Romans 10

Romans • Sermon • Submitted 8 months ago • Presented 8 months ago

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Read:

2 Peter 3:9–11 “The Lord is not slow to fulfill his promise as some count slowness, but is patient toward you, not wishing that any should perish, but that all should reach repentance. But the day of the Lord will come like a thief, and then the heavens will pass away with a roar, and the heavenly bodies will be burned up and dissolved, and the earth and the works that are done on it will be exposed. Since all these things are thus to be dissolved, what sort of people ought you to be in lives of holiness and godliness,”

Introduction:

We finished last week with the end of chapter 9 an the verses read:

Romans 9:32–33 “Why? Because they did not pursue it by faith, but as if it were based on works. They have stumbled over the stumbling stone, as it is written, “Behold, I am laying in Zion a stone of stumbling, and a rock of offense; and whoever believes in Him will not be put to shame.””

Place yourself in the midst of the Jews here.

A man who was your champion of the religion switched teams and is viewed as a traitor to the Synagogue.

Not only does he have the audacity to tell you to believe in Jesus as the Gentiles do;

Since they have it right and your wrong.

In the process of explaining how you can be justified by faith and not through keeping the law.

He insults you.

Paul makes the statement about the Jews stumbling on the cornerstone of faith: Jesus.

Paul in the tenderness of his heart towards the Jews, understands how they would view him and the difficulty they would have accepting his words.

Transition:

So here in Chapter 10 Paul begins to do something that I believe is genius when presenting factual information to those who don't want it.

He builds a bridge back to them.

Paul understood the importance of authority to the audience your speaking to.

When you loose the authority with an audience, you aren’t a voice that will be heard, you’re message is dismissed on the basis of “no authority” or being invalid.

So Paul maintains that authority and begins diving into the:

Reason for their rejection (1-13)

The Jews had all of the prophecies for the Messiah’s arrival.

They knew what His coming would look like.

But how did they receive Him?

John 1:11 “He came to his own, and His own people did not receive Him.”

The Jews rejected Jesus.

The question is why did they reject Him?

Transition:

They rejected Him on the basis of their expectations but also:

They did not feel a need for salvation

Romans 10:1 “Brothers, my heart’s desire and prayer to God for them is that they may be saved.”

Paul places himself to be of the same mindset as the Jews, before his salvation.

The Jews believed that the Gentiles needed salvation; but not the Jews.

Jesus pointed this out in many parables this wrong attitude taken by the Israelites.

Luke 15:11-32 The parable of the prodigal son.

Briefly explain the parable.

Key points:

Luke 15:17–18 ““But when he came to himself, he said, ‘How many of my father’s hired servants have more than enough bread, but I perish here with hunger! I will arise and go to my father, and I will say to him, “Father, I have sinned against heaven and before you.”

?What did the son do?

Luke 15:21–24 “And the son said to him, ‘Father, I have sinned against heaven and before you. I am no longer worthy to be called your son.’ But the father said to his servants, ‘Bring quickly the best robe, and put it on him, and put a ring on his hand, and shoes on his feet. And bring the fattened calf and kill it, and let us eat and celebrate. For this my son was dead, and is alive again; he was lost, and is found.’ And they began to celebrate.”

What did the older brother think of his brothers return?

Luke 15:27–28 “And he said to him, ‘Your brother has come, and your father has killed the fattened calf, because he has received him back safe and sound.’ But he was angry and refused to go in. His father came out and entreated him,”

How did the father use this moment to teach the older?

Which was Jesus’ main point being told to the Jews.

Luke 15:31–32 “And he said to him, ‘Son, you are always with me, and all that is mine is yours. It was fitting to celebrate and be glad, for this your brother was dead, and is alive; he was lost, and is found.’ ””

Point:

Israel rejected Christ because they were expecting salvation from the tyrannical Roman empire; but believed their spiritual salvation wasn’t needed.

Paul phrased the statement in verse 1 to make sure that they all remembered who he once was and thought the same.

He desired that they would change their understanding of their spiritual position and accept the grace extended to them.

Transition:

The Jews were not without religious practices or traditions.

They were zealous for God

Romans 10:2 “For I bear them witness that they have a zeal for God, but not according to knowledge.”

The Jews returned to the promised land following the Babylonian captivity and ever since that point, it seemed that they were cured of their idolatry.

They only worshipped YHWH in the synagogue and on top of that they would keep the law.

The zeal for God when you follow in that manner is exactly what Paul describes:

“…But not according to knowledge.”

They obeyed because it was tradition and that was just what Jews did.

The Jews even thought so highly of what kind of job they were doing, they even “improved” upon the law by adding their own traditions.

They made their traditions equal to the law.

Point:

We haven’t come very far have we.

Many people do the same thing.

