Title: Righteousness by Faith
Romans 78
righteousness by faith
Romans 10:5-8
Introduction: In the text, the Apostle Paul testifies to the striking difference between the righteousness obtained through the law and the righteousness obtained through faith. Because Israel served God with the false knowledge to obtain righteousness through the law, they rejected God's true righteousness, which they could receive without merit, by disobeying God's free grace through Jesus Christ. However, these conditions of righteousness are not based on human experience or evidence, but only through the word of faith we preach.
1. Evidence of Righteousness by Faith
The difference between righteousness by the law and righteousness by faith is in works and faith.
(2) Paul testified about the righteousness that comes through faith, that it is only obtained through faith. Paul explains this righteousness in a very unique and strange way here. Righteousness by faith is based on the death and resurrection of Jesus Christ. His death and resurrection are “the end of the law for righteousness to everyone who believes, to give eternal life like Jesus Christ to those who are in Christ.” However, this fact is challenged by its opponents. So, how can anyone verify such a fact? Can you go up to heaven and confirm the resurrection of Christ? Or is it possible to go down to Hades (the grave) and confirm his death? is to do This objection is, of course, a deterrence of the legalists, the unanimous claim of those who reject the gospel, but it proves that the gospel is not something that can be confirmed by going up to heaven or by going down to hell, but is based on the Word of God.
Paul countered by saying to the Jews who advocated the law, "Do not say in your heart, "Who will ascend into heaven"? Some say that we can ascend to heaven, overcome the power of death, and confirm the resurrected Jesus. But Paul told him not to say such things. This is said to be “to bring down Christ.” If anyone wants to use the confirmation of Christ's resurrection by ascending to heaven like that, wouldn't it be a matter of bringing him back into this world? Because in order to be a witness to everyone, you will have to bring him down and show it to others.
They also said about the death of Christ, "Who says, 'Who will go down to the grave?' And they say, 'Will you go down?' is to raise Christ from the dead." Hell is a word that means death or grave, but Paul countered that he should not say such a thing when he said that it would be necessary to go down to hell to confirm that Christ died on the cross. In saying that, it would be necessary to raise Christ from the dead and confirm it to everyone. Would such a thing be appropriate? is that
2. Then what are you talking about?
So what are you talking about? said That is, what does the gospel mean? And that's what you're asking. Paul said in verse 8: “The word is near to you, it is in your mouth, and it is in your heart,” he said, “the word of faith that we preach.” Righteousness by faith cannot be attained by ascending into heaven to confirm the resurrection of Christ, or by descending into hell to confirm his death. The knowledge and wisdom of the world need to be understood by reason and confirmed by common sense. But faith is not something you can have with such confirmation.
(2) It clearly states that there is no way to give us faith other than the Word of God given to us. Even if you go up to heaven to meet the risen Lord, and even if you go down to hell to confirm the death of Christ, that cannot be the basis of your faith. When the rich man in purple pleaded with him, "Send Lazarus to my father's house, that they may bear witness to them, that they have five brothers, so that they do not come to this place of torment." Abraham said to him, "Moses and the prophets are there. I told you to listen. When the rich man who heard this said that Moses or the prophets would not repent, but if anyone came to them from the dead, they would repent. He said, “If they do not listen to Moses and the prophets, they will not be persuaded even if someone rises from the dead” (Luke 16:27-31). Faith comes by the word of God. Paul said that those words are the words of faith that we preach.