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“As Moses lifted up the serpent [the serpent made of bronze described in Numbers 21:8–9] in the wilderness, even so must the Son of Man be lifted up, so that whosoever believes in Him will have eternal life, for God so loved the world, that He gave His only begotten [uniquely born] Son, that whosoever believes in Him shall not perish but have eternal life.”
“…for by grace you are saved through faith and that not of yourselves; it is the gift of God, not as a result of works, lest any man should boast.”
Above is the content of John 3:14–16 and the content of Ephesians 2:8–9, respectively. Itʼs worthwhile to refrain from receiving the mark referenced in Revelation 13:11–18 and to instead receive eternal life for free by believing that Jesus is the Savior. Before doing any Bible studying and before praying to God the Father, it is useful for a person who has believed in the Lord Jesus Christ as the Savior to try to think of any sins that one might have committed since one last confessed oneʼs known post-salvation sins to God the Father, and if one has indeed committed any, to then silently confess those sins to God the Father—confessing only one time for each sin—in accordance with what is mentioned in 1 John 1:9:
“If we confess our sins, He is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness.”
This webpage could be periodically updated. If there is a mass disappearance of people professing to be Christians, and if the original author of this webpage is amongst those people disappearing en masse, then it is possible that this webpage will no longer be updated. Also, if there is a mass disappearance of people professing to be Christians, it is worthwhile to consider the possibility that those people have exited from the earth on the occasion known as the Rapture instead of assuming that that mass disappearance involves extraterrestrials abducting those people or involves the annihilation of those people or involves anything else other than the Rapture.
Below are links related to archived copies of this webpage.
Also, it is possible that it is worthwhile to print this content in case of time periods involving lack of Internet connectivity.
When studying the Word of God, it is beneficial to keep in mind the content of Hebrews 4:12:
“Indeed, the Word of God is alive and powerful, sharper than any two-edged sword, piercing even to the dividing asunder of the soul and the spirit and of the joints and the marrow and is a critic of thoughts and intents of the heart.”
Note: The heart refers to the mind.
It is also beneficial to keep in mind the content of 2 Timothy 3:16–17 when studying the Word of God:
“All Scripture is God breathed and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness, that the man of God might be mature, having been thoroughly furnished unto all good work.”
It is the responsibility of a pastor-teacher to endeavor to correctly understand the Word of God and then to accurately teach the Word of God, as per the content of 2 Timothy 2:15:
“Be diligent to present yourself approved to God as a workman who does not need to be ashamed, accurately handling the Word of Truth.”
A pastor-teacher is a communicator rather than a crutch on which to be leaned. In that regard, a believer in the Lord Jesus Christ should refrain from putting oneʼs trust in and thereby serving as a devoted follower of and thus worshiping a pastor-teacher. Likewise, a believer should refrain from putting oneʼs trust in and thereby serving as a devoted follower of and thus worshiping anyone other than the Trinity [God the Father, God the Son, and God the Holy Spirit], as per Joshua 24:15, the content of which references Joshua speaking to the Israelites:
If it is disagreeable/bad/evil/wrong/wretchedness/displeasing in your sight to serve/worship Jehovah / Yahweh / I am I am / the existing One, choose for yourselves today whom you serve/worship: whether the gods ['elohiym / false gods] which your fathers have served/worshiped which were beyond the river or the gods ['elohiym / false gods] of the Amorites in whose land you are living. As for me and my house, we serve/worship Jehovah / Yahweh / I am I am / the existing One.
