Romans Chapter 10 Message One

Remember from the last chapter – Paul’s purpose in this portion of the letter , chapters 9 through 11, is to show that God’s plan has not been altered. He is working according to His sovereign will , as He ever has. The setting aside of Israel and the inclusion of the Gentiles are not new revelations. The Lord has revealed these truths to His people by the prophets and Paul brings their testimony before the people.

I. Submission to the Law leads to submission to the Lord Jesus Christ.
Romans 10:1-5

A. Israel’s need. Romans 10:1

1. His Passion – “…my heart’s desire and prayer to God for Israel is, that they might be saved.” Refer again to 9:1-4

2. His Practice – He prayed for them and preached to them!

In Antioch of Pisidia, Iconium, Thessalonica, Berea, Corinth, Ephesus, Paul and the missionaries with him sought out the synagogues in the cities to first preach the Gospel of Jesus Christ to the Jews. His love is seen in that though they persecuted him at every opportunity, and though at times he strongly rebuked them for their unbelief –

Acts 13:46-47 Then Paul and Barnabas waxed bold, and said, It was necessary that the word of God should first have been spoken to you: but seeing ye put it from you, and judge yourselves unworthy of everlasting life, lo, we turn to the Gentiles. For so hath the Lord commanded us, saying, I have set thee to be a light of the Gentiles, that thou shouldest be for salvation unto the ends of the earth.

– He continued to go to them with the message of life everlasting. He is a true example of the definition of love he wrote to the Corinthians –

1 Corinthians 13:4-7 Charity suffereth long, and is kind; charity envieth not; charity vaunteth not itself, is not puffed up, Doth not behave itself unseemly, seeketh not her own, is not easily provoked, thinketh no evil; Rejoiceth not in iniquity, but rejoiceth in the truth; Beareth all things, believeth all things, hopeth all things, endureth all things.

His love was illustrated in life by his practice. Remember, though, that love for your people is not enough. Paul had love for God first of all –

Philippians 1:20 “For me to live is Christ…”

And through that love, he loved his people – “…my heart’s desire and prayer to God for Israel is, that they might be saved.”

B. Israel’s nature. Romans 10:2-5

1. They were zealous. Romans 10:2a

Paul declared that they had a “zeal of God…”. Zeal can be exercised in both positive and negative ways.

a. The Zeal of Jesus: He was jealous for the holiness of His Father’s house.

He rebuked and removed those that opened a market in the Temple Court.

John 2:17 And his disciples remembered that it was written, The zeal of thine house hath eaten me up.

b. The Zeal of the Pharisees and Jewish leaders. They were ‘filled with indignation’ (Acts 5:17) and they were ‘filled with envy’ (Acts 13:45). They were jealous for their own power and position to be exalted.

Jesus was motivated by His passion for God and these Jews were driven by pride and arrogance!

2. They were proud. Romans 10:2b, 3

Paul understood their pride without excusing them –

Philippians 3 If any other man thinketh that he hath whereof he might trust in the flesh, I more: Circumcised the eighth day, of the stock of Israel, of the tribe of Benjamin, an Hebrew of the Hebrews; as touching the law, a Pharisee; Concerning zeal, persecuting the church; touching the righteousness which is in the law, blameless. But what things were gain to me, those I counted loss for Christ.

They did not understand that the Law was not given to save them, but to separate them unto God and thereby, prepare their hearts for the coming of the Messiah –

Galatians 3:24 Wherefore the law was our schoolmaster to bring us unto Christ, that we might be justified by faith.

3. They were ignorant of the truth. Romans 10:4,5 (willingly ignorant)

John 11:47-48 Then gathered the chief priests and the Pharisees a council, and said, What do we? for this man doeth many miracles. If we let him thus alone, all men will believe on him: and the Romans shall come and take away both our place and nation.

If they actually submitted to the Law they would submit to Jesus.

John 5:45-47 Do not think that I will accuse you to the Father: there is one that accuseth you, even Moses, in whom ye trust. For had ye believed Moses, ye would have believed me: for he wrote of me. But if ye believe not his writings, how shall ye believe my words?

Submission to God’s will through His Word will always lead to the Lord Jesus Christ by faith and trust.