Welcome to Joan Dance Paintings, the place that you may view the images that the Artist Joan Dance created while thinking on the Word of God. It is also the place to view the explanation of the Word of God in segments that add up to a “House of God”. On today the image and explanation is all about “True Righteousness, How it comes”. The image is entitled, “Saints Come Marching In”.

In the image we see a “Preacher of Righteousness”. It seems that some of the people present are there participating in the call to salvation, while some are the target of the salvation message. It appears that the entire scene is indeed is action packed indeed.

Faith comes by hearing, and hearing by the Word of God

Faith comes by hearing the Word from God brought by the Man of God, who is called by the Word of God. It goes without saying that not every word that comes from the pulpit is a word from God. But there are times when the word that comes from the pulpit is definitely the Word of God as brought forth by the Man of God. Nevertheless, the Word from God can only come from the man sent from God.

For Whosoever shall call upon the name of the Lord shall be saved

This is the best news that I have heard that can be shared with anyone and everyone. That, “whosoever”, means all people. If one wants to be saved, then one has only to call on the name of the Lord. What calling on the name of the Lord means is simply asking the Lord to come into his or her heart and be a part of their life thereafter.

How shall they call on him in whom they have not believed ?

The question naturally comes up that how can we call on the name of the Lord when we have not believed on the Lord ? That is indeed a good question, how can we call on the name of the Lord when the name of the Lord has not been stressed as something that is important. Therefore, it must be stressed that this is indeed a thing that we need to pay special attention to. There is indeed a way to believe in the Lord and that way is to listen to the Lord tell about Himself.

How shall they believe in him of whom they have not heard ?

We need to know about the love that the Lord God has for each one of us. My personal story is that I heard the scripture and the scripture pricked my heart and I felt a need to know more and to move toward the Lord. That scripture was that God so loved the world that He gave his only-begotten son that whosoever believed in him shall not perish but shall have eternal life. I heard the Word and my inner spirit agreed with what I heard.

And how shall they hear without a preacher ?

We need to have a preacher that will tell us about the things that we need to know. The word of God clearly states that a preacher is needed for us to have an understanding of the things that God would have us to understand. Indeed, it is a necessary thing to have a preacher to bring to us the word that God wants us to know.

And how shall they preach, except they be sent ?

The preacher that is sent is one that is legitimate. That preacher has to be sent by the Lord to do the preaching. The fact that the preacher needs to be called speaks on the question of legitimacy. A legitimate preacher is called by the Lord God and is equipped by the Lord to do the things and to say the things that the Lord has given to the man of God to do and to say.

So then Faith cometh by hearing and hearing by the word of God

So then faith comes by hearing the word of God as brought by the man of God in the form of a preacher. All of this is said to let us know that we need to listen to the Man of God when it comes to the things that the Lord God wants us to know.

Romans 10:8-17 states: But what saith it ? The word is nigh thee, even in thy mouth, and in thy heart: that is, the word of faith, which we preach:

9 That if thou shalt confess with thou mouth the Lord Jesus, and shalt believe in thine heart that God hath raised him from the dead, thou shalt be saved.

10 For with the heart, man believeth unto righteousness; and with the mouth, confession is made unto salvation.

11 For the scripture saith, Whosoever believeth on him shall not be ashamed.

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.

13 For whosoever shall call upon the name of the Lord shall be saved.

14 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 ?

15 And how shall they preach, except they be sent ? as it is written, How beautiful are the feet of them that preach the gospel of peace, and bring glad tidings of good things !

16 But they have not all believed the gospel. For Esaias saith, Lord who hath believed our report ?

17 So then, faith cometh by hearing, and hearing by the word of God.

Brought by the man of God sent by the word of God.

If you are in need of salvation then a preacher of righteousness is that which you search. One will present himself before very long. The message that he will bring starts with the fact that The Lord God is not angry with us and calls us to come home to Him.