October 8, 2017
Morning Service

In chapter 9, Paul shared his tremendous burden that he carries constantly for his kinsmen the Jews.  He even offered to be accursed to allow them to see the truth that Jesus was the Christ.  The bitter truth is that according God’s perfect plan of salvation, many of the Jewish nation had their eyes blinded to Jesus’ true identity as the very Son of God.  They continued to seek to do the works that “earned” their salvation rather than trusting in God to save them through faith.  It fulfilled many OT prophecies that Paul quoted in this chapter.  Paul realized this as God’s Will and then began to try to explain the sovereignty of God.  He compared God to a potter and us as His clay.  He molds and makes us according to His purposes.  The good news is that for those of us who love Him and are called by Him that purpose will end up for the good for us (Rom. 8:28).  We live in His world, He doesn’t live in ours.  Who are we to question our Creator?  Why should we because He loves us more than we will ever know.  It is a call to trust Him in everything.

Romans 10:1-3  Brothers, truly my heart's desire and prayer to God for Israel is that they may be saved.  (2)  For I bear them witness that they have a zeal of God, but not according to knowledge.  (3)  For they, being ignorant of God's righteousness and going about to establish their own righteousness, have not submitted themselves to the righteousness of God.

·         Paul has been saying some difficult things about the Jews, but his heart’s desire is that they be saved.  They are a very religious, devout, and even zealous people but it is pointed in the wrong direction.  Though the Messiah that they have longed for had come and walked among them, they were so tied up in their traditions they did not even recognize Him.  It is the difference of letting God own your mind or own your heart.

·         Paul carried this burden and worked tirelessly trying to help open the eyes of his people to the truth.  They are very religious and believe in the same God we do, but they are not saved without accepting Jesus as their Savior.  Notice how Paul is presenting this message to them (and us).  In these 3 chapters (9-11) he tells them the truth.  He doesn’t sugar coat it, but simply speaks the truth.  He speaks to them in love from a heart that really cares for them.  It never really works to “scold” someone who is not serving God, but it is better to “plead” with them as Paul does here.  Always speak the truth in love.

 

Romans 10:5-7  For Moses writes of the righteousness which is of the Law, "The man who does those things shall live by them."  (6)  But the righteousness of faith says this: "Do not say in your heart, Who shall ascend into Heaven?" that is, to bring Christ down; (7)  or "Who shall descend into the deep?"; that is, to bring up Christ again from the dead.

·         Paul here quotes Moses in his farewell challenge from Deuteronomy but applies it to Christ. To seek righteousness through the Law meant you had to live and obediently keep every word of it (works).  But righteousness through faith comes through faith alone.  We don’t have to raise ourselves to the level of Christ or descend to the depths to find Christ.  He is will come to us wherever we are in whatever state we are in.  Paul now explains to us what is needed to be saved.

 

 

 

Romans 10:8-13 But what does it say? "The Word is near you, even in your mouth and in your heart"; that is, the Word of Faith which we preach; (9)  that if you confess with  your mouth the Lord Jesus, and believe in your heart that God has raised Him from the dead, you shall be saved.  (10)  For with the heart one believes unto righteousness, and with the mouth one confesses unto salvation.  (11)  For the Scripture says, "Everyone believing on Him shall not be put to shame."  (12)  For there is no difference both of Jew and of Greek, for the same Lord over all is rich to all who call on Him.  (13)  For, "whoever shall call on the name of the Lord shall be saved."

·         There is the gospel message in a nutshell.  When you are asked “How can I get saved,” this spells it out very simply for you.  You must confess with your mouth and believe in your heart that Jesus is the Christ the Son of the living God.  This promise is offered to “Whosoever will,” it makes no matter who you are, where you came from, or what you have done.  We often make the process much too difficult.  We don’t have to change our ways, get our credit in order, and lower our cholesterol or anything else to receive the gift of salvation.  It is only to be accepted as you would an unexpected gift.

·         Now once you take that step watch out because then God will begin to change everything about you.  You will receive the gift of the Holy Spirit who will then be your guide and teacher helping you to understand the things of God through the Word of God.  The change comes as you seek to follow.  All things become new.

Romans 10:14-15  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 preaching?  (15)  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 and bring glad tidings of good things!"

·         Paul loves to ask questions to make us think.  How can someone believe if they have not heard?  Who will tell them?  Who will send them out?  Well someone has to do it and that someone is you!  We are all called of God to fulfill the Great Commission. 

Matthew 28:19-20  Therefore go and teach all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit,  (20)  teaching them to observe all things, whatever I commanded you. And, behold, I am with you all the days until the end of the world. Amen.

·         “Go” here may mean you go to a foreign land and teach those who have never heard the gospel message.  But for most of us it means we are to “go” into our world and do it.  There are people God has put in your path that you can plant seeds into their lives through your words, actions and even attitude.  Every moment could be an opportunity for us to share Christ with a coworker, neighbor, or even a total stranger.  Sometimes you may even need to use words.  It is your actions and attitudes that first lay down the groundwork to speak meaningful words into someone’s life.  Our words may be our personal testimony or just simply and invitation to church.  How can we know what to do or say?  That is why God established the church.

Ephesians 4:11-12  And truly He gave some to be apostles, and some to be prophets, and some to be evangelists, and some to be pastors and teachers,  (12)  for the equipping of the saints, for the work of the ministry, for the edifying of the body of Christ.

·         These offices are in the church to equip you to do the work of the ministry and to build up the body of Christ.  The teaching from this pulpit is to equip you to go out and share the gospel message with others.  So the answer to the questions of who will go and who will send them is you and the church.  Look around your world who is it that needs to hear this message?  Pray for opportunities and be ready when they come and the Holy Spirit will guide you.