Beautiful Feet!
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Introduction
Attention - Podophobia is an extreme and unrealistic fear of feet.
Have you ever gotten a pedicure?
Need -
Textual Idea: Paul continues his teaching to the church at Rome. His focus in this chapter is the human side of salvation. Specifically, in verses 14-17 he is focusing on the Jews rejection of the gospel. As we read through this passage you will notice some verses that have traditionally been preached to motivate missions. And this isn’t necessarily a wrong application. However, first and foremost, Paul is addressing God’s faithfulness in communicating the truth of the gospel to the Jews. However, the Jews, en mass, rejected the gospel. And this is the point of Paul’s teaching here. There is a reason Paul is teaching this to the Church at Rome. Do you think there is anything we, the church today can learn? I do!
God sent true believers to the Jewish nation to communicate the reality of Messiah. And it was the true believers that truly responded to the preaching of this beautiful message.
What is the principle for us?
Main Idea: True Believers Have Truly Beautiful Feet - The verbal communication of the gospel is of the utmost importance in order for people to be rescued from the wrath of God - And God wants to use you!
God sent prophets to the nation of Israel who faithfully proclaimed the truth to them only to have them reject it. They, the prophets, had beautiful feet!
And guess what, friends! God does not have Podophobia! No, instead he LOVES BEAUTIFUL FEET! Feet that carry the good news of the gospel.
So this passage should cause you to ask the question about yourself - Do I have beautiful feet!
There are three truly beautiful things I want you to see in this passage.
A truly beautiful process, announcement, and word.
1. A Truly Beautiful Process - You Must Go and Preach so Unbelievers can Hear, Believe, and Call on the Lord to be Saved. (vs. 14-15a)
Paul is expanding on the concept of call in verse 13.
13 For “everyone who calls on the name of the Lord will be saved.”
Verse 14-15a speak to the process of the call and the importance of the believer bringing the message (the word of Christ) so that the unbelieving can HEAR, BELIEVE, CALL, AND THUS BE SAVED.
Please notice the four questions that Paul lays out for the church at Rome.
14 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? 15 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!”
Did you see the rhetorical questions Paul lists out for us?
I’d like to reverse their order as we analyze them.
And as you look at this order you can understand that just as he sent the prophets, Jesus. and the Apostles, so he sends you.
You Are Sent To Preach - What is “sent?” the sense of “to dispatch.” What is “preaching/preach?” the sense of “to announce/to herald.”
You Must Preach So They Can Hear - What is “heard/hear?” the sense of “to learn.”
They Must Hear So They Can Believe - What is “believe/belief?” Belief and faith are the same greek word. the sense is “to trust.”
They Must Believe So They Can Call on the Lord for Rescue - “To Call On as to Ask for Help - To ask someone for help is conceptualized as calling on that person.” - LFLBG The sense is “to invoke.”
This is the Lord’s process.
Do you know what we typically do with a passage like this? We use it at a Missions Conference to inspire people to consider global missions. Do you think that was Paul’s intent when he penned these words?
I don’t think that was his direct intent with this passage. It certainly can be applied in this way, but I think it is much more robust that only global missions.
As I said, God sent people/prophets to reach the Jewish nation that the messiah was coming. He even sent His own son, who was a son of the jewish nation to rescue them. What did they do? They rejected the prophets and they rejected Jesus.
33 “Hear another parable. There was a master of a house who planted a vineyard and put a fence around it and dug a winepress in it and built a tower and leased it to tenants, and went into another country. 34 When the season for fruit drew near, he sent his servants to the tenants to get his fruit. 35 And the tenants took his servants and beat one, killed another, and stoned another. 36 Again he sent other servants, more than the first. And they did the same to them. 37 Finally he sent his son to them, saying, ‘They will respect my son.’ 38 But when the tenants saw the son, they said to themselves, ‘This is the heir. Come, let us kill him and have his inheritance.’ 39 And they took him and threw him out of the vineyard and killed him. 40 When therefore the owner of the vineyard comes, what will he do to those tenants?” 41 They said to him, “He will put those wretches to a miserable death and let out the vineyard to other tenants who will give him the fruits in their seasons.” 42 Jesus said to them, “Have you never read in the Scriptures: “ ‘The stone that the builders rejected has become the cornerstone; this was the Lord’s doing, and it is marvelous in our eyes’? 43 Therefore I tell you, the kingdom of God will be taken away from you and given to a people producing its fruits. 44 And the one who falls on this stone will be broken to pieces; and when it falls on anyone, it will crush him.” 45 When the chief priests and the Pharisees heard his parables, they perceived that he was speaking about them. 46 And although they were seeking to arrest him, they feared the crowds, because they held him to be a prophet.
