Romans 9:1-5: Where the Connection Begins

Introduction

https://www.cnn.com/style/article/19th-century-levis-jeans-intl-scli/index.html?utm_medium=social&utm_source=twCNN&utm_content=2022-10-15T19%3A30%3A10&utm_term=link - Nothing more valuable than the Good News of Jesus - and it’s free and it’s available to all.

Yet, we have a hard time talking about this valuable, free gift.

You know you need to start living on God’s mission, but where do you start? Where does the connection begin? How do I begin to have conversations that connect people to the Gospel?

When it comes to sharing the Gospel, certain images likely come to mind - knocking on doors, passing out Gospel tracts, revival meetings where a preacher extends a long invitation, street preachers, etc. None of that sounds like something you want to do.

What needs to come to mind: people you know that are far from Jesus. The reality that some of your own family members will enter into a Christ-less eternity should be enough to motivate us to learn how to share the Gospel and have continual conversations with people we love.

Over the next few weeks, we’re going to talk about how we can have Gospel conversations that address the sinfulness of humanity, the nature of faith, heaven and hell, etc. BUT, How do we start having Gospel conversations? To begin to become more effective in sharing your faith you must start with you. Something must take place in your heart. This passage helps us to see three heart realities you must understand if you are going to begin to be more effective in having Gospel conversations.

Understand the love you have been shown.

Paul understood grace, and he knew what it meant to be radically changed by the God. Paul persecuted Christians, but that did not stop God from pursuing him, changing him, and giving Paul a new life mission – to make Christ known all around the world.

The Gospel is a story of God’s redemptive love, and Paul’s masterpiece, the letter to the Romans, beautifully shares God’s Gospel of love. Romans 1: We have rejected a good and loving God and turned to idols. Therefore, the wrath of God is on us. Romans 2: (A word to the Jews) If you think you are spiritually superior because of your spiritual heritage, you are wrong. You are just as sinful as the idolatrous gentiles. Romans 3: We are all without excuse for our sin. Because of our rebellion, no one has a right standing before God. All have sinned and fallen short of the glory of God – but as a gift of God’s grace, God justifies us because of His love. (Romans 3:23-24) Romans 4: the way to experience salvation is by faith. Romans 5: We have peace with God because of Christ because Romans 5:8 – while we were still sinners and enemies of God, He shows His love for us by giving His Son for us. Romans 6: We have been united with Christ. We are one with Him. Romans 7: We are released from rule keeping and alive to grace. Romans 8:There is no condemnation in Christ, and to further demonstrate His love for us, He has placed His Spirit within us who leads us and prays on our behalf.

Paul’s explanation of the Gospel in Romans 1-8 is powerful - and when you begin to understand what Paul writes in Romans 1-8, the love of God produces two realities in your heart:

Great confidence. (Romans 8:31-39) If God is for us, who can be against us? Nothing can separate us from His love. There will never be a day that God cuts you off. You belong to Him. You are forever His. Everyone in this world can reject you, but God never will. Everything in this world can be taken away from you, but your eternal destiny will never be taken away.

Great sorrow. (Romans 9:2) Paul is thinking about the people that he knows who have rejected the Good News. (More on that in a minute.)

Think about the people you know who willingly reject the Good News of Jesus. If people you love die without Jesus they will spend an eternity experiencing the righteous wrath of God. Let that drive you to sorrow. Also, think about the opportunities you do not take advantage of to share the Gospel. Let that drive you to sorrow.

Understand the love you have been shown. You’ve experienced it. God’s love has changed you, and God’s love is available for all (John 3:16). Yet, that love is rejected. That’s sorrowful because people you love are missing out on the joy, peace, and hope that comes in a relationship with Jesus.

Yet, we aren’t sorrowful enough because we are far too preoccupied with our own lives. We are too preoccupied with what we want out of life than what God wants from our lives: to live on His mission. We fail to consider the reality that many of the people we love are going to spend eternity suffering punishment for their rejection of Christ. That reality should drive us to great sorrow. Our lack of sorrow stems from a lack of understanding of how much we have been loved.

Staci’s love for me - but made a mistake - didn’t get the right ice cream - God’s love - gives us exactly what we need - Never, “Oops… I gave you the wrong thing...”

Understand the blindness that darkens the hearts of people who are far from God.

Paul says something unthinkable (and impossible) – “If it were possible, I’d want to be cursed by God if in some way it allowed my people an opportunity to experience the blessings of God.” Wow! Do you have that kind of desire for people to know Christ?

My own people – Paul an international missionary at heart, but his heart was never far from his own people, the Jews, and the people who were closest to him – family members, friends, former colleagues that had rejected Jesus.

