Faith Vs. Physical Evidence

I want to think of the crucifixion of our Lord Jesus Christ. I want to look at the events as they were recorded for us there. So many times when thinking of those events we think of the great price the Lord paid, and rightly so. Sometimes we think of thief on the cross that Jesus told would be with him in paradise that day. Sometimes we think of his disciples gathered around mourning his death. And sometimes, but very seldom, we think of the Jews who said if he was truly the Christ, the Messiah, the Son of God, that he should come down of the cross and save himself. However when Paul is writing in Chapter 10 of Romans I think that is exactly what he was thinking of, was the Jews taunting him to come of the cross and save himself. I think that is exactly what Paul was thinking of when he wrote these words. But the righteousness based on 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 abyss?'" (that is, to bring Christ up from the dead). Romans 10:6-7 Not only do I believe that is what Paul was thinking of when he wrote those words, but I think that is exactly what God had in mind when he inspired the words that are recorded in the book of Deuteronomy that Paul was quoting.

Moses in Deuteronomy 30 was talking to the people as the Lord had commanded him concerning repentance, and the forgiveness of sins. He told them as they would have to choose between life and death that they should not say, “Who is going to go up to heaven and get proof for us of God’s promise? Or who will go across the sea and get proof.” Moses told the people that the proof was near to them already. It was in their mouth and in their heart. For to go and get proof from heaven is to tell God that he must send the Christ down again and show a sign that all might believe, or to allow them to see into the abyss to have proof that Christ was not there. Paul says it this way: But the righteousness based on 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 abyss?'" (that is, to bring Christ up from the dead). But what does it say? "The word is near you, in your mouth and in your heart" (that is, the word of faith that we proclaim); because, if you confess with your mouth that Jesus is Lord and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved. For with the heart one believes and is justified, and with the mouth one confesses and is saved. For the Scripture says, "Everyone who believes in him will not be put to shame." Romans 10:6-11

The righteousness that is based on faith believes it because God testifies to it, and it is believed in the heart. The righteousness that is based on faith is not a righteousness that is based on what is seen, but based on the very promise and character of God. The righteousness that is based on faith is based on admitting that Jesus is the only perfect Lord and Savior, not because we have physically seen him seated at God’s right hand, but because God has revealed it to our hearts and we believe Him. The righteousness that is based on faith says that you will never be put to shame, because God is God. The Israelites struggled to believe this truth about Jesus. They said that it was impossible to believe it because Jesus did not look like the messiah they expected. They were hard to the truth, but it was because they chose to be hard and trust in their own works and the righteousness they believed they could earn. But God……through Moses said "For this commandment that I command you today is not too hard for you, neither is it far off.” Deuteronomy 30:11 The righteousness that is based on faith trusts in God that it is not too hard to believe and choose life rather than death, and that is why when we choose death there is no excuse, because the same God who gave the Son gave us the ability and mustard seed of faith to believe.