Note: Joshua, the leader of the Israelites after Joshua had been serving as the assistant of Moses while Moses was the leader of the Israelites, set the example for the Israelites. Joshua chose to put his trust in and thereby serve as a devoted follower of and thus worship God the Father rather than Joshua choosing to put his trust in and thereby serve as a devoted follower of and thus worship the lesser of multiple evils amongst multiple choices of 'elohiym [el-oh-HEEM]. The word 'elohiym with a lowercase e can refer to false gods, to angels, or to human rulers or judges. The word 'Elohiym with a capital E refers to the Trinity. The word 'elohiym can also be used to refer to might as in mightiness. In that regard, the use of the word 'elohiym in reference to false gods, to angels, or to human rulers or judges involves the connotation of mightiness in comparison to an average human. When a person puts oneʼs trust in and thereby serves as a devoted follower of and thus worships an angel or human, that angel or human is that personʼs false god. Regarding the foregoing, the content of Joshua 24:15 involves Joshua calling attention to the choices that the Israelites had, and that content involves Joshua permitting the Israelites to make their choices while Joshua led by example with his choice.
The gift of pastor-teacher is for the purpose of each pastor-teacher functioning as a messenger who communicates the Word of God rather than functioning as a priest between the Trinity and mankind. In that regard, the time period that can be referred to as the Church Age started fifty days after the Lord Jesus Christ was resurrected, and all Church Age believers in the Lord Jesus Christ are priests. The Lord Jesus Christ is the High Priest of Church Age believers, and believers should be willing to acknowledge/confess/profess to people the believersʼ faith in the Lord Jesus Christ, as per Hebrews 4:14–15:
Therefore, since we have a great High Priest Who has passed through the heavens, Jesus the Son of God, let us hold fast the acknowledgment/confession/profession. Indeed, we do not have a high priest who cannot sympathize with our weaknesses, but One Who has been tempted in all things as we are, yet without sin.
Also, the Lord Jesus Christ is the High Priest according to the order of Melchizedek [mel-KIZ-uh-dek], who was the ruler of Salem when Abraham was still named Abram. Melchizedek was both a king and a priest, as per Genesis 14:18, which references Melchizedek greeting Abram:
Then Melchizedek king of Salem has brought out bread and wine, and he is a priest of 'El [AYL] 'Elyown [el-YOHN] / God [focusing on God the Fatherʼs power] Most High.
The Lord Jesus Christ is also both a king and a priest because the Lord is the Priest according to the order of Melchizedek, as per Hebrews 7:14–17:
Indeed, it is evident that our Lord has arisen from Judah, a tribe with reference to which Moses spoke nothing concerning priests. Also, it is still much more evident: that according to the similarity of Melchizedek, Another of a different type of priest arises, Who has become such not on the basis of a law of fleshly command / physical requirement but according to the power of an indestructible life. Indeed, it is attested: “YOU ARE A PRIEST FOREVER, ACCORDING TO THE ORDER OF MELCHIZEDEK.”
Note: The Lord Jesus Christ is from the tribe of Judah. Also, the Lord Jesus Christ is qualified to be a priest because He was resurrected and therefore has an indestructible body. The above content in all capital letters is a reference to Psalm 110:4.
Because a king is royalty, a king who is a priest is a royal priest. In that regard, Church Age believers are royalty because they are members of the Lord Jesus Christʼs family. Therefore, all Church Age believers are royal priests, as per 1 Peter 2:9–10:
However, you are A CHOSEN PEOPLE, A royal PRIESTHOOD, A HOLY NATION, A PEOPLE FOR ACQUISITION/PRESERVATION, so that you may proclaim the excellencies of Him Who has called you out of darkness into His marvelous light, for you once were NOT A PEOPLE, but now you are GODʼS PEOPLE. You had NOT RECEIVED MERCY, but now you have RECEIVED MERCY.
Note: Before the Church Age, Gentiles were not Godʼs people. In the Church Age, both Jewish and Gentile believers are Godʼs people. The content of 1 Peter 2:10 references Hosea 2:23. In that regard, Peter uses references involving Israel in the Old Testament to refer to Church Age believers.
Itʼs the message rather than the messenger that should be the focus of the believer in the Lord Jesus Christ. Put succinctly: itʼs the message rather than the messenger. In that regard, it is beneficial to keep in mind the content of Revelation 22:8–9, which was written by the apostle John, who, in addition to writing The Revelation to John, wrote The Gospel According to John, The First Epistle of John, The Second Epistle of John, and The Third Epistle of John:
I, John, am the one who heard and saw these things, and when I heard and saw, I fell down to worship at the feet of the angel who showed me these things, but he says* to me, “Do not do that. I am a fellow servant of yours and of your brethren the prophets and of those who keep the words of this book. Worship God.”
