Rom 9:30-10:21 "National Unbelief"

Proverbs 18:17 ESV:2016

The one who states his case first seems right, until the other comes and examines him.

If you’ve been in Fellowship Hall Discipleship Group or the Sanctuary either of the last 2 weeks you’ve heard the idea, even the word, of election. If you only heard those lessons without the benefit of today’s passage, it would be very easy to fall into “ready, shoot, aim” theology.

After all Rom 8:33 speaks of God’s elect before Ro 9:33 says whoever. So which idea was presented first? Don’t forget what Ro 1:16 says [if you don’t remember that reference, just look at the underlined word on my right. It is so significant that I put it on the banner that hangs in front of you each week].

A short-sighted, limited or incomplete faith presents only one side as if the other does not exist. Since the holy Word of God included both God’s elect and everyone who believes, if we call ourselves Bible-believing or Evangelical, we owe it to God and ourselves to present a theology that makes room for both.

When speaking of God’s elect, do we mean nations or races? Did he elect one race in the past and another nation presently? Maybe He elects individuals from an ever-increasing population. Maybe those who are in the group of God’s elect can use that truth to increase personal worship of God, while still proclaiming the offer to everyone without limitations.

Paul was a Jew, and he wrote some things using the words Jew and Gentilebecause that described his countrymen and his neighbors. I don’t think any of us are physically descended from Abraham, so we use different terms to describe those related to us and those close to us.

What God’s wisdom and our limitation does NOT permit is “me, but not thee” conclusions!

What God’s love does NOT allow is withholding the offer of forgiveness to those whose skin is differently pigmented or heart language is different than your own, or those whose political affiliation or citizenship is different than yours.

TRANSITION: God’s Grace means that we offer Christ to all without discrimination. It doesn’t matter if I perceive she is one of God’s elect. It doesn’t matter if I perceive he does not have a legal right to live within the borders of my nation. It doesn’t matter if I believe their race made evil decisions in history. We offer Christ to all everywhere!

An Ineffective Pursuit of religiosity (Rom 9:30-10:7)

Religious acts without faith

By calling out the inadequacy of Jewish practice, Paul is NOT setting us up to believe some sort of antisemitism or Christian Nationalism! He is calling all of us to ask ourselves, “Where is MY belief system similar to theirs? Where does MY belief system lack?”

Obedience for the wrong reasons does not accomplish what is desired.

E.g. “do not commit adultery”

Some might refuse adultery to prevent contracting an STD

Some might refuse adultery out of fear for one’s spouse.

Some might refuse adultery because of public reputation.

None of the previous 3 include any awareness of YHWH, the God of the Bible. However, to realize that God keeps His promises and that by keeping my promise to faithfulness I am reminded of and become a testimony of God’s faithfulness to His covenant. This is why David honestly says in PS 51:4 after sinning with Bathsheba.

Psalm 51:4 ESV:2016

Against you, you only, have I sinned and done what is evil in your sight...

Often shame is attached to getting caught more than the commission of an offense.

You could consider each of the commandments and think of reasons to comply that have nothing to do with honoring God or reflecting His character. E.g. refusing to work on Sunday, but not keeping it holy; telling truths solely for human reasons, etc.

Being conservative, being prudent, being moral is not the same as being faithful.

Benefit of commands in this life (Ro 10:5)

Where do we see in this verse a mention of eternity?

I believe the Law was given to prescribe a lifestyle for those whom God had invited into covenant.

The law was never given as a checklist to get into Heaven. It was worthless for that purpose, but it was useful for setting people apart who seek God.

The doing of commandments in v.5a was to multiply so that one’s life would be evaluated by others as upright..

Personal acts never diminish Christ (Ro 10:6-7)

See that little 3-letter word between doand say?

A wrong understanding of law overemphasizes what I am able to accomplish and underemphasizes what only Jesus accomplishes.

As Peter says in Acts 4:12

Acts 4:12 ESV:2016

And there is salvation in no one else, for there is no other name under heaven given among men by which we must be saved.”

Both Peter (the primary Apostle to the Jews) and Paul (the primary Apostle to the Gentiles) admit that the exclusivity of Jesus Christ is a stumbling stone (Acts 4:11, Rom 9:32).

