For Moses writes about the righteousness that is based on the law, that the person who does the commandments shall live by them. But the righteousness based on faith says, “Do not say in your heart, ‘Who will ascend into heaven?’” (that is, to bring Christ down) “or ‘Who will descend into the abyss?’” (that is, to bring Christ up from the dead). But what does it say? “The word is near you, in your mouth and in your heart” (that is, the word of faith that we proclaim); because, if you confess with your mouth that 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 and is justified, and with the mouth one confesses and is saved. For the Scripture says, “Everyone who believes in him will not be put to shame.” For there is no distinction between Jew and Greek; for the same Lord is Lord of all, bestowing his riches on all who call on him. For “everyone who calls on the name of the Lord will be saved.”

How then will they call on him in whom they have not believed? And how are they to believe in him of whom they have never heard? And how are they to hear without someone preaching? And how are they to preach unless they are sent? As it is written, “How beautiful are the feet of those who preach the good news!”

But they have not all obeyed the gospel. For Isaiah says, “Lord, who has believed what he has heard from us?” So, faith comes from hearing, and hearing through the word of Christ.”

Grace, mercy and peace from God our Father and our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ!

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“Hey, Michael, how are you? What are you doing?” This is how I started a phone conversation with a fellow pastor, who happens to be with us on this very day, quite a few years ago. His reply caught me by surprise. “Me? Just relaxing and marvelling at my beautiful feet.” “What?!” “I am looking at my beautiful feet!” I was puzzled about what to make of it, I wasn’t too convinced about the beauty of his feet.

Pastor Michael was referring to what Isaiah wrote, and what Paul the apostle quoted in his letter to Christians in Rome: “How beautiful upon the mountains are the feet of him who brings good news, who publishes peace, who brings good news of happiness, who publishes salvation, who says to Zion, “Your God reigns.” [Is 52:7]

This pastor friend of mine was looking at his feet that carried him as he was delivering the Good News that our God Jesus reigns. It may seem like a funny saying and funny conversation, but you also know how true this is from your own experience.

How attractive that person who brings you good news becomes, as from their lips you hear a message full of joy and comfort, a message of God’s abundant promises and of a wonderful hope-filled future. Indeed, “how beautiful their feet are!” This is true for pastors, and this is true for all Christians.

Today for our meditation we have Paul’s letter to Christians in Rome. I have to confess that for me this is not the easiest book in the Bible to read, not the easiest to understand. It is very dense. It is very deep. Saturated with the OT references.

It uses vocabulary that is not that familiar to us. Paul the apostle speaks about wonderful realities of God’s grace towards us; about His divine treasures and riches that He longs to bestow upon His children, upon you. But Paul speaks in concepts that sound strange to us. “The righteousness that is based on the law.” “The righteousness based on faith.” “The word of faith that we proclaim.” Etc.

We don’t speak that way. What does it even mean? The topic that Paul deals with is nothing less than our eternal fate. Your fate after this life is over. Your fate on the day when you will stand before your Creator and He will put your entire lives on display.

What you had and hadn’t done when someone needed you. What you had and hadn’t spoken, when your voice mattered. All your secret thoughts and desires will be revealed, who you have loved the most – God or something else.

Who you have strived to imitate with your life – Jesus or mighty and famous of this world. Who you wanted to please, who you listened and obeyed – the Triune God of people around you. What guided your life – joyful obedience to the Word of God, or chasing your own dreams and desires. Have you been passionate or indifferent about speaking the Gospel to those around you who are still without Jesus, and more.

Then God the Creator and Judge Eternal will speak His verdict on whether you have lived the lives He created you for, or have you failed. Not according to our vague standards, but according to His holy, unchanging eternal will.

We struggle to comprehend the importance of this. We do. We are still here fully embedded in this life with all our senses, our joys, challenges and hopes. That day that Paul is referring to seems so unreal, so far away, who knows when it will come, it seems somewhat irrelevant to our lives here and now.

Is this really important for us to talk about now? For one, that day may seem so far away. But in reality, for each one of us it is only one heartbeat away. Yes, one missing heartbeat away. That day may come in 10, or 20, or 80 years, but it is always only one heartbeat away. When your heart stops, that day is here, and we are in no control whatsoever over when it happens.

It is wise to recognize our situation, and what enormous difference it makes – what our standing before God is. Paul contrasts two scenarios for that last day. In one scenario you will stand before the Holy Judge on your own, finally seeing your lives as He sees them, dying of agonizing shame and guilt for what is revealed. In that scenario everything depends on you, on your activities, on purity and holiness of your heart. That is what Paul calls righteousness that is based on the law.

The other scenario is what Paul describes as the righteousness that is based on faith. Perhaps, it may be helpful for us if we used a slightly different language. We could describe the first scenario as where we trust in what we have done. The second scenario is where we trust in what God has done. Our efforts to be good vs God’s own efforts to make us good in His judgment.