Do you see? Over and over God’s people rejected God’s beutuful process. Over and over God, through his prophets call his people to repentance. And yet they killed the prophets and they killed the son as well.
After the resurrection, the mandate from the Lord to his disciples became clear.
18 And Jesus came and said to them, “All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me. 19 Go therefore and make disciples of 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 that I have commanded you. And behold, I am with you always, to the end of the age.”
8 But you will receive power when the Holy Spirit has come upon you, and you will be my witnesses in Jerusalem and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the end of the earth.”
Friends, you and I not only the recipients of the disciples faithfully following this process - because they did, you are now saved - but you hold the same responsibility that they held. This isn’t about global missions this is about disciples reaching people with the gospel all over the globe!
In other words, we are to be doing the very same thing here that Nathan Muse is doing in Australia! That Kaelynn was doing in South Korea! That Larry and Donna Salisbury are doing in Thailand. That the Lanes are doing in Haiti!
Do you understand your part of God’s beautiful process?
You are sent to preach (announce) - Your job is a means to enable you to announce that Jesus Christ saves. Explain...
You are to preach with clarity so they can hear (understand) - Are you? Do you know how? Do you want to learn? I want to teach you.
And the other part of the process is for those here that have not come to a saving faith in Jesus. You are lost in your sin and in need of redemption.
What your responsibility?
You must have ears to hear.
You must believe and CALL on the NAME of Jesus and be saved!
Have you hear?
Do you believe?
Have you called on the ONLY NAME under heaven by which you can be saved?
Today is a great day to do this.
Review - True Believers Have Truly Beautiful Feet
A Truly Beautiful Process
2. A Truly Beautiful Announcement - You Are the Vehicle for God’s Redemptive Message (vs. 15b-16)
15 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!” 16 But they have not all obeyed the gospel. For Isaiah says, “Lord, who has believed what he has heard from us?”
Paul quotes Isaiah 52:7 that talks about “beautiful feet.” Why does he use this metaphorical imagery? Is there any significance to this imagery?
“The part of the body associated with moving and with foundation, direction and chosen path. Feet may symbolize the response to God’s direction.” - Logos Factbook
Preaching The Good News in the Old Testament - Two perspectives to consider (Isaiah’s meaning and Paul meaning behind usage) Paul quotes Isaiah’s Announcement regarding the good news to the Jewish Nation regarding their release from captivity to demonstrate that God is pleased with people who preach the good news.
Paul quotes Isa 52:7, which refers to those who announce the good news that the exiled people of Israel will be able to return to their own land. Paul applies the verse to Christian preachers, who proclaim the ultimate “good news” about God’s intervention on behalf of all people in Christ (1:16).
By the way, do you see any parallels with our predicament as humans?
Just like the Jews were exiled in a foreign land and longed for freedom, so you and I were exiled in the foreign land of sin without any hope of obtaining freedom.
However, someone with beautiful feet came along with some very good news that we listened to, believed and then called on the Lord who was the only one that could deliver us from our exiled predicament!
You Preach Regardless if They Obey - The Jewish Nation, even though they had consistent, powerful witnesses throughout the ages still rejected the message of a coming Messiah. This is Paul’s point in verse 16 as he quotes Isaiah 53:1
1 Who has believed what he has heard from us? And to whom has the arm of the Lord been revealed?
Paul’s point in quoting this passage in Isaiah is to prove that not all will believe the gospel message.
The ESV Study Bible Chapter 10
Isaiah (Isa. 53:1) prophesies that not all will believe. In the context of Romans 9–11, Paul is thinking especially of the Jews who did not believe.
