Question

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GOD’S MESSASGE TO THE WORLD

Romans 10:1-21

Key Verse:10:9

1. Read verses 1-4. Why is zeal for God not sufficient to save Israel? Why do they not submit to God’s righteousness? What is God’s righteousness? What is Paul’s desire and prayer?

2. Read verses 5-8. What is the difference in the righteousness that is by law and the righteousness that is by faith? (See Dt 30:11-14)

3. Read verses 8-10. What is the word of faith that Paul proclaims? What kind of faith is necessary for salvation?

4. What does it mean to “believe in your heart”? What must we believe? What does it mean to “confess with your mouth”? What must we confess? What does this mean? What does it mean to be justified? To be saved? (9-10)

5. Read verses 11-13. What does God promise in Scripture? (Isa 28:16; Ac 2:21; Ge 4:26; 12:8b) What do these promises mean? What is the significance of “anyone” and “everyone”?

6. Read verses 14-17. What is the chain reaction of belief described by Paul? What is the catalyst of belief? How does this fulfill the words of Isaiah 52:7? How is faith planted in a person’s heart? (17) What is the tragic exception? (16-18)

7. Read verses 19-21. Did God give up when Israel did not believe? What can we learn about God and his ways of working?

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Attachment

• Paro10q-2010.doc

Message

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GOD’S MESSAGE TO THE LOST WORLD

Romans 10:1-21

Key Verse: 10:9 “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.”

  Last week we studied Paul’s anguish and sorrow for his people the Israelites. Even though the Israelites were chosen by God as his firstborn son and received special spiritual blessings, they did not appreciate God’s blessings. They only enjoyed God’s blessings and abandoned God’s divine calling as a priestly nation of the world. The Israelites are somewhat comparable to Americans in modern terms. America, which was once a desolate refuge land, has become the superpower nation of the century. God blessed this country so that America may become a kingdom of priests and a holy nation for the whole world. However, when we see the present spiritual condition of this nation, we despair and grieve in anguish. But, we should not despair or become sorrowful. God’s word never fails. God’s world salvation plan is still valid. Despite men’s unfaithfulness, God’s faithfulness will carry out his decrees with speed and finality. God himself, who has begun a good work in us, will carry it on to completion until the day of Christ Jesus through his chosen people (Php 1:5) Amen. Instead of despairing, we must keep praying for America to be a kingdom of priests and a holy nation. Amen.

  In today’s passage, Paul’s heart desire for salvation of his people continues. Paul again urges that salvation comes only through faith in Jesus Christ, who is the righteousness of God. Paul summarizes God’s message of salvation for the lost world with a few sentences. May God help us to deeply understand God’s message and proclaim it to the lost world day and night. Amen.

First, zeal without knowledge (1-4) In these verses Paul expresses his heart’s desire for his people’s salvation. Then he points out their spiritual problem which blocks them from coming to Christ. Look at verses 1-2. “Brothers, my heart 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.”  There is saying that those who are zealous without knowledge are dangerous and uncontrollable, like Islamic suicide bombers.  Paul indicates that his people the Israelites were this sort of people since they killed Christ Jesus thinking that they were doing something great for God. They were zealous for God without knowledge.

  Then, what is the knowledge? The knowledge is to know Jesus Christ, who is the righteousness of God. Look at verses 3,4. “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.” The Israelites thought that they could be made righteous if they observed the Law of Moses.  They believed what Moses said in verse 5 which says, “Moses describes in this way the righteousness that is by the law: “The man who does these things will live by them.”  The Israelites believed that if they observe and obey Moses’ laws meticulously without missing even one, they would be made righteous and they would be saved. So, they did not cook on the Sabbath day, or even turn on and off a light switch, in order to keep the laws of the Sabbath. They also fasted twice a week and gave a tenth of all they earned, just as the Pharisee does in the Parable of the Pharisee and the tax collector (Lk 18:12). However, there is a dilemma in their way of being righteous and of salvation because there is no one who keeps the law perfectly and meticulously. The Bible says that there is no one righteous, not even one (Ro 3:10). All have sinned and fall short of the glory of God.(Ro 3:23) Instead of being made righteous before God, they are condemned by their own law.

  So in the previous chapters, Paul provided the clear answer that righteousness comes from faith, not from observing the law. (Ro 3:20,27) We can be righteous by faith in Jesus Christ, not by observing the law. Jesus Christ is the righteousness which comes from God and he himself is the righteousness of God. Look at verse 4. “Christ is the end of the law so that there may be righteousness for everyone who believes.” Here Christ is the end of the law means that Christ is the fulfillment of the law as well as the termination of the law. In other words, Christ Jesus fulfilled on the cross what the law requires. He also removed condemnation which the law demands as the price of sin. Chris Jesus fulfilled the law through his obedient death. He fulfilled the demand of the law with sacrificial love. Through his death on the cross he ended the curse and condemnation of the law as the results of our sins. That is why Jesus said on the cross, “It’s finished.” (Jn 19:30)

 The Israelites, the modern Jews, were ignorant of this knowledge of salvation. They did not know the way of salvation through faith in Jesus Christ. They were like a blindfolded dog which runs around here and there, causing lots of trouble everywhere. For this reason Paul’s heart was broken and his desire for their salvation was desperate and urgent. We need zeal for God as well as the knowledge of God.

