INTERNET BIBLE STUDIES Romans Lesson 14
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Romans Chapter 10:1-21

 

Memory verses for this week: 1 Pet 1:7  That the trial of your faith, being much more precious than of gold that perisheth, though it be tried with fire, might be found unto praise and honour and glory at the appearing of Jesus Christ:

 

Introduction:     Last week, in  the last part of chapter 9, we found that God is righteous in all of His ways, even in the way He has distinguished some of the nations from others.   The Jews and the Gentiles alike must come to God by faith to be accepted of the Lord. 

 

I.                     Paul’s Desire for Israel’s Salvation

 Rom 10:1  Brethren, my heart's desire and prayer to God for Israel is, that they might be saved.

 Paul was a man that cared very much for his own people.  He said this more than once, and was very sincere in wanting to see the Jews come to salvation.  Paul’s prayer to God was for Israel to be saved.  You and I should have that same kind of undying love for others around us.  Do we show that kind of concern for fellow Americans?   We should desire to see not only Americans saved, but every race and kindred that is on the face of the earth.   That is what the Great Commission was meant to instill within our hearts.  We were to spread the gospel first in Jerusalem (at home) and then into Judea, Samaria, and the uttermost parts of the world.  (The foreign mission fields.)   We as a church accomplish this by supporting missionaries to the foreign countries.  I rejoiced this week when we added Brother Joe Randall to our mission giving.  Now we have a part in the work in Ireland.  For a small church, I know God is pleased to see us supporting our own home missionary and 19 other mission works around the world.  A churches number one focus should be to uplift the Lord Jesus Christ and preach the gospel. 

Acts 1:8  But ye shall receive power, after that the Holy Ghost is come upon you: and ye shall be witnesses unto me both in Jerusalem, and in all Judaea, and in Samaria, and unto the uttermost part of the earth. 

Rom 10:2  For I bear them record that they have a zeal of God, but not according to knowledge.

Rom 10:3  For they being ignorant of God's righteousness, and going about to establish their own righteousness, have not submitted themselves unto the righteousness of God.

 Paul explains that the Jews had a great zeal for God, but it was not according to knowledge.  This was something that Paul knew all about.  We know when we first read of him that his name was Saul, and he was busy going about binding Christians to be brought back to be put to death.  Paul told of his acting in ignorance as he gave his testimony to King Agrippa. 

Acts 26:6  And now I stand and am judged for the hope of the promise made of God unto our fathers:

Acts 26:7  Unto which promise our twelve tribes, instantly serving God day and night, hope to come. For which hope's sake, king Agrippa, I am accused of the Jews.

Acts 26:8  Why should it be thought a thing incredible with you, that God should raise the dead?

Acts 26:9  I verily thought with myself, that I ought to do many things contrary to the name of Jesus of Nazareth.

Acts 26:10  Which thing I also did in Jerusalem: and many of the saints did I shut up in prison, having received authority from the chief priests; and when they were put to death, I gave my voice against them.

Acts 26:11  And I punished them oft in every synagogue, and compelled them to blaspheme; and being exceedingly mad against them, I persecuted them even unto strange cities.

 

Like Paul, Israel had a great zeal for God, but they did not have a perfect understanding of the teachings and truths of the Word of God.  They were zealous in their religious desire to keep the Mosaic Law, but it was not based upon a correct knowledge of the Lord.   Like Paul, they were zealous in the traditions of the fathers.   We must all guard about too much tradition and not enough Christian action.

 

Gal 1:14  And profited in the Jews' religion above many my equals in mine own nation, being more exceedingly zealous of the traditions of my fathers.

 

James 1:21  Wherefore lay apart all filthiness and superfluity of naughtiness, and receive with meekness the engrafted word, which is able to save your souls.

James 1:22  But be ye doers of the word, and not hearers only, deceiving your own selves.

