The Essence of Faith

The Essence of Faith
Reflection on Romans 10:8-10
(Comments in Italic print are mine)
"The word is near you; it is in your mouth and in your heart," that is, the word of faith we are proclaiming: That if you confess with your mouth, "Jesus is Lord," and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved. For it is with your heart that you believe and are justified, and it is with your mouth that you confess and are saved. As the Scripture says, "Anyone who trusts in him will never be put to shame." For there is no difference between Jew and Gentile (Remember this was when their was only Jews and others who were considered Gentiles therefore in today’s society we would expand this to mean everyone who believes in Jesus Christ regardless of the religious denomination)—the same Lord is Lord of all and richly blesses all who call on him, for, "Everyone who calls on the name of the Lord will be saved."
Further, on in Romans 8 we find “Consequently, faith comes from hearing the message, and the message is heard through the word of Christ.” (The teaching Christ gave us, not some preacher who has decided what they mean and tries to justify his actions that are contrary to what Christ taught.)
Romans 11 ends with these words; “Who has known the mind of the Lord? (No human person can claim to know God’s mind or his reasons for what he does and/or allows.) Or who has been his counselor? (God does not ask advice of anyone, He and He along decides and through the Holy Spirit makes His desires known to those He chooses. It is up to those who he has chosen to carry out His commands according the God’s plan, not according to how it will affect his standing or power or financial condition.) Who has ever given to God, that God should repay him?" (We owe everything we have to the good graces of Almighty God. We need to acknowledge that and give thanks to Him for all He has gifted us with) For from him and through him and to him are all things. To him be the glory forever!.
Fir it is written in John 14:21 “whoever has my commands (And He said to him, " 'YOU SHALL LOVE THE LORD YOUR GOD WITH ALL YOUR HEART, AND WITH ALL YOUR SOUL, AND WITH ALL YOUR MIND.' 38"This is the great and foremost commandment.
39"The second is like it, 'YOU SHALL LOVE YOUR NEIGHBOR AS YOURSELF.' 40"On these two commandments depend the whole Law and the Prophets." {Matthew 22:37 })
and obeys them, he is the one who loves me. He who loves me will be loved by my Father, and I too will love him and show myself to him."
Could this be any clearer? Why is it that so many desire to place so many restrictions of loving God? Why is it so hard for us to open our minds, hearts and entire beings to giving ourselves over to God’s Love. The answer is the influence of the fallen one, who desired power equal to God and trys at every opportunity to corrupt the hearts and minds of everyone, just as he did to Jesus, by offering power, fame, and fortune. He makes people greedy and in doing so has them turning from God to the false God’s of material things.
I believe that in the above passages we can find the essence of Faith. Do we have the courage to live it? AMEN
Rev. Robert Francis Johnnene OFAMission Sts. Sergius and Bacchuswww.missionstsergius.orghttp://groups.yahoo.com/group/Mission_Sts_Sergius_and_Bacchushttp://spaces.msn.com/members/Mission-St-Sergiushttp://groups.msn.com/MissionSaintsSergiusandBacchus