Study Notes on Romans 10:6-9

HCSB Romans 10:6-9
6 But the righteousness that comes from faith speaks like this: Do not say in your heart, “Who will go up to heaven?” that is, to bring Christ down 7 or, “Who will go down into the abyss?” that is, to bring Christ up from the dead. 8 On the contrary, what does it say? The message is near you, in your mouth and in your heart. This is the message of faith that we proclaim: 9 if you confess with your mouth, “Jesus is Lord,” and believe in your heart that God raised Him from the dead, you will be saved.

I had some trouble understanding this until I searched it out. In the previous verses Paul has said that “Christ is the end of the law for righteousness to everyone that believes”. His purpose was to show that the passage in Deuteronomy was an exact representation of Christian doctrine. He is saying to the Jews (who are trusting in the law for righteousness) Don’t say “who will go up to heaven?”. Christ has already come down in the incarnation – Put your trust in him. Don’t say “who will go down into the abyss?” for Christ has been resurrected. You see, the vital elements of the Gospel of Jesus Christ have already been accomplished. Believe in them. Believe in it. Believe in Him. The law cannot save you nor was it intended to. No, faith has been preached in scripture from the beginning. Let’s look at that passage in Deuteronomy:

HCSB Deuteronomy 30:12-16
12 It is not in heaven, so that you have to ask, ‘Who will go up to heaven, get it for us, and proclaim it to us so that we may follow it?’ 13 And it is not across the sea, so that you have to ask, ‘Who will cross the sea, get it for us, and proclaim it to us so that we may follow it?’ 14 But the message is very near you, in your mouth and in your heart, so that you may follow it. 15 See, today I have set before you life and prosperity, death and adversity. 16 For I am commanding you today to love the LORD your God, to walk in His ways, and to keep His commands, statutes, and ordinances, so that you may live and multiply, and the LORD your God may bless you in the land you are entering to possess.

It is not in heaven. What is not in heaven? It is not across the sea. What is not across the sea? The Message. The Gospel. It is in your mouth and in your heart so that you may follow it.

To Be Continued!