’ll bet they wanted to pray or ask what church I attended but that was when I noticed that the light had changed. So, I waved to all my loving sisters and brothers in Christ, grinned joyously, and drove on through the intersection. I noticed that I was the only car that made it through the intersection before the light changed again and I felt kind of sad that I had to leave them after all the love we had shared, so I slowed the car down, leaned out of the window and gave them all the Hawaiian good luck sign one last time before I sped away.”

Key to our salvation, like with the bumper sticker, Romans 10:9, “if you confess with your mouth, ‘Jesus is Lord’ and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved.” Romans 10:13, “For everyone who calls on the name of the Lord will be saved.”

 

I do have a bit of a teaching background and this pericope does lend itself to an older style of teaching from way back; so as well look at this, I will take us through a 3-point discourse complete with plenty of repetition – like we were taught to teach a million years ago. The three points we will address today are: Romans 10:9: One, “Confess with your mouth, ‘Jesus is Lord’; two, believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead”; and, three, Romans 10:13: “everyone who calls on the name of the Lord will be saved.” In other words:

 

1) Confess Jesus as Lord with your mouth: Say it.

2) Believe in your heart in His resurrection: Know it.

3) Call on the name of the Lord: Do it.

 

We must remember that God has offered the whole world a free gift of Salvation (Romans 6:23, John 3:16-17) and to fully take advantage of it we should say it! Know it! Do it!

 

1) Say it! Romans 10:9: Confess with your mouth, ‘Jesus is Lord

This is important. Whenever I hear this verse, I immediately think of the Apostle Peter, the rock upon which Christ built His church (Matthew 16:13-16; cf. Mark 8:27-29, Luke 9:18-20). Jesus told Peter that He was going to use him to help build His church. This was at the time Jesus gave Simon the nickname ‘Peter’. Peter wasn’t his given name; Simon was his given name. Peter means ‘Rock’ or even ‘Rocky’. Simon ‘Rocky-Peter’ was one of Christ’s main ‘go to’ people after His resurrection and we remember the story about how Jesus told Rocky-Peter that he would deny Jesus three times before the cock crows twice, then shortly after Peter says ‘I don’t know what your talking about’; shortly after Peter’s third denial that he even knows Jesus; the rooster crows and Peter is devastated (Matthew 26:69-75; cf. Mark 14:66-72, Luke 22:55-62, John 18:15-27).

 

Point #1 about Salvation today: Say it! (Cf. also Luke 21:12– 15; 1 Corinthians 12:3; Philippians 2:11; 1 Peter 3:13–16, 21) Simon Peter had his chance to confess Jesus as Lord but he declined it. If the story ended there this would be very sad but John 21:15ff, records Simon Peter’s restoration, as Rocky, as Peter. The Resurrected Lord asked him three times to feed his sheep and Peter agreed to it. Near the conclusion of the book of John, Jesus then blows on Peter -and the other disciples- giving him the Holy Spirit (John 20:22). Luke picked up the story of Rocky-Peter in the book of Acts as Rocky-Peter was at Pentecost taking the lead as the Holy Spirit, like a starting pistol, sent the disciples and more out to proclaim salvation to the world. Acts 2, after they share the gospel in many different languages as the Spirit enabled them, the Lord added to their number daily those being saved. Point 1, Romans 10:9, say it!

 

Peter and the disciples said it and many were saved. And just to underscore the fact that Peter did fully recover from his earlier denial, church tradition states that Peter even earned his martyr’s crown. He was apparently crucified upside down as he left his life here for heaven to await the resurrection. Point 1: Say it! This brings us to Point 2.

 

2) Know it! Believe in your heart in His resurrection.

It is very important to proclaim the gospel but that is not the end of it. Speaking is one thing and believing is quite another. If you have any doubt about that, think about the general reputation (accurate or not) of our elected politicians – speaking is one thing, believing what you say is quite another. Paul in this section of scripture is really addressing the whole problem of Israel (Romans 9-11; cf. also Deuteronomy 30, Leviticus 18). He is addressing the problem of the Law and their relationship to the Law and their relationship to God. He is very concerned about people who are quite happy to say what needs to be said – the Pharisees, as a group, did believe in the resurrection and as a group were quite evangelistic (cf. Acts 23:7-8)! But believing in your heart in Jesus’ resurrection is quite a different matter (1 Corinthians 15:17; cf. 2 Corinthians 4:13-14). The Apostle Paul - who was a Pharisee - celebrated the fact that Jesus was raised from the dead but sadly many Israelites and even many Pharisees did not. It pained Paul that people who were zealous for God’s Law were indeed missing out on the benefits of the culmination of that Law: Jesus, the one to whom the Law points (cf. Romans 9:1-5; 10:1-4; Matthew 5:17,18; Luke 16:16; Acts 4:12; Galatians 3:19-24).

 

Salvation is about,

Point 1, Saying it, confessing that Jesus is Lord, and it is also about,

Point 2, Knowing it, really believing in your heart in the resurrection and in Jesus’ resurrection.

 

This, of course, is a central part of not only Paul’s message but of all of Christianity (Romans 6:9, 9:16; 1 Corinthians 15:17, 20; 2 Corinthians 4:13-14; Ephesians 1:20-23; Philippians 2:9-11; Colossians 3:1-4; Hebrews 2:9; Revelation 1:17-18; cf. Deuteronomy 30:14, Acts 4:12, Isaiah 28:16). N.T. Wright tells us, “Almost all early Christians known to us believed that their ultimate hope was the resurrection of the body. There is no spectrum such as in Judaism. Some in Corinth denied the future resurrection (1 Corinthians 15.12), but Paul put them straight; they were most likely reverting to pagan views, not opting for an over-realized Jewish eschatology” [1] Belief in the resurrection and the resurrection of Christ is central to Christianity. To review what we know so far about Romans 10’s three points of Salvation:

1) Say it! - Confess Jesus as Lord with your mouth.

2) Know it! - Believe in your heart in His resurrection.

3) Do it! - Call on the Name of the Lord.

 

3) Do it! Call on the Name of the Lord.

This is important. Saying it is good. Knowing it is better. Doing it is imperative. This fact is also implied in Verse 9. The scriptures speak about this quite a bit (cf. Leviticus 18:5 and Deuteronomy 30:11-16, cited in vv. 5-8; Luke in Acts 2:16-21 and Paul here are both quoting from Joel 2:32). I believe that Matthew actually paints this picture quite vividly. In Matthew 25:31ff is recorded the parable of the sheep and the goats. In this parable you have two groups of nations. Both groups – the sheep and the goats – 1) say it and 2) know it, that Jesus is Lord. But it is only the sheep that 3) do anything about it. As a result, only the sheep are saved. The goats who don’t do anything are sent to where there is a weeping and gnashing of teeth. Matthew 7:21 is quite clear on this matter: it is recorded there that the Lord says “Not everyone who calls me ‘Lord, Lord’ will enter the kingdom of heaven but only he who does the will of my Father in heaven”: Say it! Know it! Do it!

