Romans 10 - Do You Want to Have Beautiful Feet?

Click Here to Read or Listen to Romans 10

Paul starts chapter 10 by reiterating his love for his fellow Jewish people. Specifically, his desire for them to be saved. He notes that they have been zealous for the Law, but could not obtain righteousness by it. In this way, they tried to "establish their own". Many people try to create their own way to God either not realizing, or being ignorant of the Way Jesus has shown us. Jesus is the culmination of the Law they so idolize. But, they don't recognize Him as the only way to fulfill it. 

Moses says the "one who does right by the Law will live by it." The Jews tried to live by it but like everyone they fall short. The Law doesn't get it done. Paul says the word is near them. It literally is in their mouth and heart. It is that close. And through the power of the Holy Spirit it calls out, "Jesus is Lord". 

Paul gives us a verse that is one worth memorizing and is often used for evangelism, as it contains the heart of how we respond to the gospel. 

If you declare with your mouth, “Jesus is Lord,” and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved.

Yes folks its that simple. Salvation in Christ is not complicated but it does take a personal commitment to believe in it. We need to confess Jesus publicly and also believe in our heart that he is the only we can be saved. Belief is not just intellectual but part of the inmost being. Heart is the center of a person in Jewish terminlogy. 

Paul gives another important remark about the universal nature of the gospel. 

Everyone who calls on the name of the Lord will be saved.”[f]

The same gospel is available to everyone, but each person must respond personally to it's call. 

Then, Paul gives the primary purpose of the Church. How can we reach people for Christ who don't yet know him? By preaching this Good News. It is through the Good New that everyone who calls on the name of the Lord who will be saved. Again it is not complicated. We just need to preach it and get out of the way and allow the Holy Spirit to convict people of their need for Jesus. Yes, its that simple!

Paul says, "How beautiful the feet are of those who bring Good News." Note "feet" means going out. We don't stay in the church but we "go out!". The church needs to go out into the world not expect the world to come to us. 

Unfortunately Paul realizes and writes that not all Jews will accept the message, nor will all of the Gentiles. But since we don't know who will or will not believe, we preach to all people. Only God knows who will accept his free gift of forgiveness through Jesus Christ. In a way I am glad we don't have to make that decision. Of course, we want all our friends and family to be saved. We can pray for someone to preach the truly Good News to them, pray for them, and also be ready to share our faith with them if the opportunity presents itself. 

Who have you preaching the gospel to anyone lately. Remember its not complicated it just takes a heart willing to do it like someone did for you! 






Comments

Post a Comment

Popular posts from this blog

Acts 22 - Paul Sees the Light

Image
6  “About noon as I came near Damascus, suddenly a bright light from heaven flashed around me.   7  I fell to the ground and heard a voice say to me,  ‘Saul! Saul! Why do you persecute me?’  8  “‘Who are you, Lord?’ I asked.  “  ‘I am Jesus of Nazareth,  whom you are persecuting,’  he replied.   9  My companions saw the light,  but they did not understand the voice  of him who was speaking to me.  10  “‘What shall I do, Lord?’ I asked. “  ‘Get up,’  the Lord said,  ‘and go into Damascus. There you will be told all that you have been assigned to do. This is the famous story of the apostle Paul's conversion on the road to Damascus.  Paul was going there to persecute Jewish Christians and throw them into prison and he meets Jesus is a spectacular way.  Not only is he blinded by a briliant light, but he hears the Lord's voice audibly.  And the Lord asks him, "Lord, Lord why a...
Read more

Hebrews 6 - Have You Graduated From Elementary School of Faith Yet?

Click Here to Read or Listen to Hebrews 6 6 Therefore let us move beyond the elementary teachings about Christ and be taken forward to maturity, not laying again the foundation of repentance from acts that lead to death, and of faith in God, 2 instruction about cleansing rites, the laying on of hands, the resurrection of the dead, and eternal judgment. 3 And God permitting, we will do so. The author once again picks up with the theme of moving on to Christian maturity.  He teaches them to move on from the "elementary" teachings about Christ. What does he mean by that?  He gives clues by citing repentance, faith, cleansing rites, the laying on of hands, and teaching on the judgment and resurrection from the dead. We might call these the basics of the Christian faith. If you read through the Apostle's Creed, which our church confesses in our 8am service, it contains many of these core doctrines.  Click here to see the Apostle's Creed Written Around “When we consider the...
Read more

2 Timothy 4 - Fight the Good Fight! Finish the Race!

Click Here to Read or Listen to 2 Timothy 4 4 In the presence of God and of Christ Jesus, who will judge the living and the dead, and in view of his appearing and his kingdom, I give you this charge: 2 Preach the word; be prepared in season and out of season; correct, rebuke and encourage—with great patience and careful instruction. 3 For the time will come when people will not put up with sound doctrine. Instead, to suit their own desires, they will gather around them a great number of teachers to say what their itching ears want to hear. 4 They will turn their ears away from the truth and turn aside to myths. 5 But you, keep your head in all situations, endure hardship, do the work of an evangelist, discharge all the duties of your ministry. Paul gives a closing charge to Timothy. First of all, he is to preach the word. God's Word speaks to all situations and seasons. The Word of God will sometimes correct us. Our lives can get of out alignment with God's will as outlined in ...
Read more