Paul's Epistles Part 25 – How to Receive

Paul's Epistles

Part 25 – How to Receive

Pastor Bruce A. Shields

House of Faith Church | www.PS127.org | www.TruthDigest.org

INTRODUCTION

We are going to look at the Epistles of Paul in this series of sermons. In Chapter 10 we looked at Paul telling us about Righteousness.

Today we will take a look at How to Receive.

SCRIPTURE REFERENCE Romans 10:14-21

¹³ for, “Everyone who calls on the name of the Lord will be saved.

How, then, can they call on the one they have not believed in? And how can they believe in the one of whom they have not heard? And how can they hear without someone preaching to them? ¹⁵ And how can anyone preach unless they are sent? As it is written: “How beautiful are the feet of those who bring good news!”

¹⁶ But not all the Israelites accepted the good news. For Isaiah says, “Lord, who has believed our message?” ¹⁷ Consequently, faith comes from hearing the message, and the message is heard through the word about Christ. ¹⁸ But I ask: Did they not hear? Of course they did:
“Their voice has gone out into all the earth,
    their words to the ends of the world.”<sup>[i]

19</sup> Again I ask: Did Israel not understand? First, Moses says,
“I will make you envious by those who are not a nation;
    I will make you angry by a nation that has no understanding.”<sup>[j]

20</sup> And Isaiah boldly says,
“I was found by those who did not seek me;
    I revealed myself to those who did not ask for me.”<sup>[k]

21</sup> But concerning Israel he says,
“All day long I have held out my hands
    to a disobedient and obstinate people.”

                   I.            FAITH THAT COMES BY HEARING

a.      How can they call on Jesus, if they have never heard of Him?

                                                                         i.      Vs 13 says, "Whosoever (individual, not nation) calls upon the name of the Lord shall be saved."

                                                                      ii.      But Paul asks, how can they call on Him, if they never heard of Him?

                                                                   iii.      Ignorance is no excuse. This is why we must take the Gospel into the whole world as Christ commanded in Matthew 28!

b.     How can they hear of Him without someone preaching?

                                                                         i.      This, "preaching" is God's method of proclaiming His message.

                                                                      ii.      Who is responsible for this?

1.      God's Chosen People

c.      Who are God's Chosen People?

                                                                         i.      1 Peter 2:1-10 Tells us

As you (individual not nation) come to him, the living Stone (Jesus)—rejected by humans but chosen by God and precious to him— ⁵ you also, like living stones, are being built into a spiritual house to be a holy priesthood, offering spiritual sacrifices acceptable to God through Jesus Christ. ⁶ For in Scripture it says:

“See, I lay a stone in Zion (Jesus placed among the Jews),
    a chosen and precious cornerstone,
and the one who trusts in him (a Christian)
    will never be put to shame.” ISAIAH 28:16

⁷ Now to you who believe (a Christian), this stone is precious. But to those who do not believe,

“The stone the builders rejected
    has become the cornerstone,” PSALM 118:22

⁸ and,

“A stone that causes people to stumble
    and a rock that makes them fall.” ISAIAH 8:14

They stumble because they disobey the message—which is also what they were destined for.

⁹ But you are a chosen people, (those who accept the STONE, or Christians who follow Jesus) a royal priesthood, a holy nation, God’s special possession, that you may declare the praises of him who called you out of darkness into his wonderful light. (Preaching the Good News!)  ¹⁰ Once you were not a people, but now you are the people of God; once you had not received mercy, but now you have received mercy.

d.     How can someone preach without being sent?

                                                                         i.      In Matthew 28, Jesus commands that we go into the entire world preaching this Good News!

                                                                      ii.      "How beautiful are the feet of those who bring the Good News!" Isaiah 52:7

                                                                   iii.      We can, as we are told in 1 Peter, declare the praises of Him who called you out of darkness into His wonderful light!