 

We must actually call on the Name of the Lord. We have to call on Him. We have to trust Him. This is important. For example, it is one thing for me to confess that I know my wife; it is another thing to believe in my heart the many wonderful things that have been done by and through her: these are wonderful things but my relationship with Susan only grows when I actually call on her, when I actually spend time with her. I can say she is my wife all I want; I can believe she is my wife all I want; but we only actually have a marriage if I bother to see her, to call on her sometimes. This is important. Christianity isn’t some academic pursuit. Christianity isn’t some code. Christianity isn’t some rules and regulations. Christianity isn’t some club. Christianity isn’t some principles by which we should live our life. Christianity is a relationship with the risen Christ. Jesus Christ rose from the grave and we are promised that, Romans 10:13 “…everyone who calls on the name of the Lord will be saved.” He loves us and He wishes that none will perish. And Salvation in our text today is as easy as 1, 2, and 3. It is my prayer today that every one of us will:

 

1) Say it! - Confess Jesus as Lord with our mouths.

2) Know it! - Believe in our hearts in His resurrection.

3) Do it! – That we would call upon the Name of the Lord

 

Psalm 34:8, “Taste and see that the LORD is good; blessed is the man who takes refuge in him.” Matthew 11:30: “For my yoke is easy and my burden is light.” And blessed is he who comes in the name of the Lord (Psalm 118:26, Matthew 21:9, Matthew 23:39, Mark 11:9, Luke 13:35, Luke 19:38, John 12:13). Romans 10:9a, say it: confess with your mouth that Jesus is Lord. Romans 10:9b, know it: believe in your heart in Jesus’ resurrection. And above all else, Romans 10:13, do it: Call upon the Name of the Lord and then even we shall be saved.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Devotion 2.03/55: 1 Corinthians 10:11: Signs

Devotional thought presented to Arthur Meighen Retirement Home by Sarah-Grace Ramsay, February 2016

Read 1 Corinthians 10:11-13

We had the opportunity this summer to visit the old Ramsay castle in Scotland. It is great. It has secret passages, stairs hidden in floors and even a secret doorway in a bookcase. One thing I found particularly interesting was while we were exploring a back staircase at the castle: there was a sign that said, ‘turn left for the Spa, turn right for the dungeon’. I would hate to make that wrong turn.

Warning us not to make wrong turns is one thing our pericope today is about. We would hate to walk the staircase of our life hoping for the eternal spa and turn into the eternal dungeon. Now, of course, God is not going to let us wander into an eternal dungeon by accident: He does a lot to point us to the safety that comes from Christ alone. He posts many signs like the dungeon/spa sign on the walls of our lives. 1 Corinthians 10:11 tells us that one such sign pointing us away from the dungeon, towards the eternal spa is the experience of those who have gone before us.

Another sign is the encouragement about how we can trust and follow God to the eternal spa even as we go through very difficult passages. Paul draws our attention to the sign of the fiery cloud leading the Hebrews out of Egypt, the parting of the sea, the manna they ate and the water from the rock they drank in the desert (1 Cor. 10:1-4). These are all signs pointing us to the spa, the grace of God we can experience now and forever as we walk with Him through the stairwell of our life.

God knows that sometimes the staircases we navigate in our life can be dark and scary and sometimes we need the encouragement of 1 Corinthians 10:12, to watch our step so we do not fall. Sometimes there is barely any room to move; sometimes these staircases can get pretty dark and sometimes some have wondered if they can even still see the light of God at all through the troubles, trials, and tribulations that can sometimes line the walls of our lives.

Jack Layton, in his farewell letter to Canadians, wrote “My friends, love is better than anger. Hope is better than fear. Optimism is better than despair. So let us be loving, hopeful and optimistic. And we’ll change the world.” The Apostle Paul offers us this same encouragement. And I promise that as difficult as the staircase of our lives may be at times that there is no testing that has overtaken us that God has not already escorted someone safely through before.

So as dark as our lives may seem at times, we can ‘keep on keeping on’ because God is faithful and He will see us through even the most difficult circumstances. As we serve Him in the midst of our very real struggles I know that He will comfort and sustain us and I know that as dark as our lives may get, he will post signs pointing us away from the dungeon of our trials and towards the eternal spa that is grace of God in our lives.

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[1] Based on the sermon by Captain Michael Ramsay, 1 Corinthians 10:11-13. Presented to 614 Regent Park Corps of The Salvation Army, 26 July 2015. On-line: http://sheepspeaks.blogspot.ca/2015/07/1-corinthians-1011-13-sign-on-staircase.html

Isaiah 55: Extravagance (Come, Buy, and Eat!)

Presented to Corps 614 Regent Park Toronto, 28 February 2016 and Alberni Valley Ministries, 09 February 2020 by Captain Michael Ramsay

“Come, all you who are thirsty, come to the waters; and you who have no money, come, buy and eat! Come, buy wine and milk without money and without cost.” – Isaiah 55:1

‘You who have no money, come buy and eat’ – The first question that comes to my mind when I read this is, how can a person with no money come and buy anything to eat or otherwise? …let alone the fancy and extravagant stuff that is represented by milk and wine in the text? It doesn’t say someone else is buying you food. You, who have no money, Isaiah says, come, buy and eat all of this fancy expensive food. How is that possible?

Earlier this year Sarah-Grace and I went to a Leafs game. (Now it is not my intent here to make fun of the Leafs…). It was a great experience and the Leafs won which was a blessing in and of itself but alongside that something else really stood out to me: How expensive a game is. Not just the tickets to the game (which were pricey enough) but also the concessions. We brought some money for food at the game but not enough, I don’t think. I wasn’t expecting $14 for a hotdog and prices going up from there! Can you imagine if the Leafs owned a fancy black tie restaurant: ‘I’ll have the special please’ ‘That will be $2000 plus a 20% gratuity, would you like something to drink with that?”

Our image in Verse 1 could be of God seeing you at the Maple Leafs game and not buying you food but rather giving you the money to buy a hotdog and a drink or even a side of fries or something more extravagant. And our image is even more than that. Our image in Isaiah is of a country that is very poor, possibly under siege, and about to be (if not already) conquered.[1] When a place is under siege there is almost nothing to eat so everything in the country and the city is REALLY expensive. And God in our text to Israel, He says, ‘come over here. I’ll give you the money to buy and eat.’ God gives you the money so that you – who have nothing, no money, no food, nothing - you can pay for your meal and not just any subsistence meal but God gives you enough money for a fancy meal represented by milk and wine.

Isaiah 55:1 - “Come, all you who are thirsty, come to the waters; and you who have no money, come, buy and eat! Come, buy wine and milk without money and without cost.”

