Week 44 - Free Weekend Program for Street & Vulnerable Children

Text - Romans 10:5-13

Theme : Faith and Confession

Verse 5 - 9 “For Moses writes that the law’s way of making a person right with God requires obedience to all of its commands. But faith’s way of getting right with God says, “Don’t say in your heart, ‘Who will go up to heaven?’ (to bring Christ down to earth). And don’t say, ‘Who will go down to the place of the dead?’ (to bring Christ back to life again).” In fact, it says, “The message is very close at hand; it is on your lips and in your heart.” And that message is the very message about faith that we preach: If you openly declare that Jesus is Lord and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved.”

The law demands complete obedience both inwardly and outwardly with no room for error. This standard of perfection in thought, speech, and actions is unattainable, it is impossible for a fallen man. if we decide never to sin again, what about our past sin? If we never committed a sin since we were born, which is also impossible, how about our inherent sin from Adam? We know from Romans 3:23 that all men have sinned, yet the law demands perfect obedience - perfect holiness, so all who seek to be justified by the law must have perfect sinless record in thoughts, words and deeds before a Perfect Holy God.

Perfect obedience to the law - perfect holiness will grant the blessing of God - eternal life according to God’s word Deuteronomy 28, but we know that no one is capable of achieving this except Christ. The disobedience of Adam brought sin into the world, corrupting our nature and rendering us incapable of loving God wholeheartedly- a gruesome treasonable sin. Our best efforts are marred by selfish motives, and even our prayers require purification through the blood of Christ before God can accept them because sin is in it just like defecation (poo) is inherent in all men. Muslims who annually sacrifice a ram and traditionalists who offer chickens and goats for atonement (sacrifice of sin) have a better understanding of Hebrews 9:22 than those in many churches who rely on tithing, fasting, penance or charity for their justification before God. However, the blood of bulls and goats cannot take away sin.

Those who seek justification before God through obeying all the requirements of the law are either ignorant, foolish, or both. The law, given through Moses, serves to reveal our inability to live up to its standards and exposes the depth of our sinfulness, the depth of our corrupt nature without any hope in ourselves. But through God’s mercy and grace, a new covenant has been established Hebrews 8:7, God makes us righteous - perfect and blameless through the sacrifice of Christ alone and by Faith alone.

How is this righteousness received? Do we fly up to heaven where Christ is seated at the father’s right hand, bring Him down, so He can give us this righteousness or do we go down to the grave were he died, so we can get this righteousness that He has acquired and make it ours? No! It is received by faith alone, it does not require extraordinary miracles, we receive by believing.

Unlike Thomas, who needed physical proof, or Martha, who thought that a new life from the dead , a new nature, was far-fetched - something that will come at the end of age, our faith is now, we are raise to a new life in Christ once we believe, today is the day of salvation Hebrews 3:15.

Here is a good summary “The word is in your heart, readily available to you, everything is prepared, there is no need to earn or prove worthiness. Salvation is complete and free. God has completed all the necessary work; it is finished. All that is required has been accomplished by God through Christ.” Heshimu Colar

By grace, faith is given to us as a gift through the gospel. Are you hearing the gospel right now? This is God’s Grace to you, Are you convicted of your sins, do you feel condemned, troubled and sorrowful because of your sin and its eternal consequences ? Like Christian, Are you burdened and fearful of the judgement to come, the wrath of God, His fierce anger over sin? Can you save yourself from the wrath of God, his fierce punishment over sin in the lake of burning sulphur ? Do you need a saviour?

I spoke with a man recently? he told me he never killed anyone, have never stolen a thing, which is a lie because as a high government officer overseeing an entire parastatal- huge agency, they steal a lot. More so, he has many cars and houses around the country, so he is stealing because his salary can’t buy any of that not 1% of it, but ok, he said he never stole, so I said, you’ve never looked or felt sexual desire for any woman apart from your wife? That’s punishable by eternal damnation, he got angry and complained about my “endless” evangelism, pointing to his preference for a civil society & a “good” life - Mr. worldly wise man. This is my point, God will not spare the slightest sin - the least inclination to sin, the desire for it or the sinner; it was a desire that earned Satan eternal damnation, God won’t sweep any sin under the carpet like a corrupt judge, He will bring fierce judgement, a punishment that is eternal.

Run to Christ! Don’t wait, today is your day of salvation. Christ took the punishment for your sins, all of it on the cross, it was finished, He fulfilled all requirements of the law perfectly Colossians 2:14 took the fall for all your sins Galatians 3:13, God raised Him from the dead because His atonement- His sacrifice for our sins was complete and satisfactory, His sacrificial offering was perfect and acceptable before God.

