Last Sunday(27 Sept 2009) my senior pastor spoke on the above.
10:6 But the righteousness which is of faith saith thus, Say not in thy heart, Who shall ascend into heaven? (that is, to bring Christ down:)
10:7 or, Who shall descend into the abyss? (That is, to bring Christ up from the dead.)
10:8 But what saith it? The word is nigh thee, in thy mouth, and in thy heart: that is, the word of faith, which we preach:
10:9 because if thou shalt confess with thy mouth Jesus `as' Lord, and shalt believe in thy heart that God raised him from the dead, thou shalt be saved:
10:10 for with the heart man believeth unto righteousness; and with the mouth confession is made unto salvation.
10:11 For the scripture saith,
Whosoever believeth on him shall not be put to shame. 10:12 For there is no distinction between Jew and Greek: for the same `Lord' is Lord of all, and is rich unto all that call upon him:
In all my years as a Christian and studying and reading the bible, verse 11 never stood out.
However, last Sunday, God certainly made verse 11 jump straight out at me.
Whosoever believeth on him(Jesus) shall not be put to shame.
In todays world, many feeled ashame of so many things and have become shackled and chained by shame. Ashame of their past, ashame of their present, ashame of what they had done or failed to accomplish.
But God's word is clear. We who believe in Him shall not be put to shame.
It is alright to feel ashamed for a while but let us not live in shame because Jesus has taken away our shame.
Come to Jesus, confess your sins and inadequacies to Him. He will not put you to shame.
12:2 looking unto Jesus the author and perfecter of `our' faith, who for the joy that was set before him endured the cross,
despising shame, and hath sat down at the right hand of the throne of God.
12:3 For consider him that hath endured such gainsaying of sinners against himself, that ye wax not weary, fainting in your souls.
And let us unashamedly proclaim the gospel of Christ for it is the power of God for salvation for everyone who believes.
1:16 For I am not ashamed of the gospel: for it is the power of God unto salvation to every one that believeth; to the Jew first, and also to the Greek.
In the name of Jesus, be free from shame!