The Necessity of Preaching

Paul has established that salvation is available to anyone who calls on the name of the Lord (13). Context shows that their calling on the Lord is in response to the proclamation of the gospel. They must believe in Christ (9). His is the reason Paul preaches the gospel.

Look back at verse 1. His desire and prayer is that the Jewish people be saved. That will not be accomplished if the gospel is not preached.

Paul was ridiculed by the Jews for preaching to the Gentiles because many of them thought Gentiles could not be saved.

Paul was ridiculed for preaching to the Jews because many of them believed they did not need to be saved.

Any theological position that does not require the gospel to be preached to all people is a doctrine of the devil. In this section Paul shows us the necessity of preaching the gospel.

v. 14-15 We have a series of five questions Paul asks to prove his point. It’s a logical progression. We’re going to look at it backwards because Paul is moving that way in his argument.

1) How are they to preach unless they are sent?

They must be God sent. The devil sends many. God sent Paul. Ultimately, we are at God’s mercy when it comes to preachers. If He does not call them and send them, we are in trouble.

When God decided to save Nineveh He sent Jonah.

God sent Paul to the Gentiles for the same reason.

The verb “sent” is the same word we get the noun “apostle” from. Paul was an Apostle, a sent one.

How does this look today?

God saves those He sends. This happens first.

God equips those He sends. A man must have a good understanding of the gospel to preach it.

God confirms those He sends through the local church. We are given instructions in Scripture. 1 Timothy 3 and Titus 1 go into detail about the churches responsibility in confirming the call of a preacher.

It’s a wonderful thing for God to send someone to preach the gospel. Paul quotes Isa. 52:7.

In context it refers to those who were announcing the good news that Israel had been set free from Babylonian captivity. Paul uses to show the beauty of God sending people to preach the gospel.

We ought to pray God sends people.

2) How are they to hear without someone preaching (14)?

Those sent must preach. This isn’t men just living good lives and not saying anything.

3) How are they to believe in whom they have not heard (14)?

We must preach Jesus. They must hear the gospel message.

4) How are they to believe in Him of whom they have never heard (14)?

Saving faith is necessary for salvation. You’re not saved because you hear the gospel. You are saved because you believe the gospel.

5) How will they call on Him in whom they have not believed?

They must call out to the Lord in repentance. I cannot pray another person’s prayer for salvation. Each person must call on the name of the Lord.

Let’s put it together:

God sends a preacher

The preacher preaches the gospel to the lost.

The lost hear the gospel.

The lost believe the gospel.

The lost call on the name of the Lord and are saved.

A few thoughts:

1) God has ordained that preaching be the means by which He saves people.

1 Cor. 1:21

For after that in the wisdom of God the world by wisdom knew not God, it pleased God by the foolishness of preaching to save them that believe.

This will always be the case. This is why the sermon is so important in the service. God has from the beginning used preachers and will use them to the end.

2) God can use anyone to share the gospel. Every Christian cannot be a pastor. Every Christian is a witness. We are to always be ready to share the gospel with the lost. 1 Peter 3:15 “Sanctify the Lord God in you hearts…”

3) Any teaching that diminishes the spoken Word of God is contrary to both Old and New Testament teaching.

There is something special about preaching.

The emotion (One who has experienced God).

The personal aspect (Another person).

The human connection (Should be in person).

v. 16 Paul quotes Isaiah again (Isa. 53:1). This is a very common chapter. It’s the Suffering Servant chapter that describes the crucifixion of Jesus. Isaiah, preaching in his day, doubted that anyone would believe the message he preached.

“Lord who has believed what he has heard from me.” Very few Jews were listening to Isaiah’s message. Paul applies this verse to the current generation of Jews and their rejection of the gospel.

He is saying- “You are just like the Jews Isaiah preached to!”

Isaiah was sent by God and the people didn’t believe him.

Paul is sent by God and the people don’t believe him either.

Paul was aware the Jews knew the Scripture. He hoped reminding them of the disobedient Jews in Isaiah’s day might cause them to examine themselves.

Notice something with me. The gospel is something that is to be obeyed.

“they have not all obeyed the gospel.”

We are commanded to believe in Jesus. This is not an option. Every moment you live outside of Christ is rebellion toward God.

This is why God sends preachers.

This is why we are required to share the gospel.

People will be held accountable before God.

v. 17 This is a summary statement. It deserves a little more ecplanation.

“word of Christ” this is the gospel. The entire Bible is the Word of Christ. A person doesn’t have to hear the whole Bible to be saved. They must hear the gospel. Their faith in Christ comes from hearing the truth about Jesus explained to them.

Preach the gospel at all times and if necessary, use words is a ridiculous and unbiblical statement. There is no gospel without words.

v. 18 If salvation has been offered why is Israel not saved? Is it because they did not hear?

Paul quotes Psalm 19. That is a beautiful Psalm that speaks of God’s revelation of Himself.

The heavens declare the glory of God…

God has made Himself known to all His creation. Paul likens the revelation of God in Psalm 19 to the proclamation of the gospel in his own day. Surely, they had heard. The land was saturated with the preached gospel. Their reason for not being saved was not because they had not heard.

How many today have heard but are not saved?

v. 19-20 Now he asks, “Did they not understand?” Obviously they didn’t. But they should have. They had the Scriptures, prophets, and their history to look to.

Ignorance can be willful. The truth is they didn’t want to understand. If they understood that would radically change their lifestyle.

Illust.- A person may commit themselves to not like another. This person may have good qualities. This person may even be a benefit to them. Their hatred keeps them in ignorance. That was the case with the unbelieving Jews.

Paul quotes both the Law and the prophets as a warning to their rejection of the gospel.

Moses in Deut. 32:21.

God would provoke Israel to jealousy.

God would provoke Israel to anger.

This would come through the Gentiles receiving the gospel.

Isaiah in Isa. 65:1.

God would be found by those who did not seek Him.

God would show Himself to those who did not ask for Him.

Again, this is the Gentile nations.

Judaism doesn’t even make the top ten on largest world religions. Christianity is number 1. Sadly, it will likely be eclipsed soon by Islam. Christianity exploded in growth in the first century. This made many Jews angry and there is still a level of hatred toward Christianity. Orthodox Jews in Israel are known to spit on Christians.

v. 21 Paul quotes Isaiah 65:2. He was describing the ancient Jews who rebelled against God despite His pleading. The Jews of Paul’s day were just like them. God was reaching His hands out to them through the preaching of the gospel. They refused the gospel, they refused to take God’s hand.

The Jews in Paul’s day were not saved because they were:

Disobedient- refused to believe the gospel.

Contrary – contradict, deny, speak against.

Paul’s argument is if the Gentiles who knew nothing of God believe the gospel, the Jews have no excuse for not believing it. People who reject the gospel do so because they don’t want God.

What should our response be?

We are to preach the gospel. It is the only hope for Jew or Gentile.

In any culture.

In any age.

Preaching is always in style.

Preaching is always necessary.