INTRODUCTION

OPEN YOUR BIBLES WITH ME TO ROMANS 10:1-13.

ILLUSTRATION

Only Two Religions

While presenting the Gospel on the streets of a California city, he was often asked this question: “There are hundreds of religions in this country, and everyone in each group thinks that theirs is the only right one. How can someone like me find out what really is the truth?” He would reply, “Hundreds of religions, you say? That’s strange; I’ve heard of only two.”

“I admit, there are many shades of religions; but there are still only two. One covers all who expect to receive salvation by doing; the other, by something done. The question is very simple. Can you save yourself, or must you be saved by another?”

—H. A. Ironside

I.         THE RIGHTEOUSNESS OF GOD (vv. 1-4)

1         Brethren, my heart’s desire and prayer to God for Israel is that they may be saved.

A.      Paul returns to the same theme of the righteousness of God that opened chapter 9. Here in chapter 10, we see Israel rejecting that righteousness and pursuing their own righteousness.

B.      Paul is writing to Christians in Roman about his desire for Israel to understand and accept the gospel or otherwise known as the good news of Jesus Christ

·         Even though Paul had not yet visited Roman, he was aware of the pride that came with a single city that ruled the civilized world.

2a   For I bear them witness that they have a zeal for God,

2b   but not according to knowledge.

A.      Paul experienced zeal or passion himself, before and after he became a Christian

·         Before, he had a tremendous passion for persecuting Christians.

·         He did not understanding or really listen to their message.

·         His passion was hatred, because he did not possess true knowledge.

·         Now, he has passion for the nation of Israel, and desires them to become believers.

·         Now that Paul has true knowledge, his passion was love for the entire nation.

B.      God wants us to have passion, but NOT apart from knowledge

·         When I realized God was calling me into full-time ministry, I had a great passion to get started right away.

·         God however, made it clear that I needed to gain more knowledge in preparation to do His work.

·         Think about the passion of some of the other religions

·         Look at the recent London and Egypt bombings

·         They are confident in their own righteousness, but do not accept the knowledge of the gospel.

3a   For they being ignorant of God’s righteousness,

3b   and seeking to establish their own righteousness,

3c   have not submitted to the righteousness of God. 

A.      When Paul talks about the righteousness of God, there is a dual meaning

·         First, there is God’s own perfect righteousness

·         Secondly, there God’s righteousness, that is made ours through faith in Jesus Christ His Son

B.      It is vitally important to realize that God can only accept us if we have His perfect righteousness.

·         How do we get this perfect righteousness?

·         Only through what happened on the cross when Christ’s perfect righteousness is applied to believers through faith

C.      Here we see the essence of the Gospel

·         We must submit ourselves to the righteousness of God

D.      What is righteousness by faith

·         It is not our righteousness, plus God’s righteousness

·         It is God’s righteousness, in place of our righteousness

4     For Christ is the end of the law for righteousness to everyone who believes.

A.      End of the law has two meanings

First

·         The law points to Christ (commands to live godly)

·         Christ is the fulfillment of the law (only one to achieve it)

·         The law taught Israel they could not achieve a righteousness

·         Christ is the provision that God had promised

Second

·         The gospel itself is the end of the law (v. 3c)

·         It ended attempts to achieve a works righteousness

·         Christ completed the law

·         We live in the reign of grace rather then the rule of law

·         Paul is clear, we are still bound by the commandments of God

·         Our salvation is not dependent upon our ability to fulfill the law

II.      DESCRIPTION OF THE RIGHTEOUSNESS OF FAITH (vv. 5-8)

5         For Moses writes about the righteousness which is of the law, “The man who does those things shall live by them.” 

v. 5, Paul is quoting from Leviticus 18:5

A.      Moses writes

·         That righteousness based on the law is the false righteousness

·         The law is good, but it does allow us to justify ourselves before God

·         It teaches us that we in ourselves are not righteous

·         We fall short of the glory of God, we are law breakers, transgressors, trespassers, sinners

·         It is great that we know these important facts (the good news)

·         Without this we would not realize our need for Christ

·         If we do not tell the truth, the law calls it lying, if we take something that is not ours and the law calls it stealing.

6         But the righteousness of faith speaks in this way, “Do not say in your heart, ‘Who will ascend into heaven?’” (that is, to bring Christ down from above) 

7         or, “ ‘Who will descend into the abyss?’ ” (that is, to bring Christ up from the dead). 

8         But what does it say? “The word is near you, in your mouth and in your heart” (that is, the word of faith which we preach): 

v. 6-8 is a quote from Deuteronomy 30:12-14

TURN WITH ME TO DUETERONOMY 30:11-14.

A.      The nearness of the Word is the key

·         The Gospel is the Word of faith

·         The preaching or teaching of the gospel is what the church is about

·         The church is to bring the gospel near to those that do not believe

ILLUSTRATION

Why is it when you are sick that no one wants to come around you?

A.      The only way the gospel can get in is through the ear and then on to the heart

B.      No one can be saved unless the Word is brought near to them

III.    PROCLAMATION OF THE RIGHTEOUSNESS OF FAITH (vv. 9-10)

9         that if you confess with your mouth the Lord Jesus and believe in your heart that God has raised Him from the dead, you will be saved. 

10     For with the heart one believes unto righteousness, and with the mouth confession is made unto salvation. 

A.      How can we obtain the righteousness of faith? (v. 8)

·         You have to hear the message of the gospel

·         And react to it correctly

·         Some hear, but do not react correctly

B.      What knowledge is required for the righteousness of faith? (v. 2b)

·         You have to know that Jesus is Lord

·         You have to know that God raised Him from the dead

C.      What is the required reaction? (v. 9)

·         You have to confess that Jesus is Lord

·         You have to believe that God raised Him from the dead

·         Do not confess to, or believe in something you do not know

D.      What is my obedient reaction?

·         Part of our correct reaction is to demonstrate our salvation

·         Through public profession (telling others about it)

·         Through biblical believers baptism (baptized after salvation)

E.       Simplicity of grace

·         An inward trust

·         An outward expression



IV.    AVAILABILITY OF THE RIGHTEOUSNESS OF FAITH (v. 11-13)

11   For the Scripture says, “Whoever believes on Him will not be put to shame.” 

12   For there is no distinction between Jew and Greek, for the same Lord over all is rich to all who call upon Him. 

13   For “whoever calls on the name of the Lord shall be saved.”

v. 13 is a quote from Joel 2:32

CONCLUSION

In closing,

A.      Does WHOEVER include all religions? (introduction, v. 10)

·         Are they relying on something they are doing

·         Or are they confessing and believing in what Christ has done for them

INVITATION

·          Let’s pray

·          Now with your heads down and eyes closed, and no moving around.

·          Maybe today as I spoke, or prayed you realized that putting your trust in the Lord is something you haven’t done yet. Maybe you don’t know how to answer some of the questions.

·          Dear friends, I don’t want you to leave here today without all the answers.

·          As we will play another verse, please  make your way down to one of these counselors and they would love to help you.

·          Maybe there is someone you need forgive or ask for forgiveness.

·          Maybe you don’t have a church home and want to talk to someone about joining here

·          Maybe you’ve accepted Christ as your Savior, but haven’t made Him your Lord

·          Maybe you feel the Lord calling you into full-time ministry

·          Whatever the need, please come!