From Romans 8-10
Today’s passage has important things to teach us about evangelism. Paul’s message is one we must pay close attention to now and always. People must be “sent out” so that the gospel can be proclaimed to all people. Paul himself, was among those whom God had sent out. In his own life, he illustrates the message he teaches here: People need to hear the gospel so that they can be saved.
This post is part of my bible in a year series.
Passage and Comments
Chapters nine through to eleven of Romans specially address the Jews and their unbelief.
In today’s passage Paul recalls a great promise made in Deuteronomy 30. God predicted his people would repent and come back to him. He promised to renew the covenant by restoring them, circumcising their hearts and enabling them to obey his commandments.
Paul has seen this promise fulfilled in Jesus. Only it is the Gentiles who have received the promise. The Jews have rejected the promised Christ.
10 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. (Rom 10.1-4)
‘Being ignorant of the righteousness of God’. Paul wants his own people to be saved. He will highlight the Jews need to hear and believe the good news.
The ‘righteousness of God’ is the manifestation of God’s faithfulness to his covenant promises in the life, death and resurrection of Jesus Christ.
The Jews have rejected this message. They have rejected Jesus as their messiah. Instead they sought to continue with their earlier lifestyle living under the law of Moses.
‘Christ is the end of the law’. They did not realise with the gospel, the period of the law ended (Mt 11.13; Lk 16.16). Ended with the coming of the Christ.
5 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); (Rom 10.5-8)
‘The person who does the commandments shall live by them’. The Jews were still on about observing the law of Moses. Paul begins with what the law of Moses says people must do to live. They must obey the Moses’ commandments (Lev 18.5). But this way has ended. Now is the time for covenant renewal.
But how will the Jews know when is the time God will restore them?
‘The righteousness based on faith says’, ‘The word is near you, in your mouth and in your heart’. The new way promised in Deuteronomy 30.11-14 is not hard to find. One does not have to go far and wide to hear the word of God. He wraps the prophecy around Christ’s death and resurrection. This is the climax of the gospel message, the word of God.
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. (Rom 10.9-10)
‘With the heart one believes’. The primary content of saving faith is belief that Jesus is the risen Lord (Jn 20.31; Acts 17.3; Rom 4.24; 1 Cor 12.3).
This belief comes from a regenerated heart.
Regenerated and circumcised by the Spirit, that works through the proclamation of the gospel (cf. Gal 3.2,5; 1 Thes 1.5).
‘With the mouth one confesses’. Faith demands a response, a release. The primary way this happens is to verbally acknowledge Jesus is Lord. To Him every knee shall bow and confess (Phil 2.10-11).
11 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.” (Rom 10.11-13)
‘For there is no distinction between Jew and Greek‘. Paul is primarily speaking about the Jews, but he acknowledges the gospel message is freely available to all without partiality. Jews and Gentiles.
Jesus is the same Lord of all. All who hear the gospel and call on him will be saved.
But have the Jews heard this message? Our passage began with Paul’s wish to save his own people, the Jews.
14 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!”
16 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. (Rom 10.17) (Rom 10.14-17)
‘How beautiful are the feet’. Paul again uses the Old Testament prophecies to point to Christ. Alluding to Isaiah 52.7, he expresses the importance of sharing the gospel with the Jews. God’s messengers have beautiful feet. Sadly, Isaiah also prophesied Israel would reject the gospel.
Words for Believers
Today’s passage has important things to teach us about evangelism. Paul’s message is one we must pay close attention to now and always.
People must be “sent out” so that the gospel can be proclaimed to all people. Paul himself, was among those whom God had sent out. In his own life, he illustrates the message he teaches here: People need to hear the gospel so that they can be saved.
Do you have beautiful feet?
Copyright © Joshua Washington and thescripturesays, 2016. All Rights Reserved.
