I Am Not Ashamed: I Can Do It Myself

I Am Not Ashamed: I Can Do It Myself!

Text: Romans 10:1-13

Theme: Man cannot enter the Kingdom by his own righteousness.

Date: 11/06/2016 File name: Romans_2016_30.wpd ID Number: 227

Every parent here remembers with joyous satisfaction the declaration of your toddler’s independence: “NOOOOOOOOO ... I can do it myself!” Almost overnight a child who was dependent upon you for everything, transforms into the kid who wants to do everything all by his or her self. That’s the nature of growing up. Part of our maturing is learning how to do things for ourselves. That sense of autonomy stays with us. How many times have I seen something that needs to be done around my house or my yard, and I say, “I can do it myself!” There is tremendous self-satisfaction and a sense of accomplishment in learning how to do things for ourselves. Whether it is the toddler tying his or her own shoes, or the husband replacing the garbage disposal we like the confidence that comes with doing it myself. However, every parent also knows that you just can’t turn toddlers loose, because there are many things they want to do by themselves that they can’t do by themselves. Similarly, I’ve begun some projects only to conclude, “I really can’t do this myself.”

Unfortunately, the attitude I can do it myself frequently carries over into our spiritual lives — “If I can fix the garbage disposal by myself, I can get into heaven by myself.” No. You can’t. That’s what the Gospel is all about—you can’t, but God can. In this passage, the Apostle is going to return to the great them of this letter, “I am not ashamed of the gospel, because it is the power of God for the salvation of everyone who believes: first for the Jew, then for the Gentile. 17 For in the gospel a righteousness from God is revealed, a righteousness that is by faith from first to last, just as it is written: “The righteous will live by faith.” (Romans 1:16–17, NIV84)

It was this Gospel that the Jews stumbled over, and the Gentiles stumbled upon.

I. THE JEWS ... STUMBLING OVER GOD’S RIGHTEOUSNESS vs. 9:31-33

1. why has the majority of Israel failed to embrace Jesus as their Messiah, while the Gentiles are come to the Christ in droves?

a. this continues to be the Apostle’s theme as we arrive at chapter 10

2. the Jews were a people constantly looking for “signs” of the Messiah’s coming, or “signs” that he was already among them

a. Paul speaks to this in his first letter to the Church at Corinth

“For since in the wisdom of God the world through its wisdom did not know him, God was pleased through the foolishness of what was preached to save those who believe. 22 Jews demand miraculous signs and Greeks look for wisdom,” (1 Corinthians 1:21–22, NIV84)

b. in the Gospels, we hear the Pharisees asking Jesus for a “sign” that he was truly God’s Anointed One

ILLUS. In the twelfth chapter of Matthew’s Gospel, we read that a demon possessed man was brought to Jesus. He was also blind and mute. Jesus cast out the demon and healed him so that he could both talk and see. Then we read, “All the people were astonished and said, “Could this be the Son of David?” (Matthew 12:23, NIV84). By that, they meant could this be the Messiah? But the Pharisees are not convinced. “Then some of the Pharisees and teachers of the law said to him, “Teacher, we want to see a miraculous sign from you.” (Matthew 12:38, NIV84). This is a tough crowd! Jesus has just cast a demon out of a man. Whereas the man was blind and mute, now he’s seeing and talking! How much more of a “sign” do you need for Pete’s sake??

c. Jesus responds “ ... “A wicked and adulterous generation asks for a miraculous sign! But none will be given it except the sign of the prophet Jonah. 40 For as Jonah was three days and three nights in the belly of a huge fish, so the Son of Man will be three days and three nights in the heart of the earth.” (Matthew 12:39–40, NIV84)

1) this is, of course, a veiled reference to his death and resurrection

d. Jesus gave repeated signs that pointed to his authenticity as Israel’s Anointed One, yet those who demanded signs could not read the signs Jesus gave them