Would you like to rely on yourself, when the Last Day comes, or would you rather trust that the Triune God could do a better job in making you good and pleasing to Him with His mighty divine efforts?

This divine offer, this is the Good News that makes our feet beautiful. When we deliver the message that the Triune God, who has revealed His fatherly heart in Jesus from Nazareth, that He offers to take care of that terrifying final examination. That, in fact, as all authority and all judgement is already given to Jesus, as He is the Lord, instead of examining your life, He offers to stand in your place in God’s judgement: “Examine me!”

Besides, as the Holy Spirit through Paul repeatedly assures you, if anyone accepts this gracious offer of God, if instead of insisting on your own goodness, you trust Jesus to take care of all of that judgment business, you “will not be put to shame.”

Instead of shame and condemnation, you will receive what Jesus deserves, you will be glorified, you will inherit the Kingdom with Jesus, and you will reign with Him, forever. Whoever you are, the Father will bestow on you all His riches, for that is His promise, that “everyone who calls on the name of the Lord will be saved.”

Everyone who chooses to trust God’s efforts in Jesus instead of their own, will be able to celebrate and rejoice in blessedness and innocence forever and ever. That day may be far away from you but see [!] what a difference it makes already today!

When you know that God delights in you with Fatherly love. That the question that keeps haunting us our entire lives – “am I good enough?” has been answered. Yes, you are good in the eyes of that One Person, whose judgement carries eternal weight.

This God wants this Good News to transform your life already now, so that you can live entrusting your life here, and in the age to come, to your Father in Heaven. This wonderful hope of what awaits you makes even your darkest days more bearable. The Gospel makes all the difference and gives you a new life already now. 

But how do we obtain all these riches of God? How does anyone get this incredible offer from God? The answer is – by hearing. Yes, that simple, by hearing. The simplest and the most effortless activity – hearing the message that is spoken to you.

Letting the words in your ears, meditating upon them with your mind and trusting them with your heart. All these blessings of God are given to us as we listen to God’s message. “Faith comes from hearing, and hearing through the word of Christ.”

You are here because you have heard this message. Because the Holy Spirit has convinced you to embrace God’s gracious offer. Because you already are fellow heirs with Jesus. But what about all those among your loved ones, friends and neighbors who still rely on their own efforts as the Last Day draws closer? What about them? Paul lays it out as it is.

“How are they to believe in him of whom they have never heard? And how are they to hear without someone preaching? And how are they to preach unless they are sent? As it is written, “How beautiful are the feet of those who preach the good news!”

No one can accept the gracious offer of the Triune God, unless they hear it first. Unless they hear that Jesus is the Lord. Unless they hear that He offers you a life scenario where instead of relying on your “goodness” you can rely on His.

Everyone needs to hear this! And how will they hear unless they hear someone preaching? When we hear the word “preaching” it may sound like what Paul is saying applies only to pastors. The verb that Paul uses could be better translated as heralding, that is, as delivering and speaking a message on behalf of the one who has sent you. But how is anyone to herald the message unless they are sent?

In Gospel accounts we read how this heralding was done by those whom Jesus had healed, by the crowds who had heard His message and witnessed His miracles. We read how Jesus Himself chose the Twelve for a very special mission, and how He also called and sent the Seventy. Then after the outpouring of the Holy Spirit at that first Pentecost those who had witnessed what had happened delivered and heralded that Good News to their homelands. It is likely that first Christian communities in Rome resulted from exactly that heralding. For when anyone believes in their heart that Jesus is the Lord, who has done so much for them, the true and living faith cannot remain silent.

What we believe in our hearts we then confess with our mouths. We cannot help; for we want everyone to hear about this amazing God, our Father and our Lord and Brother. As Concordia Commentary on Romans puts is: “This proclaiming continues as God sends Christian pastors, missionaries, teachers, singers, radio and television broadcasters, family members, co-workers, friends, neighbors and so on in their various vocations so that they might herald the Word of Christ in the ears of others.”

The Triune God sends everyone who has heard and believed this Great and life-changing News! He sends you to herald the Good News into the ears of all people whom He has placed in your lives through your various vocations.

When the Service is over you will return to your homes. You will take off your shoes and your socks, and you will see your feet. You will see them every day of your lives. In the morning and in the evenings. Take time to look at them.

And whenever you see them, remember that the Lord Jesus Christ has called and sent you to herald the most wonderful message to your family, to your fellow saints, to your friends and neighbors, to everyone in your lives.

May this Lord who has been so gracious to you, may He bless you that your feet may be the most beautiful feet for many and many as they hear the Good News heralded: “Jesus is the Lord, to Him all authority is given, to Him all judgment is entrusted.

He cares for you and your salvation. He laid down His life for you, when you didn’t even know Him. He offers forgiveness and eternal life to everyone who wants to rely on Him instead of their own efforts. Just listen to this message! Let the words of Christ fill you, trust Him, rely on Him and all His riches will be yours!”

Go in peace, you saints with beautiful feet, and serve the Lord with joy! Amen.