Romans 9:30-10:21

Review

Paul has just told us about God’s sovereignty as the potter and our powerlessness and presumption when we accuse God because we, who suffer from the fall, only look from us to God and not seeing from God to us.

Paul says that the reason they have not been saved is not because the Word of God has failed.

Not just the Jew but us also. If we are saved we should realize the amazing thing isn’t that some people will go to hell. The miracle is any of us would be chosen to be vessels of mercy to show His glory.

It’s only because of the Call of the Father, the draw of the Spirit, and our faith in the work of the Son that we may be saved. We have no standing because of who we are only in Who Christ is and what He has done.

In Conclusion

Paul continues this segment (9-11) of the letter where he’s discussing the plan of God for Jews and Gentiles.

Romans 9:30–33 KJV

30 What shall we say then? That the Gentiles, which followed not after righteousness, have attained to righteousness, even the righteousness which is of faith. 31 But Israel, which followed after the law of righteousness, hath not attained to the law of righteousness. 32 Wherefore? Because they sought it not by faith, but as it were by the works of the law. For they stumbled at that stumblingstone; 33 As it is written, Behold, I lay in Sion a stumblingstone and rock of offence: and whosoever believeth on him shall not be ashamed.

Gentiles, who weren’t looking for righteousness were given what they weren’t looking for?

Not only not looking for righteousness

2 Timothy 3:2–4 “2 For men shall be lovers of their own selves, covetous, boasters, proud, blasphemers, disobedient to parents, unthankful, unholy, 3 Without natural affection, trucebreakers, false accusers, incontinent, fierce, despisers of those that are good, 4 Traitors, heady, highminded, lovers of pleasures more than lovers of God;”

But when they heard the Gospel the took hold of righteousness, not by their works but by Christ’s

The vast number of Jews, though, were looking to be righteous. They were obsessed with living lives that earned God’s reconciliation by keeping the Law of God and the traditions of man.

Paul points out this is exactly why they never reached righteousness; they tried to work for it, to earn it. Rather than just believing on the work of Christ and His righteousness.

This is one part of the offense of the Cross, it magnifies and at the same time puts to death not just our sin but also our own self righteousness.

Weeping for the Lost

Romans 10:1–4 KJV

1 Brethren, my heart’s desire and prayer to God for Israel is, that they might be saved. 2 For I bear them record that they have a zeal of God, but not according to knowledge. 3 For they being ignorant of God’s righteousness, and going about to establish their own righteousness, have not submitted themselves unto the righteousness of God. 4 For Christ is the end of the law for righteousness to every one that believeth.

We hear Paul’s heart for his people again (9:2)

Paul knew, because of his own, the Jews were full of zeal for religion.

But Proverbs 19:2 points out it isn’t good to have zeal without knowledge

The problem was they didn’t understand the Gospel

they didn’t understand that by faith in Christ’s person and work on the cross, God gives His righteousness to the unrighteous and places their unrighteousness on Christ to be judged in their place

Because the didn’t understand the Gospel, they relied on their own work and self-righteousness

They refused to submit to Christ, who is the righteousness from God (Phil 3:9) by faith

Christ is the only way the law is fulfilled. We don’t have enough, do enough, or be enough to do it!

The Need for an Understanding of the Gospel

Romans 10:5–13 KJV

5 For Moses describeth the righteousness which is of the law, That the man which doeth those things shall live by them. 6 But the righteousness which is of faith speaketh on this wise, Say not in thine heart, Who shall ascend into heaven? (that is, to bring Christ down from above:) 7 Or, Who shall descend into the deep? (that is, to bring up Christ again from the dead.) 8 But what saith it? The word is nigh thee, even in thy mouth, and in thy heart: that is, the word of faith, which we preach; 9 That if thou shalt confess with thy mouth the Lord Jesus, and shalt believe in thine heart that God hath raised him from the dead, thou shalt be saved. 10 For with the heart man believeth unto righteousness; and with the mouth confession is made unto salvation. 11 For the scripture saith, Whosoever believeth on him shall not be ashamed. 12 For there is no difference between the Jew and the Greek: for the same Lord over all is rich unto all that call upon him. 13 For whosoever shall call upon the name of the Lord shall be saved.

5 Leviticus 18:5 “5 Ye shall therefore keep my statutes, and my judgments: which if a man do, he shall live in them: I am the LORD.” But Moses knew a man COULDN’T he points it out in Deut. 30

6 We can’t climb high enough

Deuteronomy 30:12 “12 It is not in heaven, that thou shouldest say, Who shall go up for us to heaven, and bring it unto us, that we may hear it, and do it?”

7 We can’t get low enough, not even lower than the bottom of the ocean

Deuteronomy 30:13 “13 Neither is it beyond the sea, that thou shouldest say, Who shall go over the sea for us, and bring it unto us, that we may hear it, and do it?”

8 And there’s no need to try because righteousness is close to us and we CAN find it

Deuteronomy 30:14 “14 But the word is very nigh unto thee, in thy mouth, and in thy heart, that thou mayest do it.”