3. in this passage, the Apostle bluntly writes that the Jews cannot blame God for Israel’s predicament

a. God has been completely faithful to His covenant promises

b. it’s Israel who has been unfaithful in keeping its part of the bargain, namely, in accepting God’s Messiah by faith

c. Jesus gave them all the signs they needed, but they stumbled over his claims

“but Israel, who pursued a law of righteousness, has not attained it. 32 Why not? Because they pursued it not by faith but as if it were by works. They stumbled over the “stumbling stone.” 33 As it is written: “See, I lay in Zion a stone that causes men to stumble and a rock that makes them fall, and the one who trusts in him will never be put to shame.” (Romans 9:31–33, NIV84)

4. Paul’s heart’s desire is that Israel stop stumbling over the Rock of Ages, and that they may yet come to faith in God’s Messiah

“Brothers, my heart’s desire and prayer to God for the Israelites is that they may be saved.” (Romans 10:1, NIV84)

A. RIGHTEOUSNESS CANNOT BE RECEIVED BY LAW-KEEPING

1. this is point #1 of Paul’s emphasis in this passage

a. in vs. 2-5 the Apostle lays out three reasons why they Jews stumbled over Jesus

2. 1st, Israel Had Zeal Without Knowledge

"For I can testify about them that they are zealous for God, but their zeal is not based on knowledge.” (Romans 10:2, NIV84)

a. zealousness in one’s faith is a good thing as long as that zeal is according to knowledge

b. one of the things that could be said for 1st century Judaism was that they were an extremely religious people

1) they were passionate about their faith, energetic in their worship, and zealous in keeping the law

c. Paul, himself, was an example of a misplaced religious zeal

1) he writes, For I can testify about them, because he was one of them

2) speaking to King Agrippa in later years he would testify

“I too was convinced that I ought to do all that was possible to oppose the name of Jesus of Nazareth. 10 And that is just what I did in Jerusalem. On the authority of the chief priests I put many of the saints in prison, and when they were put to death, I cast my vote against them. 11 Many a time I went from one synagogue to another to have them punished, and I tried to force them to blaspheme. In my obsession against them, I even went to foreign cities to persecute them.” (Acts 26:9–11, NIV84)

3) in his letter to the Church at Philippi, Paul described his life before conversion

“though I myself have reasons for such confidence. If anyone else thinks he has reasons to put confidence in the flesh, I have more: 5 circumcised on the eighth day, of the people of Israel, of the tribe of Benjamin, a Hebrew of Hebrews; in regard to the law, a Pharisee; 6 as for zeal, persecuting the church; as for legalistic righteousness, faultless. 7 But whatever was to my profit I now consider loss for the sake of Christ.” (Philippians 3:4–7, NIV84)

d. Paul himself had come to the place where at last he realized that all his supposed religious assets were actually liabilities

1) he must write them off as worthless and put Christ in their place

2) before his conversion, he had a zeal for God, but not according to knowledge

3. 2nd, Israel Was Ignorant of the Righteousness of God (v. 3)

“Since they did not know the righteousness that comes from God and sought to establish their own, they did not submit to God’s righteousness.” (Romans 10:3, NIV84)

a. the Jews did not understand the heights of God’s holiness and righteousness, nor the depths of their own sinfulness and unrighteousness

1) Paul writes, they did not know the righteousness that comes from God

b. if they had they never would have believed The Law, and obedience to The Law could make them righteous, because The Law was given to reveal how thoroughly unrighteous they/we are!

c. everything in The Law, and The Prophets, and The Ritual Sacrifices pointed to the person of Jesus, and his redemptive ministry, but the nation as a whole failed to see it

“Jesus said to them, “If God were your Father, you would love me, for I came from God and now am here. I have not come on my own; but he sent me. 43 Why is my language not clear to you? Because you are unable to hear what I say.” (John 8:42–43, NIV84)

ILLUS. Translation ... what Jesus said to them went in one ear and out the other.

