190908 Standing on the Rock

 Romans 9:30-33 What shall we say, then? That Gentiles who did not pursue righteousness have attained it, that is, a righteousness that is by faith; ³¹ but that Israel who pursued a law that would lead to righteousness did not succeed in reaching that law. ³² Why? Because they did not pursue it by faith, but as if it were based on works. They have stumbled over the stumbling stone, ³³ as it is written, “Behold, I am laying in Zion a stone of stumbling, and a rock of offense; and whoever believes in him will not be put to shame.”

God has not failed — he has fulfilled his purpose. It is all by faith. Romans chapter 9 concludes with an illustration of man’s responsibility. We are unable to work our way to salvation. Neither can we hold back letting God do all the work. Instead, we are to stand on the rock and not stumble over it. We must believe in the Lord Jesus in order to be saved (Acts 16:31) because, “to all who received him, to those who believed in his name, he gave the right to become children of God” (John 1:12). Now let’s move on into Romans 10.

One of the concerns that people have when they think about Election, or predestination, is this. If God knows already what is going to happen, and in fact his predetermined all things, then we have no need to witness to our unsaved family members. In fact, it is a waste of time to pray for them! Nothing could be further from the truth. Paul directly challenges those false ideas by…

Praying for lost family. Let’s read on Romans 10:1-4. Brothers, my heart’s desire and prayer to God for them is that they may be saved. ² For I bear them witness that they have a zeal for God, but not according to knowledge. ³ For, being ignorant of the righteousness of God, and seeking to establish their own, they did not submit to God’s righteousness. ⁴ For Christ is the end of the law for righteousness to everyone who believes.

The Apostle makes a very strong case in favor of praying for our lost family members. He has a deep-seated concern for his family and he prayed that they might be saved. When we move into chapter 10 we are shown the other side of the coin, so to speak. Chapter 9 begins with Paul affirming that the lost condition of Israel gives him great sorrow and even mental and spiritual anguish. His pain was so deep that he would be willing to give up his own place in heaven if it could result in their salvation. On the surface it would seem that God had failed with regard to his people. Nothing could be farther from the truth. God has not failed! Israel has failed! They pursued salvation by trying to earn it. God rejected Israel because Israel rejects the gospel. If a person is without Christ it is not because they are not elected but because they are rejecting Christ. At least five times in this chapter the responsibility of Israel is emphasized. Salvation is not based on works…

Salvation is based on faith. Romans 10:5-10 For Moses writes about the righteousness that is based on the law, that the person who does the commandments shall live by them. ⁶ But the righteousness based on 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 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 that we proclaim); ⁹ because, if you confess with your mouth that Jesus is Lord and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved. ¹⁰ For with the heart one believes and is justified, and with the mouth one confesses and is saved.

Moses writes about righteousness based on good works. An effort that brings Christ down from heaven or up from the abyss. Instead, Paul tells us, all of their efforts failed because it was not established by faith. People fail to find Christ because their efforts do not fit into their religious self-righteousness. The truth is just too simple! The gospel is filled with mystery and simplicity. First, it calls on us to believe that Jesus is Lord. Second, we are called on to have a heart belief that God raised Jesus from the dead!

The only righteousness that can change our relationship to God from lost to saved is by the gift of grace through faith. We must recognize that…

The Law serves a purpose. Romans 10:11-13 For the Scripture says, “Everyone who believes in him will not be put to shame.” ¹² For there is no distinction between Jew and Greek; for the same Lord is Lord of all, bestowing his riches on all who call on him. ¹³ For “everyone who calls on the name of the Lord will be saved.”

Paul has already shown that there is no difference between Jews and Greeks. There is one Lord and one Lord alone. The writer of Hebrews takes the same approach. Let’s turn to Hebrews 4:1-2. Therefore, while the promise of entering his rest still stands, let us fear lest any of you should seem to have failed to reach it. ² For good news came to us just as to them, but the message they heard did not benefit them, because they were not united by faith with those who listened.

Israel, as a people, had everything they needed to obtain salvation. The problem is all that they had in the law was not connected by faith. They heard the good word but it failed to connect because of a lack of faith on their part. The law served the purpose of bringing people to Christ for salvation. Instead, it became a burden that they could not bear. The law was instituted to point out the failure of mankind. It was designed by God to prepare for the Messiah. Or, it was a schoolmaster pointing to faith.