This extravagant generosity reminds me of when I was in elementary school. I was a kid in the 70s. One day I had just gone for a haircut with my dad and I wasn’t too happy about it. I was not a big fan of short hair back then. After the haircut, my dad and I were looking around the mall where the barbershop was; there was a brand new toy store in the mall. We happened to run into my Great Great Aunt Emma. She sees us and, after checking with my dad, she tells me that I can pick out anything in the toy store and she will give me the money to buy it. I walk around the whole store, see a little monkey toy that I like and I pick it up. She tells me to look for something bigger, reminding me that I can have whatever I want. So I walk around the store again and tell her I still want that little toy monkey. My aunt speaks to my father and my father speaks to me – ‘Really Michael you can have anything in the store you want, anything.’ She points to the biggest and the most expensive things in the store and my father assures me that really it is okay, I can get whatever I want... I don’t need to pick the cheapest thing in the store just to be nice; I can pick whatever I want. The dilemma for me was that this monkey which was near the cheapest thing in the store was the toy that I actually wanted; so while everyone thought I was being polite to and self-sacrificing, I really just bought what I wanted with the money she gave me and I still have this monkey to this day and I still remember the generosity of God and my aunt to this day every time I see it.

Now, the rest of the toy store story is that a day or two before seeing my aunt in the store I had actually just spent my own saved up allowance to buy something more expensive from the same store and at some point I remember thinking, as we were walking around the store, ‘where were you last week before I spent my own money on the more expensive item?’ The previous week, I learned the value of working and saving for something you desire and this week I learned to appreciate the extravagance of Grace.

  

Isaiah 55:1: “Come, all you who are thirsty, come to the waters; and you who have no money, come, buy and eat! Come, buy wine and milk without money and without cost.”

This is great but then we have Verse 2. A picture here could be of God just having given you all the money you need to go buy this great meal – a fancy meal with all of the trimmings. You come back, you sit down at the table with God and you start to share this meal that God has given you the money to buy because you ‘needed it’ and then God says, ‘that’s a nice watch you have; is that a new coat? I don’t think I’ve seen scarf of yours before. How much did those shoes cost?’ Verse 2: ‘Why [do you] spend money on what is not bread, and your labour on what does not satisfy?’ Why do you buy all that stuff with your money when you don’t even have enough for food – a nice watch, a fancy cappuccino, a night out at the movies, fancy shoes... ? ‘Listen, listen to me, and eat what is good, and you will delight in the richest of fare.’ God says, verses 3-4, ‘Give ear and come to me; listen, that you may live. I will make an everlasting covenant with you, my faithful love promised to David. See, I have made him a witness to the peoples, a ruler and commander of the peoples.” ‘Enjoy your meal. Remember the promises that I made to the people of the world through King David.’ God says, ‘I have given you, Israel, everything, just as I promised.’

But now we wade into some troubling waters. Imagine you, like Israel, were figuratively or even literally starving and you are at this meal that God has given you the money and encouragement to buy and eat, then God draws your attention to all of the other stuff you have spent your money on.[2] Imagine that you are sitting down at this feast that God has provided for you and for the whole world, for that matter, and He starts asking you, ‘why do you buy things other than food when there are people starving in our world? Why are you spending God’s time and money on things you don’t need when there are people starving for the Word of God in our world? And why are you spending our time indulging in stuff you do not need while the person beside you may be perishing?

Verse 2: God gives us all this stuff, letting us know that He has and will always provide for us and then asks us why we aren’t sharing the Good News of God and His generosity with others (Dt 31:5-8, Heb 13:5). And many interpreters read the next few verses 5-9, as a real warning that if we, like Israel, do not share this good news of God’s generosity with others we will in essence be standing up and removing ourselves from His banqueting table, even as others notice the feast before us and come to enjoy it in our place (cf. Matt 22:1-14).[3] Isaiah says to Israel:

5 Surely you will summon nations you know not,

and nations you do not know will come running to you,

because of the Lord your God,

the Holy One of Israel,

for he has endowed you with splendour.”

(God’s generosity to Israel will bring other nations to God but then He warns His people :)

6 Seek the Lord while he may be found;

call on him while he is near.

7 Let the wicked forsake their ways

and the unrighteous their thoughts.

Let them turn to the Lord, and he will have mercy on them,

and to our God, for he will freely pardon.

(Seek the Lord while He is here [cf. Mt 6:33]. The implication is if we do not seek Him, if we do not sit at His table with Him at His eternal feast, then we will not be there.) [4]

8 “For my thoughts are not your thoughts,

neither are your ways my ways,”

declares the Lord.

9 “As the heavens are higher than the earth,

so are my ways higher than your ways

and my thoughts than your thoughts.

  

God has prepared this great banquet for us both for now and forever (cf. Matt 22:1-14). God has provided enough food, water, and everything for all of us in the world. God has provided a real Monday through Friday and Saturday and Sunday Salvation to the world. Temporally speaking, did you know that Canada alone has been given enough resources to feed and clothe the whole world? God has invited all of the nations of the earth to buy the food; He has provided but some people and some countries hoard the wealth God has given us and/or spend it on other things while grain, for one example, that could be exported to hungry people around the world rots on our docks.[5]

This is sad and this is true. But what is even more desperate and even more applicable than temporal starvation is eternal starvation: Canada has been given the Good News of Salvation. Canada was founded upon the Word of God. Our nation’s motto, ‘from Sea to Sea’ taken from Psalm 72:8 declares that in this nation God will have His dominion from sea to sea and that declaration was upheld at the establishment of the Order of Canada declaring, with Hebrews 11:16, of its members, “But now they desire a better country, that is, an heavenly: wherefore God is not ashamed to be called their God: for He hath prepared for them a city.” And even more than that, The Constitutional Act itself declares that ‘Canada is founded upon principles that recognize the supremacy of God and the rule of law.’

God has invited us collectively to sit at His table and to partake of His eternal covenant. He has paid for our meal, this extravagant feast of salvation, but each day and every generation more of our nation and in every congregation people seem to be standing up from the table and walking away from the feast as we choose to spend God’s money and God’s time on something other than the eternal banquet to which He has invited us (TSA d. 9). It has been 2 millennia since the money for supper was left at the cross; how sad it would be if our country, our community, our church, our family, or ourselves walk away from the eternal meal that God has provided and paid for us. If any of us have pulled away from the table or if we haven’t even arrived yet, I invite us to, like Verse 9 says, turn to God before it is too late - as long as you have breath in your body it is not too late (cf. Eccl 12:1-7)[6] - for as we turn and return to God, Verse 10ff.

10 As the rain and the snow

come down from heaven,

and do not return to it

without watering the earth

and making it bud and flourish,

so that it yields seed for the sower and bread for the eater,

11 so is my word that goes out from my mouth:

It will not return to me empty,

but will accomplish what I desire

and achieve the purpose for which I sent it.

12 You will go out in joy

and be led forth in peace;

the mountains and hills

will burst into song before you,

and all the trees of the field

will clap their hands.

(As we turn and return to God)

13 Instead of the thornbush will grow the juniper,

and instead of briers the myrtle will grow.

This will be for the Lord’s renown,

for an everlasting sign,

that will endure forever.”

This is the love and the extravagant generosity of the Lord.

Isaiah 55:1: “Come, all you who are thirsty, come to the waters; and you who have no money, come, buy and eat! Come, buy wine and milk without money and without cost.”