*Note: The word says is in the Greek historical present tense. By means of the Greek historical present tense, past action or future action can be described from the perspective of someone seeing the action as it occurs.
Regarding messages, believers should use the Word of God to examine what is being communicated. That is what the Bereans who are mentioned in Acts 17:10–12 did:
The brethren immediately sent Paul and Silas away by night to Berea, who, when they arrived, went into the synagogue of the Jews. Now these were more noble-minded than those in Thessalonica, who received the word with all eagerness / readiness of mind, examining the Scriptures daily to see whether these things were so. Therefore, many of them believed, and not a few prominent Greek women and men.
Note: The phrase not a few means “quite a few.”
Today, the return of the Lord Jesus Christ to meet believers in the Lord Jesus Christ in the clouds on the occasion of the Rapture is one day closer than it was yesterday. The Rapture involves both deceased and living believers in the Lord Jesus Christ meeting the Lord in the clouds in the atmosphere of the earth, receiving glorified immortal resurrection bodies similar to the Lord Jesus Christʼs glorified resurrection body, and going to Heaven with those resurrection bodies. Before the Rapture occurs, deceased believers in the Lord Jesus Christ are in Heaven without glorified bodies. While it is possible that the Rapture will occur on the day of the Feast of Trumpets / Yom Teruah [yahm tuh-ROO-uh or yohm tuh-ROO-uh]—which is what some people call Rosh Hashanah and which some people celebrate for two days—the next occurrence of which will possibly be during August, September, or October of 2026, it is worthwhile for believers in the Lord Jesus Christ to get into the habit of being prepared every day for the return of the Lord, just in case the Rapture will occur on a day other than the day of the Feast of Trumpets / Yom Teruah. Furthermore, it is worthwhile to be in the habit of being prepared for the Rapture so that if it does occur on the day of the Feast of Trumpets / Yom Teruah, one can be prepared for that day because of already being in the habit of being prepared. Examples of being prepared for the Rapture include applying the content of 1 John 1:9 whenever one sins, being unselfish, and whenever circumstances are such that an opportunity arises, sharing the gospel—the good news that believing that the Lord Jesus Christ is the Savior Who was judged on the cross for the sins of humanity is the means by which a person is able to have eternal life. Regarding sharing the gospel, one could also have a written or printed message containing the gospel with that written or printed message located somewhere where it could be easily noticed so that if a person or people were to read or hear that written or printed message either before or after the Rapture occurs, that person or people would thereby read or hear the gospel by means of that written or printed message.
Regarding information about the Rapture, it is beneficial to keep in mind the content of 1 Thessalonians 4:13–18 and 1 Corinthians 15:51–52:
1 Thessalonians 4:13–18
Now we do not want you to be uninformed, brethren, about those who are asleep, so that you will not grieve as do the rest who have no hope, for if we believe that Jesus died and rose again—and we do indeed believe that Jesus died and rose again—so also God will bring with Him those who have fallen asleep through Jesus. Indeed, this we say to you by the word of the Lord, that we who are alive who remain until the coming of the Lord will not precede those who have fallen asleep, for the Lord Himself will descend from heaven with a shout of command, with a voice of an archangel and with a trumpet of God, and the dead in Christ will rise first. Then we who are alive who remain will be caught up together with them in the clouds to meet the Lord in the air, and so we shall always be with the Lord. Therefore, comfort one another with these words.
1 Corinthians 15:51–52
Behold, I tell you a mystery: we will not all sleep, but we will all be changed, in a moment, in a twinkling of an eye, at the last trumpet, for a trumpet will sound, and the dead will be raised incorruptible, and we will be changed.
After the Rapture will be the seven-year Tribulation. The believers who will be alive on the earth when the Rapture occurs will escape the Tribulation. 1 Thessalonians 5:1–11 covers that topic. In that regard, in the book 1 Thessalonians, the content of 1 Thessalonians 4:13–18 is immediately followed by the content of 1 Thessalonians 5:1–11.
