Re:Verse passage – Romans 10:5-13 (day six).
“Don’t say in your heart, ‘Who will go up to heaven?’ (to bring Christ down to earth). 7 And don’t say, ‘Who will go down to the place of the dead?’ (to bring Christ back to life again).” 8 In fact, it says,
“The message is very close at hand; it is on your lips and in your heart.” Rom. 10:6-8
Paul borrows these questions from Deuteronomy 30, where Moses assures Israel that God’s word is not impossibly distant. They do not need someone to retrieve it from heaven or carry it back from beyond the sea. The word is already near, in their mouths and hearts.
Paul sees this promise fulfilled in Jesus. We do not need to ascend into heaven to bring the Messiah down; God has already sent him. We do not need to descend into death to raise him; God has already raised him from the grave.
God’s promised rescue has come near.
This is part of Paul’s larger assurance that God has not abandoned Israel or forgotten his covenant. In fact, God has fulfilled his promise through Israel’s Messiah and extended its blessing to the nations. Now the same risen Lord is near to everyone (Jew and Gentile) who calls upon him.
The gospel is not a distant treasure achieved through heroic effort. It is good news brought near by God’s faithfulness revealed in Jesus as the risen King, received by faith (full confidence in Jesus), and confessed with our mouths: Jesus is Lord. (And Caesar is not.)
Discover more from The Everyday Prayer
Subscribe to get the latest posts sent to your email.
