HOW WILL THEY HEAR?
Romans 10:14-21
ISRAEL’S PRESENT CONDITION ROM. 10
PEOPLE WHO TRY TO MAKE IT ON THEIR OWN
CUT THEMSELVES OFF FROM GOD’S SUPPLY AND END UP BANKRUPT!
PEOPLE WHO TRUST CHRIST AND ACKNOWLEDGE HIM
RECEIVE EVERYTHING THEY NEED TO MAKE IT WITH GOD! 9-13
God calls for a “heart and mouth” response to Jesus:
We trust Him, from the heart 9b, 10a, 11-12
We acknowledge Him and call on His name, with our mouth 9a, 10b, 13
“Whoever calls on the name of the Lord will be saved”
PEOPLE WILL NEVER CALL ON HIS NAME, UNLESS SOMEONE PROCLAIMS THE GOOD NEWS TO THEM! 14-15; Is. 52:7
For Israel, or anyone else, to call on Christ, they must hear the good news.
Series of questions shows process God follows so they might hear:
They will not call on the name of Christ if they don't trust Him.
They won't trust Him, if they've never heard about Him.
In order for them to hear about Him, someone has to tell them the story.
In order for someone to go tell them about Him, someone has to send them.
PROCESS LEADING TO SALVATION
CALL on His name
TRUST in Christ
HEAR the good news
PROCLAIM the message
SEND the messenger
God has given US the opportunity to be part of this process!
Implication for us: proclaim good news to others, so they might hear it, trust Christ and call on His name.
Implication for those who hear: pay attention, trust Christ, call on His name.
Swindoll (4 methods to communicate most popular: Mute Approach: "I'm a “silent witness.” Best you can say about it: no one ever gets offended. Person who adopts this approach could be called a "Clairol Christian." No one knows for sure but God. One of Satan's tastiest tidbits: "All God expects of you is a good, silent life. Others will ask you about Christ if interested." I can count on one hand (and have fingers left over) the number of people who have come up and asked about Jesus. While we can discount value of a godly life, that alone never brought anyone into God’s family. "Faith comes from hearing ...."
Paul Rader urged NY banker to receive Christ many times. One day Rader sensed God telling him to go talk to him again. He hurried to the bank; found friend in doorway. "Rader! Glad to see you! I wrote a telegram begging you to come, but didn't send it." "That's O.K., message came by way of Heaven." Banker was impressed by Rader's effort. He trusted Christ and in new-found joy exclaimed, "Did you ever see the sky so blue or the grass so green!" Rader responded we often sing, 'Heaven above is softer blue, earth around is sweeter green; something lives in every hue Christless eyes have never seen.'" Suddenly banker gasped and fell into evangelist's arms - DEAD! We never know when God may be giving someone one last chance to hear and believe the good news about Christ.
Who was the person with beautiful feet in your life?
Little girl, embarrassed by mother’s scarred face and arms.
Discovered scars were result of pulling her from fire.
“You are the most beautiful mother in the world!”
Barnhouse: West African believer suffering with elephantiasis went to every hut in his village, then began traveling to another village 2 mi. away, finally tried to visit a village 10 mi. away. He came back late that night with bloody and swollen stumps–but beautiful feet!
PNG–vision for 25 villages up and down river from them–training people with beautiful feet!
Who came along with beautiful feet in your life?
For whom will you be the messenger with beautiful feet?
We’re responsible to announce good news so others can hear, trust, and call on God's name, but, when it comes to Israel, that isn't the problem.
GOD CONTINUES TO REACH OUT TO PEOPLE WHO REFUSE TO BELIEVE WHAT THEY’VE HEARD! 16-19
Hearing isn’t believing! 16; Is 53:1
Israel has heard the good news but has refused to believe it.
Israel heard good news concerning Messiah for centuries.
But they haven't responded to truth God announced to them.
Believing is based on hearing. 17
Trust in Christ is based on hearing the good news about Jesus
Some people might object that they’ve never had a chance to hear the truth—No one ever told THEM the good news! Jewish people can’t raise that objection. They’ve heard over and over!
God continues to reach out to rebellious people 18-21
They’ve heard the word. 18; Ps. 19:4 “Haven’t they heard? Yes!”
Even the heavens proclaim that God is worthy of submission and worship! (Ps. 19)
But they haven’t responded appropriately—they’d rather do it themselves!
No one can use that excuse! Rom. 1 says we all have sufficient testimony!
Well, maybe they just didn’t understand?!! No!–that’s not it!
They’ve been fully warned. 19-21 19a
“Didn’t they understand? Didn’t they know what they were doing? Yes!”
Moses warned them. 19b; Deut. 32:21
As they provoked God to jealousy by turning to other gods–that weren’t gods-- He provokes them to jealousy by turning to pagan peoples, so they might return to Him.
In response to question: “maybe they don’t understand what they’re doing!” God indicates that the other people He will turn to doesn’t understand!
If Gentiles–who aren’t formally constituted people, who have no spiritual training, who aren’t seeking God–can understand the good news, surely Israel could!
That’s why they’re without excuse! They did understand!
When God forms new people, Israel will note fulfillment of prophecy to wake up and return to God. Instead, they aren't impressed; they reject warning.
God is working among pagans to stir them, but even so—they reject Him!
Isaiah warned them 20-21 He repeats the warning:
Pagans heard the good news and believed. 20; Is. 65:1-3a
God would manifest Himself to others.
He would present Himself to a people that didn’t seek Him; they would accept by faith what Israel didn't want to receive.
Pagans recognize inability to save themselves and trust God's provision, while Israel continues to reject it.
God continues to reach out to obstinate people. 21; Is. 65:2
Nevertheless, God keeps after them–He’s persistent. He won’t give up!
His mercy is so great that He keeps seeking them.
Bottom line: God keeps appealing to people who aren’t interested!
Good news: People who aren’t looking for God (= US) have found Him!
In spite of rejection, God still encourages Israel to receive His mercy–He keeps urging us to trust His Son!
Israel’s struggle to prove her own righteousness shows contrast between religion and God's way.
Human religion presents people seeking God.
Paul says no one seeks Him—God always takes initiative!–He’s stretching out His hands!
What should we learn from this passage?
TWO LESSONS:
1. Lost people will never hear about Jesus unless we tell them about Him.
2. If God is so persistent in pursuing lost people, we ought to persistently pursue lost people.
All day long God reaches out to a rebellious people.
If God cares that much, do we?
How much are we investing in reaching out to them on His behalf?
PRAY FOR TWO!!!
Rogelio’s story
Jealous young woman: “another friend got to her first! She was MINE!