d. what they were ignorant of was that righteousness comes by faith ... it’s always come by faith

“Abram believed the LORD, and he credited it to him as righteousness.” (Genesis 15:6, NIV84)

e. to submit to God’s righteousness means to lay aside one’s own righteousness and acknowledge complete failure of one’s own ability to be “good enough”

4. 3rd, Israel Sought to Establish Their Own Righteousness

“ ... and sought to establish their own, they did not submit to God’s righteousness. 4 Christ is the end of the law so that there may be righteousness for everyone who believes. 5 Moses describes in this way the righteousness that is by the law: “The man who does these things will live by them.” (Romans 10:3–5, NIV84)

ILLUS. Like the toddler, asserting his or her independence, Israel said "NOOOOOOOOO ... I can do it myself!"

a. the Apostle writes that Israel sought to establish their own righteousness—they really thought they could be good enough, and believed they could approach God in their own righteousness

1) what the Jews did not get was that if you’re going to go down the path of commandment-keeping it’s all or nothing

2) that’s Paul’s point in vs. 5 ... it you really believe that righteousness comes by observing The Law—by being morally, and ethically, and behaviorally good—then Moses says you must whole-heartedly, and perfectly obey The Law

3) but therein is the rub—if you fail in keeping any part of The Law—including the spirit of The Law—you’ve failed at the whole

a) the Apostle James talked about this

“For whoever keeps the whole law and yet stumbles at just one point is guilty of breaking all of it.” (James 2:10, NIV84)

4) what’s the spirit of The Law?

a) Jesus speaks to it in his Sermon on the Mount in his “You’ve heard it said ... “ statements (these always make me wince)

• you’ve heard it said, “Thou shall not murder, but I say unto you, if you hate your brother, you’ve murdered him in your heart.”

ILLUS. Clarence Darrow, a famous criminal lawyer, who once said, "I have not killed anyone, but I frequently get satisfaction out of obituary notices."

• you’ve heard it said, “Thou shall not commit adultery, but I say unto you, if you have lust in your heart toward one not your spouse, you’ve slept with her.”

b. believing The Law was an end in itself, they did not submit to God's righteousness that comes by grace alone, through faith alone, in Christ alone

1) the phrase did not submit is a verb in the global aorist tense, meaning that they did not submit, and they were continuing not to submit, and two millennia later they still are not submitting

a) by and large Jews continue their rejection of Christ

5. The Jews ... Stumbling Over God’s Righteousness

II. THE GENTILES ... STUMBLING UPON GOD’S RIGHTEOUSNESS

“What then shall we say? That the Gentiles, who did not pursue righteousness, have obtained it, a righteousness that is by faith;” (Romans 9:30, NIV84)

ILLUS. The Gentiles of the 1st century were also deeply religious. But the pagan religions were about placating the gods, who were considered not much different than mere mortals. In the Roman Empire, individual expression of belief was unimportant. A strict adherence to a rigid set of rituals was far more significant because it bound communities and empire together. Religious zeal was to be avoid, and this is why Rome simply did not understand the Jews, and later, the Christians, who did have a deep emotional zeal for their God. The Gentiles may have pursued the gods, but they certainly did not pursue righteousness. As far as both Jew and Christian were concerned, Roman cites were centers of superstition, vice, immorality, and idolatry.

1. but as Peter discovered with Cornelius, God was up to something among the Gentiles

a. while the Jews had stumbled over the Gospel, the Gentiles had, in effect, stumbled into the Gospel

b. the Gentiles were not looking for God and righteousness, but the God of righteousness was looking for them

c. no sooner did they hear the Gospel than in the hundreds, and then thousands, and then hundreds of thousands they “turned to God from idols to serve the living and true God; and to wait for his Son from heaven” (1 Thess. 1:9-10)

2. according to the Apostle, a law-based righteousness is no longer sufficient because Christ is the end of the law

“Christ is the end of the law so that there may be righteousness for everyone who believes.” (Romans 10:4, NIV84)

a. in this, the Apostle means that Christ has become the culmination of The Law

1) The Law, and The Prophets, and the Ritual Sacrifices all pointed to Jesus

ILLUS. When Jesus cries out from the cross, It is finished, and the curtain, that great curtain in the Jewish Temple separating the Holy of Holies from mortal men is torn in two from top to bottom, God is testifying that His redemptive plan has come to fruition. The Old Covenant was meant to prepare His people for this very moment—the establishment of a New Covenant.