James 1:23  For if any be a hearer of the word, and not a doer, he is like unto a man beholding his natural face in a glass:

James 1:24  For he beholdeth himself, and goeth his way, and straightway forgetteth what manner of man he was.

James 1:25  But whoso looketh into the perfect law of liberty, and continueth therein, he being not a forgetful hearer, but a doer of the work, this man shall be blessed in his deed.

 

1 John 3:16  Hereby perceive we the love of God, because he laid down his life for us: and we ought to lay down our lives for the brethren.

1 John 3:17  But whoso hath this world's good, and seeth his brother have need, and shutteth up his bowels of compassion from him, how dwelleth the love of God in him?

1 John 3:18  My little children, let us not love in word, neither in tongue; but in deed and in truth.

1 John 3:19  And hereby we know that we are of the truth, and shall assure our hearts before him.

1 John 3:20  For if our heart condemn us, God is greater than our heart, and knoweth all things.

1 John 3:21  Beloved, if our heart condemn us not, then have we confidence toward God.

 Israel was ignorant of the most important thing, and that was that salvation came by grace by accepting Jesus Christ as Lord and Savior.  Israel followed after the law of righteousness but did not attain to the law of righteousness because they did not seek it by faith. 

John 1:10  He was in the world, and the world was made by him, and the world knew him not.

John 1:11  He came unto his own, and his own received him not.

 Rom 9:31  But Israel, which followed after the law of righteousness, hath not attained to the law of righteousness.

Rom 9:32  Wherefore? Because they sought it not by faith, but as it were by the works of the law. For they stumbled at that stumblingstone;

Rom 9:33  As it is written, Behold, I lay in Sion a stumblingstone and rock of offence: and whosoever believeth on him shall not be ashamed.

 

Rom 10:4  For Christ is the end of the law for righteousness to every one that believeth.

 The Jews though that they could stand righteous and pure before God by the law, but they could not.  Isaiah teaches that even at our best, our righteousness is as filthy rags before God.   Christ is the one and only way to have access to the Father and to stand justified.  Not for what we have done, but because of what Christ has done for us. 

Isa 64:6  But we are all as an unclean thing, and all our righteousnesses are as filthy rags; and we all do fade as a leaf; and our iniquities, like the wind, have taken us away.

Isa 64:7  And there is none that calleth upon thy name, that stirreth up himself to take hold of thee: for thou hast hid thy face from us, and hast consumed us, because of our iniquities. 

Paul knew how he wanted to stand before God, and that was in the imputed righteousness of Christ. 

Phil 3:8  Yea doubtless, and I count all things but loss for the excellency of the knowledge of Christ Jesus my Lord: for whom I have suffered the loss of all things, and do count them but dung, that I may win Christ,

Phil 3:9  And be found in him, not having mine own righteousness, which is of the law, but that which is through the faith of Christ, the righteousness which is of God by faith:

Phil 3:10  That I may know him, and the power of his resurrection, and the fellowship of his sufferings, being made conformable unto his death;

Phil 3:11  If by any means I might attain unto the resurrection of the dead. 

By Christ living the perfect and pure life here on earth, He fulfilled every jot and tittle of the law.  Because of his life, and death there on the cross, Jesus is the end of the law to all that believe on Him for salvation.    The Lord came to perfectly fulfill the law, and it is the law that brings us to a position where we know we are sinners before God.  Until we come to grips with that fact, we can not be saved. 

Mat 5:17  Think not that I am come to destroy the law, or the prophets: I am not come to destroy, but to fulfil.

Mat 5:18  For verily I say unto you, Till heaven and earth pass, one jot or one tittle shall in no wise pass from the law, till all be fulfilled.

 

Gal 3:24  Wherefore the law was our schoolmaster to bring us unto Christ, that we might be justified by faith.

Gal 3:25  But after that faith is come, we are no longer under a schoolmaster.

Gal 3:26  For ye are all the children of God by faith in Christ Jesus.

