So That All Can Hear

Romans 9:30-10:21

The letter to the Romans seems to be a reply to a church who is having a difficult time coming to terms with the salvation of so many Gentiles and so few of the Jews. In their eyes, the Jews walked the righteous path and that should count for something. Paul spends a great deal of time describing the "righteousness" of the Jews. Their idea (the Jews of that time) of righteousness morphed into a belief in self-righteous acts which was completely different from God's design of righteousness by faith.

In fact, God worked tirelessly among His people to the point of putting a "stumbling" block in the way of the self-righteous. His hope was to slow down man's blind plunge into darkness. His hope was to open their eyes to His righteousness which leads to peace. Yet the Jews use the stumbling as an excuse to create more laws; laws that showed them how to stumble better. God sent Jesus, the stone, as seen in Isaiah 8:14 and 28:16 quoted here by Paul:

As it is written:

"See, I lay in Zion a stone that causes men to stumble
and a rock that makes them fall,
and the one who trusts in him will never be put to shame."
Romans 9:33 (NIV)

Jesus had to come before the Jews "lawed" (made that word up) themselves to death. Their laws hindered the progression of faith. Thus, He became the end of the law. He did not destroy the law or remove it. He just completed it. Instead of the law, people now had Jesus who would send His Spirit to guide, to comfort, and to correct. The law is powerless to do this. People needed an agent to enforce or magnify the law. The Spirit does this.

Jesus came not only to the Jews but also to the Gentiles. He created an equality between the two. While the Jews had created faith "social clubs" with exclusive membership rights, Jesus was opening the door to heaven so all had an equal opportunity if they believed. Jesus turned the conversation away from works and back to faith. The "buck stopped here" with Jesus:

Christ is the end of the law so that there may be righteousness for everyone who believes. Romans 10:4 (NIV)

Paul quotes from Deuteronomy 30:14, "The word is near you; it is in your mouth and in your hearts." The Word is alive to bring life. Some are so close at times that they can taste the words inside them. Paul says it is simple:

• Confess that Jesus is Lord (He's the only one to fit or could fit the criteria required by the law),
  
• believe in your heart that God raised Him from the dead (very important if you are to follow the teachings from the beginning),
  
• and you will be saved. (10:9)
  

That is the simplicity of the Gospel message which leads to salvation. Salvation then becomes a life process.

for, "Everyone who calls on the name of the Lord will be saved." Romans 10:13 (NIV)

I like how Paul adds that our heart is where belief meets justification and that our mouth is where confession engages salvation. Justification brings peace to those innermost thought processes that once rang loudly with condemnation. Justification is to be embraced. Salvation is an outward expression of our faith in Christ that begins with confession. Confession takes away the shame of faith and emboldens us to the power of faith.

Paul backs up his statements with Isaiah 28:16 - "the one who trusts in him will never be put to shame". God backs this up with the presence of the Comforter who indwells all who call upon the name of the Lord to be saved. He doesn't hold back from anyone who believes.

From verse 14 to 21 of chapter 10, Paul begins to exhort the Romans by encouraging them to make their voices heard to those who had yet to hear the Gospel. Faith only comes by hearing; hearing the Word of God. There is almost a warning here. If we don't spread the Word of God, then someone else will spread false doctrines. The Word, however, is a two-edged sword that is quickly capable of cutting through lies and deception. We have a lot of work left to be done. Let's get going; people are waiting to hear.

• Have you ever felt that someone didn't deserve to hear the Gospel message? How should you deal with that thought?
• How has God put stumbling blocks in your path to humble you enough to reach up to Him?
• Have you taken a moment to accept the steps to salvation and begin a life journey with Christ?
• How have you taken time lately to spread the good news to those who need to hear?