3. Christ has replaced The Law as God’s standard for righteousness

a. all those who come to the Christ, and believe can receive the righteousness of God as a free gift

1) the Jews longed for the Messiah, but they longed for the Lion of Judah ... what they got was the Lamb of God

2) the Jews longed for a Messiah sitting on a Jewish throne ... what they got was a Savior nailed to a Roman cross

b. the Jews longed for a Messiah, but when he appeared they openly rejected his Gospel, while the Gentiles gladly embraced it

A. RIGHTEOUSNESS IS RECEIVED BY FAITH-KEEPING

“That if you confess with your mouth, “Jesus is Lord,” and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved. 10 For it is with your heart that you believe and are justified, and it is with your mouth that you confess and are saved.” (Romans 10:9–10, NIV84)

1. this is point #2 of Paul’s emphasis in this passage

2. if Christ is the end of The Law, if he is it’s fulfilment, then we simply come to him in faith ... confessing and believing

a. can it really be that simple?

b. in vs. 6-8 the Apostle quotes from Deuteronomy 30:11-14, and to our Gentile ears it sounds strange

“But the righteousness that is by faith says: “Do not say in your heart, ‘Who will ascend into heaven?’” (that is, to bring Christ down) 7 “or ‘Who will descend into the deep?’” (that is, to bring Christ up from the dead). 8 But what does it say? “The word is near you; it is in your mouth and in your heart,” that is, the word of faith we are proclaiming:” (Romans 10:6–8, NIV84)

c. it’s a passage about God condescending down to man in grace and mercy when He didn’t have to

1) just as Moses says there was no need for anyone to go up to heaven to bring down the law, so it is true that no one needs to go up to heaven to bring the Messiah down

a) there’s no need to “go up” because God has “come down”

2) just as Moses says there was no need for anyone to search the depths for a “word from God”, so it is true that no one needs to search the depths for the Living Word has been given by God

ILLUS. In the idiom of our day the Apostle is saying, “You don’t have to search high and low for the righteousness of God because if you’ve received the word of faith we are proclaiming the righteousness of God is in you in Christ.”

3. how do we respond?

a. we confess that Jesus is Lord, and we believe that God has raised him from the dead

b. if we do this, we are saved—delivered from the power of sin and death

1) it’s a Gospel true believers will never be ashamed of, vs. 11

2) it’s a Gospel that is for everyone, both Jews and Gentiles, vs. 12-13

III. APPLICATION OF ROMANS 9:30-10:13

A. THERE IS ONLY ONE WAY OF SALVATION

1. from the earliest days of the Church, there was no serious question or debate within the Church that the Gospel was for both Jews and Gentiles

a. that belief was the motivation behind the missionary impulse of the church until the mid 20th century

b. large swaths of the Church no longer are animated by the Gospel’s impulse to go into all the world

c. evangelism of the Jews, especially, is frowned upon in a pluralistic culture that says all religions are equally valid

2. the seminal event that changed the Church's attitude toward evangelizing the Jew was the Holocaust of WW2 in which Adolf Hitler’s Nazi Germany exterminated six-million Jews

a. it was the deadliest genocide in history

ILLUS. The Jewish people refer to it as the Shoah—the catastrophe.

b. on the other side of Auschwitz and Birkenau, Sobibor, and Treblinka there were liberal Protestant theologians who decided that in order to alleviate anti-Semitism we needed to develop theology that maintains one Soteriology for the Gentiles, and one for the Jews

ILLUS. Chief among these theologians was Reinhold Niebuhr—a Missouri boy, born and raised in Wright City—who developed a duel-covenant theology. Niebuhr, and others, maintained that God had established a covenant with the Jews, and that covenant remains in place. God also established a covenant with Christians, through the redemptive work of Christ. They are two completely independent covenants.

