Let’s Pray

We are going to look at 10:5-8 this morning

I struggled with this message for a few days and at first thought I would go through 10 this morning but as I did the work, study, word study, looking into Greek, reading through commentaries etc and then began to write it was obvious that God didn’t want that

He wanted 5-8 so that is where we are going

I believe the reason for that is 9-10 are all about salvation but if you have a works based perspective and ideal then you will try to work to be saved instead of working because you are saved so as i said it became obvious what God wanted this morning

Romans 10:5-8

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Romans 10:5–8 “For Moses describeth the righteousness which is of the law, That the man which doeth those things shall live by them. But the righteousness which is of faith speaketh on this wise, Say not in thine heart, Who shall ascend into heaven? (that is, to bring Christ down from above:) Or, Who shall descend into the deep? (that is, to bring up Christ again from the dead.) But what saith it? The word is nigh thee, even in thy mouth, and in thy heart: that is, the word of faith, which we preach;”

Verse 5 is a quote from Moses

following God’s commandments

following the law’s requirements lead to life

Some may say yep told you it was all about works not grace

You miss it and you are probably defining law as man’s law the 600 plus laws that man came up with to help God out because God only gave 10 commandments

You see the 10 commandments and the requirements of proper worship....life with God....and life with each other...proper relationship with God

God gave Israel the law

10 commandments

again not the Jewish religions 600 plus laws to add to God’s 10

God gave Israel the law to give them life

God’s law.....10 commandments have two categories

Love For God

No other gods before me.....me being God

Not make or worship idols

not take Lord’s name in vain

Keep Sabbath

Love for Neighbor...others

Honor your father and mother

shall not murder

shall not commit adultery

shall not steal

shall not bear false witness

shall not covet neighbors spouse or goods

These bring life

life with God and life with each other

however that was never designed or given to give or bring righteousness because all sin...that sin is between you and God

God also gave the Levitical law

Leviticus 1-7

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deals with sacrifices....appeasement for sin not atonement

Leviticus 8-10

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deals with the Priesthood...priests established to lead people....intercede for people...lead worship and the tabernacle etc....

Leviticus 11-15

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deals with purity....holiness...how to live as a peculiar people

These were never meant to be a way to righteousness but a way to live and honor God.....life

The law was given to point people to Jesus

to show God’s character

This took a lot of work just to appease never atone

Jesus fulfilled all of this because He atoned

He paid for sin and freely offers you forgiveness

a way to be right with God...righteousness

It was never about performance

Israel missed that

so many today miss that

it was never about performance but Trust in God .......faith

That’s the major problem with sin

lack of trust and faith in God

rebellion

pride

that was one of, but possibly the main issue with Israel

They thought they could do it themselves

They could keep the laws

they could do the work

they could pay the price

that is the problem with religion

it is human based

go to church

take communion

do a devotion

say a prayer

help when convenient

earn your gold star

get a pat on the back

so many work for those and they say they don’t but the minute they feel like people do not see their works and reward them for those works...gold star...atta boy....we appreciate you....they get mad and run....throw a fit and leave

happens each and every week in churches across this country

everything in religion points to people not God

Examine your fruits

look at when something in the church and body doesnt go your way

how do you react?

Someone says something you don’t agree with

someone teaches something you dont agree with

someone asks you to do or not do something

what do you do

get all upset and take your ball and go home

do you leave

run to another church

sit in your emotions

be angry and bitter and now through that anger and bitterness you look for any wrong

any negative

and when you find it not if you find it

if you look for negative you will find it

if you look for positive you will find it

when you find the negative you exploit it

blow it out of proportion

you slander whoever is the focus of your displeasure at that moment

or

do you first turn to God in prayer

asking for wisdom to discern His will through your emotions

Do you dive into scripture to discern if something is correct or not

if in that dive you realize Romans 14 applies......we will get to this but Romans 14 in a nut shell says if it is not doctrinal....salvation issue and it does not go against scripture then you are both correct

Do you surrender your emotions to God

nail them to the cross if they are driven by pride

maybe God is trying to tell you

alert you that there is a problem

you don’t look for negative

you don’t tell everyone about it

you don’t do any of that

you turn to God and pray for wisdom and discernment as you obey His Word

Matthew 18:15-18

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Matthew 18:15–18 “Moreover if thy brother shall trespass against thee, go and tell him his fault between thee and him alone: if he shall hear thee, thou hast gained thy brother. But if he will not hear thee, then take with thee one or two more, that in the mouth of two or three witnesses every word may be established. And if he shall neglect to hear them, tell it unto the church: but if he neglect to hear the church, let him be unto thee as an heathen man and a publican. Verily I say unto you, Whatsoever ye shall bind on earth shall be bound in heaven: and whatsoever ye shall loose on earth shall be loosed in heaven.”