That is the invitation to each of us today. God is calling all of us who are thirsty to come drink of this water of eternal life that those of us who drink of it will never thirst again (John 4:14). God has made and paid for our meal and He longs to share it with us for now and forever. And this very day God is walking with each and every one of us around the eternal toy store. He has already covered the cost for our salvation all we have to do is accept that gift and enjoy it now and for evermore. So today I invite each and every one of us to come, all you who are thirsty, come to Jesus and live.

  

Let us pray.

 www.sheepspeak.com 

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[1] Cf. Geoffrey W. Grogan, The Expositor's Bible Commentary, Pradis CD-ROM:Isaiah/Introduction to Isaiah/Authorship, Unity, and Date of Isaiah/The history of criticism of Isaiah, Book Version: 4.0.2

[2] Cf. Alastair Roberts,  "The Politics of God’s Plenty—Isaiah 55:1" Political Theology Today, (Manye Publishing) 2014. http://www.politicaltheology.com/blog/the-politics-of-gods-plenty-isaiah-551-5/

[3] Cf. Christopher R. Seitz, ' The Book of Isaiah 40-66 ', NIB VI, (Abingdon Press: Nashville, Tenn., 2001), 481.

[4] Edouard Kitoko Nsiku , 'Isaiah', Africa Bible Commentary, (Nairobi, Kenya: Word Alive Publishers, 2010), 871.

[5] Cf for an American parallel, Walter Brueggemann, 'A Covenant of Neighbourly Justice: Break the Chains of Quid Pro Quo Isaiah 55:1-9'  (ON Scripture - The Bible, Feb 28, 2016), on-line: http://www.onscripture.com/covenant-neighborly-justice-break-chains-quid-pro-quo#sthash.VNKENobF.dpuf

[6] Edouard Kitoko Nsiku , 'Isaiah', Africa Bible Commentary, (Nairobi, Kenya: Word Alive Publishers, 2010), 871.

Romans 10:9&13: Say it! Know it! Do it!

Presented to TSA Swift Current Corps, 11 September 2011 and 614 Regent Park 14 February 2016 and  TSA Alberni Valley Ministries, 11 May 2025 by Captain (Major) Michael Ramsay

Also included in Chapter 6 of SALVOGESIS Guidebook to Romans Road by Michael Ramsay (The Salvation Army: Vancouver Island, 2022)

To read the original 2011 version click here: http://sheepspeaks.blogspot.ca/2011/09/romans-109-say-it-know-it-do-it.html 

To read the 2025 version, click here: https://sheepspeaks.blogspot.com/2025/05/romans-103-13-say-it-know-it-do-it.html

Today we are speaking about Romans 10:9: “That if you confess with your mouth, ‘Jesus is Lord’ and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved.” And, Romans 10:13, “For everyone who calls on the name of the Lord will be saved.” These are some of the basics of the whole Christian faith (cf. TSA doc. 7).

Therefore as we launch into our time today, along these lines I thought that I would share this piece of wisdom that was presented to us at Officer Camp by Major David Ivany back long before we or he were Corps Officers here at 614 Regent Park Toronto. He told us:

This senior lady, Emma, she goes into a local Christian bookstore and sees a “Honk if you love Jesus” bumper sticker. Feeling particularly good that day because she has just come from a great choir practice and prayer meeting, she buys the bumper sticker and she put it on her car – professing her faith publicly. She recalls, “Boy, I’m glad I did! What an uplifting experience followed!” and then she launches into this story. She remembers stopping at a red light at a busy intersection just when she first had on her new ‘Honk if you love Jesus’ sticker. Lost in thought about the Lord and how good He had been to her, she didn’t notice the light had changed.

“It is a good thing someone else loves Jesus,” she said, “because if he hadn’t honked, I’d never have noticed that the light had changed!” She then noted that indeed, lots of people actually love Jesus because while she sat unmoving, blocking the lane of traffic, the guy behind her also honked like crazy before leaning out of his window and screaming, “For the love of God! Go! Go! Jesus Christ, Go!” She remembers thinking, “What an exuberant cheerleader he was for the Lord!”

Suddenly, it seemed as though she had started an epidemic and everyone started honking. Impressed by such a response, she leaned out of her window and started waving and smiling at all these loving people – while she was still parked in front of the intersection. “I even honked my horn a few times to share in the love!” she recited. Then she realized the mix of celebrants. “There must have been a man from Florida back there because I heard him yelling something about a “sunny beach… I saw another guy waving in a funny way with only his middle finger in the air. I asked my teenage grandson in the back seat what that meant, and he suggested that it was probably an Hawaiian good luck sign or something…”

The woman admitted that she had never met anyone from Hawaii before and was unaware of their customs. “I leaned out the window and gave him the good luck sign right back,” she reminisced.

She also remembers that a few persons were so caught up in the joy of the moment that they got out of their cars and started walking towards her. “I’ll bet they wanted to pray or ask what church I attended but that was when I noticed that the light had changed. So, I waved to all my loving sisters and brothers in Christ, grinned joyously, and drove on through the intersection. I noticed that I was the only car that made it through the intersection before the light changed again and I felt kind of sad that I had to leave them after all the love we had shared, so I slowed the car down, leaned out of the window and gave them all the Hawaiian good luck sign one last time before I sped away.”

I love this story.

Romans 10:9: “That if you confess with your mouth, ‘Jesus is Lord’ and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved.” And, Romans 10:13, “For everyone who calls on the name of the Lord will be saved.”

These two verses are two critical verses to that famous ‘Romans Road to Salvation’ so I thought that we would visit them today. The passage has in it a ready-made 3 points:

1) Romans 10:9: “That if you confess with your mouth, ‘Jesus is Lord’

2) Believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved.”

“For ...” 3) Romans 10:13, “everyone who calls on the name of the Lord will be saved.”

1)      Confess Jesus as Lord with your mouth.      Say it.

2)      Believe in your heart in His resurrection.     Know it.

3)      Call on the name of the Lord.                       Do it.

These are the three things we need to remember, pertaining to Salvation, when we leave here today – and forever more – to take advantage of the Salvation that God has provided the whole world as a free gift (Romans 6:23; John 3:16-17); to take advantage of God’s Salvation, we should:

1)      Say it!

2)      Know it!

3)      Do it!

1) Say it! Romans 10:9: “…confess with your mouth, ‘Jesus is Lord…’

This is important. Whenever I hear this verse I immediately think of Peter, the rock upon which Christ was to build His church (Mt 16:13-16; cf. Mk 8:27-29, Lk 9:18-20). Jesus tells Peter that he is going to use him to help build his church. This is when Jesus gives him the nickname ‘Peter’ – that wasn’t his given name; Simon was his given name – Peter means ‘Rock’ or even ‘Rocky’. Simon ‘Rocky-Peter’ is to be one of Christ’s main ‘go to’ people after His resurrection and we remember the story about how Jesus told Rocky-Peter that he would deny him 3 times before the cock crows twice and then shortly after Peter’s saying ‘I would never deny you’, he denies Christ and then shortly after Peter’s third denial that he even knows Jesus; the rooster crows and Peter is devastated (Mt 26:69-75; cf. Mk 14:66-72, Lk 22:55-62, Jn 18:15-27).

