How Can They Hear?
Walk Through Romans • Sermon • Submitted
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· 57 viewsHow will others ever hear the gosepl if we refuse to tell them? How can we share the gosepl if the church is closed? Where do we go from here? Questions we will hopefully be able to answer!
Notes
Transcript
Introduction
Introduction
Well good evening and welcome back!
It is so good that you are able to join us this evening.
Tonight, if you would like to follow along in your own Bible, we will be going back to .
And if you watched the service from last Sunday night, you will know that we started in and covered the first 11 verses of that chapter.
So tonight we are going to be picking up in verse 12 and finishing out the chapter.
And just as a quick recap from last Sunday night, the title of that message was “The Head vs. The Heart” and we looked at the difference between a “head” knowledge in Jesus Christ and an actual “heart knowledge.”
And what I mean by “heart knowledge” is that knowledge that goes beyond learning and basic understanding.
It is the knowledge that we gain about someone when we actually have a relationship with them.
When we have developed a relationship built on trust and love with that person.
And the thing about Jesus is we can know everything that there is to know ABOUT Jesus, but if we do not actually know Jesus Himself, then our knowledge is not very useful to us or anyone else.
We are very educated but we have no relationship.
And the key to it all is having an actual RELATIONSHIP with Jesus Christ.
Something that is real and tangible.
Which means though that we have to have some sort of interaction with Jesus.
Think about it this way, how can we have a relationship with our spouse or significant other if there is no interaction with that other person?
How can we have a relationship with our friends and family if there is no interaction with them?
Well, the answer is we cannot.
And the same thing holds true for Jesus as well.
How can we have a relationship with Him, if we never interact with Him?
We cannot.
So, this interaction is where the heart knowledge begins and matures.
And the last verses we discussed last week were verses 10-11 that state . . .
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.”
Which we know goes back to our salvation.
With our heart we believe, because with our heart we have developed a relationship.
And if we have a relationship we proclaim that and speak about it.
When we love someone we don’t try to hide it and keep it a secret do we?
No we proclaim it and confess it.
Which is the natural outpouring of our developing relationship with Jesus.
Which is going to lead us into tonight’s focus, titled “How Can They Hear?”
And the question itself relates to our desire and and duty to share the message with others.
To go out and share the gospel.
So, let’s get into it.
I am going to pick up in verse 12 and read through the remainder of the chapter.
Paul writes this . ..
Scripture Focus
Scripture Focus
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.”
Romans 10:12-
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!”
Romans 10:14-
Romans 10:16-
16 But not all the Israelites accepted the good news. For Isaiah says, “Lord, who has believed our message?”17 Consequently, faith comes from hearing the message, and the message is heard through the word of Christ. 18 But I ask: Did they not hear? Of course they did: “Their voice has gone out into all the earth, their words to the ends of the world.”
Romans 10:19-
19 Again I ask: Did Israel not understand? First, Moses says, “I will make you envious by those who are not a nation; I will make you angry by a nation that has no understanding.”20 And Isaiah boldly says, “I was found by those who did not seek me; I revealed myself to those who did not ask for me.”21 But concerning Israel he says, “All day long I have held out my hands to a disobedient and obstinate people.”
How Can They Hear? (vs 12-15)
How Can They Hear? (vs 12-15)
Now we see here Paul is actually continuing and finishing the though of the previous passage concerning our belief in our heart and confession with our mouths that Jesus is Lord.
But he is not just simply repeating himself here, he is actually addressing one of the main complaints that the Jewish converts and the Jewish people as a whole were raising.
And this had to do with the “right” of salvation.
In other words—who has the right to receive God’s love, mercy, and grace?
Who had the right to God’s blessing?
The Jewish position was that it was them and only them.
They were God’s chosen people so the right to God was for them and only them.
And when we put it that way that sounds pretty awful doesn’t it?
Pretty hypocritical.
Pretty elitist.
I mean, who do they think they are that they should be the only ones with access to God.
And before we shake our heads in agreement too much, we should stop and think about whether we are guilty of the same type of behavior.
There are lots of people out there spread across multiple denominations that have placed their faith in Jesus, but they may not worship like us.
They may not dress like us.
They may not act like us.
They may not look like us.
But they have placed their faith in Jesus just the same.
Who are we to say that our way to God is better than their way?
Who are we to say that our particular denominational way to God is the only way?
Now, let me be crystal clear. I am not saying that there are multiple ways to God.
Jesus is the only way. Period—full stop.
However, how people encounter and live in relationship with Jesus varies widely across the world.
And before we stub our noses at people, we need to stop and think.
But let’s push this just a little further.
What about people out there who need to hear the message who we don’t like.
Or people who don’t look like us, act like us, think like us.
Or people who have committed crimes—sometimes horrible crimes.
I’ve heard people say, “they don’t deserve God’s forgiveness.”
Really, who made us judge, jury, and executioner?
