Romans 10:14-21
No excuse!
Welcome!
Would you open your Bibles to...
Rom. 10:11 For the Scripture says, “Whoever believes on Him will not be put to shame.”
Rom. 10:12 For there is no distinction between Jew and Greek, for the same Lord over all is rich to all who call upon Him.
Rom. 10:13 For “whoever calls on the name of the LORD shall be saved.”
Pray
Intro
√ You’ll remember from our study last week that concerning Israel in the present time Paul said…
They need the Gospel to be saved
The Gospel message has been made clear to them
The Way of Salvation is available to them
But…
They chose to reject the righteousness of God which comes by faith in Jesus Christ.
√ However, some continued to argue that the Jews had not heard the message of the Gospel….
Or if they had heard, that they didn’t understand the message!
In this section Paul deals with these questions.
Ap. Important because people today raise the same questions – not so much regarding the people of Israel, but rather…
“What about the Pygmy’s?”
Paul deals with these objections and gives us some good apologetic lines of defense that we can use when sharing the Gospel.
Faith comes by hearing (vs. 14-17)
Rom. 10:14 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?
Rom. 10:15 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, Who bring glad tidings of good things!”
Rom. 10:16 But they have not all obeyed the gospel. For Isaiah says, “Lord, who has believed our report?”
Rom. 10:17 So then faith comes by hearing, and hearing by the word of God.
√ This section finds it’s context in vs. 13 in which Paul proclaims…
“For “whoever calls on the name of the LORD shall be saved.’”
That is, God’s gracious invitation to salvation is freely available to all people – Jew and Gentile who respond to God’s Word in faith.
“But” – some people might ask…
How can they (the Jews specifically, and all people generally) call on the Lord if they’ve never believed?
How can they believe if they’ve never heard?
How can they hear unless someone brings the message?
How can someone bring the message if God doesn’t send them!?
The purpose of these type of questions is to try and demonstrate that God can’t hold the Jews (or anyone else) personally responsible for not “calling upon the Lord” if they’ve actually never heard the message!
It’s the old…
“What about the Pygmy? Question”
You know that line of argument – how could a good and loving God condemn a person to hell who has never heard the Gospel message.
On the surface it sounds like a reasonable argument, but Paul demonstrates that it really doesn’t stand up because people – in this case the Jews – have heard the message.
They are therefore responsible for their choice – to receive or reject the Gospel of Christ.
What if they haven’t heard? (vs. 18)
Rom. 10:18 But I say, have they not heard? Yes indeed: “Their sound has gone out to all the earth, And their words to the ends of the world.”
√ The 1st objection
Paul deals with the first objection to the fairness of God’s method by which people are saved by responding to the question…
“what if they haven’t heard?”
His response is….
“But I say, have they not heard? Yes indeed”
He then quotes from Psalm 19:4 to prove that God’s message has been heard all over the world.
How?
1) General revelation – the Creation
Psalm 19:1-6
The Creation cries out to Mankind that there is a Creator – and He can be found by anyone who looks for Him.
Ex. The Ethiopian Eunuch and Cornelius the Centurion
Ap. Builds on his argument in Romans chapter 1 that Mankind knows that God exists by external testimony (creation) and internal testimony (conscience).
Therefore, the Pygmy will be treated fairly by God.
2) Specific revelation – the O.T. revelation
Psalm 19:7-14
Israel had not only the general revelation of God found in the Creation, but also, the specific revelation given by God through the Old Testament scriptures.
Ex. The apostles preached Christ and salvation by faith from the Old Testament!
√ So, the objection that the Jew (or anyone else) is unfairly condemned because they haven’t heard the Gospel is not a valid argument.
What if they haven’t understood? (vs. 19-20)
Rom. 10:19 But I say, did Israel not know? First Moses says: “I will provoke you to jealousy by those who are not a nation, I will move you to anger by a foolish nation.”
Rom. 10:20 But Isaiah is very bold and says: “I was found by those who did not seek Me; I was made manifest to those who did not ask for Me.”
