Cultivate a heart for the Lost

Have you ever questioned the goodness of God’s plan? Maybe circumstances in your life have you wondering how is this good? Or maybe you see suffering in this world and wonder what does God allow such things to happen? How can this evil act be part of a Good God’s plan. In today’s text it seems that Paul is either anticipating this question or word has come to him that the Jews are questioning his treatment of them and the acceptance of the gentiles. Either way Paul dives into this idea in this often misunderstood passage of scripture.

Now context is important. We must remember that chapter 8 ideas are directly connected to chapter 9.

Romans 8:28–30 CSB

28 We know that all things work together for the good of those who love God, who are called according to his purpose. 29 For those he foreknew he also predestined to be conformed to the image of his Son, so that he would be the firstborn among many brothers and sisters. 30 And those he predestined, he also called; and those he called, he also justified; and those he justified, he also glorified.

We understood that this passage is not talking about election to Salvation but rather election to God’s purpose because of Salvation. A few weeks back we saw how the word foreknew is in direct relation to those believers of the past that because of their faith in Yahweh God were also predestined to be conformed to the image of His Son. So here we see that God uses those that are of the faith but then we also see that God will also use for His eternal purpose s those who have rejected the gospel. Now for the Jew this was a hard concept for them to understand. Why would God use sinners for His purposes and eternal Glory. But Paul before he dives into this subject that he knows will potentially offend the Jews. Paul reminds them of the love he has for his own people.

Paul’s love for his people and longing for the Gospel to be accepted.

Romans 9:1–5 CSB

1 I speak the truth in Christ—I am not lying; my conscience testifies to me through the Holy Spirit— 2 that I have great sorrow and unceasing anguish in my heart. 3 For I could wish that I myself were cursed and cut off from Christ for the benefit of my brothers and sisters, my own flesh and blood. 4 They are Israelites, and to them belong the adoption, the glory, the covenants, the giving of the law, the temple service, and the promises. 5 The ancestors are theirs, and from them, by physical descent, came the Christ, who is God over all, praised forever. Amen.

It is hard to fathom this type of love and concern for ones own nation. Paul says, if it would benefit his people for himself to be condemned to an eternity without Christ in the torment of hell, he would do it for their sake. It’s hard to believe that anyone could care that much but he goes as far to invoke the name of Christ and the Holy Spirit as witnesses to his concern.

Oh that we would have a tenth of that type of love and concern for the lose of our nation, state, city. I believe that if we truly loved like Christ loved, we’d see gospel proclamation happening everywhere.

So my first question to you this morning is not do you have a Paul size dose of concern but do you have any concern for the lostness that is around us? If not are you praying that God would give you such concern that you would overcome your fear of rejection and share the truth of the Gospel

So then how do we cultivate a heart that has this kind of love and concern for the lost around us.

Contemplate the Reality of Eternal Hell

Matthew 13:40–42 CSB

40 Therefore, just as the weeds are gathered and burned in the fire, so it will be at the end of the age. 41 The Son of Man will send out his angels, and they will gather from his kingdom all who cause sin and those guilty of lawlessness. 42 They will throw them into the blazing furnace where there will be weeping and gnashing of teeth.

We see from this that:

God’s judgement is coming and those who ignore the gospel call will be sent to a place of fiery torment

Mark 9:42–49 CSB

42 “But whoever causes one of these little ones who believe in me to fall away—it would be better for him if a heavy millstone were hung around his neck and he were thrown into the sea. 43 “And if your hand causes you to fall away, cut it off. It is better for you to enter life maimed than to have two hands and go to hell, the unquenchable fire. 45 And if your foot causes you to fall away, cut it off. It is better for you to enter life lame than to have two feet and be thrown into hell. 47 And if your eye causes you to fall away, gouge it out. It is better for you to enter the kingdom of God with one eye than to have two eyes and be thrown into hell, 48 where their worm does not die, and the fire is not quenched. 49 For everyone will be salted with fire.

In this passage we see another glimpse of the severity of hell

It is so horrible that it is better to live a life maimed then to enter into hell whole.

We all see that the torment of hell is eternal.

The worm does not die… means an eternal state of decay the very flesh of those that ignore the gospel will be in an eternal state of decay as in death with out end. The worm will devour our flesh yet it the flesh will never be fully consumed amidst the eternal pain of unending fire.

