Romans 10:4-15.

St Peters Watsons Bay

August 13^th, 2023.

Some years ago, I visited the La Brea tar pit museum in Los Angeles. 

I was intrigued by a display –– that covered the entire length of a very long wall – floor to ceiling – of wolf skulls – 402 of them, row upon row. 

Remarkable. 

To be precise they were the top half of the skull of the extinct ‘Dire’ wolf; a massive 80kg carnivore.

Over the millennia these ferocious creatures had been held fast by the oozing tar…and yet they continued to venture into the pits – to prey on other trapped animals – to their peril. 

In total – the museum holds over 4,000 Dire wolf specimens all of which had been trapped, crushed, and asphyxiated by the tar. 

Now, that wall reminded me of, well, me.

I’m held fast – by my own self-centredness and wilfulness; my innate, corrupt desire to live as if I myself am God. 

The technical term for this, as you know, is sin.  

Like the Dire wolf slowly perishing in the unremitting tar – I am utterly helpless and unable to free myself from sin’s grip; from the crushing death – which alienation from God leads to.

And that is why Romans 10: 4 – for me, is such a relief.

Whilst I am helpless, all is not hopeless.

Though I’ve treated him with contempt God nonetheless reaches out to me in the person of his Son, the Lord Jesus.

Jesus keeps God’s laws perfectly and unerringly – that’s the force of v.4. 

Sin has no hold over him. 

And all who believe in him are put right with God; released from the consequences of sin.

We know this because II Corinthians 5:21 reminds us that in his death on the cross Jesus traded places with us; the account of his perfect law keeping – his righteousness – is credited to all who believe, and our sin, my sin is laid on him.

Do please note that God’s generosity is appropriated – it becomes ours – by faith. 

V8 – tells us that this good news turns on our willingness to exercise faith – to trust that Jesus’ perfect law keeping does in fact put us right with God.

What does faith look like?

In the first instance – v.9 – we give assent (over the course of our lives) – that Jesus is Lord – that we submit to his priorities – not our own, and that we publicly identify as his disciple.

Why? 

Because – v.9 – we are convinced that Jesus went to the cross and to death to embrace the consequences of sin and that God powerfully released him from death’s grip and raised him to new life as Lord and King.

That is saving faith (vv. 10 & 13).

Why?

Because God ‘justifies’ (v.10) those who so believe. 

Justification – as you know is a legal term. 

It means that God had determined – and declares aloud for all eternity, that through Jesus’ sacrifice – all who trust in his promises and place their lives in his hands, will be saved. 

They have been freed from condemnation; they will never be put to shame (v.11).

And this applies to all people everywhere – regardless of their condition or ethnicity (v.12) – when they trust in Jesus. 

I wonder if we might just pause – just for a moment – for some personal reflection: are you saved?

Have you placed your life into the nail scarred hands of the risen Jesus? 

Do you believe that Jesus’ death and resurrection puts you right with God? Is Jesus your Lord?

Continuing my theme of holidays in unusual places, Jane and I decided to visit the tiny island of Kerrera – population 34 – in the Scottish Inner Hebrides, a couple of years back.

The only way we could get there was via the one tiny ferry, not much more than a pontoon with an outboard, really. 

The ferry held a dozen or so people – all standing. 

To enjoy all the benefits of the island – to appropriate all the benefits of the island we first had to make a decision; would we entrust our lives into the safe-keeping of the ferry captain and his tiny vessel, or would we longingly view the island from a distance?

Well, after checking it out the day before, what do you think we did?

Right, we clambered aboard and enjoyed all that Kerrera had in store for us.

Now, I never want to trivialise saving faith in Christ – but one facet of faith is the need to take a decision, an educated once – and step onto the ferry – as it were; to consciously elect to follow Jesus. 

To place your life in his hands and in so doing appropriate, by faith, the salvation that he has won for you.

Now, if you are yet to take that step – and for those who have been saved for some time this still remains true, do count the cost.

That is, the privilege of knowing Jesus as Lord and Saviour carries with it significant responsibility – such as pointing others to your Saviour. 

And that may be costly in a world that is hostile to the notion of personal sin and the alienation from God that ensues as a result of our sin.

Will you take that step?

Will you place your life in Jesus’ hands?

Will you become a conduit of good news, a channel of blessing to this little peninsula as you share Christ with colleagues and friends?

In a moment I’ll close with a simple prayer that I’ll read first and then as I pray it again, you may wish to make it your own by quietly praying it in your heart – to God:

Dear Heavenly Father,

Thank you that Jesus kept your laws and meets your expectations perfectly.

I believe that in his death Jesus places his right standing before God on all who believe.

I do believe that Jesus was raised from death and that you declare me free and forgiven as a result.

Help me to live under the Lordship of Jesus.

Please give me courage to speak of your salvation to those I know and love.

Thank you for hearing and answering this prayer.

Amen.