√ The 2nd objection
“Yes, Israel heard but she did not understand that God purposed to offer righteousness by faith to all mankind, including Gentiles.”
To which Paul responds…
“But I say, did Israel not know?”
…to which he then provides the evidence that they did in fact know God’s plan because it is contained in their scripture!
He quotes Moses (Deut. 32:21) and Isaiah (Isa. 65:1) to prove that God had made His plans plain to the people of Israel.
Plans to save not only the Jews, but also the Gentiles.
By what means? Envy - note vs. 19
By pouring out His unmerited favor upon the Gentile Church so as to stir the hearts of the Jews to turn from their self-righteousness to His righteousness by faith in Jesus Christ.
Here’s how it works;
God chose the Jews to be His own special people – a nation that was to be a light to the world that the world might be drawn to God by observing His work in and through the people of Israel.
However, the Jews became arrogant in their special relationship with God. Rather than drawing the World to God, they made it impossible for anyone to get close to Him.
In their pride and self-righteousness they rejected their Messiah thus opening the Door of salvation to the whole world!
Today we see God working actively in His own special people – the Church (Titus 2:14 & I Peter 2:9) made up of both Jew and Gentile.
The God ordained result – Israel would become jealous of God’s work among the Gentile nations and desire once again to have a real relationship with God.
Ap. Beware, the Church has often made the same mistake as the Jews and kept people from God by forming an elite (closed) group.
Why then did they not believe? (vs. 21)
Rom. 10:21 But to Israel he says: “All day long I have stretched out My hands To a disobedient and contrary people.”
√ So…
Israel heard
Israel understood
…but, they didn't believe!
The question is why didn't they believe?
Quoting from Isaiah Paul tells us the root problem was one of disobedience!
The implication is that the Jewish people had, and continue to have, no excuse to refuse Christ.
Rather, it's simply a matter of disobedience.
Ap. What is the root cause of living a non-victorious Christian life?
Disobedience
Friends, recognize that God has given every Christian all that he/she needs to live a victorious life.
So, when a Christian sins is it because…
They haven't heard?
They haven't understood?
No, it boils down to disobedience!
√ As Christians we have at our disposal
All the promises of God
The power and presence of the Holy Spirit in our lives
The sovereign eye of God keeping watch over us and providing a way of escape from every temptation.
No excuse!
Faith
√ Before we leave this section of scripture we need to look at one of the pearls, or secrets for experiencing a strong and growing faith.
Note vs. 17
Rom. 10:17 So then faith comes by hearing, and hearing by the word of God.
Faith is imparted into the life of a believer (you and me) by the…
…hearing of His Word!
Why is that such a revelation?
Why is that such a revelation?
Because when I think my faith needs a boost I pray…
"Lord show me a sign!"
Ex. Angle or miracle
But, the truth is that signs and wonders do not produce saving faith.
Ex. Israel in the wilderness; the disciples after the resurrection ("some doubted)
Rather, God has chosen to impart faith into our lives by the hearing of His Word.
Ap. Do you want to grow in your faith?
Study the Word
Faithfully attend Bible study
Ex. Note the model in scripture
Jesus - "teaching" in every city
The apostles - teaching/preaching everywhere they went
Paul's exhortation to pastors - teach the word!
Jesus' exhortation to the churches in Revelation…
"He who has ears to hear, let him hear"
So, we note that faith comes not…
Primarily through signs and wonders
Slick multimedia presentations
Touching dramatic presentations
Excellent music
…all of which are good and valuable activities in the Church.
But, the primary mission of the local church must be to communicate God's Word to His people!
Ap. That's why we give God's Word such a prominent place in our ministry.
It's God's chosen instrument to impart faith into people's lives.
Close
√ Challenge you to make a commitment in the coming new year to grow your faith.
• Begin a personal Bible study - "Search the Scriptures" IVP
• Make church attendance a "non negotiable"
• Ladies study
• Men's discipleship
• Teen group
Ap. It's all available - it's up to you to chose!