1 Thessalonians 5:1–11
Now as to the times and the epochs, brethren, you have no need of anything to be written to you, for you yourselves know full well that the day of the Lord is coming just like a thief in the night. While they are saying, “Peace and safety!” then sudden destruction comes upon them like labor pains upon a woman with child, and they will not escape. However, you, brethren, are not in darkness, that the day would overtake you like a thief, for you are all sons of light and sons of day. We are not of night nor of darkness; therefore, let us not sleep as others, but let us be alert and sober. Indeed, those who sleep do their sleeping at night, and those who get drunk get drunk at night. However, since we are of day, let us be sober, having put on the breastplate of faith and benevolence/goodwill, and as a helmet, the hope / absolute confidence of deliverance, for God has not destined us for wrath but for obtaining deliverance through our Lord Jesus Christ, Who died for us, so that whether we are awake or asleep, we will live together with Him. Therefore, comfort one another and edify one another, just as you also are doing.
Note: In this context, the day of the Lord is the time period that consists of the Rapture, the seven years of the Tribulation, and the Second Advent. In that regard, deliverance from the Tribulation is the deliverance in this context. Also, unspecified is who will be saying “Peace and safety!” In this context, sleeping refers to a lack of alertness. The alertness in this context involves being ready for the Rapture. In order to be ready for the Rapture, a believer needs to be filled with the power of God the Holy Spirit and to pay attention for historical trends such as people saying “Peace and safety!” and for historical trends that match the pattern of the world being on the brink of tremendous calamities like those that will occur during the Tribulation. Regarding being filled with the power of God the Holy Spirit, once a believer commits a sin after salvation, that believer is no longer filled with the power of God the Holy Spirit and is out of fellowship with the Trinity. After that believer has confessed/acknowledged to God the Father all of that believerʼs known unconfessed post-salvation sins, fellowship with the Trinity and the filling with the power of the Holy Spirit are restored. The procedure for confessing/acknowledging to God the Father all of oneʼs known unconfessed post-salvation sins is mentioned in 1 John 1:9: “If we confess our sins, He is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness.” Fellowship with God the Father and God the Son is mentioned in 1 John 1. Being out of fellowship with God the Holy Spirit is referenced in Ephesians 4:30. In that regard, when a believer sins, that believer grieves the Holy Spirit. Losing the filling of the power of God the Holy Spirit is referenced in 1 Thessalonians 5:19. In that regard, when a believer sins, the power of God the Holy Spirit is quenched in that believer. After a believer has confessed/acknowledged to God the Father all of that believerʼs known unconfessed post-salvation sins, that believer is then filled with the power of God the Holy Spirit again and in fellowship with the Trinity again.
The verses of the day for April 18th are Romans 10:9–10. The title of the book Romans is also known as “The Epistle of Paul to the Romans” and “The Letter of Paul to the Romans.” Romans was a letter written by the apostle Paul to believers in the Lord Jesus Christ who were located in Rome, the capital city of the Roman Empire (which was also called Rome). The word Rome can be used to refer to the city Rome, to the kingdom of which that city was the capital, to the republic of which that city was the capital, or to the empire of which that city was the capital. The settlement that became the city Rome was founded in the 700s B.C. Rome eventually became a kingdom. That kingdom is known as the Roman Kingdom. Then Rome became a republic. That republic is known as the Roman Republic. After that, Rome became an empire. That empire is known as the Roman Empire. The Lord Jesus Christ was born during the time of the Roman Empire.
