Believers Have a Desire to Evangelize
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Brothers, my heart’s desire and prayer to God for the Israelites is that they may be saved. For I can testify about them that they are zealous for God, but their zeal is not based on knowledge. 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. Christ is the end of the law so that there may be righteousness for everyone who believes.
Moses describes in this way the righteousness that is by the law: “The man who does these things will live by them.” 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) “or ‘Who will descend into the deep?’” (that is, to bring Christ up from the dead). 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: 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. For it is with your heart that you believe and are justified, and it is with your mouth that you confess and are saved. As the Scripture says, “Anyone who trusts in him will never be put to shame.” For there is no difference between Jew and Gentile—the same Lord is Lord of all and richly blesses all who call on him, for, “Everyone who calls on the name of the Lord will be saved.”
We Should Expect Believers to Have a Desire to Evangelize
We Should Expect Believers to Have a Desire to Evangelize
Why? People are naturally seeking God (2-4)
Why? People are naturally seeking God (2-4)
Our popular culture proves this to be true!
People, mostly unbelievers, prove it by simply making these statements:
“How could God allow that to happen?”
“Out today enjoying God’s creation!”
They’ll even use His name as a cuss word!
When someone dies, we cry out to God...
When we get unexpected fortune, we thank God...
When we live in a sinful lifestyle and don’t want to quit, we say, “why would God have made me this way if it is wrong?”
People naturally seek God.
They seek wrongly (2)
They seek wrongly (2)
Verse 2 says “they have a zeal for God, but their zeal isn’t based upon knowledge.”
Check out this verse in Proverbs 1:7
The fear of the LORD is the beginning of knowledge,
but fools despise wisdom and discipline.
Fear of the Lord is the beginning of knowledge. If you don’t start here, you don’t have real knowledge.
Check out Proverbs 1:29
Since they hated knowledge
and did not choose to fear the LORD,
The NT offers up a suggestion for us.
Take a look at James 1:5
If any of you lacks wisdom, he should ask God, who gives generously to all without finding fault, and it will be given to him.
If you desire wisdom and knowledge, turn to God and things of His. Check out the opposite now.
Who is wise and understanding among you? Let him show it by his good life, by deeds done in the humility that comes from wisdom. But if you harbor bitter envy and selfish ambition in your hearts, do not boast about it or deny the truth. Such “wisdom” does not come down from heaven but is earthly, unspiritual, of the devil. For where you have envy and selfish ambition, there you find disorder and every evil practice.
But the wisdom that comes from heaven is first of all pure; then peace-loving, considerate, submissive, full of mercy and good fruit, impartial and sincere. Peacemakers who sow in peace raise a harvest of righteousness.
We should have a desire to evangelize because people are naturally seeking God. They do so wrongly: why?
Their salvation rests in themselves (3)
Their salvation rests in themselves (3)
I like the NKJV and the HCSB rendering of the front part of verse 3.
For they being ignorant of God’s righteousness, and seeking to establish their own righteousness, have not submitted to the righteousness of God.
Because they disregarded the righteousness from God and attempted to establish their own righteousness, they have not submitted themselves to God’s righteousness.
Let’s go back to 1:17 and remind ourselves of God’s righteousness.
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.”
Writing of the Jewish people, Paul was saying in 10:3 that they had two problems based on their own righteousness, much the same way people do today:
They were ignorant of the fact that His righteousness was given by grace. You and I, the Israelites back in the day, and your neighbors, friends, and co-workers all come to God through the gift of grace in His Son Jesus Christ.
They thought they could secure their own righteousness by observing the Torah, or the Law. The is true today of the wanna-be-believer who claims to be a follower and base their right to be called an heir to the King through baptismal regeneration, reciting a prayer with the preacher, or church attendance.
Either way, their salvation rests in themselves. More proof that people innately have a knowledge of God.
What do we do??
Christ is the only way! (4)
Christ is the only way! (4)
Christ is the “end of the law,” He is the fulfillment of the law, so that you and I may have salvation through Christ alone.
People look wrongly to the law, but Christ is the end of that law.
People look wrongly to religion, their pastor, or a family history of Christianity, but Christ is still the goal of the law.
People will try to explain away their need for forgiveness and reconciliation with God, but His name is still the only name under by which man must cry out in repentance.
Why? People need to understand the difference (5-9)
Why? People need to understand the difference (5-9)
I remember when we moved to Tennessee in 1988. I was 12 and got to experience this whole new culture!
I was at school day and was actually eating the school lunch.
I was filling my tray with all the stuff you have to get simply because you are hungry, when lo and behold, I come across a deep dish of donut holes!
Donut holes on the lunch line!! Nobody seemed to notice them!
I was like, “What!?!?” I’m getting several of these!
Do you remember that time you poured yourself a glass of milk, but for some odd reason right before you drank it, you though you would taste pop?
Yeah, that’s what happened with the donut holes. I popped a whole one in my mouth and it was a hush puppy!!
I didn’t understand the difference! They looked alike to me!
Friends, we need to understand the difference between having religion and having a relationship with Christ. When you have a relationship with Christ, I guarantee you’ll 1.) have a desire to share your faith, or 2.) feel guilty that you aren’t.
