A Word in Due Season Newsletter (May 1990)
Romans 10:8-10 says, “But what saith it? The word is nigh thee, even in thy heart: that is, the Word of Faith, which we preach; 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. For with the heart man believeth unto righteousness; and with the mouth confession is made unto salvation.”
We, as Paul said here, preach the Word of Faith, indeed, Paul states that “we” preach that Word of Faith. This means that Barnabas, and all the teachers and ministers that Paul counted in that “we” preached the same precious Word of Faith as he did.
He said in Galatians 1:6-12 that if any man, or even an angel came preaching any other gospel, which, he said, is not another gospel, for the true Gospel is “Good News,” then that man, or being, is accursed!
Not my words, mind you, Paul’s! Strong words! This Word of Faith is all inclusive as well. Let’s look at the words we have bolded in the above verse, Saved and Salvation. The Greek word translated in the King James Version as “saved” here is the word “sozo“, pronounced, “sode-zo”. It means in the literal Greek, “saved, delivered, healed, protected; to be made whole spirit, soul, body, financially and socially!” This touches every area that has to do with the tripartite being of man! (1 Thess.5:23) Your spirit is born again, a joint heir with Jesus (Romans 8:17!) Your soulish area, that is, your mind, will and emotions, are set free by the peace of God that passes all human mental understanding (John 14:27, Phil. 4:7). Your physical body is made whole and well and you have the ability to live in divine health because Jesus bore your sicknesses and carried your diseases (Matt. 8:17). By His stripes you were healed on the Cross nearly 2000 years ago (1 Peter 2:24!) Jesus was made poor so that you might be made rich (2 Corinth. 8:9). God is pleased with His servant’s prosperity (Psalm 35:27)! You have favor with God and man socially (Acts 2:47)! The redemption that Jesus bought for us on the Cross is complete in every way. It doesn’t fall short in any area.
The word translated “salvation” in the Greek is “soteria,” pronounced, “so-teer-e-ah,” and is simply the noun form of the Greek word “sozo.” The exact same word is translated, “health” in Acts 27:34, where Paul exhorts the men on the ship with him, “Wherefore I pray you to take some meat: for this is for is for your health: for there shall not a hair fall from the head of any of you.” The men on the ship with him, out of fear that the ship would sink and they would be lost at sea, were fasting. Paul had seen a vision of their deliverance, and exhorted them to build up their strength by eating some meat. He assured them that it was for their “soteria,” that is; their health, deliverance, well being. How much more is believing that Jesus is our personal Lord and Savior, and that God raised Him from the dead “taking meat” of the Word of Faith for our “soteria!” (1 Corinth. 3:1-3)
Why is Romans 10:8-10 a “synopsis” of the whole Gospel? How is it the summation of “the Word of Faith, which we teach?” Because it is the pattern of believing and receiving from God in every area that pertains to our life in Him. We believe in our heart and confess with our mouth, and we are born again (Romans 8:9, John 3:16.) We believe with our heart that Jesus is Lord of our healing, and confess that we are the healed with our mouth, and we are made physically well (Psalm 107:20.) We confess that Jesus is Lord of our mind, that we have the mind of Christ, and His peace rules our minds (1 Corinth. 2:16, Phil. 4:7). We believe that Jesus is Lord of our finances, giving us direction and taking control in that area, and we confess the blessing of God as obedient tithers and givers, and we receive the windows of heaven being poured out on us (Malachi 3:10-11)! We believe with our heart, and confess that Jesus is Lord of our relationships, and He leads us in that area (Prov. 13:20).
Never forget that Romans 10:8-10 gives you the Gospel, the “Good News” in a simple way. You can use this to show others the simplicity of the Gospel, and that we have a loving Heavenly Father that has graciously provided for us in every area of life!
