“Brothers and sisters, my heart’s desire and prayer to God for them is that they may be saved. I can testify that they have a zeal for God, but it is not enlightened. For, being ignorant of the righteousness that comes from God, and seeking to establish their own, they have not submitted to God’s righteousness. For Christ is the end of the law so that there may be righteousness for everyone who believes.

Moses writes concerning the righteousness that comes from the law, that “the person who does these things will live by them.” But the righteousness that comes from faith says, “Do not say in your heart, ‘Who will ascend into heaven?’ ” (that is, to bring Christ down) “or ‘Who will descend into the abyss?’ ” (that is, to bring Christ up from the dead).

But what does it say? “The word is near you, on your lips and in your heart” (that is, the word of faith that we proclaim); because if you confess with your lips that Jesus is Lord and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved. For one believes with the heart and so is justified, and one confesses with the mouth and so is saved. The scripture says, “No one who believes in him will be put to shame.” For there is no distinction between Jew and Greek; the same Lord is Lord of all and is generous to all who call on him. For, “Everyone who calls on the name of the Lord shall be saved.”

But how are they to call on one in whom they have not believed? And how are they to believe in one of whom they have never heard? And how are they to hear without someone to proclaim him? And how are they to proclaim him unless they are sent? As it is written, “How beautiful are the feet of those who bring good news!” But not all have obeyed the good news; for Isaiah says, “Lord, who has believed our message?” So faith comes from what is heard, and what is heard comes through the word of Christ.” Romans 10:1-17

I have said it before, I will say it again, there is so much good stuff in Paul’s letter to the Romans. Here in chapter 10 we have such verses as 9 “if you confess with your lips that Jesus is Lord and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved.” And verse 13, “Everyone who calls on the name of the Lord shall be saved.” And verse 15, “How beautiful are the feet of those who bring good news.” We have lost the practice of verse memorization in our confirmation classes, and our Sunday school classes, and in our own daily reading. Here, in Paul’s letter, are some great verses to commit to memory. Verse 15 is an adaptation of Isaiah 52:7 and is used by Paul to support his claim that faith comes by what is heard — especially in his day when most people were illiterate. When most people learn through hearing, then there obviously needs to be a plethora of people proclaiming the word of Christ. Paul’s point is that we must be the messengers of that word – even if we have the ugliest feet in the world – because our feet will be transformed just as we are transformed by the word of Christ.

Pastor Dave