Romans - Week 23

God's Way

READ

Romans 10:3-4

3 For they don’t understand God’s way of making people right with himself. Refusing to accept God’s way, they cling to their own way of getting right with God by trying to keep the law. 4 For Christ has already accomplished the purpose for which the law was given. As a result, all who believe in him are made right with God.

Having referred to Israel as having a misdirected zeal, Paul now tells why. They don’t understand how God makes people right with Himself. The Jewish people were trying to get right with God by doing good works; in their case, keeping the Old Testament law. They failed to see that Jesus had fulfilled the requirements of the law, and they needed only to believe in Him by faith.

REFLECT

Think about the struggle you had in coming to the point of realizing salvation was not by good works but by grace through faith in Jesus.

RESPOND

Share your story, first with your disciple and then with others, about your struggle to see how one becomes right with God.

Faith's Way

READ

Romans 10:5-6

5 For Moses writes that the law’s way of making a person right with God requires obedience to all of its commands. 6 But faith’s way of getting right with God says, “Don’t say in your heart, ‘Who will go up to heaven?’ (to bring Christ down to earth).’”

By common Jewish count there were 613 commandments in the Old Testament law. In James 2:10, this leader of the early church wrote that if one broke one law, he was guilty of breaking them all. No one could perfectly keep the law, except the Lord Jesus Christ. Here Paul begins a series of things not to do when searching for salvation. There is no need to think about going up to heaven and bringing Christ down to earth in your search for truth.

REFLECT

Are you not pleased you did not have to go on a frantic search to learn how to be saved? Thank the Lord for the person who brought the gospel message to you.

RESPOND

You can be the person who tells another the message of God—that salvation is available only by trusting in Jesus for it. Pray that person will end the search for how to become right with God by believing what you reveal the Scriptures say.

A Fruitless Search

READ

Romans 10:7-8

7 “And don’t say, ‘Who will go down to the place of the dead?’ (to bring Christ back to life again).” 8 In fact, it says, “The message is very close at hand; it is on your lips and in your heart.” And that message is the very message about faith that we preach.

After having referred to it being unnecessary to go up to heaven to bring Christ down, Paul now refers to going down to bring Christ up from the dead. Instead of such a fruitless search to learn how to be right with God, Paul reminds them the message is close at hand, even on their lips and in their hearts. It’s the message he preaches if they would only believe and be saved.

REFLECT

Think how blessed you are to have the gospel message Paul preached written in the pages of the Bible. You don’t have to go on long searches for it.

RESPOND

Read Galatians 1:8 that tells what Paul said about those who rejected the gospel he was preaching. That makes it tremendously important that you and your disciple clearly understand the message Paul preached. More verses in Romans 10 explain his message.

Openly Declare

READ

Romans 10:9-10

9 If you openly declare that Jesus is Lord and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved. 10 For it is by believing in your heart that you are made right with God, and it is by openly declaring your faith that you are saved.

To declare that Jesus is Lord is more than saying He is master; it really means He is God. And if He is God, then certainly He should be the master of your life. The “heart” refers to one’s entire being. Notice that one must believe with his entire being that God has raised Him from the dead. The resurrection of Jesus is the heart of the gospel. Without it there is no hope. The Bible assumes that one who believes with the entire being will tell others.

REFLECT

Have you thought about that saying Jesus is Lord is the same as saying He is God?

RESPOND

When Jesus was tested by Satan He said only God should be worshipped (see Matthew 4:10). See also Hebrews 1:6 where God’s angels are commanded to worship the Lord Jesus. This is proof that Jesus is God.

Everyone Who Calls

READ

Romans 10:11-13

11 As the Scriptures tell us, “Anyone who trusts in him will never be disgraced.” 12 Jew and Gentile are the same in this respect. They have the same Lord, who gives generously to all who call on him. 13 For “Everyone who calls on the name of the Lord will be saved.”

Paul now assures both the Jews and Gentiles—which includes everyone—that anyone can be saved by trusting in Jesus. God makes no distinction. There is a condition, however. A person must “call on him.” Those who refuse to call on Jesus will not find salvation because only Jesus died to pay their penalty from sin. When one believes in Jesus, the righteousness of Jesus is placed on that individual’s account. That is how a person is considered “justified” (declared righteous), or “made right with God.”

REFLECT

Think of the promise: “Everyone who calls on the name of the Lord will be saved.” Are you praying for your friends to call on Jesus for salvation?

RESPOND

Help those who are considering trusting in Jesus that those who do will never be disappointed or ashamed.