Below is a link to a map that shows the location of the capital city Rome. Jerusalem is also on the map. At the time that the apostle Paul wrote the book Romans, Jerusalem was under the control of the Roman Empire. At that time, Jerusalem was within the Roman province of Judea [joo-DEE-uh or joo-DAY-uh]. The word Judea can also be spelled Judaea or Judæa. The character æ is a ligature [LIG-uh-chuhr or LIG-uh-choor] of a and e. Before the Romans conquered the region known as Judea, the name of the country of the Jewish people was Judah. The inhabitants of Judah can be referred to as Judahites [JOO-duh-ights]. The inhabitants of Judea can be referred to as Judeans [joo-DEE-uhnz or joo-DAY-uhnz].
https://NETBible.org/media/images/constable/45Rom-1.jpg
Because it is useful to study verses in the context of the verses around them, below is content related to Romans 9:30–33 and Romans 10:1–11.
Romans 9:30
What shall we say then? That Gentiles, who did not pursue righteousness, attained righteousness, even the righteousness which is by faith,
Note: In this verse, Paul indicates that there were Gentiles who, rather than trying to make themselves righteous enough to obtain eternal life, obtained eternal life by means of believing in the Lord Jesus Christ as the Savior.
Romans 9:31
but Israel, pursuing a law of righteousness, did not arrive at that law.
Note: In this verse, Paul indicates that, in contrast with Gentiles who had believed in the Lord Jesus Christ as the Savior, there were Jewish unbelievers who had tried to be righteous enough to obtain eternal life but had failed to be righteous enough.
Romans 9:32
Why? Because—not by faith but as by works. They stumbled over the stumbling Stone,
Note: There were Jewish unbelievers who had tried to obtain eternal life by means of their works. In this verse, the word Stone refers to the Lord Jesus Christ. In that regard, the phrase They stumbled over the stumbling Stone refers to Jewish unbelievers rejecting the Lord Jesus Christ as the Savior.
Romans 9:33
just as it is written: “BEHOLD, I LAY IN ZION A STONE OF STUMBLING AND A ROCK OF OFFENSE, AND HE WHO BELIEVES IN HIM WILL NOT BE NOT BE PUT TO SHAME.”
Note: In Romans 9:33, the content in all uppercase letters references Isaiah 28:16 and Isaiah 8:14. Zion [ZIGH-uhn] is the mountain on which Jerusalem is located. Also, the word Zion can be used to refer to Jerusalem.
Note: In Romans 10:1, the pronoun them refers to Jewish unbelievers.
Romans 10:1
Brethren, my heartʼs desire and my prayer to God for them is for salvation.
Note: In this verse, the word Brethren refers to believers in the Lord Jesus Christ. Also, the heart refers to the mind. Regarding the phrase my prayer to God, all prayer must be addressed to God the Father. The Lord Jesus Christ Himself indicated that all prayer must be addressed to God the Father. The content of Matthew 6:1–13 covers the Lord giving an example about how to pray. In that regard, the content of Matthew 6:9 covers the Lord commanding that prayers be addressed to God the Father. The content of Luke 11:1–4 also covers the Lord giving an example about how to pray. In that regard, the content of Luke 11:2 covers the Lord commanding that prayers be addressed to God the Father.
In Romans 10:1, the phrase my prayer to God for them is for salvation refers to Paul praying regarding the salvation of Jewish unbelievers. In that regard, each person must use that personʼs volition (free will) to decide whether or not to believe in the Lord Jesus Christ as the Savior. God the Father permits people to make free-will decisions to reject the Lord Jesus Christ as the Savior. In that regard, when a believer in the Lord Jesus Christ prays regarding salvation for an unbeliever, God the Father can have God the Son give that unbeliever circumstances such that that unbeliever will have an opportunity or opportunities to believe in the Lord Jesus Christ as the Savior. Regarding the roles of the Members of the Trinity, God the Father does the planning, God the Son executes the plan, and God the Holy Spirit reveals the plan. The Lord Jesus Christ is God the Son. With the foregoing in mind, when a believer in the Lord Jesus Christ prays for salvation for an unbeliever, the believerʼs prayers must respect the free will of that unbeliever for whom the believer prays. In that regard, a believer can pray for salvation for unbelievers by praying to God the Father that God the Father have God the Son give those unbelievers circumstances so that those unbelievers can have an opportunity or opportunities to change their thinking regarding the means by which a person obtains eternal life, that those unbelievers hear or see the gospel—the good news that believing that the Lord Jesus Christ is the Savior Who was judged on the cross for the sins of humanity is the means by which a person is able to have eternal life—and that God the Father has God the Holy Spirit make the gospel clear to those unbelievers.
