For Moses writes about the righteousness that is based on the law, that the person who does the commandments shall live by them. But the righteousness based on 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, in your mouth and in your heart” (that is, the word of faith that we proclaim); because, if you confess with your mouth that Jesus is Lord and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved. For with the heart one believes and is justified, and with the mouth one confesses and is saved.
~ Romans 10:5-10
In the Old Testament, righteousness meant following God’s law, which no one could do fully, then or now. However, if we believe in our hearts and speak with our mouths that Jesus is Lord, that He died for our sins, and that He was raised from the dead, we are saved. Believe and profess—that’s all we have to do. Of course, when Jesus is our Lord, we want to follow God’s commandments, but, praise God, our salvation does not depend on following rules.
Gracious Lord, You justify us—impute to us the righteousness of Jesus—if we give our lives to Him. You save us and give us eternal life if we believe and profess. Jesus is my Lord; He is in my heart and on my lips. In His name I pray. Amen.
These daily devotions are available in a book The Grace of God, with all profits donated to Love for the Least to share the compassion of Christ with an unreached world. L4L shares the Good News of the Gospel with the least and unreached by making disciples of Jesus who make disciples (2 Tim 2:2) and by helping to meet the physical needs of the poorest of the poor.