               II.            NOT ALL HAVE ACCEPTED THE GOOD NEWS

a.      Not all the Israelites accepted the Good News

                                                                         i.      Isaiah says, "Lord, who has believed our message?" Isaiah 53:1

                                                                      ii.      Isaiah having the same trouble then as today.

b.     Faith comes by hearing!

                                                                         i.      Did they not hear the message?

                                                                      ii.      Of course they did

1.      “Their voice has gone out into all the earth,
    their words to the ends of the world.” Psalm 19:4

c.      Did Israel not understand?

                                                                         i.      Paul exclaims there is NO excuse for Israel not to know.

                                                                      ii.      They had the Word of God for their guide.

                                                                   iii.      Just as many today who have heard the Word, have no excuse as well.

            III.            HEARING IS NOT ALWAYS BELIEVING

a.      Moses says, “I will make you envious by those who are not a nation;
    I will make you angry by a nation that has no understanding.” in Deuteronomy 32:21

                                                                         i.      Some 1600 years before Paul's day, Moses prophesied the acceptance of the Gospel by the Gentiles.

b.     Isaiah says, “I was found by those who did not seek me;
    I revealed myself to those who did not ask for me.” in Isaiah 65:1

                                                                         i.      Moses and the Prophet Isaiah both predicted that the Gentiles would hear and receive the Gospel.

c.      Concerning Israel, Isaiah says, “All day long I have held out my hands
    to a disobedient and obstinate people.” Isaiah 65:2

                                                                         i.      To Israel was another prophecy, by their rejection of Christ, the majority of Israel fashioned themselves into vessels of wrath through their self-will and unbelief.

                                                                      ii.      Is the church today, doing the same thing?

Paul has explained, in scripture today that, we, the followers of Christ are God's chosen people, and we are not only chosen to share the Good News, but commanded to do so by Jesus.

Each one of us is considered a priest, and a messenger of the Gospel, to others so that they may know of how the Lord called us from darkness, and how they too may be shown the grace of God through Jesus Christ.

Want to learn more about Salvation and Getting Saved?    CLICK HERE!

Paul's Epistles Part 24 – Righteousness

Paul's Epistles

Part 24 – Righteousness

Pastor Bruce A. Shields

House of Faith Church | www.PS127.org | www.TruthDigest.org

INTRODUCTION

We are going to look at the Epistles of Paul in this series of sermons. In Chapter 6 we looked at Paul telling us to be Dead to Sin, and Alive in Christ and that we are Slaves to Righteousness, Released from the Law and Bound to Christ, That which I hate, I do, Life in the Spirit, Present Suffering and Future Glory, More than Conquerors, Paul's Anguish Over Israel, Justice and Mercy, Israel's Unbelief, Israel's Rejection of Christ.

Today we will take a look at Romans 10, and Righteousness.

SCRIPTURE REFERENCE Romans 10:5-13

Moses writes this about the righteousness that is by the law: “The person who does these things will live by them.” ⁶ But the righteousness that is by 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 deep?’” (that is, to bring Christ up from the dead). ⁸ But what does it say? “The word is near you; it is in your mouth and in your heart,” that is, the message concerning faith that we proclaim: ⁹ 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. ¹⁰ For it is with your heart that you believe and are justified, and it is with your mouth that you profess your faith and are saved. ¹¹ As Scripture says, “Anyone who believes in him will never be put to shame.” ¹² For there is no difference between Jew and Gentile—the same Lord is Lord of all and richly blesses all who call on him, ¹³ for, “Everyone who calls on the name of the Lord will be saved.”

                   I.            RIGHTEOUSNESS BY THE LAW AND FAITH

a.      Righteousness by the Law

                                                                         i.      Shows the Law did contain Righteousness

                                                                      ii.      However, man could not obtain this Righteousness due to the fallen condition

                                                                   iii.      Remember, the Law was given to show our sin, not save us

                                                                     iv.      It was given to show the need for a Savior, Jesus Christ

b.     "The person who does these things, shall live by them."