Romans 10:2
Indeed, I testify about them that they have a zeal for God but not in accordance with epignōsis knowledge.
Note: The phrase epignōsis knowledge found in the above translation is a translation of the Koine [KOI-nay] Greek noun ἐπίγνωσιν [pronounced eh-PEE-know-seen and transliterated into English as epignōsin]. That noun is an inflected form of the root word ἐπίγνωσις [pronounced eh-PEE-know-sees and transliterated as epignōsis (some people leave the macron off the o and transliterate the word as epignosis)]. In the New American Standard Bible 1995 (NASB 1995) and New American Standard Bible 2020 (NASB 2020) translations of various verses, the word epignōsis is translated as “knowledge,” “real knowledge,” and “true knowledge.” Sometimes, the NASB 1995 and NASB 2020 translations also have footnotes indicating that epignōsis can be translated as “recognition.” When precisely translated, rather than simply referring to knowledge, the word epignōsis refers to that which is above or beyond ordinary knowledge. The Koine Greek word for ordinary knowledge is γνῶσις [pronounced KNOW-sees and transliterated as gnōsis or gnosis]. In the Bible, epignōsis is used to refer to knowledge of the Word of God.
Romans 10:3
Indeed, not knowing about Godʼs righteousness and seeking to establish their own, they did not subject themselves to the righteousness of God.
Note: In this verse, Paul is referencing Jewish unbelievers who tried to obtain eternal life by means of their works rather than by means of believing in the Lord Jesus Christ as the Savior. In that regard, those Jewish unbelievers who were trying to obtain eternal life by means of their works were trying to make themselves righteous enough to obtain eternal life. Also, they were ignorant about the righteousness of God the Father. In that regard, the righteousness of the Trinity can be referred to as +R. The righteousness of mankind falls short of the righteousness of the Trinity; therefore, the righteousness of mankind can be referred to as −R. Isaiah 64:6 covers the matter of the −R being contrasted with the +R of the Trinity. In that regard, below is content related to Isaiah 64:6.
Isaiah 64:6
However, all of us are like an unclean thing, and all our righteous deeds are like filthy rags / menstrual rags. All of us wither like a leaf, and our iniquities, like the wind, take us away.
Note: The Hebrew word translated as “filthy” or “menstrual” in Isaiah 64:6 is עִדִּים [pronounced eed-DEEM and can be transliterated as `iddiym], which is an inflected form of the root word עִדָּה [pronounced eed-DAH and can be transliterated as `iddah]. (Hebrew is written and read from right to left.) The Hebrew word `iddah refers to something filthy in the sense of being soiled by menstrual flux—in other words, soiled by menses, which is blood and other matter that is discharged from the uterus of a woman during menstruation. The Hebrew word translated as “rags” in Isaiah 64:6 is בֶגֶד [pronounced VEHG-ed and can be transliterated as veged], which is an inflected form of the root word בֶּגֶד [pronounced BEHG-ed and can be transliterated as beged]. Regarding the content of Isaiah 64:6 containing the phrase `iddiym veged, the content of that verse indicates that in comparison to the righteousness of the Trinity, the righteousness of mankind is yuck, yuck, yuck!
Getting back to Romans 10:3, the Jewish unbelievers who were trying to obtain eternal life by means of their works did not subject themselves to God the Fatherʼs righteousness in that they rejected the free gift that involves the receiving of +R. That free gift is eternal life, and it is obtained by believing that the Lord Jesus Christ was judged for the sins of humanity. At the moment a person believes in the Lord Jesus Christ as the Savior, +R is imputed to that person. In other words, that person is credited as having righteousness, which means that that person is declared sufficiently righteous to have an eternal relationship with the Trinity. This crediting of righteousness is a free gift that occurs at the moment a person believes in the Lord Jesus Christ as the Savior.