I’m not usually this blunt, but I’m going to tell you truth today. If God told you not to do something and you did it, what’s that called? Sin, right?
The same thing is true if God TOLD you to do something and you aren’t doing it. You know He’s told you to share your faith. If you aren’t, you are in sin.
People need to understand the difference.
Check out verse 5.
Most people try to follow rules (5)
Most people try to follow rules (5)
The children of Israel were to live by the Mosiac law. Whatever the first five books of the Bible said, they were to do.
People today do the same thing, except trying to follow a clear written code, they follow the code they themselves are designing as they go.
They’ll say, “I’m just trying to be a good person.” What is good and who gets to say what they are going is good?”
They’ll say, “If you live by the golden rule, you’ll be okay,.” Well, what if you are treating me like you’d want to be treated, but I don’t like the way you treat yourself?
They’ll say, “I don’t believe you have to go to church to go to heaven.” These are the same people who also don’t share their faith, read their Bible regularly, pray with earnestness, or exhibit the indwelling of the Holy Spirit.
Believers, we evangelize because most people try to follow the rules.
Few actually follow Him (6)
Few actually follow Him (6)
Paul reminds his audience here that righteousness comes by faith alone.
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)
Here Paul uses Deut 30:12 against his audience.
It is not up in heaven, so that you have to ask, “Who will ascend into heaven to get it and proclaim it to us so we may obey it?”
Moses was about to lead the Israelites into the Promised Land and he had to remind the people that God didn’t give them the land because of their righteousness, but because of the unrighteous people who lived in it and His goodness!
The Bible reminds us that very few people understand the fact that faith comes by grace alone.
For it is by grace you have been saved, through faith—and this not from yourselves, it is the gift of God— not by works, so that no one can boast.
Christ is the only way! (9)
Christ is the only way! (9)
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.
People need to understand the difference between their salvation resting in a baptism done 40 years ago, church attendance, who their momma is, or if they “feel like it.”
Salvation comes by repenting in your sins, believing He died in your place, and confessing Him as Lord.
We evangelize because people simply don’t know the difference.
Why? People need to understand there is only one way (10-13)
Why? People need to understand there is only one way (10-13)
Belief in Christ alone (10)
Belief in Christ alone (10)
Verse 10 reminds us that we are saved when we believe what God did through Jesus AND through our confession! It is completely a gift!
You have to accept this gift. Can you believe what God did through Christ and that be enough? NO! Satan believes it!
Yet to all who received him, to those who believed in his name, he gave the right to become children of God—
The Christian believes in His name and receives Him as Lord. This means their life is completely changed!
We evangelize because people need to know salvation comes through Christ alone!
He bears our shame (11)
He bears our shame (11)
Because He is the One Way, He takes on the punishment we deserve.
As the Scripture says, “Anyone who trusts in him will never be put to shame.”
Whoever believes in the Son has eternal life, but whoever rejects the Son will not see life, for God’s wrath remains on him.”
He is Lord of all (12)
He is Lord of all (12)
It makes no difference if you are born into a Hindu family or grew up in church.
It doesn’t matter if you “really believe” there is no God, or your “heart tells you that you’re okay.”
He is still Lord of all!
We evangelize because not only do our loved ones need to hear the saving message of the Gospel, but so do someone else’s loved ones!
Salvation is for all who call on His name (13)
Salvation is for all who call on His name (13)
Everyone who calls on the name of the Lord WILL BE SAVED!
You can be mad at the ultra-Calvinist who says if they’ll be saved, God will save them.
People they need to call on the name of the Lord for salvation!
Therefore, my brothers, be all the more eager to make your calling and election sure. For if you do these things, you will never fall,
This verse appears to not only discuss a calling and election by God to demonstrate His soveriegnty, but it indicates that you’d better answer His call and ponder your salvation.
You can be mad at our Armenian friends like some General Baptists, Methodists, or Church of Christ friends and think you may lose your salvation if you don’t walk right.
People, when you repent of your sins, and cry out to Jesus Christ to save you, He absolutely and completely saves! Aren’t you glad your salvation doesn’t rest in your hands?
He will keep you strong to the end, so that you will be blameless on the day of our Lord Jesus Christ. God, who has called you into fellowship with his Son Jesus Christ our Lord, is faithful.
What Should We Expect? We should expect believers to evangelize.
Who have you shared the Good News with this week?
What’s holding you back?
Maybe you have an unhealthy fear of man. Let me encourage you to partner with another believer in order that you can hold one another accountable.
Maybe you’ve just been lazy.
Diligent hands will rule,
but laziness ends in slave labor.
We can become slaves to laziness.
Maybe you are here today and don’t/never evangelize for a different reason. Your reason is simply because you are lost. You are an unbeliever. You are separated from Christ.
You don’t tell people about Christ because He hasn’t done anything for you.
Come to Christ.
Remember Romans 10:9-10
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. For it is with your heart that you believe and are justified, and it is with your mouth that you confess and are saved.
Do you need to repent of your sins, believe He died for you, and confess Him as Lord?