Where
is the sinner’s prayer?
I
know I have now written two blogs on this subject. If you have read the
previous two. The subject matter has been the question. “WHERE IS THE SINNERS
PRAYER?” I have stayed with Romans ten. It is this passage of
the scriptures that is so often pointed to that ends up being twisted.
Its in the last two posts we saw the absence of what must be
there in order for Paul to have been speaking of man's deliverance from sin.
What we saw missing was that (REPENTANCE nor BAPTISM) wasn't even in
Paul's discourse as one’s obedience to the gospel. So, the question we ask
is; what was Paul really speaking of?
I
write here yet another reason to combat this present day error of Romans
10 being for sinners their response to gain entrance into the kingdom
of GOD.
We
have looked at what Romans 10 does not say. In context we need to see what
it does say. It gives us even more light to the subject at hand when we can
objectively read without putting there what the Holy Ghost never intended. With
that stated, we have easily seen what wasn't there. But now we need
to see what is there within the text.
Let’s
read again.
Rom 10:8 But what saith it? The word is nigh thee, even in thy mouth, and in thy heart: that is, the
word of faith, which we preach;
Rom 10:9 That if thou shalt confess with thy mouth the Lord Jesus,
and shalt believe in thine heart that God hath raised him from the dead,
thou shalt be saved.
Rom 10:10 For with the heart man believeth unto righteousness; and
with the mouth confession is made unto salvation.
KJV
Again, if taken out of
context, it sounds like this would be GOD’S plan for man’s salvation. However,
if you read it within the context of the letter to the Romans;
it becomes obvious that this passage is not even addressed to sinners,
much less being a plan of salvation for the unsaved.
Let's
read…
Rom 10:1 Brethren, my heart's desire and prayer to God for Israel
is, that they might be saved.
Rom 10:2 For I bear them record that they have a zeal of God, but
not according to knowledge.
Rom 10:3 For they being ignorant of God's righteousness, and going
about to establish their own righteousness, have not submitted themselves unto
the righteousness of God.
Rom 10:4 For Christ is the end of
the law for righteousness to every one that believeth.
Rom 10:5 For Moses describeth the righteousness which is of the law,
That the man which doeth those things shall live by them.
Rom 10:6 But the righteousness which is of faith speaketh on this
wise, Say not in thine heart, Who shall ascend into heaven? (that is, to bring
Christ down from above:)
Rom 10:7 Or, Who shall descend into the deep? (that is, to bring up
Christ again from the dead.)
Rom 10:8 But what saith it? The word is nigh thee, even in thy mouth, and in thy heart: that is,
the word of faith, which we preach;
First and foremost, the passage is
specifically about Jews who would not accept the doctrine of Christ. They
were so convinced that righteousness could only come by the law that they could
not understand righteousness by faith.
Paul
the apostle here, reaches back in time to the law of Moses.
(THIS
IS IN DEUTERONOMY 30…) This we understand as we read from (verse 5 on
down).
Paul is
repeating this word for the purpose of showing from the Old Testament that
Israel by obeying the 613 laws of Moses. Paul was pointing to their once means
to follow GOD. They by doing so, achieved righteousness only by that law. Other
words, Israel was by their obedience to the laws of Moses was
declared a righteous people. Paul now here in our text; teaches that
through the grace of GOD to the Jews and Gentiles. They all, who
now by faith; their obedience, show and represent the kingdom of GOD.
Please note;
that both times, in the Old and New Testaments. The passages are directed at
the people who have obeyed the word of GOD and are ALREADY IN THE KINGDOM. This
word is not given to the sinner but to those who are already in the
faith.
When you go
back to the first chapter of Romans. We read who wrote it and to who this was
written for.
Rom 1:1 Paul,
a servant of Jesus Christ, called to be an apostle, separated unto the
gospel of God,
KJV
Paul’s
introduction; him saying this is my letter.
Rom 1:5 By
whom we have received grace and apostleship, for obedience to the faith
among all nations, for his name.
6 Among whom
are ye also the called of Jesus Christ:
7 To all
that be in Rome, beloved of God, called to be saints: Grace to you and
peace from God our Father, and the Lord Jesus Christ. KJV
We know who
wrote it and we know to whom it was written; the called of Jesus Christ:
To all that be in Rome, beloved of GOD, called to be saints.
Romans
10:8,9 was not written to save the sinner. Paul wrote this to keep the saint
saved.
Romans
6:3-5 acknowledges that the subjects of the letter, those to whom the letter
was addressed, had ALREADY BEEN BAPTIZED, and reiterates their
status in Romans 6:17-18…
Romans 6:17 But God be thanked, that ye were the servants of
sin, but ye have obeyed from the heart that form of doctrine which was
delivered you.
18 Being then made free from sin, ye became the servants of
righteousness. KJV
The
readers of this epistle had already been baptized and had their sins
washed away!
So, why
would he tell them how to be saved in chapter 10 if they had all obeyed that
form of doctrine? You would have to then come to the conclusion that if all of
those today who say they got saved by “confessing Christ as their savior.”
Then the conclusion to come to would be that there is (2 DIFFERENT METHODS
GOD USED TO GIVE SALVATION…)
AND
WE KNOW THAT ISNT TRUE. THERE IS ONLY ONE GOSPEL AND ONE FAITH, AND
ONE TRUTH, AND ONE WAY TO GOD.
Therefore,
when we come to Romans 10:9 -10, it is not the Plan of Salvation for sinners, but
there are two things that need to be understood. One the requirements for
righteousness to those who are ALREADY SAVED! And the second thing; as to
the saved. What is their purpose? What as believers are, they to do?
So, Paul in
delivering this to Jew and Gentile. States to the believers;
“but they
have not all obeyed the gospel.” The question Paul comes to, reveals the subject matter
entirely “who has or will believe us?”
Rom
10:16 But they have not all obeyed the gospel. For Esaias saith, Lord, who hath
believed our report?
17
So then faith cometh by hearing, and hearing by the word of God. KJV
Because when
the word of GOD is preached; then faith can come. Only then; can those who
have not obeyed the gospel. When they
hear the word of GOD, they can then obey it. This however, cannot happen until the word of GOD is preached.
Rom
10:14 How then shall they call on him in whom they have not believed?
and how shall they believe in him of whom they have not heard? and how
shall they hear without a preacher? KJV
They
of the Old Testament; Israel had the word GOD delivered to them by Moses.
The
New Testament: The Jew and Gentile to believe needed one thing; and that
is the word of GOD to be preached to them. This so they could
obey GOD'S word.