By the way, listen to verse 2-6 in Isaiah 53 and see if you can hear the gospel 700 years before Jesus ever walked on this earth..
1 Who has believed what he has heard from us? And to whom has the arm of the Lord been revealed? 2 For he grew up before him like a young plant, and like a root out of dry ground; he had no form or majesty that we should look at him, and no beauty that we should desire him. 3 He was despised and rejected by men, a man of sorrows and acquainted with grief; and as one from whom men hide their faces he was despised, and we esteemed him not. 4 Surely he has borne our griefs and carried our sorrows; yet we esteemed him stricken, smitten by God, and afflicted. 5 But he was pierced for our transgressions; he was crushed for our iniquities; upon him was the chastisement that brought us peace, and with his wounds we are healed. 6 All we like sheep have gone astray; we have turned—every one—to his own way; and the Lord has laid on him the iniquity of us all.
Did you know that for various reasons many orthodox Jews stop reading in the middle of Isaiah 52 and start again in Isaiah 54? This speaks to their continued desire to suppress the truth that Jesus Christ, who fits Isaiah 53 to a tea, is their Messiah! This is what Paul means when he says...
16 But they have not all obeyed the gospel. For Isaiah says, “Lord, who has believed what he has heard from us?”
Okay, so this caused me to think about some questions...
Why then should we send out the gospel call? Why should we communicate the gospel when not all will believe. In fact, the vast majority of people will not believe the gospel. So why should we communicate it?
Three Reasons
We are commanded to do so.
The announcement is the means by which those who respond will respond!
Every time the Gospel is announced, God gets more glory!
Illustration - Wedding announcements. Baby Announcements. We put a significant amount of time, energy and money into these things because they are important events in our lives. What about Salvation announcements?
Argumentation - News flash, the vast majority of people you share the gospel with will reject it. But what about the one? What about the one that is rescued from eternal condemnation? Isn’t their salvation worth all the rejection you have received from others?
Application - You have a beautiful announcement to share with those around you. Share it! Many will reject you. Share it anyway. God will used it to bring some to him and all the glory for him!
Christian, I really want you to have feet that God calls beautiful!
Follow His process and you will!
Review - True Believers Have Truly Beautiful Feet
A Truly Beautiful Process
A Truly Beautiful Announcement
3. A Truly Beautiful Word - You Must Understand The Power of the “Word of Christ.” (vs. 17)
Hearing Produces Faith -
What is faith? to trust.
Where does faith come from? According to this text, faith come by learning the truth about the gospel and believing it.
The ESV Study Bible Chapter 10
Hearing the gospel is necessary for salvation, but hearing is not enough: people must also respond with personal trust.
Why is the conduit for faith hearing? Does this mean reading is not a means of faith?
The ESV Study Bible Chapter 10
One can come to faith only through hearing the gospel, and the specific message that must be heard is the word of Christ, that is, the good news about Jesus Christ as the crucified and risen Savior
Hearing What? The Words of Christ -
What is the word of Christ? Is this different than the word of God?
The ESV Study Bible Chapter 10
word of Christ, that is, the good news about Jesus Christ as the crucified and risen Savior.
The Jews needed to believe and call on Jesus Christ to save them. He is the culmination of their Jewish history. He is the fulfillment of all of the promises of God.
This is what Paul means when he utters these beautiful words in...
20 For all the promises of God find their Yes in him. That is why it is through him that we utter our Amen to God for his glory.
And Paul has labored over this point as well. Salvation is for the gentiles as much as it is for the Jews. And the gentiles need to hear and understand the Word of Christ just like the Jews do.
You might know this, but there are four gospels in the New Testament.
Matthew, Mark, Luke, and John.
Each written by an apostle or one closely associated with and Apostle.
Each one written from a different perspective.
Each one written to a different audience.
Matthew’s gospel was written to a Jewish audience.
Mark’s gospel written to a gentile audience.
Luke’s gospel was written to Theophilus, a Roman official (gentile)
John’s Gospel was aimed at both Jews and Gentiles living throughout the Greco-Roman world.
The point? Both Jew’s and gentiles come to a relationship with God through hearing the Word of Christ - the gospel message.