 

II.                  Righteousness contrasted between the Law and Faith 

Rom 10:5  For Moses describeth the righteousness which is of the law, That the man which doeth those things shall live by them. 

The law (Lev. 18:5) told us to “Do and Live.”  Compare that to verses 6 and 7. 

Rom 10:6  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:)

Rom 10:7  Or, Who shall descend into the deep? (that is, to bring up Christ again from the dead.) 

Faith believes in the gospel record of the death, burial, and resurrection of Christ. 

1 Cor 15:3  For I delivered unto you first of all that which I also received, how that Christ died for our sins according to the scriptures;

1 Cor 15:4  And that he was buried, and that he rose again the third day according to the scriptures: 

The righteousness by faith says to “Live and Do”.   When we trust by faith, we don’t ask questions like in these verses (who shall ascend into heaven or show shall descend into the deep.)   We simply trust God by faith and take some things without question.   Faith is not based upon having every bit of every thing in black and white right in front of us.  Faith is believing and trusting the Holy Eternal One that made us, sometimes when we really don’t understand. 

Heb 11:1  Now faith is the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen.

 

Rom 10:8  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; 

Verses 6 through 8 are found in Deuteronomy 30:11-14.   This has reference to the message of salvation which is the gospel of Jesus Christ which was preached by Paul.   The result is salvation to all who believe and accept Christ.

 Rom 1:16  For I am not ashamed of the gospel of Christ: for it is the power of God unto salvation to every one that believeth; to the Jew first, and also to the Greek.  

Rom 10:9  That if thou shalt confess with thy mouth the Lord Jesus, and shalt believe in thine heart that God hath raised him from the dead, thou shalt be saved.

Rom 10:10  For with the heart man believeth unto righteousness; and with the mouth confession is made unto salvation. 

These verses are commonly used in leading a person to the Lord in what is called the Roman Road.   When used with Romans 3:23 and 5:12, a person can use a small number of scriptures to show someone their condition before God and what it takes to be saved.  These verses tell us to “Believe and Confess.”  Many have a mind knowledge of Jesus Christ, and are only about 12 inches short of salvation.   What I mean by that is that we must believe with the heart, and the mind and heart are about a foot apart.  While true salvation may come from the perfect knowledge in the mind, the bible calls it believing in the heart.  It means to have a complete understanding of our condition for God, and know we have no other hope but to confess and turn wholly to God for salvation.  It is all of God, but we must come on His terms to be saved.  Verse 10 sums it up.  With the heart man believes, and with the mouth confession is made unto salvation.   If we have accepted Jesus as our Lord and Savior, we will be glad to tell others as it says in verse 11. 

Mat 22:37  Jesus said unto him, Thou shalt love the Lord thy God with all thy heart, and with all thy soul, and with all thy mind.

Mat 22:38  This is the first and great commandment.

 Philip explained how simple true salvation is to the Eunuch. 

Acts 8:36  And as they went on their way, they came unto a certain water: and the eunuch said, See, here is water; what doth hinder me to be baptized?

Acts 8:37  And Philip said, If thou believest with all thine heart, thou mayest. And he answered and said, I believe that Jesus Christ is the Son of God.

 

III.                What the Scripture Saith 

Rom 10:11  For the scripture saith, Whosoever believeth on him shall not be ashamed.

Rom 10:12  For there is no difference between the Jew and the Greek: for the same Lord over all is rich unto all that call upon him.

Rom 10:13  For whosoever shall call upon the name of the Lord shall be saved. 

When we decide what we will believe or reject, we should always let God’s Word be the final authority.  Men may mislead us, but the Holy and Righteous God never has and never will lead us down the wrong path.  I’ve been involved in the work of computers for over 25 years, and every few years (lately it seems like months) something new and greater comes along and we are to discount and disregard the way we used to do things.   But in my 37 years of being saved, God’s Word has been the same, and it is still perfect and pure like it was when I was a child.   God’s way of salvation is not hard nor difficult to understand.  It has and always will be a “Whosoever will way”.  Jesus died for all, and all that will come unto Him He will in no wise cast out.   Everyone who calls upon the name of Jesus, no matter what nationality they are, will be saved.

