An Important Scripture

Rom 10:9
9 That if thou shalt confess with thy mouth the Lord Jesus, and shalt believe in thine heart that God hath raised him from the dead, thou shalt be saved.
KJV

At some point in time I read this and realized that it seemed to be an important scripture. Certainly, though, I hadn't heard it in church. For years I had been a member of an organization relentlessly teaching salvation by works, all the while claiming they didn't. Those days belief scriptures were out. But, thanks to God's Holy Spirit, I was beginning to be led in a different direction.

So, I began reading it in context. But Paul, writing in prior verses, confused me very much. Maybe this was part of what Peter when he wrote that "beloved brother Paul" in his epistles put down "some things hard to be understood." Here's the complete context:

Rom 10:1-15
1 Brethren, my heart's desire and prayer to God for Israel is, that they might be saved.

2 For I bear them record that they have a zeal of God, but not according to knowledge.

3 For they being ignorant of God's righteousness, and going about to establish their own righteousness, have not submitted themselves unto the righteousness of God.

4 For Christ is the end of the law for righteousness to every one that believeth.

5 For Moses describeth the righteousness which is of the law, That the man which doeth those things shall live by them.

6 But the righteousness which is of faith speaketh on this wise, Say not in thine heart, Who shall ascend into heaven? (that is, to bring Christ down from above:)

7 Or, Who shall descend into the deep? (that is, to bring up Christ again from the dead.)

8 But what saith it? The word is nigh thee, even in thy mouth, and in thy heart: that is, the word of faith, which we preach;

9 That if thou shalt confess with thy mouth the Lord Jesus, and shalt believe in thine heart that God hath raised him from the dead, thou shalt be saved.

10 For with the heart man believeth unto righteousness; and with the mouth confession is made unto salvation.

11 For the scripture saith, Whosoever believeth on him shall not be ashamed.

12 For there is no difference between the Jew and the Greek: for the same Lord over all is rich unto all that call upon him.

13 For whosoever shall call upon the name of the Lord shall be saved.

14 How then shall they call on him in whom they have not believed? and how shall they believe in him of whom they have not heard? and how shall they hear without a preacher?

15 And how shall they preach, except they be sent? as it is written, How beautiful are the feet of them that preach the gospel of peace, and bring glad tidings of good things!
KJV

Verses six and seven were the ones that really stumped me. What's this about someone bringing Christ down from heaven or up from the dead? This was completely beyond me. Completely, that is, until I noticed a cross reference to Deuteronomy 30. And when I checked this out, things cleared up.

Moses has been laying out for Israel, before their entry into the promised land, the blessings and cursings. That is, that obedience produces blessings while disobedience will lead to the other. And chapter 30 begins with the promise that when, because of disobedience, Israel has been driven from the land and scattered throughout the nations of the earth, the day will come when God will return them to their land. Then Moses writes:

Deut 30:11-19
11 For this commandment which I command thee this day, it is not hidden from thee, neither is it far off.

12 It is not in heaven, that thou shouldest say, Who shall go up for us to heaven, and bring it unto us, that we may hear it, and do it?

13 Neither is it beyond the sea, that thou shouldest say, Who shall go over the sea for us, and bring it unto us, that we may hear it, and do it?

14 But the word is very nigh unto thee, in thy mouth, and in thy heart, that thou mayest do it.

15 See, I have set before thee this day life and good, and death and evil;

16 In that I command thee this day to love the Lord thy God, to walk in his ways, and to keep his commandments and his statutes and his judgments, that thou mayest live and multiply: and the Lord thy God shall bless thee in the land whither thou goest to possess it.

17 But if thine heart turn away, so that thou wilt not hear, but shalt be drawn away, and worship other gods, and serve them;

18 I denounce unto you this day, that ye shall surely perish, and that ye shall not prolong your days upon the land, whither thou passest over Jordan to go to possess it.

19 I call heaven and earth to record this day against you, that I have set before you life and death, blessing and cursing: therefore choose life, that both thou and thy seed may live:
KJV

(All emphases are mine.)

Paul, then, in Rom 10:6-8 is basically quoting Moses in Deut 30:11-14, but adding his own references to Christ. Moses tells them God's word is not far from them, but is right there, and he follows with a strong summation beginning with, "See, I have set before thee this day life and good, and death and evil." Paul does the same, following with v. 9. Yes, I would say Romans 10:9 is an important scripture.