Practical Theology - Part 28 - Romans 10:1-13
January 28, 2023

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Practical Theology

Part 28 - Romans 10:1-13
Lead Pastor, Darrin Mariott

Big Idea: God shows no favoritism and offers salvation to any who call upon the name of the Lord.

I. The Source of Righteousness (vv. 1-4)
Romans 10:1-4
1 Brothers, my heart’s desire and prayer to God for them is that they may be saved. 2 For I bear them witness that they have a zeal for God, but not according to knowledge. 3 For, being ignorant of the righteousness of God, and seeking to establish their own, they did not submit to God’s righteousness. 4 For Christ is the end of the law for righteousness to everyone who believes.

A. Paul clearly has a Christ-like heart for his fellow Israelites (v. 1; cf. Rom. 9:1-5). But he laments that their zeal for God is not centered on the knowledge of Jesus as the fulfillment of God’s Law. Rather, they rely on a form of self-righteousness rooted in ethnic identity, man-made traditions, and works.

Romans 9:1-5
1 I am speaking the truth in Christ—I am not lying; my conscience bears me witness in the Holy Spirit— 2 that I have great sorrow and unceasing anguish in my heart. 3 For I could wish that I myself were accursed and cut off from Christ for the sake of my brothers, my kinsmen according to the flesh. 4 They are Israelites, and to them belong the adoption, the glory, the covenants, the giving of the law, the worship, and the promises. 5 To them belong the patriarchs, and from their race, according to the flesh, is the Christ, who is God over all, blessed forever. Amen.

B. Regarding the true source of righteousness, we see:

1. Zeal is good, but it must be focused on Christ (v. 2)

2. Knowledge is good, but it must be informed by Christ (v. 2; cf. 1 Cor. 9:24-27)

1 Corinthians 9:24-27
24 Do you not know that in a race all the runners run, but only one receives the prize? So run that you may obtain it. 25 Every athlete exercises self-control in all things. They do it to receive a perishable wreath, but we an imperishable. 26 So I do not run aimlessly; I do not box as one beating the air. 27 But I discipline my body and keep it under control, lest after preaching to others I myself should be disqualified.

3. Righteousness is good, but it must be sourced in Christ (vv. 3-4; cf. Matt. 5:17; 2 Cor. 5:21)

Matthew 5:17
17 “Do not think that I have come to abolish the Law or the Prophets; I have not come to abolish them but to fulfill them.

2 Corinthians 5:21
21 For our sake he made him to be sin who knew no sin, so that in him we might become the righteousness of God.

II. The Message of Salvation (vv. 5-13)

Romans 10:5-13
5 For Moses writes about the righteousness that is based on the law, that the person who does the commandments shall live by them. 6 But the righteousness based on 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 abyss?’” (that is, to bring Christ up from the dead). 8 But what does it say? “The word is near you, in your mouth and in your heart” (that is, the word of faith that we proclaim); 9 because, if you confess with your mouth that Jesus is Lord and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved. 10 For with the heart one believes and is justified, and with the mouth one confesses and is saved. 11 For the Scripture says, “Everyone who believes in him will not be put to shame.” 12 For there is no distinction between Jew and Greek; for the same Lord is Lord of all, bestowing his riches on all who call on him. 13 For “everyone who calls on the name of the Lord will be saved.”

A. In these verses Paul turns to the message of salvation as revealed in Messiah Jesus. His point is a reminder that we cannot attain righteousness through the Law, but only by grace through faith in Christ Jesus. This message is straightforward and not out of reach, but near us.

B. Regarding the message of salvation:

1. Don’t over-think it (vv. 5-8; cf. Deut. 30:11-14) – The message of the Gospel is a message of faith in Messiah Jesus and His provision for sin, don’t complicate it
Deuteronomy 30:11-14
11 “For this commandment that I command you today is not too hard for you, neither is it far off. 12 It is not in heaven, that you should say, ‘Who will ascend to heaven for us and bring it to us, that we may hear it and do it?’ 13 Neither is it beyond the sea, that you should say, ‘Who will go over the sea for us and bring it to us, that we may hear it and do it?’ 14 But the word is very near you. It is in your mouth and in your heart, so that you can do it.

2. Do trust in Jesus from your heart and obey Him in word and deed (vv. 9-10; cf. Lk. 6:43-45)
Luke 6:43-45
43 “For no good tree bears bad fruit, nor again does a bad tree bear good fruit, 44 for each tree is known by its own fruit. For figs are not gathered from thornbushes, nor are grapes picked from a bramble bush. 45 The good person out of the good treasure of his heart produces good, and the evil person out of his evil treasure produces evil, for out of the abundance of the heart his mouth speaks.

3. Do know that God makes salvation available to any who call upon the name of the Lord (vv. 11-13; cf. Jn. 3:36)

John 3:36
36 Whoever believes in the Son has eternal life; whoever does not obey the Son shall not see life, but the wrath of God remains on him.

C. At the foot of the cross we find level ground, not marked by power, position, or privilege, but marked by God’s grace and mercy as revealed in Christ our Savior and Lord (cf. Gal. 3:28-29)
Galatians 3:28-39
28 There is neither Jew nor Greek, there is neither slave nor free, there is no male and female, for you are all one in Christ Jesus. 29 And if you are Christ’s, then you are Abraham’s offspring, heirs according to promise.