If we believe that salvation is by grace through faith we need to be sure that our friends and family members have enough biblical information to make a decision. Instead, most Christians are guilty of…

The sin of silence. Let’s read on Romans 10:14-15 How then will they call on him in whom they have not believed? And how are they to believe in him of whom they have never heard? And how are they to hear without someone preaching? ¹⁵ And how are they to preach unless they are sent? As it is written, “How beautiful are the feet of those who preach the good news!”

We say that everyone must openly confess Jesus as Lord and sincerely believe that God raised him from the dead. We have already read that “everyone who calls on the name of the Lord will be saved.” How will the unsaved know that they must do this? How are they going to hear? Our silence is a sin! We should often pray for direction in how to present the truth to our unsaved family and friends.

Paul’s heartfelt concern for his people has been shown at the very beginning of the letter to the Romans.

Have they heard the gospel? Let’s go back to Romans 1:18-20. For the wrath of God is revealed from heaven against all ungodliness and unrighteousness of men, who by their unrighteousness suppress the truth. ¹⁹ For what can be known about God is plain to them, because God has shown it to them. ²⁰ For his invisible attributes, namely, his eternal power and divine nature, have been clearly perceived, ever since the creation of the world, in the things that have been made. So they are without excuse.

What can be known about God is known. It’s important that they hear the gospel. At the same time, the creation around them calls them toward belief. The wrath of God is revealed against mankind because we have all turned aside from what is very obvious. God’s power revealed in the creation calls us to him. But the idea of God’s wrath is offensive to self-righteous religionists. God’s wrath is directed against ungodliness. God’s wrath is directed against human unrighteousness. God’s wrath is especially directed against the suppression of the truth! God has revealed himself in the creation surrounding us. God has revealed himself in Jesus Christ who John described as the Word as well as in his written word — the Bible

Romans 10:16-18 But they have not all obeyed the gospel. For Isaiah says, “Lord, who has believed what he has heard from us?” ¹⁷ So faith comes from hearing, and hearing through the word of Christ. ¹⁸ But I ask, have they not heard? Indeed they have, for “Their voice has gone out to all the earth, and their words to the ends of the world.”

Not everyone who hears the gospel will choose to respond in obedience. Isaiah saw this in his time causing him to ask the question “who has believed? ” Responding in faith requires hearing and hearing requires a messenger. Though mankind may deny they have heard the gospel the truth is it has gone out over the whole earth.

Paul quotes Psalm 19 which tells us that the heavens declare the glory of God! And that declaration goes out over the whole earth. The evidence in favor of God’s existence is not held back from anyone who will respond. Throughout the Bible God’s existence is rightly assumed.

We have already seen that those who preach the good news have beautiful feet! Indeed the very act of…

Carrying the gospel is beautiful. Let’s read on Romans 10:19-21. But I ask, did Israel not understand? First Moses says, “I will make you jealous of those who are not a nation; with a foolish nation I will make you angry.” ²⁰ Then Isaiah is so bold as to say, “I have been found by those who did not seek me; I have shown myself to those who did not ask for me.” ²¹ But of Israel he says, “All day long I have held out my hands to a disobedient and contrary people.”

Now Paul points us to the words of Moses. Even though Israel rejected the gospel message God turns their disobedience into a blessing for the Gentiles. God uses that rejection as a stimulus to Israel. There is a paradox in Christianity. Gentiles did not seek God but yet they found him. The Jews — God’s chosen people — rejected him. Israel’s repeated resistance to God’s will raises the question of their future. We will approach that subject next week.

It is important to see that Israel has had adequate opportunity to respond to the gospel. There is no lack of Old Testament support to the message of salvation. Israel has simply failed to stand on the Rock instead they stumble over it. Everything necessary to hearing the gospel has been put in place by God. Israel did not correctly understand the purpose of the Messiah coming. They still looked for a conqueror leading an army to destroy the Romans. They just did not grasp the idea of a Suffering Servant who would die for their sins — and ours. What have you done about it? Have you really trusted Jesus? Have you believed him? Are you resting in him?

All scriptures quotes are from: The Holy Bible: English standard version. 2001. Wheaton, Ill, Standard Bible Society.