Last time I checked that was God’s domain and not ours.
Who are we to say that they don’t deserve the same message of hope found in Jesus Christ that we have recieved?
Who are we to say that they don’t deserve to hear about God?
In fact, Paul tells us . . .
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.”
Now, look Paul is addressing the Jewish argument directly here, but it applies to us all.
He says, there is no difference between Jew and Gentile, meaning that all people are the same in God’s eyes.
And all people deserve the same chance and knowing God.
He says, the same Lord is the Lord of all and richly blesses all who call on him.
And do you know what that blessing is?
Salvation—Eternal life. because,
13 for, “Everyone who calls on the name of the Lord will be saved.”
And I want us to hear that and understand that.
EVERYONE who calls on the name of the Lord WILL be saved.
Not, “maybe” will be saved.
Or “possibly.”
EVERYONE who calls on the name of the Lord WILL be saved.
EVERYONE!
That is all inclusive, including the people who you don’t think deserve it.
Which means that we have to do the mission that God has given us.
And what is that mission you say?
Paul addresses it next . . .
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!”
Romans 10:
Now Paul is addressing this in the form of a question because he is calling people out.
First he calls out their judgmental attitude towards those who don’t know Jesus-how can they call on the one they have have not believed in and how can they believe in the one of whom they have not heard?
Which is a most valid question for us as well.
How can people call on Jesus if they have never believed in Jesus?
How can people believe in Jesus if they have never heard about Jesus?
How is it possible?
Outside of Jesus appearing to them in a dream—which has happened—it’s not possible.
Which brings us to the next group that Paul calls out—How can they hear without someone preaching to them? And how can they preach unless they are sent?
And I’m going to address the second question first here.
How can they preach unless they are sent? Because many people will say “I’ve not been sent—I’ve not been called.”
Which is not true.
We are all part of the Great Commission to go and share the gospel.
No one is excluded from that.
We are all disciples of Jesus and thus are all sent.
Now the first question, How can they hear without someone preaching to them? And people will say “I’m no preacher.”
The word “preach” means to proclaim—to share a message.
We are all preachers because we all are called to proclaim and share the message.
So, it is all of our duty.
The question is are we fulfilling that duty?
If we are then there are some benefits as well —how beautiful are the feet of those who bring good news! That is a blessing from God.
God considers those who share the gospel beautiful.
Israel Rejects the Good News (vs 16-21)
Israel Rejects the Good News (vs 16-21)
So, think about that and think about your attitude toward others.
Is it a worldly attitude?
Or is it a Godly attitude?
Because our attitude impacts our relationship with Jesus and also our ability to share the Good News with others.
Attitude really is everything.
But here is the thing.
Sometimes we can be doing our best and things don’t go so well.
Sometimes despite our best efforts, people don’t listen.
People don’t accept the message.
Well, that’s nothing new.
It’s something that has been going on for a very long time.
Look at the the next section here . . .
16 But not all the Israelites accepted the good news. For Isaiah says, “Lord, who has believed our message?”
Romans 10:16-
But that does not mean that we can stop delivering the message . . .
17 Consequently, faith comes from hearing the message, and the message is heard through the word of Christ.
That is the only way people get it—by hearing it.
And we don’t know, nor can we control who accepts it and who rejects it.
And Paul’s example here is case in point.
He goes on to say . . .
18 But I ask: Did they not hear? Of course they did: “Their voice has gone out into all the earth, their words to the ends of the world.”19 Again I ask: Did Israel not understand? First, Moses says, “I will make you envious by those who are not a nation; I will make you angry by a nation that has no understanding.”20 And Isaiah boldly says, “I was found by those who did not seek me; I revealed myself to those who did not ask for me.”21 But concerning Israel he says, “All day long I have held out my hands to a disobedient and obstinate people.”
Romans 10:18-
And that my friends is the reality of it.
To us it makes perfect sense and to us it is a no brainer but to others, they will not listen.
And there is nothing we can do about it.
Our job is not to save them.
Our job is to deliver the message of salvation—the message of hope—the message of Jesus.
And when we have done that we have fulfilled our responsibility.
And I love how Paul ends, quoting . . .
21 But concerning Israel he says, “All day long I have held out my hands to a disobedient and obstinate people.”
Altar Call/Challenge
Altar Call/Challenge
Which is probably how we feel sometimes.
We share and share but it feels like we are banging our head against the wall.
We see people say one thing and their actions say something else.
Well the reality is, we cannot change others.
We can only share the truth and turn them over to God.
So #1 if you are discouraged I would say lift your head up and be encouraged.
Do the work God has given you and push forward, keep going!
And #2 if you are like our judgmental friends we talked about in the beginning of the message, change that.
Allow God access to your heart to change your heart.
To change your attitude.
You may just find that if you allow God to change your attitude, the attitude of others around you may change as well.
So, as always, leave a comment, question, prayer request.
And until next time stay safe and be blessed!