9-10

in thy heart: inward belief

in thy mouth: outward confession

11 Isaiah 28:16 “16 Therefore thus saith the Lord GOD, Behold, I lay in Zion for a foundation a stone, a tried stone, a precious corner stone, a sure foundation: he that believeth shall not make haste.” (also 9:33 above)

Christ is accessible to anyone

12 Through Christ there is no ethnicity. No Jew, no Gentile! No red or yellow, black or white! No difference in anyone in the need to bow at the Cross

13 Joel 2:32 “32 And it shall come to pass, that whosoever shall call on the name of the LORD shall be delivered: for in mount Zion and in Jerusalem shall be deliverance, as the LORD hath said, and in the remnant whom the LORD shall call.”

Christ is accessible to everyone

The Proclamation of the Gospel

Romans 10:14–15 KJV

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? 15 And how shall they preach, except they be sent? as it is written, How beautiful are the feet of them that preach the gospel of peace, and bring glad tidings of good things!

Evangelism is necessary and commanded.

“Unless some people are commissioned for the task, there will be no gospel preachers; unless the gospel is preached, sinners will not hear Christ’s message and voice; unless they hear him, they will not believe the truths of his death and resurrection; unless they believe these truths, they will not call on him; and unless they call on his name, they will not be saved.” -John Stott

“Evangelism isn’t the ultimate goal of the church: worship is. Evangelism exists because worship doesn’t. Worship is ultimate, not evangelism. Evangelism isn’t the end but a means to the end, which is God’s glorious rescue of His people to know Him truly, worship Him purely, enjoy Him fully, and glorify Him eternally. We evangelize in order that God might gather for Himself worshipers from every tribe, tongue, and nation for His glory. Evangelism is a temporary necessity, but worship abides forever.” -Burk Parsons

The Response of Faith to the Gospel

Romans 10:16–21 KJV

16 But they have not all obeyed the gospel. For Esaias saith, Lord, who hath believed our report? 17 So then faith cometh by hearing, and hearing by the word of God. 18 But I say, Have they not heard? Yes verily, their sound went into all the earth, and their words unto the ends of the world. 19 But I say, Did not Israel know? First Moses saith, I will provoke you to jealousy by them that are no people, and by a foolish nation I will anger you. 20 But Esaias is very bold, and saith, I was found of them that sought me not; I was made manifest unto them that asked not after me. 21 But to Israel he saith, All day long I have stretched forth my hands unto a disobedient and gainsaying people.

16 Paul is explaining the unbelief in the Jew

Foretold in Isaiah 53:1 “1 Who hath believed our report? and to whom is the arm of the LORD revealed?”

17 points back up to 14

Paul rejects 2 explanations:

18 did they not hear? Of course they did!

Psalm 19:4 “4 Their line is gone out through all the earth, and their words to the end of the world. In them hath he set a tabernacle for the sun,”

The heavens tell the glory of God. God uses the general revelation of creation to declare His glory to mankind, especially Israel

19 did they not understand? Paul proves they did by two witnesses:

Deuteronomy 32:21 “21 They have moved me to jealousy with that which is not God; they have provoked me to anger with their vanities: and I will move them to jealousy with those which are not a people; I will provoke them to anger with a foolish nation.”

There are people without understanding, but the Jew ain’t one of ‘em!

20

Isaiah 65:1 “1 I am sought of them that asked not for me; I am found of them that sought me not: I said, Behold me, behold me, unto a nation that was not called by my name.”

Even though Gentiles didn’t ask or look for Him, God in His mercy and grace allowed them to find Him

21

Isaiah 65:2 “2 I have spread out my hands all the day unto a rebellious people, which walketh in a way that was not good, after their own thoughts;”

God didn’t just allow Israel to be found, He spread out His hands and offered Himself to them continuously. The Jews response is worse than the Gentiles that didn’t ask for or seek Him. Their response is negative, dismissive, and rebellious. They are determined to remain a disobedient and obstinate people.

Conclusion

Paul is writing in 9-11 about the unbelief of the Jews, but not only of the Jews, of us as well.

In chapter 9 he wrote about the purpose of god in election. God’s part in salvation.

Here in chapter 10 he’s writing about the need for an understanding of the Gospel (5-13), the proclamation of the Gospel (14-15), and for the response of faith to the Gospel (16-21)

Paul doesn’t say the reason they have not been saved is because they aren’t elect, he says the reason they have not been saved is because they have not come to believe in Jesus Christ.

Many today I hear try to make the two mutually exclusive. It’s a both/and not an either/or

I have learned that being a biblically sound Christian is about staying between the ditches. To be faithful to the teaching of the entire Bible is to have balance in your theology and doctrine and life

Why I love a quote by Charles Simeon of Cambridge in the first half of the nineteenth century: ‘When I come to a text which speaks of election’, he said to J. J. Guerney in 1831, ‘I delight myself in the doctrine of election. When the apostles exhort me to repentance and obedience, and indicate my freedom of choice and action, I give myself up to that side of the question.’

What matters most? That you understand and submit to the Gospel given in 19 words:

Jesus Christ died, was raised, was exalted, and now reigns as Lord and bestows salvation on those who believe.