Romans 10:14-21

Alright! We’re going to attempt to finish Romans 10 this evening. Let’s read this text and recap where we were last week and then get going.

Romans 10:14–21 ESV

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!” 16 But they have not all obeyed the gospel. For Isaiah says, “Lord, who has believed what he has heard from us?” 17 So faith comes from hearing, and hearing through the word of Christ. 18 But I ask, have they not heard? Indeed they have, for “Their voice has gone out to all the earth, and their words to the ends of the world.” 19 But I ask, did Israel not understand? First Moses says, “I will make you jealous of those who are not a nation; with a foolish nation I will make you angry.” 20 Then Isaiah is so bold as to say, “I have been found by those who did not seek me; I have shown myself to those who did not ask for me.” 21 But of Israel he says, “All day long I have held out my hands to a disobedient and contrary people.”

So, last week we looked at the first half (ish) of the chapter, and we saw that Paul was explaining how the Jews had rejected Jesus (the stumbling block and rock of offense), believing that He was not the Messiah. We see that Paul earnestly desires that his Jewish brethren would believe, but they have not done so.

And we saw that there is still hope, because salvation is in the purview of God alone.

Because Paul tells us that God has already determined how we are saved:

Romans 10:9–13 ESV

9 because, if you confess with your mouth that Jesus is Lord and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved. 10 For with the heart one believes and is justified, and with the mouth one confesses and is saved. 11 For the Scripture says, “Everyone who believes in him will not be put to shame.” 12 For there is no distinction between Jew and Greek; for the same Lord is Lord of all, bestowing his riches on all who call on him. 13 For “everyone who calls on the name of the Lord will be saved.”

So, Paul has established that salvation is for both the Jew and the Gentile. But there is still a problem:

Romans 10:14–15 ESV

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!”

Paul starts turning the argument from information to action.

He has given them the how of salvation, but now he starts to teach them the activity of evangelism.

So he starts with a question:

How are they going to call on Him whom they haven’t believed?

How will they believe if they haven’t heard?

How will they hear if someone doesn’t preach?

This is a beautiful display of Paul’s rhetorical style. He asks these very logical questions based on what he guesses the questions will be and then immediately seeks to answer them.

Sproul:

The Gospel of God: Romans The Unbelief of Israel (10:1–21)

Do you see the logical thinking here? Nobody is going to call upon somebody for salvation without the belief that that person can save. If I don’t believe that Jesus is a Saviour, I am never going to call upon him. So before anyone will ever call upon Christ he has to believe that Jesus is capable of saving.

The Gospel of God: Romans The Unbelief of Israel (10:1–21)

Before you can believe in somebody you have to at least have heard of him. Paul is being as elementary as he can possibly be. The message is one of the simplest that the apostle Paul ever wrote, but it goes right over the heads of most people in the church who don’t see any reason why the church should be involved in evangelism.

The Gospel of God: Romans The Unbelief of Israel (10:1–21)

The top priority enterprise for the Christian church is the preaching of the gospel of Jesus Christ, because people cannot believe or even hear about Jesus unless Jesus is preached. So the church must be committed to the preaching of the gospel to all men. Jesus gave the Great Commission to go into all the world to preach the gospel to every living creature.

ESV Study Notes:

The ESV Study Bible Chapter 10

The logic of these verses is clear: (1) People will call on Jesus to save them only if they believe he can do so; (2) belief in Christ cannot exist without knowledge about him; (3) one hears about Christ only when someone proclaims the saving message; and (4) the message about Christ will not be proclaimed unless someone is sent by God to do so. That is why Paul was so urgent about spreading the gospel to the ends of the earth, for he believed that the only way to be saved was to hear and believe in the gospel

So, there is a logical flow here: God sends people to preach the good news. The sent-out ones obey. Unbelievers hear the Gospel. They can then believe and call out to Christ.

This is why Paul says this about the sent ones:

Romans 10:15 ESV

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!”

The quote, “how beautiful are the feet...” is cited from Isaiah 52:7

Isaiah 52:7 ESV

7 How beautiful upon the mountains are the feet of him who brings good news, who publishes peace, who brings good news of happiness, who publishes salvation, who says to Zion, “Your God reigns.”

The feet carry the messenger to their destination. In this case, it is someone called to share God’s ultimate good news to the world. How beautiful are the feet of those!

Sproul notes that in ancient times, the watchmen on the wall would wait for messengers to return from battle. These watchmen would be able to tell by the way the messenger walked (by their feet) if the news was good or bad. Bad news usually looked like weighty, cumbersome trodding. Good news was usually accompanied by flying, running, dust kicking up.

Sproul:

The Gospel of God: Romans The Unbelief of Israel (10:1–21)

The most beautiful sight for the lookout was to see feet that were flying in joy and excitement because that meant good news.

