The word of faith

Jews and believers from the nations in the church

Paul writes the Letter to the Romans to a Christian community in Rome. They are his listeners. About them he writes. Both groups are present within the community. Paul puts both groups on an equal footing. There is no privilege for the Jews, no disadvantage for the believers from the nations. What does Paul proclaim? He describes this in a contrast in Romans 10:5-13.

Here he comes to talk about the perception of Jewish and non-Jewish believers. The Jewish believers knew righteousness from the Torah (the “Law”). However, Paul, as an apostle to the nations, had proclaimed that righteousness comes from faith. These are the contrasts and contrasts to which he devotes himself here:

“For Moses writes of righteousness from the law,that the man who does them all will have in his life.

But righteousness by faith says thus: Do not say in your heart: Who will go up to heaven (that is, to bring Christ down)?Or: Who will go down into the abyss (that is, to bring Christ up from the dead)?

But what does it say [die Gerechtigkeit aus Glauben]:

Close to you is the saying, in your mouth and in your heart (Deut. 30:14);

This is the word of faith that we herald: 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 in the heart one believes to righteousness,
but with the mouth one confesses to salvation.

For Scripture says:

Everyone who believes in Him will not be put to shame (Isa 28:16).

For there is no difference between a Jew and a Greek, for all have the same Lord, who shows Himself rich in all who call upon Him.

For everyone who should call on the name of the Lord will be saved.(Joel 3:5)”

Rom 10:5-13

The sentence in red emphasizes why this passage is about: There is no difference between a Jew and a Greek, for all have the same Lord. It addresses the two groups in the community. The Lord proves Himself rich to all who call upon Him (in the church).

In this section are three quotes from the Tenach, the Old Testament. This suggests that Paul is primarily addressing the Jew in the church with these words. He explains here from the scriptures that his assessment is rooted in the Tenach. But there is no distinction between believers in the gospel of grace. This is the significant message here, with which he addresses everyone in the church in Rome.

Paul describes what he proclaims. He sums it up in the phrase “word of faith.” No effort, no observance of Torah, no religious acts can replace this. The word of faith is what is valid, what helps further, what draws into communion with God through Jesus Christ.

It is not a condemnation of those who follow the Torah, but Paul emphasizes what really helps. He puts the focus at faith, as he has done many times before in Romans.

It has always struck me that in the interpretation of this passage, the focus is often on “doing” rather than on believing. Much I have heard how you “may believe in your heart” but “without a confession you will not be saved.” According to this idea, faith is about pushing the “right” buttons, as if God is waiting for you to flip a switch. It is a mechanical belief. This turns the text into the opposite.

However, Paul explains this statement with the following quote: “Everyone who believes in Him will not be put to shame! This is not an exclusion, but it is addressed to the congregation wherein all believe. He draws all alike in the church (Everyone who believes, and they all do). It is by faith. God works, not we work. Our faith is a trust in Him to bring about all things. This gives freedom, confidence and vision.

Deepening

In the previous verses, Paul talked about living by faith, which he expands on here. Read up on.
Is Paul concerned with exclusion or inclusion?