The content of 2 Corinthians 5:21 covers the matter of +R being imputed to a believer in the Lord Jesus Christ at the moment of salvation. In that regard, below is the content of 2 Corinthians 5:21 for reference. Also, there is nothing in this verse about a personʼs works being involved in the imputation of +R to that person.
2 Corinthians 5:21
He made Him Who knew no sin: sin on our behalf, so that we might become the righteousness of God in / by means of Him.
Note: In this verse, the pronoun He refers to God the Father, and both instances of the pronoun Him refer to the Lord Jesus Christ. The phrase Him Who knew no sin refers to the Lord Jesus Christ being sinless—in other words, Him having been conceived without an old sin nature and Him never sinning. Both instances of the noun sin in this verse are translations of the Koine [KOI-nay] Greek noun ἁμαρτίαν [pronounced hah-mahr-TEE-ahn and transliterated as hamartian]. That noun is an inflected form of the root word ἁμαρτία [pronounced hah-mahr-TEE-ah and transliterated as hamartia].
The phrase sin on our behalf refers to the Lord Jesus Christ being judged for the sins of all of humanity. Paul wrote part of this verse elliptically, omitting a verb. That elliptical style of writing can grab the attention of a reader or hearer of this verse. In that regard, Paul emphasizes the Lordʼs sinlessness and the Lord being judged for the sins of all of humanity.
Romans 10:4
Indeed, Christ is the end of the Law for righteousness to everyone who believes.
Note: The Israelites were under the Mosaic Law until the Lord Jesus Christ fulfilled the Mosaic Law by being judged on the cross for the sins of humanity. The term Mosaic Law refers to the laws communicated by Moses to the ancient Israelites. Because Moses communicated those laws, they are known collectively as the Mosaic Law. Even though the Lord Jesus Christ fulfilled the Mosaic Law by being judged on the cross for the sins of humanity, some Jewish unbelievers were trying to be righteous enough to obtain eternal life, and the means by which they tried to be righteous enough was by trying to adhere to the regulations of the Mosaic Law. When any such Jewish unbeliever believed in the Lord Jesus Christ as the Savior, that Jewish personʼs attempts to be righteous enough by means of the Mosaic Law would end.
Romans 10:5
Indeed, Moses writes of the righteousness which is by means of the Law, that the person who performs them will live by them,
Note: This verse references Leviticus 18:5. Absent from this verse is any reference to eternal life. In that regard, the reference to living in this verse involves how a person lives his or life—in other words, his or her manner of life. The Mosaic Law contained rules related to morality. Obeying those rules contributed to the protection of the Israelites from evil. Some Jewish people distorted those rules into a system of trying to be righteous enough to obtain eternal life. The people who try to be righteous enough to obtain eternal life have −R, which is the righteousness that falls short of the righteousness of the Trinity, as described above in the content of Isaiah 64:6.
Romans 10:6
but the righteousness by means of faith speaks as follows: “DO NOT SAY IN YOUR HEART, ‘WHO WILL ASCEND INTO HEAVEN?’ (that is, to bring Christ down),
Note: This verse references Deuteronomy 30:12. Also, the righteousness referenced in this verse is +R, as described above in the content of 2 Corinthians 5:21. In addition, righteousness is personified in this verse. In that regard, in this verse and the two verses that follow it, Paul personifies righteousness as speaking references to the Old Testament. Regarding the reference to the Old Testament in this verse, Paul is indicating that no human is righteous enough to get the Lord Jesus Christ out of Heaven and bring Him down to the earth. Heaven with a capital H is also known as the Third Heaven or Third Heavens, which is where the throne room of God the Father is located. The term second heavens (also known as second heaven) refers to outer space. The term first heavens (also known as first heaven) refers to the atmosphere of the earth.
Romans 10:7
or ‘WHO WILL DESCEND INTO THE ABYSS?’ (that is, to bring Christ up from the dead).”