He is the only way to Heaven

He is the only one to pay the penalty of death and come back.

An Exclusive Description of Saving Faith (Rom 10:8-13)

Submission of the heart (Ro 10.9-10)

The New Testament never refers to the heart (καρδίᾳ) as the muscle behind the sternum that pumps blood. It is one of 16 words used to describe the source of a person’s psychological life—words like psyche, spirit, plans, mind, etc.

Saving Faith is a trusting reliance much more than a statement of belief.

It is the difference between setting an alarm and setting out your clothes. I set an alarm in case I make it through the night. I set out an outfit based upon the assumption that I will engage in specific activities and events after I sleep.

In the movie A Few Good Men, a major plank in the attorney’s argument that the victim did not believe he was going home the next day was the fact that his footlocker was still fully loaded and he had made no attempt to pack a bag

3. For many the level of their belief in Heaven and Hell is little more than the wishes described by Trey Hinkson in last week’s Children’s sermon. There was good reason why Henry was unwilling to fall back into John’s waiting arms.

Articulation with the mouth (Ro 10.9-10)

saving faith is specific [data based], it is more than a warm, fuzzy feeling!

Lord = both God and master.

Crucifixion weekend – it is impossible to believe God raised Him if He didn’t die, and death without resurrection is nothing extra special.

From Definition to Decision (reference)

1. I can believe in my head that there are some (what people call) “good” snakes. I can believe theoretically that there are some tube-shaped creatures that eat mice and pose no harm to humans.

2. But when it comes to shame or fear, I have NEVER decided to welcome them into my sphere of life. I can step on bugs and spiders, but when it comes to ropes, I just say “nope”!

3. Some people have a “belief” in the facts about Jesus, but are unwilling to allow Him to change their life.

4. Evangelists call this missing Heaven by 18 inches—the distance from head to heart.

Everyone who calls (Ro 10.11-13)

Our sense of equality or equity has trouble with these 3 words because for everyone who DOES call, there are some who don’t, won’t or can’t.

A year ago, a football player got in trouble with the social justice warriors for saying to the graduating class of an all-girls Catholic college that motherhood is honorable.

Just because some who desire that honor may never have it, and some who are capable of that honor choose not to pursue it, and some of us are biologically incapable of that honor, does not take away from the truth that bearing and nurturing children is honorable.

2. Likewise, Ro 10:14 will tell of those who are incapable of belief because they have never heard, but that in no way diminishes the absolute promise to everyone who believes/everyone who calls.

3. Nobody has an excuse (no matter how many points of Calvinism she believes) to withhold the offer from those who might believe or call! As long as there is a remote possibility that a person might believe, we must proclaim it persuasively.

The Need and Beauty of Mission (Rom 10:14-21)

A Necessary Conduit (someone preaching)

After clearly leading the ready to evaluate his own inadequate beliefs, he turns to the reality that others need the same awakening.

We don’t preach AT others as though we are special, we proclaim that the bread we found is available to them as well!

Every Christ-follower has the capacity to tell his/her own story. It may be as simple as the man born blind who basically said in John 9:25 “I don’t know much theology, one thing I know is I was blind and now I see”.

A Necessary Name (word of Christ)

1. Earlier in this text we saw those who were devout but misdirected.

2. We don’t just send positive energy into the cosmos, we proclaim the only Son of God who died a death He did not deserve to merit salvation for those who could not earn it and proved it by rising from the grave.

3. ONLY this one who descended and ascended (Ro 10:6-7) can save those who believe and call on Him.

Necessary Revelation and Response (shown and found)

1. We must display Jesus to those who are not seeking or asking.

2. If they have heard, they can believe and if they believe they will be saved.

Conclusion:

I have never claimed that we are the only church that points to Jesus, but I do say without apology that He is the only Savior!

It is Jesus who must be found and we have an obligation to point people in the right direction.

Light & Lamp Application:

Light for my Path

Mistaken ideas exist, speak Jesus!

Lamps for my Steps

I will listen nonjudgmentally when asking someone how he/she thinks my understanding of Jesus might be different from his/hers.

Each night I will ask myself, “What will tomorrow look like if I do/do not enter eternity in my sleep?”

I recommit now that this week I will act on the 5/50 challenge.

Song of Response #306 ........................................... “Jesus Saves!”