I want to walk down through this wonderful but super difficult teaching of Jesus

wonderful because 9 times out of 10 brothers and sisters will be gained

True brothers and sisters

true love will be expressed and experienced

true forgiveness will be given and received

wonderful

beautiful

but you and I are human so in our humanity this will be so difficult

it will be so uncomfortable

especially if you try to do it on your own

you will fail if you try to do this

you will fail miserably

Someone sins against you

does

says

injures you

angers you

truly wrongs you

go to them

not next week

immediately

so many times you are in your emotions and angry and bitter and the other person doesn’t even have a clue they hurt you

there is usually no intent behind the words or actions and they are clueless that you are angry at them

maybe they did do it on purpose

that part doesn’t matter

Jesus didn’t say if you feel the person did it on purpose ignore them

no He says if someone sins against you go to them

the Bible also says to never let the sun go down on your anger

deal with it immediately

Here is the deal...it is kind of like God created us

honest conversations will resolve most issues between brothers and sisters in Christ

not a fight

not an argument

not looking to catch them

no egos

no agendas

an honest conversation seeking reconciliation and restoration

that almost always will fix most anything because you were real and handled it God’s way

as a result you both are closer to each other and God

This is not a one and done situation

hounding someone is also what is not called for here

if you attempt to do this and the person is not open

not willing to admit fault

argumentative etc

end it for now and pray

pray for soften hearts and another opportunity to have an honest conversation

you may have to go to your brother or sister a few times with humility and love

when it comes to a point that person rejects these efforts and tells you to leave them alone

don’t talk to me anymore about this and they are your brother or sister in Christ you are not done

It is time to do what Jesus said and gather two or three and again attempt reconciliation

this step hardly ever happens because we just dont like to deal with conflict

maybe we don’t know the scriptures....now you do

this isnt a suggestion by Jesus this is a teaching that He fully expects through the Holy Spirit that you and I follow

You take two or three with you from the church and again attempt to resolve this issue with forgiveness and reconciliation

if the person repents you have gained a brother or sister in Christ

If he refuses, again it may take a trip or two or three but if he refuses then it is taken to the church leadership and the church leadership addresses the issue with the person

again no something that happens very often.......many in leadership are too worried about the ramifications

people might get mad

people might leave

people might stop giving

people might stop serving

maybe....probably but that is not the leaderships problem that is the peoples problem and the problem is not with the church but with God

Church leadership must have a backbone to discern and lead and discipline as Jesus describes

If the person rejects the leaderships attempts to reconcile they that person is to be removed from the church.....treated as a pagan and outsider....lost because they probably are.....if they refuse to seek forgiveness when it has been clearly demonstrated and shown to them that they need to seek forgiveness then one must question salvation based upon the fruit of unforgiveness

how can you be forgiven of much and refuse to forgive

that takes me to the other party in this teaching

those who did the wronging

intentional or unintentional doesnt matter

you have been approached by a brother or sister with an offense caused by you

immediately you should seek forgiveness from them

immediately you should seek reconciliation with them

the person could have totally misconstrued the entire thing but that is between them and God

if you have offended you must seek forgiveness

reconciliation

restoration

you are to forgive as you have been forgiven which is fully and completely

forgiveness is not yours to withhold

if you are wrong.....you seek forgiveness

if someone brings you an offense

you seek forgiveness

not to earn salvation but because you have salvation

and since you have salvation you have died to you so you fully forgive as you have been forgiven

Forgiveness must also be accepted

so many times someone has a complaint....they air that complaint....not biblically by the way.....instead of going directly to that person they put it on social media

facebook

snapchat

tiktok

groupme

then that person attempts reconciliation and forgiveness but it is rejected by the injured party

you are wrong

you are sinning

you are not seeking reconciliation you are seeking to embarrass or punish the person

that is not yours and that for sure is not from God

How does all of this apply to Romans 10:5-8

Israel missed out because they rejected God by doing works

keeping the law

God wants devotion not duty

God wants your heart not your works

Salvation which we will look at next week has nothing to do with you

it has everything to do with Jesus

God is good and just and demands much more than you can give

only saved in Jesus

once saved then you will see fruits being produced through you by Holy Spirit

forgiveness

love

are both fruits

devotion to Jesus and God is a fruit

you are to follow as you die to you and obey Jesus

Now is your time to respond to God!

How Good God Is invitation