Don't Do, Just Say.

DEVOTION
ROMANS
DON’T DO, JUST SAY
Rom 10:5-8
5 Moses describes in this way the righteousness that is by the law: "The man who does these things will live by them." 6 But the righteousness that is by faith says: "Do not say in your heart, 'Who will ascend into heaven?'" (that is, to bring Christ down) 7 "or 'Who will descend into the deep?'" (that is, to bring Christ up from the dead). 8 But what does it say? "The word is near you; it is in your mouth and in your heart," that is, the word of faith we are proclaiming: NIV
All of this was said long ago by the Lord God to the people of Israel regarding His law to them. They did not have to go up to Heaven or cross the sea in search for it, as it was in there hearts. Surely a lesson for my spirit is in the making within these verses. I know many use these in defense of Jesus going into hell in connection with those verses in Ephesians. But I cannot justify such thinking when delving into the Greek. Simply put, He could not ascend into Heaven if first He did not descend from Heaven to Earth. But here in this letter to the those in Rome, it carries a message to my heart and mind regarding looking for all the rules and regulations which define me as a Christian as long as I obey them. It is clear to me, I cannot find my righteousness by this course of action, or works, or deeds. No, it is again the same message. The word is near me, in my mouth and my heart.
I must finish this thought:
Rom 10:8-10
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. 10 For it is with your heart that you believe and are justified, and it is with your mouth that you confess and are saved. NIV
What a glorious moment in my life, when I came to this knowledge, this truth. Nowhere could I find this kind of peace and assurance of an everlasting life, no matter how hard I searched. Yogi, Buddhism and even Zen, all failed, all were flawed. Just as the law is flawed in that it cannot offer eternal life. Praise God, it is so simply, confess and believe!
I cannot be saved by doing, But I can and was saved by saying.