What is the gospel message - it is SO important that you understand this and have the ability to articulate this to people regardless if they accept it or not!
1 Now I would remind you, brothers, of the gospel I preached to you, which you received, in which you stand, 2 and by which you are being saved, if you hold fast to the word I preached to you—unless you believed in vain. 3 For I delivered to you as of first importance what I also received: that Christ died for our sins in accordance with the Scriptures, 4 that he was buried, that he was raised on the third day in accordance with the Scriptures, 5 and that he appeared to Cephas, then to the twelve.
Jesus Died -
Jesus was Buried - proving his death and fulfilling Scripture.
Jesus was Raised from the dead! - He beat death and now, because he has risen, we can rise from the dead as well.
20 But in fact Christ has been raised from the dead, the firstfruits of those who have fallen asleep. 21 For as by a man came death, by a man has come also the resurrection of the dead. 22 For as in Adam all die, so also in Christ shall all be made alive. 23 But each in his own order: Christ the firstfruits, then at his coming those who belong to Christ. 24 Then comes the end, when he delivers the kingdom to God the Father after destroying every rule and every authority and power. 25 For he must reign until he has put all his enemies under his feet. 26 The last enemy to be destroyed is death. 27 For “God has put all things in subjection under his feet.” But when it says, “all things are put in subjection,” it is plain that he is excepted who put all things in subjection under him.
It is this Word of Christ - the gospel that saves people from God’s wrath. This gospel saves people from eternal separation from God. This gospel provides people with eternal hope with God in heaven where there is no sin, no pain, no more grief!
Do you know the Word of Christ? Do you believe the Word of Christ? Do you share the Word of Christ?
17 So faith comes from hearing, and hearing through the word of Christ.
Argumentation - This beautiful word must be part of our spiritual DNA
16 Let the word of Christ dwell in you richly, teaching and admonishing one another in all wisdom, singing psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, with thankfulness in your hearts to God.
"If we want to know the Glory of God, if we want to experience the beauty of God, and if we want to be used by the hand of God, then we must LIVE in the WORD of God." ~ David Platt
"The word of God is always most precious to the man who most lives upon it." ~ Charles Spurgeon
Application - Two ways for you to apply this verse.
First, realize that those you are trying to reach for Christ need to hear the WORD of Christ to be saved. Not your stories, not your opinions, not even your testimony. They need to hear and understand the gospel in order to have saving faith. So, use the word!
Second - do you feel like your faith is waining? Read the Word! Live in it and your faith will grow!
"I prayed for Faith, and thought that some day Faith would come down and strike me like lightning. But Faith did not seem to come. One day I read in the tenth chapter of Romans, 'Now Faith cometh by hearing, and hearing by the Word of God'. I had closed my Bible, and prayed for Faith. I now opened my Bible, and began to study, and Faith has been growing ever since." ~ Dwight L. Moody
Friends, there is nothing more beautiful than the Word of Christ. Know it! Live it! Love it!
Conclusion
Visualization - What if Allendale Baptist Church decided to all get a spiritual pedicure? What if we were all determined to have “Beautiful Feet?”
Two things would happen in this body.
1. We would grow in faith and be unstoppable for the service of the Lord.
2. We would function like the faithful prophets in the Old Testament who carried the Word of God to the Jews without fear.
We would see revival. I don’t think we should simply pray for revival. I certainly think we should pray but we should also follow our prayer up with a determination to carry the Word of Christ out into our community boldly and faithfully. Not all will receive - But all should hear!
Will you get the spiritual pedicure today?
God loves beautiful feet. Pray that He transforms all of feet accordingly!
True Believers Have Truly Beautiful Feet
A Truly Beautiful Process
A Truly Beautiful Announcement
A Truly Beautiful Word
Connection Group Reflection Questions
Do you agree or disagree with the statement, “True Believers have Truly Beautiful Feet”?
What Part of the “process” do you struggle with the most? What comes easy for you?
Why do you think so many have and will reject the message. Does this help you or discourage you in the process of sharing the gospel.
What is your practice to have Colossians 3:16 true in your life?
How can we encourage each other to have “Beautiful Feet?” Be specific.