They are following their religions with zeal; but not the knowledge of why it was given.

Their good works are what makes them think they are achieving a good status with God;

But that is exactly what is holding them back from the freedom of grace.

There are a lot that would say: “They are devout and sincere, God knows the heart”.

That isn’t what Paul told us

Romans 3:20 “For by works of the law no human being will be justified in his sight, since through the law comes knowledge of sin.”

Transition:

It doesn’t take a scholar to read through the new testament and realize that the Jews thought they were better than the Gentiles.

What did they do that would justify that kind of pride?

They had the law.

Why couldn’t they accept the gospel of Christ?

They were proud and Self-Righteous

Romans 10:3 “For, being ignorant of the righteousness of God, and seeking to establish their own, they did not submit to God’s righteousness.”

The Jews were so proud that they had the law, improved upon that law, and were a people chosen to keep the law.

The Jews believed a lie from satan that they were better than the Gentiles and they deserved to be given what they were working so hard for: Righteousness.

Paul lets them know that if they believe that, then they don’t understand what righteousness is.

Let alone realizing that it was extended to them freely.

The Jews were unwilling to learn about God’s righteousness.

It wasn’t from a lack of opportunities, because they had many opportunities to be saved.

It was because they were willingly ignorant since they resisted the truth.

They were too proud of their good works and religious self-righteousness to accept and trust Christ as their savior.

Paul did the same thing as they did.

Philippians 3:4–11 “though I myself have reason for confidence in the flesh also. If anyone else thinks he has reason for confidence in the flesh, I have more: circumcised on the eighth day, of the people of Israel, of the tribe of Benjamin, a Hebrew of Hebrews; as to the law, a Pharisee; as to zeal, a persecutor of the church; as to righteousness under the law, blameless. But whatever gain I had, I counted as loss for the sake of Christ. Indeed, I count everything as loss because of the surpassing worth of knowing Christ Jesus my Lord. For his sake I have suffered the loss of all things and count them as rubbish, in order that I may gain Christ and be found in him, not having a righteousness of my own that comes from the law, but that which comes through faith in Christ, the righteousness from God that depends on faith— that I may know him and the power of his resurrection, and may share his sufferings, becoming like him in his death, that by any means possible I may attain the resurrection from the dead…”

Paul was a “better” Jew than most of the audience that would read the Roman letter; but what was his proclamation regarding his standing?

Philippians 3:9 “and be found in him, not having a righteousness of my own that comes from the law, but that which comes through faith in Christ, the righteousness from God that depends on faith—”

His pride and self-righteousness was laid at the feet of Jesus as a sacrifice to not have faith in any longer.

He picked up the mantle of Grace by faith, instead of righteousness by the law.

Romans 10:4 “For Christ is the end of the law for righteousness to everyone who believes.”

Transition:

The Jews should’ve been the ones who celebrated the most and the loudest at the coming of Jesus; but:

They Misunderstood their own law

Romans 10:5 “For Moses writes about the righteousness that is based on the law, that the person who does the commandments shall live by them.”

Everything surrounding the Jews pointed to the coming messiah.

Sacrifices, Priesthood, Temple services, religious festivals and the covenants.

Every part pointed to the finality of those institutions.

Since they were temporary things and a “Once for All” Messiah would come to finish everything.

The Law itself told them they were sinners who needed a savior.

I like what Wiersbe said about this part:

“Instead of letting the law bring them to Christ as in Galatians 3:24 “So then, the law was our guardian until Christ came, in order that we might be justified by faith.” , they worshipped their law and rejected their Savior.”

In Christ’s death burial and resurrection Christ abolished the ministry of the law for those who believe.

?What would the Jews have to say about the keeping of the law?

They would say: “we kept the law”.

To this Paul would say: You kept it outwardly; but you didn’t believe it in your heart.

He quotes from:

Deuteronomy 30:12–14 “It is not in heaven, that you should say, ‘Who will ascend to heaven for us and bring it to us, that we may hear it and do it?’ Neither is it beyond the sea, that you should say, ‘Who will go over the sea for us and bring it to us, that we may hear it and do it?’ But the word is very near you. It is in your mouth and in your heart, so that you can do it.”

Romans 10:6–7 “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 can we make of this statement, isn’t it confusing?

Yes; but it is teaching that finding Christ and the righteousness He provides is always near us.

Romans 10:8 “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);”

We don’t have to ascend into heaven to find Him or to hell.

God’s way for salvation isn’t difficult or complicated.

We only have to trust Christ.

But how?

Romans 10:9–11 “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.””

Confession

Believe that God raised Jesus

Then the passages explain the in’s and out’s of it.

Your heart does the believing

Your believing does the justifying

Your mouth proclaims it: Your saved.