Point #1 about Salvation today: Say it! (Cf. Lev 21:12–15; 1 Cor 12:3; Phil 2:11; 1 Pet 3:13–16, 21) Simon Peter had his chance to confess Jesus as Lord but he declined it. Now, if the story ended there it would be sad indeed but John 21:15ff, records Simon Peter’s restoration, as Rocky, as Peter. ^[1] The Resurrected Lord asks him 3 times to feed his sheep and he agrees to it.^[2] Near the conclusion of the book of John, Jesus then blows on Peter -and the other disciples- giving him the Holy Spirit (Jn 20:22). Luke picks up the story of Rocky-Peter in the book of Acts where Rocky-Peter is there at Pentecost, taking the lead as the Holy Spirit, like a starting pistol, sends the disciples and more out to say it, to proclaim salvation to the world. And as recorded in Acts 2, after they say it, after they share the gospel in many different languages as the Spirit enables them, the Lord adds to their number daily those being saved (cf. also Dt 30:14; Mt 10:32, 2 Cor 4:13-14; Phil 2:11). Point 1, Romans 10:9, for us today, Say it!

Peter and the disciples said it and many were saved. And just to underscore that Peter did fully recover from his earlier denial, church tradition states that in the end Peter even earned his martyr’s crown. He was apparently crucified upside down as he left his life here for heaven to await the resurrection. Pt 1: Say it! This brings us to Pt 2.

2) Know it! Believe in your heart in His resurrection.

It is great and it is very important to proclaim the gospel but that is not the end of it. Speaking is one thing and believing is quite another. If you have any doubt about that, think about the general reputation (accurate or not) of our elected politicians – speaking is one thing, believing what you say is quite another. Paul in this section of scriptures is really addressing the whole problem of Israel (Ro 9-11; cf. Dt 30, Lev. 18). He is addressing the problem of the Law and their relation to the Law and their relationship to God. He is quite concerned about people who are quite happy to say what needs to be said – the Pharisees, as a group, did believe in the resurrection in general and as a group said a lot; they were quite evangelistic (cf. Acts 23:7-8)! But believing in your heart in Jesus’ resurrection is quite a different matter though (1 Cor 15:17; cf. 2 Cor 4:13-14).  And the Apostle Paul - who was a Pharisee - celebrated the fact that Jesus has been raised from the dead but sadly many Israelites and even Pharisees did not. It pained Paul that people who were zealous for God’s Law were indeed missing out on the benefits of the culmination of the Law, Jesus, the one whom the Law points towards (cf. Ro 9:1-5; 10:1-4; Mt 5:17,18; Lk 16:16; Acts 4:12; Gal 3:19-24). Salvation is about, Point 1, Saying it, confessing that Jesus is Lord, and it is also about, Point 2, Knowing it, really believing in your heart in the resurrection and in Jesus’ resurrection, which is the central part of not only’ Paul’s message but of all of Christianity (Ro 6:9, 9:16; 1 Cor 15:17, 20; 2 Cor 4:13-14; Eph 1:20-23; Phil 2:9-11; Col 3:1-4; Heb 2:9; Rev 1:17-18; cf. Dt 30:14, Acts 4:12, Isa 28:16).^[3] N.T. Wright tells us, “Almost all early Christians known to us believed that their ultimate hope was the resurrection of the body.  There is no spectrum such as in Judaism.  Some in Corinth denied the future resurrection (1 Cor 15:12), but Paul put them straight; they were most likely reverting to pagan views, not opting for an over-realized Jewish eschatology.”^[4] Belief in the resurrection and the resurrection of Christ is central to Christianity.^[5]

To review what we know so far about Romans 10’s three points of Salvation:

1) Say it! - Confess Jesus as Lord with your mouth.     

2) Know it! - Believe in your heart in His resurrection.

3) Do it! Call on the name of the Lord.

3) Do it! Call on the name of the Lord.

This is important. Saying it is good. Knowing it is better. Doing it is imperative (This fact is also implied in v. 9). ^[6] The scriptures speak about this quite a bit (cf. Lev 18:5, Dt 30:11-16; Acts 2:16-21, Joel 2:32). ^[7] I believe that Matthew actually paints this picture quite vividly. In Chapter 25:31ff is recorded the parable of the sheep and the goats. In that parable you have two groups of nations. Both groups – the sheep and the goats – 1) say and 2) know that Jesus is Lord. But it is only the sheep that do anything about it. As a result, only the sheep are saved. The goats which didn’t do anything go off to where there is a weeping and gnashing of teeth. Matthew 7:21 is quite clear on this matter: it is recorded that the Lord says “Not everyone who calls me ‘Lord, Lord’ will enter the kingdom of heaven but only he who does the will of my Father in heaven”: Say it! Know it! Do it!

We must actually call on the name of the Lord. We have to call on Him. We have to trust him.^[8] This is important. For example, on this Valentines Day, it is one thing for me to confess that I know my wife; it is another thing to believe in my heart the many wonderful things that have been done through her: these are wonderful things but my relationship with Susan only grows when I actually call on her, when I actually spend time with her. I can say she is my wife all I want; I can believe she is my wife all I want; but we only actually have a marriage if I bother to see her, to call on her sometimes. This is important. Christianity isn’t some academic pursuit. Christianity isn’t some code. Christianity isn’t some rules and regulations. Christianity isn’t some club. Christianity isn’t some principles to live our life by. Christianity is a relationship with the risen Christ. Jesus Christ raised from the grave and he promises that, Romans 10:13 “…everyone who calls on the name of the Lord will be saved.” He loves us and he wishes that none would perish. And Salvation in our text today is as easy as 1, 2, and 3. It is my prayer today that every one of us here will:

1) Say it! - Confess Jesus as Lord with our mouths.     

2) Know it! - Believe in our hearts in His resurrection.

3) Do it! – That we would call upon the name of the Lord.

Psalm 34:8, “Taste and see that the LORD is good; blessed is the man who takes refuge in him.” Matthew 11:30: “For my yoke is easy and my burden is light.” Romans 10:15 and Isaiah 52:7, "...How beautiful are the feet of those who bring good news!" (cf. Ps 118:26, Mt 21:9, 23:39, Mk 11:9, Lk 13:35, 19:38, Jn 12:13). Romans 10:9a, say it: confess with your mouth that Jesus is Lord. Romans 10:9b, know it: believe in your heart in Jesus’ resurrection. And above all else, Romans 10:13, do it: call upon the name of the Lord and then even we will be saved. Halleluiah! Praise the Lord! Let it be.

