That close……

Romans 10:8-11 But what does it say? “The word is near you, in your mouth and in your heart” (that is, the word of faith which we preach): that if you confess with your mouth the Lord Jesus and believe in your heart that God has 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. For the Scripture says, “Whoever believes on Him will not be put to shame.”

The Apostle Paul had a heart for the Jews and their Salvation. He longed for them to see the err of their ways and to realize that their Christ had come to save the world. That they need not try to earn their righteousness by their works, but confess and believe and accept what He has done for them. Christ can be found living inside you, not only in Heaven sitting at the right hand of the Father; He is attainable NOW. Luke 17:20-21  Now when He was asked by the Pharisees when the kingdom of God would come, He answered them and said, “The kingdom of God does not come with observation; nor will they say, ‘See here!’ or ‘See there!’ For indeed, the kingdom of God is within you.” God has placed that desire inside you for better things; for good and not evil.

When you confess your sin, repent of your sin asking for Christ’s forgiveness, and accept Him as Lord of your life, you are Justified in God’s eyes and saved from eternal punishment of denying what Christ did for you at Calvary. The pride and denial are the walls that will surround you in Hell in eternal punishment if you deny The Gospel of Grace. It is impossible to earn your way into heaven, but possible to humbly accept the free gift of Grace. The Jews were spending daily time with God, but they thought it was earning them righteousness, and they were mad at Paul for preaching Free Grace to all people. We are all the same in God’s eyes and His invitation is extended to everyone. Romans 10:12 For there is no difference between the Jew and the Greek: for the same Lord over all is rich unto all that call upon Him. Those tugs you feel in your heart sometimes is God letting you know that you cannot do life without Him. He is that close, within you, if you answer His call.