 

Mat 10:32  Whosoever therefore shall confess me before men, him will I confess also before my Father which is in heaven.

Mat 10:33  But whosoever shall deny me before men, him will I also deny before my Father which is in heaven. 

 

IV.               Preaching Makes the Savior Known 

Rom 10:14  How then shall they call on him in whom they have not believed? and how shall they believe in him of whom they have not heard? and how shall they hear without a preacher?

Rom 10:15  And how shall they preach, except they be sent? as it is written, How beautiful are the feet of them that preach the gospel of peace, and bring glad tidings of good things!

Rom 10:16  But they have not all obeyed the gospel. For Esaias saith, Lord, who hath believed our report?

Rom 10:17  So then faith cometh by hearing, and hearing by the word of God.

 

If we are to be saved, we must hear the word of God, be drawn of the Holy Spirit to God, repent of our sins, and turn to Christ for salvation.  (Verses 14-17) 

John 6:44  No man can come to me, except the Father which hath sent me draw him: and I will raise him up at the last day. 

God could have chosen any way He wanted for us to be saved.   He could have written the plan of salvation in the clouds, but rather He chose to reach sinners by the preaching of the gospel.  Those that perish think it to be foolish, but we that believe understand its great power. 

1 Cor 1:18  For the preaching of the cross is to them that perish foolishness; but unto us which are saved it is the power of God.

1 Cor 1:19  For it is written, I will destroy the wisdom of the wise, and will bring to nothing the understanding of the prudent.

1 Cor 1:20  Where is the wise? where is the scribe? where is the disputer of this world? hath not God made foolish the wisdom of this world?

1 Cor 1:21  For after that in the wisdom of God the world by wisdom knew not God, it pleased God by the foolishness of preaching to save them that believe.

1 Cor 1:22  For the Jews require a sign, and the Greeks seek after wisdom:

1 Cor 1:23  But we preach Christ crucified, unto the Jews a stumblingblock, and unto the Greeks foolishness;

1 Cor 1:24  But unto them which are called, both Jews and Greeks, Christ the power of God, and the wisdom of God.

We must understand that not all that hear will believe.  But our responsibility is to go forth and proclaim the Gospel that some will believe. 

V.                 All Have Heard 

Rom 10:18  But I say, Have they not heard? Yes verily, their sound went into all the earth, and their words unto the ends of the world.

Rom 10:19  But I say, Did not Israel know? First Moses saith, I will provoke you to jealousy by them that are no people, and by a foolish nation I will anger you.

Rom 10:20  But Esaias is very bold, and saith, I was found of them that sought me not; I was made manifest unto them that asked not after me.

Rom 10:21  But to Israel he saith, All day long I have stretched forth my hands unto a disobedient and gainsaying people.

 

In his book on Romans, J.I Packer had this to say.   “Does Israel not understand what Moses and Isaiah so clearly teach?”  Namely, that a people who were no people would be preferred to Israel, while the latter were to be regarded as disobedient.  According to the other interpretation, he might have meant “Does Israel not understand the Gospel?  Have the people of God not been instructed?  If they are superseded by the heathen, it must be their own fault.”

God was so longsuffering to the nation of Israel.    He sent His only Begotten Son to them first, but because they rejected Christ, the Gospel was preached towards the non-Jew.  (Gentiles)   One day the time of Gentiles will end, and when this happens, the Jews will finally see that Jesus Christ was the true messiah.  In that day, they will turn back to God and many of that nation shall be saved.

 

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Prov 4:18  But the path of the just is as the shining light, that shineth more and more unto the perfect day.

 

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