Second, Jesus is Lord. (5-13) In verses 6-13 Paul illustrates the simplicity of the way of salvation and the universality of world salvation. Look at verses 5-7. “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).” The way of being made righteous is not impossible like ascending into heaven or descending into the deep. It is totally possible because the way of salvation is not matter of doing something, but of trusting God. God has made what is impossible possible.  Next, Paul says that the way of salvation is not far away, but near very near as it is in our mouth or in our hearts. Look at verse 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:”

  Then, what is the word of faith which is near us? What is God’s message to the lost world which leads us into salvation? Please read verses 9,10 all together. “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.” God’s message to the lost world is “Jesus is Lord.” Jesus is the Savior of the world. Men lost paradise because of sin. They had to suffer and die in their sins and receive eternal condemnation after judgment. (Heb 9:27) But, God is love. For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life. (Jn 3:16) What an unfathomable love of God and an amazing promise of God for our salvation!  Let us confess with our mouth “Jesus is Lord.”, and believe in him.

Confession is to express and to declare what we believe in our heart. The word “confess” means in Greek “to say the same thing.”  Homologeo is combined with “homo” which means ‘same’ and “logeo” ‘say’. God knows what we have in our hearts. Still, the Lord wants to hear our confession. Once Christ Jesus asked Peter ‘Who do you say I am?” Peter answered, ‘You are the Christ, the Son of the living God.” (Mt 16:16) Peter confessed with his mouth that Christ is Lord. Jesus accepted Peter’s confession and based on this confession of faith, Jesus promised to establish his church. (Mt 16:18).

Confessing with our mouths, “Jesus is Lord,” admits that we are sinners and we are in need of the Savior Jesus Christ. Admitting that we are sinners is the starting point of faith. Acknowledging our wrongdoings and confessing our sins honestly before God starts a relationship with Christ Jesus. Confessing our sins is the same as showing our dirty feet to Jesus for him to wash. The night before the Lord Jesus was arrested, he washed his disciples’ feet one by one. Peter who did not understand Jesus’ cleansing refused Jesus saying, “No, you shall never wash my feet.” Jesus answered, “Unless I wash you, you have no part with me.” (Jn 13:8) 1 John 1:8 says, “If we claim to be without sin, we deceive ourselves and the truth is not in us. If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just and will forgive us our sins and purify us from all unrighteousness.”  

Next, we must believe that Christ Jesus died to pay the penalty for our sins. The Bible says the price of sin is death. (Ro 6:23a). But, Christ Jesus died on the cross in our place and paid the price of sin by his precious blood.  After that, he was raised on the third day and went into heaven. In this way Jesus opened the way for sinners to have eternal life in the kingdom of God. When we believe this gospel from our hearts, we are justified and we are saved. 

Third, we should receive Christ Jesus as Lord and Savior of our lives. When we confess that Jesus is Lord, we admit his lordship of our lives. Jesus is not only the Savior but also the Lord. The Lord means “the King”. Those who confess that Jesus is Lord and believe him as Savior submit themselves to Christ. They deny themselves and live for Jesus’ name sake.

What a wonderful but simple and easy way of salvation! Dr. Paul Fritz, the professor and pastor of Trinity College Church calls this ABCs of salvation. A: Admit you are a sinner in need of the Savior Jesus Christ. B: Believe that Jesus died to pay the penalty for your sins. C: Confess Jesus as Lord and Savior of your life.  Whoever understand and believe this amazing God’s message of salvation will be saved. Amen.

Third, the universality of salvation (11-13) In the Old Testament, Jonah ran away from God simply because he did not accept God’s will for the salvation of the Gentiles. Jonah thought that the opportunity of salvation should be given only to his people, not to the Gentiles. But, what did Paul says today? He said that God wants to save all peoples of all nations both Jews and Gentiles. Look at verses 11-13. “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.”  Our Lord is the Lord of all who richly and equally blesses and saves all who call on him. What wonderful grace of our Lord Jesus Christ! Jesus did not die only for Jews, but also for gentiles. Jesus died for all peoples of all nations. So, everyone who calls on the name of the Lord Jesus will be saved. Amen.

  Kitar, one of the Bible students in our church, came from Nepal in central Asia. She had never heard of the way of salvation through Jesus Christ. But, these days through diligent one to one Bible study with missionary Elizabeth Yang, she comes to gain the knowledge of salvation little by little. We pray and believe that God’s grace upon us may reach to her equally so that someday her name may be written in the book of life. Amen.

Fourth, faith comes from hearing the message (14-21) Look at verses 14,15. “How, then, can they call on the one they have not believed in? And how can they believe in the one of whom they have not heard? And how can they hear without someone preaching to them? And how can they preach unless they are sent? As it is written, “How beautiful are the feet of those who bring good news!” Indeed without hearing God’s message, no one can believe. Without preaching, no one can hear. Without being sent, no one can preach. In these verses Paul emphasizes the necessity of missionary calling. Sister Kitar has opportunities to hear the gospel message because she is in America. But, there are many people on this earth who even do not have a chance to hear God’s message. Faith does not come either naturally or supernaturally. Faith comes from hearing the message; the message is the word of Christ. That is why we are sent to other countries as missionaries and Bible teachers. That is why our weekly one to one Bible study is very important and effective for world salvation. May God make our feet beautiful when we go out to campus for preaching the gospel. May God increase our one to one Bible studies this summer season so that many lost souls may find salvation through faith in Jesus Christ. Amen.

   

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Attachment

• paro10m-2010-final.doc