A SAVING PROFESSION

Can I pray for you in any way?

Send any prayer requests to Gods4all@aol.com

In Christ, Mark

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

** Follow The Christian Walk on Twitter @ThChristianWalk

** Like posts and send friend requests to the author of The Christian Walk, Mark Cummings on Facebook at https://www.facebook.com/mark.cummings.733?ref=tn_tnmn

** Become a Follower of The Christian Walk at http://the-christian-walk.blogspot.com

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

The scriptures. May God bless the reading of His holy word.

“Moses writes this about the righteousness that is by the law: ‘The person who does these things will live by them.’  But the righteousness that is by 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 deep?”’ (that is, to bring Christ up from the dead). But what does it say? ‘The word is near you; it is in your mouth and in your heart,’ that is, the message concerning faith that we proclaim: If you declare with your mouth, ‘Jesus is Lord,’ and believe in your heart that God raised Him from the dead, you will be saved. For it is with your heart that you believe and are justified, and it is with your mouth that you profess your faith and are saved.”

Romans 10:5-10

This ends today’s reading from God's holy word. Thanks be to God.

Have you ever professed something?

We all do it more than we may think.

I remember in my school year days, I was taught to recite the Pledge of Allegiance, a pledge that had me profess my loyalty to the United States of America and the flag by which it stands.

 “One nation, under God, indivisible, with liberty and justice for all.”  

These words still ring true in my heart even today as I am in my early sixties and I still profess them as passionately as ever.

In 1992, the Lord brought a very special lady into my life, a lady I have had the privilege to be married to for nearly 29 years now (our anniversary is coming up on December 12th). When we first started dating, I professed my love for her. When we took our vows on our wedding day, I professed my commitment to her. And today, I still profess both with all my heart. I also continue to profess my thanks and praise to the Lord for ordaining our relationship.

In my Christian life, there have also been professions, lots of them. I openly professed by faith in Jesus Christ during my baptism. When I was in the Presbyterian denomination, we would profess The Apostles Creed during service as a congregation, affirming together what we believed as a body of Christ. And as a Christian teacher, worship leader, and evangelist, I have professed the word of God to all who would read or listen for Jesus professed, using Old Testament scripture, that man doesn’t live by bread alone but rather by every word that comes from the mouth of God. Professing the Bible provides spiritual nourishment to the person who receives it. It was true in biblical days and it remains true today.

Why all this emphasis on professing things?

Because the matter is central to today’s scripture passage and our continued study of Romans 10. Through Paul’s words, we see where profession plays a role in the salvation process. Look again at his words here:

“Moses writes this about the righteousness that is by the law: ‘The person who does these things will live by them.’  But the righteousness that is by 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 deep?”’ (that is, to bring Christ up from the dead). But what does it say? ‘The word is near you; it is in your mouth and in your heart,’ that is, the message concerning faith that we proclaim: If you declare with your mouth, ‘Jesus is Lord,’ and believe in your heart that God raised Him from the dead, you will be saved. For it is with your heart that you believe and are justified, and it is with your mouth that you profess your faith and are saved.”  Romans 10:5-10

Here we find that one’s profession of belief in Jesus is a part of the salvation process. The word of God here tells provides us the following absolute truth:

“If you declare with your mouth, ‘Jesus is Lord,’ and believe in your heart that God raised Him from the dead, you will be saved.”

The Gospel story is grounded in Jesus being God’s one and only Son, a Son who was one with His Father. We know because He said He was. This is what makes Jesus the Lord, the Lord who died on Calvary’s cross while bearing the sins of all mankind but then was resurrected, brought from death to life so that all who believed in Him as Savior could follow.

If you can profess to having faith in this Gospel truth, testifying to Jesus being God’s Son who was sent out of love to be a perfect atoning sacrifice to pay the sin debt owed by man, proclaiming that He was raised from the dead by God’s resurrection power, and finally that God brought Him back to Heaven, placing Him in authority over all creation until that day He will return to judge the earth, then you will be saved and receive eternal life.

It’s nothing short of a divine profession, one with everlasting implications.

Amen.

In Christ,

Mark

PS: Feel free to leave a comment and please share this with anyone you feel might be blessed by it.
Send any prayer requests to Gods4all@aol.com