Each Mother’s Day, as we reminisce about the profound impacts our mothers have had on our lives, I find myself particularly drawn to memories of my own mother — especially those that showcase the strength of her faith. Her legacy, deeply rooted in the gospel, continues to resonate with me. My mother faced multiple sclerosis with an unwavering faith that was both private and incredibly public. During the darkest days, she found solace and strength in regular Bible studies with our neighbor, Donna. Those sessions were not just a source of personal comfort — they were a testament to her resilience and commitment to living out her faith. Even when the disease confined her to a wheelchair, her spirit remained unbroken.
Her later years, spent in a nursing home, did not dim her gospel light. Despite her pain, she radiated joy and kindness to everyone around her, transforming a place of personal suffering into a mission field of gospel influence. Her determination to live out her faith in such challenging circumstances was nothing short of heroic.
These memories of my mother — and stories of many others like her — highlight a crucial lesson from Romans 10:5-21: our faith in Jesus Christ is not only a private comfort but a public declaration meant to be actively shared. This passage compels us to acknowledge that the gospel we trust in privately is the same gospel we must proclaim publicly. Our faith is both a personal journey and a public testimony, demanding internal acceptance and external expression.
1. May We Understand That Faith is Both Private and Public
Delving into this passage, it becomes evident that our faith, though deeply personal, is not meant to be confined to the private sphere. This duality of faith is a fundamental aspect that Apostle Paul emphasizes, especially in verses 9 and 10, where he discusses the transformative power of confessing with our mouths and believing in our hearts. Paul seeks to simplify the gospel message, stripping away the complexities and legalisms that had been overlaid by cultural and religious traditions, particularly among the Jews.
By referencing Moses in Deuteronomy 30:11-12, Paul underscores the accessibility of the gospel. He argues against the belief that one must have extraordinary accomplishments to bring Christ to us, emphasizing that Christ has already come to us through the Incarnation and the Resurrection. This historic reality makes the gospel not only simple but immensely accessible. The beauty of this simplicity is that it allows for a universal understanding — accessible to both the scholar and the simple, to Jew and Gentile alike. Paul’s point is clear: the righteousness that comes from faith is not about elite knowledge or spiritual feats; it is about a heartfelt acceptance of Jesus’s Lordship and the acknowledgment of His resurrection.
This accessibility invites a public declaration. To confess with our mouths that “Jesus is Lord” and to believe in our hearts that God raised Him from the dead is to engage in an act of faith that goes beyond personal salvation. It is an invitation to participate in the wider, communal experience of faith that is visible and audible. Even as an eleven-year-old in a small country church, the clarity and simplicity of the gospel message were evident to me. It was something I could grasp and respond to, not through an intellectual understanding alone but through a simple act of faith. This act of faith, while personal, was never meant to remain so; it was designed to be shared and professed publicly.
The gospel compels us to a public confession but it should be a natural expression of our faith. Just as we naturally express other forms of allegiance publicly — whether to a nation, a cause, or a person — so too our allegiance to Christ is to be publicly acknowledged. This is not about grand gestures or dramatic declarations, but the simple, everyday expressions of faith that demonstrate our commitment to His teachings. Romans challenges us to view our faith as something to be lived out loud. It is both a personal commitment and a public testament, a private decision to follow Christ, and a public declaration of that choice.
2. If Our Faith Is Public Then It Must Also Be Shared
In Romans 10:14-21, Apostle Paul lays out a compelling argument for evangelism, emphasizing that our faith, while personal, is unequivocally meant to be shared. This concept is deeply embedded in Christianity through the practice of evangelism. Evangelism is the sharing or proclaiming of the good news of Jesus Christ. Paul’s message provides one of the most powerful calls to action for all believers, detailing the steps of how the gospel reaches those who have not yet heard it.
Paul poses a series of rhetorical questions that underline the necessity of preaching the gospel: “How, then, can they call on the one they have not believed in? And how can they believe in the one of whom they have not heard? And how can they hear without someone preaching to them?” (Romans 10:14). These questions highlight a fundamental truth: our faith is inherently designed to be communal and communicative. We are not just passive recipients of God’s Word; we are active conduits through which His message is meant to flow to others.
The simplicity of the gospel does not negate its depth or the responsibility it places on us to share it. It is accessible, not through impressive acts of faith, but through the simple act of sharing and proclaiming what we believe. This is the evangelical mission — to make the gospel known to all through our words and actions. Paul further explains that this sharing is not the exclusive duty of pastors but of every believer. We are all ‘sent’ to preach, not necessarily from pulpits but in our everyday interactions.
Understanding that we are sent involves recognizing that our daily lives are the primary arenas for evangelism. Every conversation, every relationship, is an opportunity to make Christ known. Our faith must be visible and vocal because, in the echo of Paul’s words, faith comes from hearing the message of Christ (Romans 10:17). This public aspect of our faith also involves a corporate responsibility. It is not solely about possessing the gift of evangelism but about the obedience to share the good news. The Great Commission (Matthew 28:19-20) emphasizes this by instructing us to make disciples of all nations. It is a clear call to action for every follower of Christ — not just a select few — to engage actively in spreading the gospel.
Evangelism must be practiced with sensitivity and intelligence — what might be termed as ‘gospel fluency.’ This involves understanding the cultural and personal context of those we are engaging with and sharing the gospel in a manner that is respectful and considerate of their background and experiences. It is about reading the room and delivering the message in a way that is both respectful and effective.
Sharing our faith is not just about verbal proclamation; it involves living out the gospel in a way that our lives become a testament to the truth of Christ’s love and salvation. It is about integrating our faith into every aspect of our lives and letting it be evident to all around us. Whether it is through hospitality, service, or simple daily interactions, every act of kindness and love can be a powerful witness to the faith we profess.