Revelation 20:10 CSB

10 The devil who deceived them was thrown into the lake of fire and sulfur where the beast and the false prophet are, and they will be tormented day and night forever and ever.

2 Thessalonians 1:9 CSB

9 They will pay the penalty of eternal destruction from the Lord’s presence and from his glorious strength

Now there are two ways to interpret this verse depending how you translate the word “from”

From can mean separate - As in those outside of the gospel will suffer in hell from a lack of God’s presence. I would say this is the predominate view.

or

2. From can mean because of. - In scripture God’s presence is often associated with a consuming fire. (Moses and the burning bush) So this verse could be interpreted to mean that it would be hell to feel forever the presence of God in one’s sinful state without being clothed in the righteousness of Christ. So that the sinners outside of heaven would forever in a state of burning because they of the presence of God filling every realm both heaven and the lake of fire.

Either way both are terrifying image.

Now this is where we bring theology into reality.

I want you to take a minute to contemplate an eternal hell full of eternal decay and eternal torment.

Now I want you to picture the people in your lives that are in danger of this place:

the teen that checks you out at Bojangles

The lady that rings you up at the grocery store

The person who cuts your hair

The neighbor you have known for many years.

The family member that you are afraid to be rejected by.

Teens your friends at school, co-op, sports teams or in your neighborhood.

The people in your social clubs or groups.

The irritatingly indifferent employee at Walmart

All of us will know people in hell. Some of us know people who are there now.

When I was in high school. there was a friend of mine who we knew wasn’t a Christian. He readily admitted it. We from time to time would feel the burden of this but to be honest we put our relationship with him over or evangelism of him.

Within a year after graduating from high school, I received news that Jon had suddenly died in his sleep. Do you know what haunts me to this day, that I never personally talked to him about the state of his soul.

Now let me say this....people do not go to hell because of our inaction. They go because they are sinners living in a state of rebellion against God. However, as much as it is possible we are to be thier defense making it as hard as possible for them to enter into hell without hearing and knowing Christ.

What I learned that day is that many times we wait for the “right” opportunity to tell people that never comes. The “rigtht” opportunity is usually because we are unwilling to risk the relationship or our image for their eternal soul. Instead of waiting for the “right” opportunity, create it. Serve people with intentionality, create realtionships with purpose. Memorize the passages about the gospel. Practice in your mind the sharing of Christ with others until it becomes a normal extension of who you are...

Then contemplate the reality of hell and the eternal lake of Fire.

This is why as unpleasant as it may be to contemplate the reality of hell. It is part of the catalyst for sharing Christ with those around us.

2.Pray for your Heart and Theirs

If your prayer time is only about temporal things than you are only focused on temporal things.

Pray that God would give you a heart for the lost

Pray that God would give you courage and a heart of self sacrifice

Pray that God would go before you and work in the hearts of the ones that you feel especially compelled to talk to.

Trans: So Paul sharing this type of love now begins his argument for the goodness of God’s effectual plan in saving both Jew and Gentile

Romans 9:6–9 CSB

6 Now it is not as though the word of God has failed, because not all who are descended from Israel are Israel. 7 Neither is it the case that all of Abraham’s children are his descendants. On the contrary, your offspring will be traced through Isaac. 8 That is, it is not the children by physical descent who are God’s children, but the children of the promise are considered to be the offspring. 9 For this is the statement of the promise: At this time I will come, and Sarah will have a son.

Why does Paul make this statement in verse 6? Paul is referencing a popular idea amongst the jews at this time. To say that God has opened the doors to the gentiles was in the Jewish mind to say that God had not kept his promise to the Jews. If the descendants of Abraham were the chosen people and yet the gentiles were now grafted into that promise because of the Jewish rejection of the messiah doesn’t this mean that God’s plan has failed?

This was almost a Jewish apologetic for rejecting gentile believers.

3. Realize our(your) true purpose once again

So Paul uses three examples to to show the jews how they have misunderstood the promise of God.

Abraham had other children that are not Israel.

Mark 16:15 CSB

15 Then he said to them, “Go into all the world and preach the gospel to all creation.

Isaac had children that were not Israel