“But what does it say? ‘The word is near you, in your mouth and in your heart,’ that is the word of faith which we preach…” Romans 10:8
How does one come to “confess with your mouth the Lord Jesus Christ and believe in your heart that God has raised Him from the dead,” resulting in salvation? Salvation begins with God, and Him working in the heart. It is not a far-off thing from God, but a very personal working by the Spirit of God to bring to light in the heart and mind of the individual lost sinner, the consciousness that there IS a God, and that He speaks, specifically about and concerning the Lord Jesus Christ. Though the context of the verse speaks more to Christians than non-Christians, Paul, in his letter to the Philippians writes: “…for it is God who works in you both the will and to do for His good pleasure.” (2:13) Salvation begins with God working in the heart and mind of the individual, to bring them to a realization that indeed God is speaking, that he is working to bring the individual to repentance and faith. How does He do this, and what is the evidence that it is God who is working, not just something that man is devising or imagining?
The God of all circumstances first prepares the heart and mind to receive the revelation of Himself. How is it that every day through nature God is speaking to mankind, and this without relenting. “His mercies are new every morning,” and the Psalmist adds: “The heavens declare the glory of God; and the firmament shows His handiwork. Day unto day utters speech, and night unto night knowledge.” (19:1,2) The Apostle Paul wrote to the Romans on this subject: “For since the creation of the world, His invisible attributes are clearly seen, being understood by the things that are made even His eternal power and Godhead, so that they are without excuse.” (1:20) Every day, all day long, the glory of God is revealed to mankind but is he listening, looking? The problem that exists between God and man, and God saving man from his sins, does not have its origin in God, but in the heart of sinful man. Man, by virtue of his sinful nature, does not naturally desire the things of a holy God. Born dead spiritually into this world, it is only as God in His mercy seeks man through circumstances, working by His Spirit to awaken man to his need, revealing God’s way of coming into a right relationship with Him, that man can be saved. God initiates, drawing out the heart of man towards Him, to consider Him. One of the greatest, and most terrible reasons, that Jesus of necessity had to be crucified, was for the purpose and need to life Him UP, so that all men could “…behold the Lamb of God who takes aways the sin of the world.” However, in that terrible scene, where the Prince of Glory is crucified by the very people He came to save, there is the revelation of not only the utter wretchedness of man’s sin towards God, which was the cause of such a sacrifice, but also of the love of God, the grace and mercy of God, in His search to save sinful man. “In this is love, not that we loved God, but that He loved us, and sent His Son to be the propitiation (the perfect and acceptable provision of God), for our sins.” (1 Jn. 4:10)
But how does sinful man come to God? How can he know that God is working to save him? There is no true thought of God, and desire for God, except Christ by His Spirit gives it. The Apostle Paul again writes: “How shall they call on Him in whom they have not believed?” (10:14) Paul declares that “Faith comes by hearing, and hearing by the word of God.” (10:17) By hearing or reading the truths of the gospel, one can receive saving faith.
Dear Father, Work wonderfully in us, In Jesus’ name, Amen.