                                                                         i.      Paul is saying that one must keep all of the commands to obtain Righteousness

                                                                      ii.      However, this is impossible, because the Law is God's standards, which none of us can measure up to.

                                                                   iii.      Therefore, no one can achieve Righteousness through the Law.

c.      Righteousness is obtained by Faith

                                                                         i.      This speaks of the wonderful and beautiful simplicity found only in Christ.

                                                                      ii.      By faith, we are justified, by faith we are found Righteous

                                                                   iii.      Though not our own Righteousness through "acts" or keeping of the Law, rather, the Righteousness of Christ, given to us through our faith in Him.

               II.            WITH YOUR HEART AND MOUTH

a.      To be "saved", one does not have to perform a great task

                                                                         i.      Such as bring Christ down in Person from heaven

                                                                      ii.      God's Word is enough!

                                                                   iii.      Neither do they need to bring Christ up from Sheol to impart forgiveness and holiness.

b.     "But what does it say?"

                                                                         i.      Paul clarifies Christ does not need to be standing in Person before you for you to receive salvation, rather, the scriptures tell you exactly how in the Word of God, which is always enough!

c.      Simply put, How to be saved.

                                                                         i.      The Word is near you (The Word of God)

                                                                      ii.      Even in your mouth (confession which comes from the overflow of your heart, not merely words spoken.)

                                                                   iii.      And in your heart (where faith begins, and one speaks from the overflow)

d.     That is the Word of Faith which we preach

                                                                         i.      You have the Word of God, the Bible.

1.      Do you own one?

2.      Do you read it?

3.      Do you meditate on its Word?

4.      Do you know it is the Spiritual food you need for your spirit?

5.      Does God's Word fill your heart to overflowing, so that the Word itself is reflected in the way you behave, think, speak?

6.      Luke 6:45 "A good man brings good things out of the good stored up in his heart, and an evil man brings evil things out of the evil stored up in his heart. For the mouth speaks what the heart is full of."

                                                                      ii.      What are you speaking and confessing, not in front of "Christians", but when you are at home with your family, or friends, or better yet, alone.

                                                                   iii.      Because when you think you are alone, you are not.

1.      Jeremiah 23:24 "Can a man hide himself in secret places so that I cannot see him? declares the Lord. Do I not fill heaven and earth? declares the Lord."

2.      Job 34:21 "For his eyes are on the ways of a man, and he sees all his steps."

                                                                     iv.      Our Father in heaven sees all, and He hears the words you speak.

                                                                        v.      What is filling your heart today?

            III.            THERE IS NO DIFFERENCE BETWEEN JEW AND GENTILE       

a.      Paul says there is no difference, anyone who calls on the Lord will not be turned away.

                                                                         i.      However, this cry to the Lord must be more than mere words.

                                                                      ii.      Anyone can say anything, and do.

                                                                   iii.      You must surrender yourself to the Lord, and allow Him to become your Lord and Savior.

b.     Justification is the doctrine that God pardons, accepts, and declares a sinner to be "just" on the basis of Christ's righteousness (Rom 3:24-26; 4:25; 5:15-21)

                                                                         i.      which results in God's peace (Rom 5:1),

                                                                      ii.      His Spirit (Rom 8:4), and salvation.

c.      Justification is by grace through faith in Jesus Christ apart from all works and merit of the sinner (Rom 1:18-3:28).

                                                                         i.      Justification is based on Faith-principle, not the works-principle.

Paul has explained, that for us to be Righteous in God's eyes, we need Christ's Righteousness, which comes through us being justified.

We are justified when we receive salvation which comes by faith in Jesus Christ.

For this to be "real" faith, or "real" salvation, the words we speak must come from a heart that has made the decision. We must obtain faith by hearing and reading God's Word.

Want to learn more about Salvation and Getting Saved?    CLICK HERE!