Let us pray.

www.sheepspeak.com

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[1] Cf. Captain Michael Ramsay, ‘John 21:15-23: We’re Back!’ Presented to Weston Corps of the Salvation Army, May 2006 and Nipawin Corps of The Salvation Army, 21 February 2009. Available on-line: http://sheepspeaks.blogspot.com/2009/02/john-2115-23-were-back.html

[2]Cf. George R. Beasley-Murray, John, (WBC 36: Waco, Texas: Word Books, 1987), 404-405.

[3] Cf. William Hendricksen, Exposition of Paul’s Epistle to the Romans, NTC (Grand Rapids, Michigan: Baker Academic: 1981), 345

[4] Cf. N.T. Wright, 'Jesus’ Resurrection and Christian Origins' (Originally published in Gregorianum, 2002, 83/4, 615–635).  Reproduced by permission of the author on-line at http://www.ntwrightpage.com/Wright_Jesus_Resurrection.htm

[5] Cf. Everett F. Harrison, The Expositor's Bible Commentary, Pradis CD-, ROM:Romans/Exposition of Romans/VI. The Problem of Israel: God's Righteousness Vindicated (9:1-11:36)/D. Israel's Failure to Attain Righteousness Due to Reliance on Works Rather Than Faith (9:30-10:21), Book Version: 4.0.2: Paul's statement in vv. 9, 10 is misunderstood when it is made to support the claim that one cannot be saved unless he makes Jesus the Lord of his life by a personal commitment. Such a commitment is most important; however, in this passage, Paul is speaking of the objective lordship of Christ, which is the very cornerstone for faith, something without which no one could be saved. Intimately connected as it was with the resurrection, which in turn validated the saving death, it proclaimed something that was true no matter whether or not a single soul believed it and built his life on it.

[6] Cf. John Murray, The Epistle to the Romans Vol. II, NICNT, (Grand Rapids, Michigan, Eerdmans, 1968), 56; John Stott, Romans: God’s Good News for the World, (Leicester, UK: IV Press: 1994), 283;  F. F. Bruce, Romans: An Introduction and Commentary. Downers Grove, IL : InterVarsity Press, 1985 (Tyndale New Testament Commentaries 6), S. 201 - Doing it, though not specifically reference (it doesn’t need to be because it is referenced a few verses later in v.18), is implied as well in verse 9.

[7] F. F. Bruce, Romans: An Introduction and Commentary. Downers Grove, IL : InterVarsity Press, 1985 (Tyndale New Testament Commentaries 6), S. 201: There the statutes and ordinances of God were enjoined on the people so that they might do them and live. Here God says that his commandment ‘is not too hard for you, neither is it far off. It is not in heaven, that you should say, “Who will go up for us to heaven, and bring it to us, that we may hear it and do it?” Neither 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?” But the word is very near you; it is in your mouth and in your heart, so that you can do it.’ (Paul significantly omits the italicized words.) That the doing of the commandment was the way to life in the Deuteronomy context is evident from the words of Moses which follow immediately: ‘See, I have set before you this day life and good, death and evil. If you obey the commandments of the Lord your God which I command you this day, by loving the Lord your God, by walking in his ways, and by keeping his commandments and his statutes and his ordinances, then you shall live …’ (Deut. 30:15–16).

[8] Cf. John Stott, Romans: God’s Good News for the World, (Leicester, UK: IV Press: 1994), 285

Week 43: Matthew 6:21:Treasure

Devotional thought composed originally for TSA Devotional Book, June 2015.Presented to River Street Cafe, 26 February 2016 by Captain Michael Ramsay 

Read Matthew 6:19-21

As Christians do we have a responsibility to take care of the poor?

Little children were brought to Jesus for him to place his hands on them and pray for them. But the disciples rebuked those who brought them. Jesus said, "Let the little children come to me, and do not hinder them, for the kingdom of heaven belongs to such as these." When he had placed his hands on them, he went on from there.

Now a man came up to Jesus and asked, "Teacher, what good thing must I do to get eternal life?"

"Why do you ask me about what is good?" Jesus replied. "There is only One who is good. If you want to enter life, obey the commandments."

"Which ones?" the man inquired.

Jesus replied, " 'Do not murder, do not commit adultery, do not steal, do not give false testimony, honour your father and mother,' and 'love your neighbour as yourself.'"

"All these I have kept," the young man said. "What do I still lack?"

Jesus answered, "If you want to be perfect, go, sell your possessions and give to the poor, and you will have treasure in heaven. Then come, follow me." When the young man heard this, he went away sad, because he had great wealth. Then Jesus said to his disciples, "I tell you the truth, it is hard for a rich man to enter the kingdom of heaven. Again I tell you, it is easier for a camel to go through the eye of a needle than for a rich man to enter the kingdom of God."

When the disciples heard this, they were greatly astonished and asked, "Who then can be saved?" Jesus looked at them and said, "With man this is impossible, but with God all things are possible" (Matthew 19:13-26).

“Do not store up for yourselves treasures on earth, where moth and rust destroy, and where thieves break in and steal. But store up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where moth and rust do not destroy, and where thieves do not break in and steal. For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also (Matthew 6:19-21).”

Canada is one of the richest nations on earth; one in six Canadian children live in poverty. Do I have a responsibility to share my wealth with those who are poor? Yes.

How can we better use our treasures on earth to love our neighbours and in the process store up for ourselves treasures in heaven?

www.sheepspeak.com 

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[1] Based on the article by Captain Michael Ramsay, As Christians do we have a responsibility to take care of the poor? Nipawin Journal (January 2008) On-line: http://sheepspeak.com/sasknews.htm#poor

Romans 10:9&13: Say it! Know it! Do it!

Presented to Swift Current Corps of The Salvation Army, 11 Sept. 2011
Corps 614 Regent Park, Toronto, 14 Feb. 2016

The Warehouse Mission, Cabbagetown, 11 Feb, 2018

TSA Alberni Valley Ministries, 11 May 2025

by Captain (Major) Michael Ramsay

Abbreviated 2018 version here: http://sheepspeaks.blogspot.ca/2018/02/romans-109-say-it-know-it-do-it.html

To view the 2025 Version, click here:

https://sheepspeaks.blogspot.com/2025/05/romans-103-13-say-it-know-it-do-it.html

 

Today we are speaking about Romans 10:9: “That if you confess with your mouth, ‘Jesus is Lord’ and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved.” And, Romans 10:13, “For everyone who calls on the name of the Lord will be saved.” These are some of the basics of the whole Christian faith (cf. TSA doc. 7). Therefore as we launch into our time today, along these lines I thought that I would share this piece of wisdom that was presented to us at Officer Camp by Major David Ivany – he is in charge of Spiritual Direction for all of Canada in The Salvation Army. He shared this story with us about a kind elderly lady, who in her heart upon a public confession of faith is experiencing the pure joys of Christian love.

This lady, Emma, she goes into a local Christian bookstore and sees a “Honk if you love Jesus” bumper sticker. Feeling particularly good that day because she has just come from a great choir practice and prayer meeting, she buys the bumper sticker and she put it on her car – professing her faith publicly. She recalls, “Boy, I’m glad I did! What an uplifting experience followed!” and then she launches into this story. She remembers stopping at a red light at a busy intersection just when she first had on her new ‘Honk if you love Jesus’ sticker. Lost in thought about the Lord and how good He had been to her, she didn’t notice the light had changed.

