**The Proclamation of Faith: A Story Based on Romans 10**
The sun hung low over the city of Rome, casting long shadows across the bustling streets. In a small, dimly lit room near the Jewish quarter, a group of believers gathered around a scroll—Paul’s letter to the Romans. Among them was Marcus, a former Roman soldier who had once scoffed at the name of Christ but now clung to His words with fervent devotion.
As the elder of the assembly unrolled the parchment, the flickering lamplight danced upon the inked words of Romans 10. Marcus leaned forward, his heart pounding as the elder read aloud:
*”Brothers and sisters, my heart’s desire and prayer to God for the Israelites is that they may be saved.”*
Marcus thought of his Jewish friends—men and women who zealously pursued righteousness through the Law yet remained distant from the Messiah they longed for. He had once been like them, striving to earn favor with God through deeds, never realizing that Christ had already fulfilled all righteousness.
The elder continued, his voice steady yet impassioned:
*”For they being ignorant of God’s righteousness, and seeking to establish their own righteousness, have not submitted themselves to the righteousness of God. For Christ is the end of the law for righteousness to everyone who believes.”*
A murmur of agreement spread through the room. Lydia, a Jewish woman who had recently embraced the Gospel, wiped away a tear. She had spent years in meticulous observance of the Law, yet it was only when she heard of Jesus—His death and resurrection—that she understood true righteousness came by faith.
The elder’s voice grew stronger as he reached the heart of the passage:
*”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 with the heart one believes unto righteousness, and with the mouth confession is made unto salvation.”*
Marcus closed his eyes, remembering the day he had fallen to his knees in his barracks, whispering those very words for the first time. No longer was salvation a distant hope, a reward for the perfect. It was near—as near as the breath in his lungs, as close as the faith in his heart.
The elder read on, his tone now urgent:
*”For the Scripture says, ‘Whoever believes on Him will not be put to shame.’ For there is no distinction between Jew and Greek, for the same Lord over all is rich to all who call upon Him. For ‘whoever calls on the name of the Lord shall be saved.’”*
A young Greek merchant named Theo, who had been listening intently, suddenly stood. “This is the truth!” he exclaimed. “I was raised to worship many gods, but none gave me peace. Yet when I heard of Christ—how He died for sinners like me—I called on His name, and He saved me!”
The room erupted in soft praises, each person recounting their own story of redemption. The elder smiled and finished the passage:
*”How then shall they call on Him in whom they have not believed? And how shall they believe in Him of whom they have not heard? And how shall they hear without a preacher? And how shall they preach unless they are sent? As it is written: ‘How beautiful are the feet of those who preach the gospel of peace, who bring glad tidings of good things!’”*
Silence settled over the group, the weight of the words sinking deep. Marcus clenched his fists, a fire kindling within him. He thought of the countless souls in Rome—Jews and Gentiles alike—who had yet to hear this glorious message.
“Brothers and sisters,” he said, rising to his feet, “we must not keep this to ourselves. If faith comes by hearing, then let us be the ones who proclaim it!”
Lydia nodded. “I will speak to my family—they must know that the Messiah has come.”
Theo added, “And I will tell my fellow merchants. The Gospel is too great to be silent.”
As the believers dispersed into the night, each carried the same burning conviction: salvation was for all who called upon the name of the Lord. And though the road ahead would be fraught with danger and opposition, they knew that the Word of Christ must go forth—for how else would the world believe?
And so, under the watchful gaze of the Roman stars, the message of Romans 10 echoed through the streets, carried on the lips of those who had once been lost but now were found.