People who were spiritually privileged but had missed it. They had received the promises of God. They had received the covenant (O.T. covenant and promised a New Covenant). God’s own Son, Jesus, had walked among them. They had always been around the things of God but had missed it. Spiritual privilege created apathy and entitlement not a desire to know God.

We live in a spiritually privileged culture. You live in a city where there is no limit of access to the Gospel - churches on every corner. Charleston is called the Holy City, yet less and less people are finding truth within the local church. In part, because we aren’t being faithful to God’s calling on our lives, and also because people willingly reject the Good News of Jesus.

You live among people who have dulled their hearts to the things of God because they have bought into the lie of the enemy - that this world is far better than the hope of victory that Christ offers us.

Probably, many of the people who you know probably have some basic understanding of Christianity – grew up in church – or had family members who were Christians – but chose to reject the faith. They’ve walked out.

However, there is still hope! They may have rejected Christ but as long as they are breathing, they are experiencing grace, and you still have opportunity to be used by God to help them to see their need for a Savior. Paul knew there was hope for his own people.

Understand the blindness that darkens the hearts of people who are far from God. Paul knew this about his own people, but that didn’t cause him to lose hope in the power of God to change the hearts of the people he was closest to. Romans 11 - Paul’s hope - God isn’t finished with the Jewish people. He looks toward a day that God will open their hearts. A motivation for Paul to continue to pray for his kinsman and share the Gospel with them.

You can’t open the eyes of the spiritually blind, but God can. Yet, you are not called to ignore spiritual blindness/darkness. You’re called to engage it.

Right now, there are people you know and love whose hearts are darkened. There’s still hope! God can open the eyes of anyone! Now is the time to pray and look for intentional opportunities to share the Gospel.

Identify your Oikos.

Oikos (Not Greek Yogurt!) – Household – In the New Testament, the Gospel often spreads through entire households. Mark 5:19: The man possessed with many demons: Go home to your family and tell them how much the Lord has done for you, and how he has had mercy on you. While Jesus was having dinner with Levi’s house many tax collectors and sinners were eating with him and his disciples, for there were many who followed him. (Mark 2:15). Acts 10 – Cornelius and entire household coming to faith. Acts 16 - Philippian jailer and his family.

Point: In Romans 9 – Paul certainly thinking of all Jewish people who have rejected the Gospel, but I assume he is thinking about his oikos as well. People that he knows personally. Jewish relatives and friends he has personal influence over - probably people he had tough conversations with.

You have an oikos. In God’s sovereign design He has intentionally placed you around a group of people – family members, coworkers, and friends for you to reach. What if you became intentional about your oikos? What if you made a list and began to pray for your oikos on a daily basis? Someone in your oikos is spiritually receptive. God is already at work in their lives, they need to hear the truth, and God has placed you in their lives to share the truth.

What I am calling us to as a church: to simply list 7-10 people that you have some type of influence over - begin to pray daily. Pray for them in our LCGs.

Pray for Daily for Four Opens for People in your oikos:

Pray for God to open your eyes.

Pray for God to open hearts of the people you love.

Pray for God to open an opportunity for you to share the Gospel.

Pray for God to open your mouth.

Understand your mission to people who are far from God.

Paul knew his mission - yes, to the Gentiles, but ultimately to anyone who would listen to the Gospel.

God’s mission - to redeem people for His glory. He has invited you to join Him on that mission. He has left you on this earth to use you for His mission.· IMB missionary Steven Smith – 4 callings of every believer:

The voice from above – this is Jesus’ calling - Great Commission

The voice from hell – the calling from spirits that are suffering in Hell The rich man said to Abraham “I beg you, father, send Lazarus to my father’s house, for I have five brothers. Let him warn them, so that they will not also come to this place of torment.” Luke 16:27 – 28 Do we hear the voice of those that are suffering that is coming from below?

The voice from inside – conviction of the Spirit within you - the voice that comes within every individual “Yet when I preach the gospel, I cannot boast, for I am compelled to preach. Woe to me if I do not preach the gospel! If I preach voluntarily, I have a reward; if not voluntarily, I am simply discharging the trust committed to me.” 1 Corinthians 9:16-17

The voice from outside – the calling from Others (Your oikos) “During the night, Paul had a vision of a man of Macedonia standing and begging him, ‘Come over to Macedonia and help us.’” Acts 16:9

Think about these four callings? Are you listening? Or, are you ignoring?

Challenges for the next five weeks:

1. Be present - Don’t miss a message. 2. Be prayerful - Start today. 3. Be participatory - In your LCGs, don’t sit on the sidelines during the conversation. You need to talk through this. 4. Be pliable – let God shape you.

This morning – trust Christ. If you are not a believer, the Gospel is for your salvation. Believe that Jesus died in your place and rose again. Place your faith in Him.

Believers – pray. Let’s pray that we will begin to experience a season of evangelistic faithfulness and fruitfulness.