Salvation Near To All

February 3rd, 2025
by Dr. D. Lance Waldie

Romans 10:5-8 For Moses writes that the man who practices the righteousness which is based on law shall live by that righteousness. 6 But the righteousness based on faith speaks as follows: “Do not say in your heart, ‘Who will ascend into heaven?’ (that is, to bring Christ down), 7 or ‘Who will descend into the abyss?’ (that is, to bring Christ up from the dead).” 8 But what does it say? “The word is near you, in your mouth and in your heart.”

God gave Moses the Law so that Israel would be governed by God’s righteousness. It was to be obeyed by all, but the essence of the Law was faith, for no one is saved by the Law, only by faith (cf. Heb. 11:6-40). Christ fulfilled the Law (Matt. 5:17), for sure, but He is the “end” of the law for righteousness only for “everyone who believes.” For those who continue to think that law-abiding behavior draws them closer to God, Christ is not the “end” of the law for them.

Moses spoke of God’s righteousness in the Law, so Paul quoted God’s word when Moses spoke to Israel: “You shall keep My statutes and My judgments, by which a man may live if he does them” (Lev. 18:5). What God was saying was that if anyone relied on his own obedience to God’s Law, that person would be accountable for everything the Law required. This is not only an impossible task, it puts one under a curse: “As many as are of the works of the Law are under a curse; for it is written, ‘Cursed is everyone who does not abide by all things written in the book of the Law, to perform them’ ” (Gal. 3:10; cf. Deut. 27:26). James too got into this subject saying, “Whoever keeps the whole Law, and yet stumbles in one point, he has become guilty of all” (Jas. 2:10). So, since no one can keep the Law, no one is justified by the Law (cf. Gal. 3:11).

A prime example of Jewish thought concerning Law is revealed in the young man who came to Jesus asking about eternal life (Matt. 19:16-26). When Jesus asked him if he had kept all the commandments, he said yes! What he failed to recognize, however, is that the Law of Moses cannot be kept, and it brings wrath (Rom. 4:15), for it compels man to sin. So, God gave the Law to reveal man’s sin (Rom. 3:20). Truly, the Law justifies no one, for there is no mercy in law.

Since salvation is not found in the Law but only by faith, where might one find this faith? Quoting from Deuteronomy 30:12-14, Paul reveals that Christ, who does grant mercy, does not have to be sought, either in heaven or hell. The quote from Deuteronomy, in its original context, reveals that God was calling Israel to obedience, promising to prosper them. Yet their hearts needed to be focused on Him (cf. Deut. 30:9-10). Paul’s point is that even if it were possible to reach Christ in the highest heights or the lowest pits, the righteousness of faith does not require such. Mystical, esoteric journeys to find God are futile. They promote a works-righteousness that moves in the opposite direction of God. Movement toward God is by faith alone. Attempting a “righteousness based on Law” (v. 5) actually denies Christ, His death, and resurrection.

So what Moses told Israel in the OT is the same thing Paul told Christians in the NT: “The word is near you, in your mouth and in your heart.” Ascending and descending to find God is useless. God’s plan of salvation has been clearly paved and has been since the first man, Adam. From the old covenant to the new covenant, salvation is through faith alone.

Food for Thought

Universally, man tends to pursue salvation by doing good, by keeping the law of the land, or even the Law of Moses. Of course the law itself judges us when we fail, whether it be God’s Ten Commandments or our local laws and ordinances. Once we realize that keeping the law perfectly is impossible, we either believe that salvation is due us by comparing ourselves with others that we deem are far worse than us, or we simply trust in Jesus Christ who grants salvation by faith alone. The former doesn’t work, but the latter is guaranteed!