Near

"But what does it say?" Romans 10:8.

What does what say? The righteousness based on faith. What does the righteousness based on faith say? It says this: God's teaching is as near to you as your mouth and your heart. (That's pretty close!) That is, the teaching of faith taught by Jesus' apostles. So, what is that teaching? Jesus is Lord. God raised Jesus from the dead. If you believe this with all your heart, you will be made right with God. If you put your faith into words, you will be saved. Hmm. Ok. Compared to what? Compared to getting right with God by working every commandment. Compared to trekking up into the sky to tether Christ down. Compared to questing down into the underworld to haul Christ up. Instead of such esoteric fancies, the Scripture says: Everyone who calls on the name of the Lord will be saved. So we have. And we are. By the Lord. Grace.

We meet with a brother or sister today having mutually called on the name of the Lord. And, together, we speak thanksgivings for the simplicity with which God assures the saving way.