“It is a good thing someone else loves Jesus,” she said, “because if he hadn’t honked, I’d never have noticed that the light had changed!” She then noted that indeed, lots of people actually love Jesus because while she sat unmoving, blocking the lane of traffic, the guy behind her also honked like crazy before leaning out of his window and screaming, “For the love of God! Go! Go! Jesus Christ, Go!” She remembers thinking, “What an exuberant cheerleader he was for the Lord!”

Suddenly, it seemed as though she had started an epidemic and everyone started honking. Impressed by such a response, she leaned out of her window and started waving and smiling at all these loving people – while she was still parked in front of the intersection. “I even honked my horn a few times to share in the love!” she recited. Then she realized the mix of celebrants. “There must have been a man from Florida back there because I heard him yelling something about a “sunny beach… I saw another guy waving in a funny way with only his middle finger in the air. I asked my teenage grandson in the back seat what that meant, and he suggested that it was probably an Hawaiian good luck sign or something…”

The woman admitted that she had never met anyone from Hawaii before and was unaware of their customs. “I leaned out the window and gave him the good luck sign right back,” she reminisced.

She also remembers that a few persons were so caught up in the joy of the moment that they got out of their cars and started walking towards her. “I’ll bet they wanted to pray or ask what church I attended but that was when I noticed that the light had changed. So, I waved to all my loving sisters and brothers in Christ, grinned joyously, and drove on through the intersection. I noticed that I was the only car that made it through the intersection before the light changed again and I felt kind of sad that I had to leave them after all the love we had shared, so I slowed the car down, leaned out of the window and gave them all the Hawaiian good luck sign one last time before I sped away.”

I love this story.

Romans 10:9: “That if you confess with your mouth, ‘Jesus is Lord’ and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved.” And, Romans 10:13, “For everyone who calls on the name of the Lord will be saved.”

These two verses are two critical verses to that famous ‘Romans Road to Salvation’ – there are many different versions to Romans Road, by the way, but these two verses, 9 and 13 seem to be regular stops so I thought that we would visit them today. Last week I mentioned that I had a teaching background. This week’s pericope tends to lend itself to an old style of teaching. The passage has in it a ready-made 3 points:

1) Romans 10:9: “That if you confess with your mouth, ‘Jesus is Lord’ and 

2) Believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved.” And,

3) Romans 10:13, “For everyone who calls on the name of the Lord will be saved.”

1)      Confess Jesus as Lord with your mouth.             Say it.

2)      Believe in your heart in His resurrection.             Know it.

3)      Call on the name of the Lord.                             Do it.

What we need to remember, pertaining to Salvation, when we leave here today – and forever more – to take advantage of the Salvation that God has offered the whole world as a free gift (Romans 6:23; John 3:16-17); to take advantage of God’s Salvation, we should

1)      Say it!

2)      Know it!

3)      Do it!

1) Say it! Romans 10:9: “…confess with your mouth, ‘Jesus is Lord…’

This is important. Whenever I hear this verse I immediately think of Peter, the rock upon which Christ was to build His church (Matthew 16:13-16; cf. Mark 8:27-29, Luke 9:18-20). We know this story, right? Jesus tells Peter that he is going to use him to help build his church. This is the point where Jesus gives him the name ‘Peter’ as a nickname – that wasn’t his given name; Simon was his given name – Peter means ‘Rock’ or even ‘Rocky’. Simon ‘Rocky-Peter’ here is to be one of Christ’s main ‘go to’ people after His resurrection and we remember the story about how Jesus told Rocky-Peter that he would deny him 3 times before the cock crows twice and then shortly after Peter’s saying ‘I don’t know what your talking about’; shortly after Peter’s third denial that he even knows Jesus; the rooster crows and Peter is devastated (Matthew 26:69-75; cf. Mark 14:66-72, Luke 22:55-62, John 18:15-27).

Point #1 about Salvation today: Say it! (Cf. also Luke 21:12–15; 1 Corinthians 12:3; Philippians 2:11; 1 Peter 3:13–16, 21) Simon Peter had his chance to confess Jesus as Lord but he declined it. Now, if the story had ended there it would be sad indeed but John 21:15ff, records Simon Peter’s restoration, as Rocky, as Peter.[1] The Resurrected Lord asks him 3 times to feed his sheep and he agrees to it.[2] Near the conclusion of the book of John, Jesus then blows on Peter -and the other disciples- giving him the Holy Spirit (John 20:22). Luke picks up the story of Rocky-Peter in the book of Acts where Rocky-Peter is there at Pentecost, taking the lead as the Holy Spirit like a starting pistol sends the disciples and more out to proclaim salvation to the world. Acts Chapter 2, after they share the gospel in many different languages as the Spirit enables them, the Lord adds to their number daily those being saved (cf. also Deuteronomy 30:14; Matthew 10:32, 2 Corinthians 4:13-14; Philippians 2:11). Point 1, Romans 10:9, for us today, Say it!

Peter and the disciples said it and many were saved. And just to underscore that Peter did fully recover from his earlier denial, church tradition states that in the end Peter even earned his martyr’s crown. He was apparently crucified upside down as he left his life here for heaven to await the resurrection. Point 1: Say it! This brings us to Point 2.

2) Know it! Believe in your heart in His resurrection.

It is great and it is very important to proclaim the gospel but that is not the end of it. Speaking is one thing and believing is quite another. If you have any doubt about that, think about the general reputation (accurate or not) of our elected politicians – speaking is one thing, believing what you say is quite another. Paul in this section of scriptures is really addressing the whole problem of Israel (Romans 9-11; cf. also Deuteronomy 30, Leviticus 18). He is addressing the problem of the Law and their relation to the Law and their relationship to God. He is quite concerned about people who are quite happy to say what needs to be said – the Pharisees, as a group, did believe in the resurrection in general and as a group were quite evangelistic (cf. Acts 23:7-8)! But believing in your heart in Jesus’ resurrection is quite a different matter though (1 Corinthians 15:17; cf. 2 Corinthians 4:13-14).  And the Apostle Paul - who was a Pharisee - celebrated the fact that Jesus has been raised from the dead but sadly many Israelites and even Pharisees did not. It pained Paul that people who were zealous for God’s Law were indeed missing out on the benefits of the culmination of the Law, Jesus, the one whom the Law points towards (cf. Romans 9:1-5; 10:1-4; Matthew 5:17,18; Luke 16:16; Acts 4:12; Galatians 3:19-24). Salvation is about, Point 1, Saying it, confessing that Jesus is Lord, and it is also about, Point 2, Knowing it, really believing in your heart in the resurrection and in Jesus’ resurrection, which is the central part of not only’ Paul’s message but of all of Christianity (Romans 6:9, Romans 9:16; 1 Corinthians 15:17, 20; 2 Corinthians 4:13-14; Ephesians 1:20-23; Philippians 2:9-11; Colossians 3:1-4; Hebrews 2:9; Revelation 1:17-18; cf. Deuteronomy 30:14, Acts 4:12, cf. also Isaiah 28:16).[3] N.T. Wright tells us, “Almost all early Christians known to us believed that their ultimate hope was the resurrection of the body.  There is no spectrum such as in Judaism.  Some in Corinth denied the future resurrection (1 Corinthians 15.12), but Paul put them straight; they were most likely reverting to pagan views, not opting for an over-realized Jewish eschatology.”[4] Belief in the resurrection and the resurrection of Christ is central to Christianity.[5]

To review what we know so far about Romans 10’s three points of Salvation:

1) Say it! - Confess Jesus as Lord with your mouth.      