God appoints human messengers as vessels of the greatest treasure that we could possibly find: the truth of our redemption. There is no greater privilege in all the world than to bear that treasure to someone else, to tell them the story of Christ.

We see this joy that Paul has as it related to the “feet” of the messengers.

But not everyone loved that.

Romans 10:16–17 ESV

16 But they have not all obeyed the gospel. For Isaiah says, “Lord, who has believed what he has heard from us?” 17 So faith comes from hearing, and hearing through the word of Christ.

Sproul argues that this is the most frustrating thing about preaching or teaching: not everyone who hears the Gospel believes the Gospel.

That’s easy when people want to listen. That is much harder when it feels like no one is listening.

Friedrich Nietzsche, famous atheist and author, in his book Beyond Good and Evil, said this:

“The essential thing “in heaven and earth” is that there should be long obedience in the same direction; there thereby results, and has always resulted in the long run, something which has made life worth living.”

Now, Nietzsche wouldn’t state what that really meant, but we as believers can see this principle at work.

In our culture, think about how people want to follow the trend, follow the cultural revolutions, follow the media, follow the narrative.

One could argue that the liberal elites in the country have followed Nietzsche’s “long obedience” by following their own desires.

I read something the other day about an actress who had grown up Catholic, and had left the faith. This was what she said: “"I stopped going to Mass a few years ago, mainly because I disagree with the rules," she said. "I don't like anything that's about punishing yourself and making you feel bad about yourself, and growing up I felt bad about indulging myself or doing anything for fun".”

That is a microcosm of how our culture views life. “My own desires are more important than anything else!”

And it does feel like no one is listening to those who preach. But to those who are listening, I think there is hope, and we have to rest in that.

Paul, in verse 16 doesn’t stop in his lament that the Jews did not listen, but reminds the church at Rome that faith comes by hearing, and hearing through the word of Christ.

As we drive further through this passage, we see that Paul’s explanation of hearing is a bit of a play on Greek words.

The Gospel of God: Romans The Unbelief of Israel (10:1–21)

There is a play on words here in the original language between the Greek word for hearing and the Greek word for obedience. The verb ‘to hear’ is akouein which simply means ‘to hear’. The verb ‘to obey’ is hupokouein. It is simply the root for hearing—akouein—with a preface hupo (that word comes across to English in the word, ‘hyper’). Literally, then, the Greek word for obedience means ‘hyper-hearing’. Those who really hear are the ones where the message gets through and penetrates their hearts. In fact, the word hupokouein is found in verse 16, where it reads that they have not all accepted the gospel—literally they have not all ‘obeyed’ the gospel. Although we see a frequent contrast in the Scriptures between law and gospel, here we have an indication that the gospel is to be obeyed. There is an implicit command in the gospel, a call to obedience to Jesus Christ.

See, if we go back and look at Nietzsche’s quote and look at that statement through a biblical world view, I think we can actually see something of worth (and please don’t take this as an endorsement of Friedrich Nietzsche, because it is most assuredly not!):

There is an essential thing in life, a long obedience in the same direction, which results in a life worth living. If we look at that as our continued sanctification, the growth process that we go through as Christians, and how our walk should continually mature and grow, we see that we may not be much closer to being holy today, but a long obedience in the same direction does mean that in a week or a month or a year, we should see a marked difference in our walk with Christ then compared to now.

Obedience is a key component to the Christian life.

Romans 10:18 ESV

18 But I ask, have they not heard? Indeed they have, for “Their voice has gone out to all the earth, and their words to the ends of the world.”

Now we’re back to Paul’s rapid fire question/answer style.

First, he asks if the Jews had actually heard the gospel. He answers by quoting Psalm 19:4

Psalm 19:4 ESV

4 Their voice goes out through all the earth, and their words to the end of the world. In them he has set a tent for the sun,

He applies this verse to the preachers of the Gospel, noting that they have carried the Gospel throughout the world. In this context, Paul is associating “ends of the world” to mean “to the Gentiles as well.”

What Paul is doing here is talking about general revelation and special revelation.

Sproul:

The Gospel of God: Romans The Unbelief of Israel (10:1–21)

In Romans 1, Paul refers to two kinds of revelation: general revelation, which God gives of himself in nature (verses 19, 20); and special revelation, which is found specifically in sacred Scripture (verse 2). Not only did the Jews have the benefit of general revelation, but they also had the benefit of special revelation.

Note what the ESV Study Notes says:

The ESV Study Bible Chapter 10

Paul quotes Ps. 19:4, which in its original context refers to general revelation, but Paul applies it to special revelation (the proclamation of the gospel) to emphasize that the Jews have heard the good news because the gospel has gone even to the ends of the world (i.e., to the Gentiles). Israel should have understood from the prophecy of Deut. 32:21 that the Gentiles would believe.

