Sermon Tone Analysis

FAITH THAT’S FOR REAL

 

Romans 10:5-15

 

*INTRODUCTION*:

 

A.

[Not long ago, a night worker at a Kinko’s copy shop in Birmingham, AL, was arrested for producing tens of thousands of dollars in counterfeit money on the sophisticated color copiers in his shop.

It’s not an isolated problem—with the improving quality of this type of equipment, Treasury officials are facing a significant increase in such counterfeiting efforts.]

What used to take a skilled engraver and printing equipment now can be done on a color copy machine.

Yet, no matter what the technology is for making this money, it’s still counterfeit; it has no value except by deception.

B.

There is such a thing as counterfeit faith as well.

It is manufactured in different ways, but the end result is still the same—men and women who miss the fullness, the joy and satisfaction that comes from a real, authentic relationship with the living God.

In the beginning of this tenth chapter of Romans, Paul is expressing his urgent desire that his fellow Israelites would come to faith in Christ.

Yet, instead of turning to Christ, Paul says they have substituted a different faith, a counterfeit righteousness that falls short of God’s desire for them.

Let’s pick up the discourse in vs.5 (READ vs. 5-15)

*Romans 10:5-15 (NIV) \\ 5 Moses describes in this way the righteousness that is by the law: “The man who does these things will live by them.”

\\ 6 But the righteousness that is by faith says: “Do not say in your heart, ‘Who will ascend into heaven?’”

(that is, to bring Christ down) \\ 7 “or ‘Who will descend into the deep?’” (that is, to bring Christ up from the dead).

\\ 8 But what does it say?

“The word is near you; it is in your mouth and in your heart,” that is, the word of faith we are proclaiming: \\ 9 That if you confess with your mouth, “Jesus is Lord,” and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved.

\\ 10 For it is with your heart that you believe and are justified, and it is with your mouth that you confess and are saved.

\\ 11 As the Scripture says, “Anyone who trusts in him will never be put to shame.”

\\ 12 For there is no difference between Jew and Gentile—the same Lord is Lord of all and richly blesses all who call on him, \\ 13 for, “Everyone who calls on the name of the Lord will be saved.”

\\ 14 How, then, can they call on the one they have not believed in?

And how can they believe in the one of whom they have not heard?

And how can they hear without someone preaching to them? \\ 15 And how can they preach unless they are sent?

As it is written, “How beautiful are the feet of those who bring good news!”*

C. In order to help us judge the difference between counterfeit faith and authentic faith, Paul gives us several characteristics of faith that’s for real.

How do we recognize if we have this real faith Paul’s talking about?

First, Real Faith is;

 

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*ROOTED IN AN INTERNAL TRANSFORMATION*

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Paul quotes from Lev. 18:5 in which the Lord, through Moses, tells His people to obey His laws.

i.