Presented, January 9, 2005 pm
THE WORD IS NEAR YOU
ROMANS 10:1-8
We have been studying the book of Romans for a couple of years now from time to time. We have established a number of key lessons in our studies. In this book Paul has demonstrated that all men have sinned and fall short of the glory of God (3:23). All men need the grace of God through Jesus Christ the Lord to be saved (4-5). Following this message, much of his book has been spent explaining how the law has been brought to its completion and replaced with a law for all mankind. (6-8). In chapters 9-11 he turns from the law to the nation of Israel itself. In chapter 9, Paul has noted that Israel rejected God and thus God rejected Israel. He also addressed the sovereignty of God noting His right to determine how man can be saved. In our study this evening, Paul addresses the only hope Israel has – the same hope the Gentiles have and the same hope WE have – for salvation. That hope is found in faith in Jesus Christ. Let us notice the first part of this chapter.
I. Paul’s Desire for Israel (1-3)
A.
“Brethren” – an affectionate term used here to refer to his brethren in
the faith (NOT his physical, Jewish brethren). As Paul uses this tem, we can
see his earnestness.
It is similar to one who as speaking to you about some serious matter, begins by
saying your name.
I know when I use the term brethren; at times it is equivalent to saying,
“please listen to this”. And it is followed by an important statement or
perhaps the main point that comes from the heart.
Consider James 1:2, “My brethren, count it all joy when you fall into various
trials…”
1 Thessalonians 5:25 – “Brethren, pray for us.”
B. What Paul truly wanted – Israel to be saved (cf. 9:2-3)
a.
More than anything Paul was grieved at the thought that Israel was lost.
IT came from his heart. He groaned, probably knowing their final fate (in
Jerusalem’s destruction) was coming. It is a difficult thing to see a loved one
rebel and refuse to obey the will of God.
In writing these words, Paul finds no joy.
b.
I am reminded of Jesus. One of the few occasions where we read of Him
weeping was concerning Israel – Luke 19:41, 13:34-35 where Jesus laments the
city.
How sad it was that Jesus would have to endure what was coming. What was even
sadder was the fact that it was at the hands of a people that should have known
better.
c.
Do we really want anyone to be lost? I am convinced we do not desire
that. But what are we going to do about it?
Paul desired their salvation, but desire alone will not accomplish anything. It
needs to be accompanied by action.
d.
Paul not only desired it he prayed on their behalf. He did something –
he prayed.
We know how important prayer is. James said, “the effective, fervent prayer of
a righteous man avails much” - James 5:16. Paul told Timothy that we need to
offer prayers for leaders, kings and all who are in authority – 1Timothy 2:1-3.
In some circumstances we may not be able to do much – but we do what we can,
including praying for whatever it is.
e. When we have done all that we can do, it is up to God.
C. But sadly, Israel would NOT be saved.
a. The reason is given in vs. 2-3.
b.
The importance of zeal.
Is zeal bad? In actuality it is not. In whatever we do, we ought to do it with
all our might – Ecclesiastes 9:10, Colossians 3:23, “Whatever you do, do it
heartily as to the Lord and not to men.”
Christians need zeal in all that we do – Romans 12:11 tells us we are to not be
lagging in diligence, but fervent in spirit, serving the Lord.
Galatians 4:18 – “It is good to be zealous in a good thing always,…”
Titus 2:14 – we are to be a “people zealous for good works”
Revelation 3:19 – even the church at Laodicea was told to “be zealous and
repent”. See also 2 Corinthians 7:10-11 – zeal in their repentance.
BUT ZEAL IS NOT ENOUGH! It needs to be properly directed.
Understand this – unrighteous zeal is DANGEROUS. One might be opposed to
Christianity but if they keep to themselves they will not do much damage. BUT
when one is zealously against God, they will do great damage.
c. The Zeal of Israel was NOT proper. In fact Paul describes their zeal in three ways
i.
They were ignorant - not according to knowledge.
Such was Paul’s zeal prior to his conversion – Acts 22:3-4, Philippians 3:5-6
How many today have a zeal for God but they are ignorant. I find so many souls
who think they are serving God. They don’t know God’s word and do many good
deeds – but they are lost – Matthew 7:21-23.