Paul is using this passage in Psalms to tie God’s special revelation in with His general revelation. He goes on, as the commentary I just mentioned noted, to call out how Israel should have understood from Deuteronomy (the 5th book of the Bible. Moses wrote it. We’re going back that far) that Gentiles would have the opportunity to be saved.

Romans 10:19 ESV

19 But I ask, did Israel not understand? First Moses says, “I will make you jealous of those who are not a nation; with a foolish nation I will make you angry.”

That quote is from Deuteronomy 32:21

Deuteronomy 32:21 ESV

21 They have made me jealous with what is no god; they have provoked me to anger with their idols. So I will make them jealous with those who are no people; I will provoke them to anger with a foolish nation.

God warned the children of Israel through Moses that if they turned from Him, He would go to the Gentiles. This is what Paul has been talking about throughout the whole book of Romans. Israel rejected the Christ, Jesus, the Messiah, and God grafted in the Gentiles who, even though they were not God’s chosen people, they have been grafted in because in spite of their disadvantage (not being given the law, not being God’s chosen people), they still recognized their need for God and in His infinite mercy, made the way not just for Jews but for anyone who called on Christ believing Him to be Lord and Savior.

Paul continues, this time quoting Isaiah again:

Romans 10:20 ESV

20 Then Isaiah is so bold as to say, “I have been found by those who did not seek me; I have shown myself to those who did not ask for me.”

That quote is from Isaiah 65:1

Isaiah 65:1 ESV

1 I was ready to be sought by those who did not ask for me; I was ready to be found by those who did not seek me. I said, “Here I am, here I am,” to a nation that was not called by my name.

What is interesting here is that Paul (who is a masterful teacher) utilizes this verse to show how the Jews must have understood that God was using the law to point to Christ. They willingly disobeyed. They willingly rejected God’s plans, God’s purposes, and God’s person.

And then they had the audacity to be shocked when God did exactly what he said and rejected them.

That is what Paul says in verse 21:

Romans 10:21 ESV

21 But of Israel he says, “All day long I have held out my hands to a disobedient and contrary people.”

God has given Israel every chance, and they have constantly refused Him.

This quote is the very next verse in Isaiah after the previous one quoted in Rom 10:20.

Isaiah 65:2 ESV

2 I spread out my hands all the day to a rebellious people, who walk in a way that is not good, following their own devices;

Israel thought that they knew better than God. They thought that God had chosen them because they were special.

What they missed was that they were only special because God had chosen them. God chose the Jews not because of any merit they possessed, but because it would give Him glory.

God knew before creation how much trouble the Jews would cause. God knew they would be rebellious.

God warned them. Many times.

“When you rebel…When you turn away…when you worship idols...”

The children of Israel ignored those warnings. Then when they did exactly what God predicted they would do, they groaned, “why are we being punished?”

**Khaby Lame Hands**

Paul here is telling the church in Rome that God has extended the Gospel to the Gentiles. Even better, it was never plan B, but it was always part of the plan.

Scripture is clear that God is calling all men to Himself. God desires that all would know Him, but He knows that not all will come to Him.

The ESV Study Bible Chapter 10

The prophecy of Isa. 65:1 has been fulfilled in that the Gentiles who did not seek after God have now experienced God’s saving promises. Israel, on the other hand, has fulfilled the words of Isa. 65:2. They have rebelled against and disobeyed the gospel message. Still, God extends his hands to them, inviting them to be saved. On the one hand, God predestines some to be saved. On the other hand, God still longs for all to be saved (see note on 1 Tim. 2:4; also Ezek. 33:11). Though it may seem impossible to understand how both of these statements are true, the Bible teaches both, and one should not use either truth to deny the other.

ESV Note on 1 Tim 2:4:

“Evangelistic prayer for all people is rooted in the fact that God desires all people to be saved. It appears that Paul is countering an exclusivist tendency in the false teachers or at least their downplaying of the importance of evangelizing the Gentiles (along with their emphasis on the Jewish law). This statement figures prominently in theological disagreements over the extent of the atonement. It cannot be read as suggesting that everyone will be saved (universalism) because the rest of the letter makes it clear that some will not be saved (4:1; 5:24; 6:10; cf. Matt. 25:30, 41, 46; Rev. 14:9–11)... However one understands the extent of the atonement, this passage clearly teaches the free and universal offer of the gospel to every single human being; “desires” shows that this offer is a bona fide expression of God’s good will.”

God does not delight in the wicked (Ezekiel 33:11), but desires all to come to Him. This is especially true of His people. He desires them to obey Him.

We’ll see that more next week as we get into chapter 11.

Let’s pray.