Note: This verse references Deuteronomy 30:13. In Deuteronomy 30:13, there is a reference to inaccessibility involving a reference to a sea. In Romans 10:7, there is a reference to inaccessibility involving a reference to the abyss. Regarding the reference to the Old Testament in this verse, Paul is indicating that no human is righteous enough to resurrect the Lord Jesus Christ.
Romans 10:8
However, what does it say? “THE WORD IS NEAR YOU, IN YOUR MOUTH AND IN YOUR HEART”—that is, the word of faith which we are preaching,
Note: This verse references Deuteronomy 30:14. Also, the heart refers to the mind. In this verse, Paul uses the word NEAR metaphorically to indicate that eternal salvation can be obtained easily. This usage of the word NEAR contrasts with the inaccessibility involved in trying to be righteous enough to get the Lord down from Heaven and the inaccessibility involved in trying to be righteous enough to resurrect the Lord. That contrast provided an opportunity or opportunities for Jewish unbelievers who were trying to be righteous enough to obtain eternal life to recognize that the actual means of obtaining eternal life is easy: by believing that the Lord Jesus Christ was judged for the sins of humanity.
The reference to oneʼs mouth is a metaphorical reference to communicating. In this context, communicating refers to acknowledging that the Lord Jesus Christ is the Savior. When a person believes in the Lord Jesus Christ as the Savior, that person is acknowledging that the Lord Jesus Christ is the Savior. Because God the Father knows all of the thoughts of everyone, God the Father knows when a person believes in the Lord Jesus Christ as the Savior, and that personʼs belief in the Lord Jesus Christ as the Savior is thereby communicated to God the Father simply by means of the person believing that the Lord Jesus Christ is the Savior.
Romans 10:9
that if you confess/acknowledge with your mouth Jesus as Lord, and believe in your heart that God raised Him from the dead, you will be saved,
Note: The heart refers to the mind. Also, the content of this verse is related to Jewish unbelievers who were trying to be righteous enough to obtain eternal life. In that regard, the resurrection of the Lord is absent from other verses referencing the means by which a person obtains eternal life. The reason resurrection is referenced in this verse is because the content of this verse and the preceding verses involves Jewish unbelievers who were trying to be righteous enough to obtain eternal life. Such Jewish unbelievers had been expecting the Messiah to arrive as the Lord Who would conquer the enemies of the Jews. In that regard, those such Jewish unbelievers might recognize Jesus Christ as the Lord Who will return in the future to conquer the enemies of the Jews, but at the same time as recognizing that, those such Jewish unbelievers might fail to recognize that they needed the Savior to be judged for their sins and that the Lord Jesus Christ is the Savior Who was judged for their sins. The fact that the Lord Jesus Christ was resurrected reveals that He is indeed the Messiah Who was judged for the sins of humanity. By believing that the Lord Jesus Christ is both the Lord and that He was resurrected, those such Jewish people would thereby recognize that Jesus is the Messiah and that, as the Messiah, He was judged for the sins of humanity, rather than thinking that, as the Messiah, He would simply arrive to conquer without having suffered judgment on the cross.
Romans 10:10
for with the heart a person believes, to righteousness, and with the mouth he confesses/acknowledges, to salvation.
Note: The heart refers to the mind. As with verse 8, the reference to a personʼs mouth in this verse is a metaphorical reference to communicating. In this context, communicating refers to acknowledging that the Lord Jesus Christ is the Savior. When a person believes in the Lord Jesus Christ as the Savior, that person is acknowledging that the Lord Jesus Christ is the Savior. Because God the Father knows all of the thoughts of everyone, God the Father knows when a person believes in the Lord Jesus Christ as the Savior, and that personʼs belief in the Lord Jesus Christ as the Savior is thereby communicated to God the Father simply by means of the person believing that the Lord Jesus Christ is the Savior.
Romans 10:11
Indeed, the Scripture says, “WHOEVER BELIEVES IN HIM WILL NOT BE PUT TO SHAME.”
Note: In Romans 10:11, the content in all uppercase letters references Isaiah 28:16.
Sincerely,
John