3. the Apostle Paul complete destroys that duel-covenant theology

a. there is only one way of salvation, and it is the same for both Jews and Gentiles

1) do the Jews have a favored status? Yes.

2) the Apostle makes that clear—It was through the Jews and God's promises to the Jews, that we learn of an Anointed One who is Christ the Lord

b. through Abraham and his seed, all the nations of the earth will be blessed

4. Paul does not, and will not, and would not today buy into any theology that removes Christ from his redemptive work on the cross for ALL — both Jew and Gentile

B. OUR FAITH IS AUTHENTICATED BY OBEDIENCE NOT MERELY SINCERITY

1. one of the most insidious theological lies that has afflicted our culture in general and the Church in particular, is the idea that sincerity is the absolute key to spiritual authenticity

a. that theology is enshrined in the statement, “It doesn’t matter what you believe as long as you sincerely believe it.”

ILLUS. It’s the Gospel according to Oprah. Remember the story in 1 Kings 18 — Elijah and the prophets of Baal on Mt. Carmel? Those prophets of Baal were about as sincere as one could be. They prayed. They danced. They cut themselves. They whipped themselves into an emotional frenzy.

1) incredible acts of self-sacrifice or devotion take place among religious people the world over, and these people are sincerely sincere

2) but a misdirected zeal, a misapplied sincerity will actually lead one away from the true God

3. does the bible encourage a sincerity of faith?

a. absolutely ... Paul encourages a sincere and pure devotion to Christ (2 Cor. 11:3)

1) but notice the object of our sincerity and devotion—it is Christ

4. the Gospel is not merely one spiritual choice among many spiritual choices

a. the apostle writes, "they did not submit to God's righteousness"

b. that’s not merely true of the Jews of Paul’s day, it’s true of the lost of our day

5. our Baptist forefathers used to talk about an "obedience to the gospel"

a. it's a phrase you've heard me use repeatedly in this sermon series from Romans

b. the gospel, is not merely something we believe, it’s something we’re submissive to

1) the gospel, once we've heard it, demands not merely a decision to believe or not to believe

2) it demands a decision to either obey it or disobey it ... of either submitting to it or not submitting to it

c. the Christian confession is Jesus is Lord

1) the Lordship of Christ means our allegiance is to him, our obedience is to him

2) Jesus asked the crowds of people who had come to hear him, “Why do you call me, ‘Lord, Lord,’ and do not do what I say?” (Luke 6:46, NIV84)

C. RIGHTEOUSNESS COMES BY GRACE ALONE THROUGH FAITH ALONE IN CHRIST ALONE

1. most Americans, and religious polls reveal this, most Americans have a synergistic faith — God does his part by forgiving, and we do our part by living good enough lives to earn His forgiveness

a. many of our neighbors have a spiritual entitlement attitude: "God owes me heaven because I’m a really decent person."

b. it’s an attitude that leads sinners to play these "mind games" with themselves: "Well, I may not be as good as Mother Theresa, but I'm a whole lot better than ___________,”

ILLUS. Like toddlers, they say, “NOOOOOOOOO ... I can do it myself!”

2. if you hope to get to heaven by being "good enough" your only hope is that God grades on a curve

a. and most Americans think he does ... "Yeah, I know that God says He demands perfection, but he doesn't really mean it."

b. unfortunately, God does not grade on a curve — he really does demand perfection

CON. Let me close by referring you to Calvin ... as in Calvin and Hobbes.