Acts 17:30-31 – these times of ignorance…
Many believe a salvation by good works but that will not save a soul. Titus
3:4-5
ii.
They were self-willed – seeking to establish their own
righteousness.
The Jews in the days of Jesus, and in this case some of them believers in Jesus
(who wanted to impose the Law on Gentiles) were thinking of themselves.
Galatians 6:12-13, 2 Corinthians 4:4 speaks of those whose minds the god of this
age has blinded.
Jesus described them as having closed their eyes and stopped their ears –
Matthew 13:14-15. What Jesus was saying was they didn’t want the truth.
Sometimes zeal is pretentious – Matthew 23:15 – where they traveled miles to win
a proselyte only to make them worse off rather than better.
Any false religion is the product of men’s desires. Often men are rather open
about their self-imposed religions – we call them creed books.
Joseph Smith perverted the gospel of Christ claiming another revelation.
Consider this in light of Galatians 1:8-9. Note, he claimed an angel appeared
to him with “another revelation of Jesus Christ”
Others have preconceived notions and go to God’s word with no intention of
changing. They turn to His word to justify they ungodly behaviors – and if they
look hard enough they will find something.
iii.
They were rebellious - not submitting to God’s will.
This is why there was no hope for them. I am convinced that these of whom Paul
is speaking had opportunity to change. They had heard the truth and rejected
it.
Jesus said of them, “they have no excuse” because of their hatred for Jesus and
His disciples (John 15:21-22)
The fact is they just did NOT want to change and submit to God’s will.
Rebellion is as the sin of witchcraft – 1 Samuel 15:23
There are many today who simply refuse to obey God. They know what the Bible
says and they know what they need to do, but they simply don’t care! Their
hearts are hardened and their conscience seared as with a hot iron (1 Timothy
4:2).
There are many who get mad at God because of something that has happened in
their lives and they quit serving Him in rebellion.
II. The End of the Law (4-5)
A. Christ is the end of the Law – This is where “the rubber meets the road” as Paul is teaching. Paul does not say that Jesus destroyed the Law, but rather He brought to its end or completion.
a. Colossians 2:14 tells us – He has taken it out of the way, having nailed it to the cross
b. While on earth, Jesus claimed He came to fulfill the law – Matthew 5:17.
c.
Galatians 4:4-7 – Christ came to redeem those under the Law.
Also Galatians 3:24 which tells us the law was our tutor to bring us to Christ.
d. Interestingly, the book of Hebrews establishes the fact that the Law had to be changed for the Messiah to come because He could NOT be a priest and a descendent of David at the same time.
B. To everyone who believes – everyone means just that. The law no longer can save.
a. Acts 4:12 – there is none other by which man can be saved.
b. Consider the warning of Paul in Galatians 5:2-4 concerning those who desired to be justified by the Law.
c. This is the point Paul has been trying to make all along.
C. Moses wrote of the law – To illustrate his point, Paul quotes Leviticus 18:5 – they had to live by the law (keeping it perfectly). Something impossible to do. The law had to be kept perfect to remove sins. Acts 15:10, Peter speaks of “a yoke that neither we nor our fathers were able to bear.”
III. What Israel Needs (6-8)
A.
How does the righteousness of faith speak? Paul quotes Deuteronomy
30:12-14, a part of Moses’ farewell address. Moses wrote of the Law being near
the people. He was saying they did not need to reach to the heavens to
understand the word, NOR did they need to cross the ocean to find it. Instead
the messages was nearby, in their hearts. THUS it was a message of faith.
HOW amazing! Even the Law of Moses required faith on their part.
B. Paul’s point in vs. 6-8 is that salvation is simple and available right now. The process of salvation is available virtually everywhere you go in the world (water for baptism, based upon a pure and believing heart)
In vs. 9-13, Paul points out that Israel needs exactly what we need – to confess the Lord and believe in Him with all their heart. In our next lesson from Romans we want to examine this text in more detail. It is greatly abused by the religious world today.