Give
What happens when our relationship with God becomes nothing more than a checklist? That’s the tension Paul addresses in Romans 9 and 10—a message that still speaks powerfully to us today.
Paul writes to a divided church in Rome—Jewish believers on one side, Gentile believers on the other. The Jewish people had all the history: the covenants, the prophets, the temple, and the law. But somewhere along the way, their faith became a hollow religion—focused on performance, not a person.
And Paul is heartbroken.
He longs for his people to know Jesus—not just through tradition, but in a personal, saving way.
In contrast, the Gentiles—those with no religious background—receive the gospel by faith. They aren’t following a spiritual checklist. They’re responding to the grace of God. They know their need. And they trust in what Jesus has done for them.
“If you declare with your mouth, ‘Jesus is Lord,’ and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved.”
— Romans 10:9
It’s that simple. And that powerful.
This is more than knowing about Jesus—it’s surrendering to Him. Declaring Him as Lord means giving Him full authority over your life. Believing in your heart means it’s not just head knowledge—it’s a heart-level trust in God’s mercy and grace.
If you’ve been carrying the pressure to be “good enough,” please hear this:
Your best will never be enough. But Jesus is.
That’s the beauty of the gospel. It’s not earned. It’s received.
And for those who already believe, Paul reminds us—we carry the message. Wherever you go, the message goes. In your words. In your actions. In how you live your everyday life.
You may not have all the right words or perfect theology. That’s okay. Neither did the early believers. But you carry something powerful: the good news of Jesus.
So maybe today’s the day for you to stop striving and start trusting. To move from religion to relationship. To believe with your heart. To confess with your mouth.
And to live like it’s true.
Watch more about Romans 9 & 10 below.