If Christ is still in the grave, we won’t be sure of our justification, we won’t have confidence that our sins are all paid for and that God fully accepted His payment on our behalf, but because God raised him up from the dead, we know we are free! It’s all over. No trace of judgment awaits us, it’s all paid for. When you truly believe this in your heart not just knowing it in your head (mental accent), you are putting your trust and confidence for salvation, for eternal life in what Christ alone has done! You have no part in any of it.

First, recognise your sinful nature from Adam ( inherent defecation), your continual sin, the eternal consequences that awaits; your inability to perfectly obey God’s commandment and your need for help , your need for an advocate, a savior, Christ. Read Psalm 51 and see the nature of true conviction. Believing in all Christ has accomplished through His death and resurrection, will save you from the power of sin progressively and instantly from eternal damnation

Verse 10-13 “For it is by believing in your heart that you are made right with God, and it is by openly declaring your faith that you are saved. As the Scriptures tell us, “Anyone who trusts in him will never be disgraced.” Jew and Gentile are the same in this respect. They have the same Lord, who gives generously to all who call on him. For “Everyone who calls on the name of the Lord will be saved.”

Faith is not the work of the flesh, like a mind game, it is not an academic exercise where you memorise a creed and recite. During our early childhood, from may age 5 or 8 to 11, we went to church, recited many bogus words in catechism, which had meaning we didn’t know, didn’t understand and could not comprehend. This is not faith, no one is saved by that, we can’t depend on or put trust in someone or something we don’t know; that’s why Jesus said not all who say Lord, Lord will enter into the kingdom of God. We need to truly understand, then believe in our heart before we can obey the call to salvation in Christ Faith is believing in our heart, it comes through knowledge, through understanding of the Gospel; the gospel speaks of Christ’s sacrifice, His death and resurrection.

This is why God sends us a teacher, an evangelist, he teaches so we can know and understand the gospel, why Christ died and why God raised Him from the dead. Once we understand this truth, we are enabled to believe. It is God who opens the eyes of our understanding, giving us the ability to believe by the power of the Holy Spirit.

A true gospel teacher is a gift from God for your eternal soul, a false teacher is Satan himself in human flesh. A friend suggested to me last year, that I keep quiet about false teachers, false churches and concentrate ONLY on talking about the love of God, I said, ok, but if I see that a rattle snake has gained entry into your bedroom through your open window, I won’t call you to talk about the beautiful rose flowers in your garden, I will be screaming about this snake because death is eminent. I have seen many die due to the deceit of false teachers, some may be eternal death , I can’t say for sure, but it does look like it. The truth is, we must believe the true gospel to be saved, God is sending good teachers and we must pray for me. Matthew 9:37.

However, they are people who understand with their head the teachings of the gospel but their hearts are sealed because they love their sin, they cherish sin more than the promise of eternal life - paradise. Like Easu, he loved pottage (worldliness) more than birthright - eternal life. Jesus said we must love him more than anyone or anything else, willing to suffer in this world or we are not worthy of Him. Matthew 10:37-38

Others say they believe but refuse to confess Christ, like some leaders in John 12:42, they believed, but won’t confess their faith in Christ openly because of fear of being removed from lofty positions at the synagogue- church, they love the praise and respect of men more than Christ. For example, you are a youth leader at ECWA Church and you know the truth that TITHES & OFFERING , fasting will not earn anyone eternal life and you choose to keep quiet because the pastor might remove you from your position of respect. Hmm! Or you are a Muslim, but have come to understand and believe that Jesus is Lord! That Christ died for your sins, yet, you refuse to say it openly because your family will disown you, others will hate and may even kill you. Jesus said, if you deny me before men, I will deny you before my father in heaven, Matthew 10:33. He also said, whoever does not forsake all is not worth to be my disciple. Luke 14:33.

Faith and confession are twins, they come together, by believing we receive the free gift of righteousness that Christ has already earned for us, by confessing Christ, we are saved. Saved from what? we are not saved physically from poverty, sickness or death like false teachers claim, we are saved from the wrath of God, His fierce punishment for sin because Christ has paid our debt, He paid the price. This salvation is free to all who believe in Christ; He is the only way, no one comes to the Father except through Christ. John 14:6. No one will gain eternal life apart from Christ, He gives a new life - eternal life to all who call on Him for help from the wrath of God.

Our natural background, culture, sex(male or female), race is irrelevant; Faith in Christ is all it takes, this faith believes inwardly with the heart and speaks outwardly with the mouth, calling on Christ through sincere prayer; bearing fruit through open confession and profession of faith. The Lord has promised that all who call on Him will be saved without exception, they will never have a reason to regret or to be ashamed, ever!

Do you believe? will you put your trust in Him and confess Him publicly?

Let us pray.