The promise:

“Everyone who believes in Him will not be put to shame.”

Transition:

So that is great for the Gentiles, they need it!

What about the Jews since they rejected Christ?

Paul offers a:

Remedy for their rejection

Romans 10:14–15 “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!””

Paul tells the Jews: salvation comes through belief in Jesus as God you only have to call out to Him.

This meant the Jew had to admit and believe that Jesus is the Son of God and Messiah!

How could they believe?

They had to hear the Word, since the Word creates faith in the hearer.

Romans 10:17 “So faith comes from hearing, and hearing through the word of Christ.”

They needed a preacher to tell them!

Connection:

This is exactly the principal that Christ has called each and every one of us too as well.

We have a precious lifesaving message, and shame on us if we don’t tell everyone the truth.

How could they believe unless they have a messenger?

That kind of reminds me of Johah.

I bet Nineveh was grateful for Jonah’s message in light of God’s coming judgment!

He brought good news to them that if they repent and turn to the Lord they would be spared.

Tell people the message, so they hear and can believe!

Transition:

Paul explained their opportunity for redemption.

It seems like Paul should stop there on a note of salvation but he reveals one more:

Result of their rejection

The first is the elephant in the room:

Israel is guilty

Romans 10:18 “But I ask, have they not heard? Indeed they have, for “Their voice has gone out to all the earth, and their words to the ends of the world.””

The Jews heard the message!

? Skeptics could say when?

Paul would’ve quoted

Psalm 19:4 “Their voice goes out through all the earth, and their words to the end of the world. In them He has set a tent for the sun,”

This emphasizes the revelation of God in the world.

God is revealed in His creation.

Psalm 19:1 “The heavens declare the glory of God, and the sky above proclaims his handiwork.”

God is revealed in His word.

Psalm 19:7–11 “The law of the Lord is perfect, reviving the soul; the testimony of the Lord is sure, making wise the simple; the precepts of the Lord are right, rejoicing the heart; the commandment of the Lord is pure, enlightening the eyes; the fear of the Lord is clean, enduring forever; the rules of the Lord are true, and righteous altogether. More to be desired are they than gold, even much fine gold; sweeter also than honey and drippings of the honeycomb. Moreover, by them is your servant warned; in keeping them there is great reward.”

The Jews can’t deny that they had the message proclaimed to them.

But they didn’t listen to the Word of God.

The result is:

The message goes to the Gentiles

Moses himself revealed to the Jews what would happen if they rejected God.

Deuteronomy 32:21 “They have made me jealous with what is no god; they have provoked me to anger with their idols. So I will make them jealous with those who are no people; I will provoke them to anger with a foolish nation.”

Moses told the Jews that God would take a foolish nation and make them jealous and provoke them to anger.

Romans 10:19 “But I ask, did Israel not understand? First Moses says, “I will make you jealous of those who are not a nation; with a foolish nation I will make you angry.””

That was God’s grace coming to the Gentiles; but also to the Jew.

?How could that possibly be grace to the Jews?

He didn’t kill them all; He instead did what He has always done:

Use another nation to turn them back to Him.

But we cannot forget that Isaiah prophesied that the Gentile nation would be given grace as well, and the rejection was the process He used.

Isaiah 65:1 “I was ready to be sought by those who did not ask for me; I was ready to be found by those who did not seek me. I said, “Here I am, here I am,” to a nation that was not called by my name.”

Romans 10:20 “Then Isaiah is so bold as to say, “I have been found by those who did not seek me; I have shown myself to those who did not ask for me.””

After Jesus was rejected by the Jews the gift of Grace came to the Gentiles.

Jesus didn’t reach out to the Gentiles until after He was resurrected and ascended into Heaven.

The Jews and Gentiles alike could have salvation by Grace through faith equally.

Transition:

But:

God still desires His people

Romans 10:21 “But of Israel He says, “All day long I have held out my hands to a disobedient and contrary people.””

We serve a patient God, we need to thank Him for that.

God continues pursuing those whom He loves, and we can read the entire Bible and recognize that He loves Israel.

Even though we Gentiles are given adoption into His family; His love for the Jews hasn’t changed.

Point:

God’s love is not:

Conditional, it is perfect and constant.

How many times did the Jews mess up and He punished them; but forgave them? A lot.

The Jews rejected the very Messiah that was promised to them and fulfilled every prophecy exactly; yet He is still pursuing them and is patient.

We may reject Him sometimes; but He is still pursuing us because He loves us.

He gave us freedom from religion and invited us into a relationship with Him.

We can be thankful of what resulted from their rejection of Christ:

since the message came to those who aren’t Jewish.

What encouragement that Christ is being patient with your and I just like He is patient with Israel.

He will continue to pursue us!

Pray!

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