Romans 10:10 For with the heart man believes to righteousness; and with the mouth confession is made to salvation. 1. It was a saying of Dr. Johnson, that "classical quotation was the parole of literary men," and we can understand how a sympathy similar to that existing among scholars would obtain between Paul and the Jews to whom he wrote, and they found him adapting the words of the law in his exposition of the gospel. A comparison of vers. 6-8 with Deuteronomy 30:11-14 will show clearly that they are adapted rather than quoted. 2. In ver. 9, confession comes before believing, there being a play upon the words quoted in ver. 8; but in ver. 10 we have, more logically, belief coming before confession. I. "WITH THE HEART MAN BELIEVETH UNTO RIGHTEOUSNESS." 1. Nature of evangelical faith. (1) It is not a mere intellectual faith, as when men believe in Caesar or Napoleon, for this the devils have when they "believe and tremble " (James 2:19). (2) In belief of the heart, the mind as well as the affections is implied, for the heart, in scriptural language, is said to reason (Mark 2:6), to meditate (Luke 3:15), and to understand (Matthew 13:15). 2. This faith is to be in the resurrection of Christ. (1) Now by this the Divinity of Christ's teaching was demonstrated (chap.1:4). (2) Again, Christ was the "outshining of the Father's glory, and the express Image of His person" (Hebrews 1:3). In Him we see incarnate the Divine perfections. (3) True faith, therefore, in the resurrection of Christ implies a belief in the whole mediatorial scheme, and such a realising sense of God as will lead to holy service. 3. Hence it is a belief "unto righteousness;" i.e., (1) The forensic righteousness by which the objective difficulty to man's approach to his heavenly Father was taken away (context and Romans 3:22). (2) And also the righteousness wrought in us (subjective) as we imitate Christ's holy life (1 John 2:29; 1 John 3:7, 10). (3) Justification by faith is "the article of a standing or falling Church," but the faith that justifies is the "faith which worketh by love" (Galatians 5:6). II. "WITH THE MOUTH CONFESSION IS MADE UNTO SALVATION." 1. This has been supposed to have reference to the primitive confession of faith in baptism. If so, the text will correspond to Mark 16:16. 2. We may, consistently with what has been said under I. 3, take the "confession" to stand for practical Christianity, since confessing Christ with the mouth is but one of the "works" wrought by loving faith. (1) There is a confession with the mouth to which God calls us. If our hearts be full of Christ, we must needs confess Him (Matthew 12:34; Matthew 10:32; see also John 12:42 and 1 John 4:15). (2) But "the Word is nigh us, that we may do it" (Deuteronomy 30:14). (a) The man of the world finds it hard to understand how professing Christians can believe while their actions remain unaffected by their belief. In commerce, a belief in the dishonesty of any one with whom he has to do, leads him to guard and protect himself against possible wrong. The mariner, again, whose charts disclose rocks and shoals, keeps his ship at a safe distance from them — he makes use of his knowledge. (b) But the true Christian must act. His faith brings before him the "things unseen" (Hebrews 11:1), and he no longer walks under the influence of the things of sight, like the children of this world (2 Corinthians 5:7). As spiritual health increases, old ways of sin are thrown off, the heart is cleansed and purified, and the man's daily life has a heavenly fragrance which blesses his fellow-men. Conclusion: The secret of men's unbelief lies for the most part, not in the mind, but in the affections. They cannot bring themselves to forsake their worldliness and sin, and therefore come to the consideration of the gospel message, if they consider it at all, with prejudiced minds. (J. C. Pilkington, M.A.) Parallel Verses KJV: For with the heart man believeth unto righteousness; and with the mouth confession is made unto salvation. |
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