2) Know it! - Believe in your heart in His resurrection.

3) Do it! Call on the name of the Lord.

3) Do it! Call on the name of the Lord.

This is important. Saying it is good. Knowing it is better. Doing it is imperative (This fact is also implied in v. 9).[6] The scriptures speak about this quite a bit (cf. for ex: Leviticus 18:5 and Deuteronomy 30:11-16, which are cited in vv. 5-8; Luke in Acts 2:16-21 and this passage by Paul are both quoting from Joel 2:32).[7] I believe that Matthew actually paints this picture quite vividly. In Chapter 25:31ff is recorded the parable of the sheep and the goats. In that parable you have two groups of nations. Both groups – the sheep and the goats – 1) say and 2) know that Jesus is Lord. But it is only the sheep that do anything about it. As a result, only the sheep are saved. The goats that didn’t do anything go off to where there is a weeping and gnashing of teeth. Matthew 7:21 is quite clear on this matter: it is recorded that the Lord says “Not everyone who calls me ‘Lord, Lord’ will enter the kingdom of heaven but only he who does the will of my Father in heaven”: Say it! Know it! Do it!

We must actually call on the name of the Lord. We have to call on Him. We have to trust him.[8] This is important. For example, it is one thing for me to confess that I know my wife; it is another thing to believe in my heart the many wonderful things that have been done through her: these are wonderful things but my relationship with Susan only grows when I actually call on her, when I actually spend time with her. I can say she is my wife all I want; I can believe she is my wife all I want; but we only actually have a marriage if I bother to see her, to call on her sometimes. This is important. Christianity isn’t some academic pursuit. Christianity isn’t some code. Christianity isn’t some rules and regulations. Christianity isn’t some club. Christianity isn’t some principles to live our life by. Christianity is a relationship with the risen Christ. Jesus Christ raised from the grave and he promises that, Romans 10:13 “…everyone who calls on the name of the Lord will be saved.” He loves us and he wishes that none would perish. And Salvation in our text today is as easy as 1, 2, and 3. It is my prayer today that every one of us here will:

1) Say it! - Confess Jesus as Lord with our mouths.      

2) Know it! - Believe in our hearts in His resurrection.

3) Do it! – That we would call upon the name of the Lord.

Psalm 34:8, “Taste and see that the LORD is good; blessed is the man who takes refuge in him.” Matthew 11:30: “For my yoke is easy and my burden is light.” Romans 10:15 and Isaiah 52:7, "...How beautiful are the feet of those who bring good news!" (cf. Psalm 118:26, Matthew 21:9, Matthew 23:39, Mark 11:9, Luke 13:35, Luke 19:38, John 12:13). Romans 10:9a, say it: confess with your mouth that Jesus is Lord. Romans 10:9b, know it: believe in your heart in Jesus’ resurrection. And above all else, Romans 10:13, do it: call upon the name of the Lord and then even we will be saved. Halleluiah! Praise the Lord! Let it be.

 

Let us pray.

http://www.sheepspeak.com/

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[1] Cf. Captain Michael Ramsay, ‘John 21:15-23: We’re Back!’ Presented to Weston Corps of the Salvation Army, May 2006 and Nipawin Corps of The Salvation Army, 21 February 2009. Available on-line: http://sheepspeaks.blogspot.com/2009/02/john-2115-23-were-back.html

[2]Cf. George R. Beasley-Murray, John, (WBC 36: Waco, Texas: Word Books, 1987), 404-405.

[3] Cf. William Hendricksen, Exposition of Paul’s Epistle to the Romans, NTC (Grand Rapids, Michigan: Baker Academic: 1981), 345

[4] Cf. N.T. Wright, 'Jesus’ Resurrection and Christian Origins' (Originally published in Gregorianum, 2002, 83/4, 615–635).  Reproduced by permission of the author on-line at http://www.ntwrightpage.com/Wright_Jesus_Resurrection.htm

[5] Cf. Everett F. Harrison, The Expositor's Bible Commentary, Pradis CD-, ROM:Romans/Exposition of Romans/VI. The Problem of Israel: God's Righteousness Vindicated (9:1-11:36)/D. Israel's Failure to Attain Righteousness Due to Reliance on Works Rather Than Faith (9:30-10:21), Book Version: 4.0.2: Paul's statement in vv. 9, 10 is misunderstood when it is made to support the claim that one cannot be saved unless he makes Jesus the Lord of his life by a personal commitment. Such a commitment is most important; however, in this passage, Paul is speaking of the objective lordship of Christ, which is the very cornerstone for faith, something without which no one could be saved. Intimately connected as it was with the resurrection, which in turn validated the saving death, it proclaimed something that was true no matter whether or not a single soul believed it and built his life on it.

[6] Cf. John Murray, The Epistle to the Romans Vol. II, NICNT, (Grand Rapids, Michigan, Eerdmans, 1968), 56; John Stott, Romans: God’s Good News for the World, (Leicester, UK: IV Press: 1994), 283;  F. F. Bruce, Romans: An Introduction and Commentary. Downers Grove, IL : InterVarsity Press, 1985 (Tyndale New Testament Commentaries 6), S. 201 - Doing it, though not specifically reference (it doesn’t need to be because it is referenced a few verses later in v.18), is implied as well in verse 9.

[7] F. F. Bruce, Romans: An Introduction and Commentary. Downers Grove, IL : InterVarsity Press, 1985 (Tyndale New Testament Commentaries 6), S. 201: There the statutes and ordinances of God were enjoined on the people so that they might do them and live. Here God says that his commandment ‘is not too hard for you, neither is it far off. It is not in heaven, that you should say, “Who will go up for us to heaven, and bring it to us, that we may hear it and do it?” Neither 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?” But the word is very near you; it is in your mouth and in your heart, so that you can do it.’ (Paul significantly omits the italicized words.) That the doing of the commandment was the way to life in the Deuteronomy context is evident from the words of Moses which follow immediately: ‘See, I have set before you this day life and good, death and evil. If you obey the commandments of the Lord your God which I command you this day, by loving the Lord your God, by walking in his ways, and by keeping his commandments and his statutes and his ordinances, then you shall live …’ (Deut. 30:15–16).

[8] Cf. John Stott, Romans: God’s Good News for the World, (Leicester, UK: IV Press: 1994), 285